Chapter 5: Losing Options

Lauren kept on pacing back and forth, couldn't keep herself in one place. It had been three days since she went to Alec Everston and she still hadn't heard anything from him. Her wedding was already on the next day, and although she devised an alternative plan, there was a fair chance it wouldn't work, which meant she might really end up marrying Peterson Merriweather tomorrow unless she would run away. Which she doubted was possible at this point because she was heavily guarded day and night.

Consumed by her frustration, she didn't notice her room's door open and was startled by Sally's voice.

"What are you doing, Your Highness? The ball is going to start in an hour and you haven't started preparing."

"Is that even important? My wedding is tomorrow, Sally. I'm going to die."

"I think Mr. Merriweather is a good man, Your Highness. If you give him a chance, maybe you will like him—"

"No, Sally," Lauren shook her head. "You don't understand."

No one would understand her, she thought.

As Lauren dressed up for the ball, she wondered if Alec would be there. Maybe she should ask him directly if his answer was a no, because what else his silence for the past days meant? Though she was almost very sure the man turned her down, she still wanted to hear it from him. She also wanted to tell him that he should have told her the very next day what his decision was instead of having her wait for nothing.

Lauren wore a dark violet ball gown, which was in her closet for ages but never worn. It was in stark contrast with her ivory skin, but it didn't have any shining stones like the ones she usually wears. It looked plain and dull, but that didn't bother her. She couldn't care less about her appearance for the night. She didn't care if the people would see misery written all over her face, because it was true. She did feel miserable.

When she arrived at the main hall, most people turned their heads at her, and she was sure it wasn't because she looked amazing. After all, they were the same people who were always present at balls and soirees she had attended. They just wanted to pry, to see what situation she was in after she got engaged again because they knew that it was her doing why her previous engagements failed.

If it was a normal day, she would have given such nosy people her sweetest smile, but this time she didn't. She held her head up as she walked through the crowd, but she didn't smile nor did she spare any of them a glance.

She wasn't in the mood for pretense.

Eloise who was with her group of friends spotted her, and Eloise's eyes narrowed at how she looked. Although Eloise was also known for her beauty, she had always been envious of how her youngest sister could look so attractive even in the worst dress.

"Lauren," Eloise smiled. "You should have told me your closet ran out of dresses. I would have been willing to lend you some of mine."

"Thank you, but I don't want to impose on you, dear sister," Lauren replied calmly and glanced at Eloise's friends who laughed at what Eloise said. "It is a ball you are attending, but why did you try to look like corpses? I suggest you try neutral colors in your faces so you wouldn't scare people."

Their jaws dropped at what Lauren said, but she only walked past them. She wasn't in the mood for a petty fight.

Lauren went to a table full of drinks and grabbed herself a glass of refreshment. The night was still starting yet she was growing impatient.

Her drink turned colder than it was. It was a reaction she had with liquids every time she was having internal turmoil. It was still a big question until now why she couldn't even make a small amount of water boil but could easily make it cold. She wondered why she couldn't learn the skill her mother had.

"You look mournful. Are you perhaps mourning for your future husband's death in advance?"

Lauren turned and her lips parted when she saw someone she hadn't seen for a year.

"Ethan?"

The man holding a chalice of wine smiled, "Yes, the one and only."

"Oh my, I thought you were already dead!" Lauren laughed. Apart from Vivian, she only had one other friend, and that was Ethan Sullivan.

Ethan was from a noble family, a son of a lord. Growing up, Ethan was a small and sickly child who was often bullied by other kids. It was Lauren who stood up for him, and it was how their friendship started. But a year ago, Ethan had to go to Acheron, a neighboring land, to help rebuild the village where his mother was from.

"I thought it would take two years for you to return," Lauren said.

"My job was not yet done actually, but I was so curious when I heard about how the famous rebel Evardin princess' three engagements were called off, and how she is engaged again for the fourth time. I was thinking that it might be fun to witness Princess Lauren Monserrate's downfall. What do you think?"

Lauren's eyes narrowed. "You think this is funny? I am bound to get married tomorrow, Ethan. I'm about to meet my doom. This is a life and death situation."

"Your previous engagements were called off because of your own doing. I'm sure you have something under your sleeves. I don't believe you would just sit and worry without doing anything."

"Wait," Lauren's eyes widened a bit when she realized something. "What about I marry you?"

Ethan almost spilled his wine. "What the hell, Lauren?" He leaned closer to her so that no one would hear what they were talking about. "Are you fucking serious? I won't marry just anyone."

"I'm not just anyone. I'm your best friend-"

"Exactly. You are my best friend, someone I consider my sister. I don't think you should get that far just to escape the marriage His Majesty gave you."

"Can you let me finish first?" Lauren glared impatiently. "I'm not saying we marry for real. What I'm suggesting is, maybe we can do a fake engagement so that father will stop this stupid matchmaking thing. It is just to stall time... until I meet someone I want to marry." But she doubted she would ever find someone she would want to marry for real. "Don't you think this is unfair? I don't want to be married to someone I barely know, especially Peterson Merriweather who only knows things about botany."

Yes, Peterson Merriweather wasn't just a typical gentleman in town, but he was also someone very weird. On the few occasions they talked a bit, all he talked about was things related to plants and how he always wanted to have a botanical garden.

"Lauren, look. I don't think that is possible. I am getting married," said Ethan.

Lauren shut her mouth, couldn't believe what she just heard. But what struck her the most was the fact that she was losing options.

Gasps from the women filled the hall the next moment when their eyes went to who just arrived. It was Lord Vincent of Acheron, followed by Alec Everston in his luxurious black suit.

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by Aunomay Read