The Girl Who Loved Two Princes Series

Becoming Lady Zoey Arden (1)

2018, December 3rd

Caines, Terres Somnia (Zoey)

Three months before the scandal broke

It was dark when we finally arrived at the imposing mansion. Even as I got lost around every turn we took, it was impossible to miss the armed men stationed at every corner as I was shown to a room.

"Be up by five," said Bart, my brand new brother, after which he promptly shut the door on me.

The room was as big as the entire upstairs of the two-story house that I had lived in nearly all of my life in my small hometown Rosa. Its vastness made me second guess my decision to come here, to this place, where I clearly didn't belong.

There were no friends to call as I was something of a loner. My mom and I weren't on speaking terms either. I threw myself onto the bed and stared at the ceiling until the darkest hour of the night, too numb to cry.

At exactly 5 AM the next day, a string of women streamed into the room, all talking over each other, practically carrying me to the dressing table like a doll. It was an icy, cold day, which was bound to bring snow. I felt the chilly air seep into my bones as the women invaded my personal space. The words passed right by me as the women talked. Stylists and hairdressers, and who knows what else had started bustling around me, pulling at my hair and sticking brushes in my face.

I wanted to tell them to stop, but no words came out of my mouth. Still feeling drained and exhausted from all the surprises of yesterday, I eventually gave up and let my mind wander.

Just then, I missed being in a lecture hall, filled with perfect strangers, who wanted nothing from me but silence so that they might all attend the lecture in peace. Turns out I missed my boring, predictable life. Already I felt so far from it. Like this was always my life and that had somehow been the dream.

I was only here to pick up a check and tell my long-lost father off.

The denial I was in regarding my situation was fading. I stared into the mirror. Before my very eyes, I seemed to disappear entirely.

Dearest Lady Zoey Ranger

You are hereby cordially invited to meet with the house of Arden.

This letter is sent to you by the noble house of Arden.

Your attendance will be handsomely rewarded.

Sincerely

Your father

Duke George Arden

This was the letter that had started it all. I knew it line by line. Not only was I sixteen hours away from everything I had ever known, I had left Rosa still furious at my mom for keeping the infamous Duke Arden being my father a secret from me for all these years. Needless to say, I was spiralling.

I knew it was him the moment he entered my room. The duke was a tall man, not as tall as his son Bart, but still a giant of a man with a dignified air and a handsome face.

The years had been kind to him. I hated how good he looked as I drew a breath and braced myself. Everyone in the room bowed the heads. The duke, however, only glanced disinterestedly at the hired help, came to stand behind me and held my gaze in the mirror a second longer than I could bear. Then he marched off.

We all exhaled one after another, like a set of trickling dominoes.