Chapter 11

BECCA was sighing as she felt the heaviness of the engagement ring and the wedding band on her left finger. She was twirling them around with her thumb as she was sipping on the wine.
Niklaus' hand was on her lower back as he was introducing her to his circle of friends; from the Higher Court nonetheless.
"Gentlemen, I would like you to meet my wife, Lady Rebecca Davis, the 8th Duchess of Belikov," Niklaus stated as he was looking at Becca. Becca felt her face was hot before his friends were talking with her.
"Nice to meet you, duchess,"
"How do you do, milady?"
"You are most wonderful, milady, to trap Niklaus in a marriage," the last comment made Becca snap her head to the lord that was speaking it. He has black hair but his eyes were rare. It was shining violet under the gaslights.
"I'm sorry, you thought I was the one that trapped him in a marriage?" Becca stated as she was trying to control her anger.
One thing was to show manners in front of these egoistical lords. It was another thing to be accused of something that she did not do. The lord in question was smiling at her as he was sipping on the champagne.
"Was I wrong then?"
"If you must know, my lord, I did not, under any circumstances, trap my husband in this marriage. He came to court me at the house with the blessings of my parents and if you think you can judge me before getting to know me, then you're wrong," Becca stated as she was glaring at Niklaus, her husband was silent the whole time.
"Now, if you excuse me, I would rather spend some time with my family than be with your overwhelming crowd, husband," Becca stated before she moved out of her husband's hand before her skirts swooshed when she made her way to her parents.
They think they can be superior. Hah! I show them, Becca mused before she was smiling as Emily was smiling at her and met her halfway.
"Can you believe it? My husband's friends were making fun of me," Becca whispered to her best friend before Emily was arching her eyebrows at her.
"They must think they're better than everyone else. Come, we get something to get your mind off that thought, my dear," Emily said as she was guiding Becca to the banquet before they settled at the table.
They are better than us. They were in the fucking Higher Court, Becca mused before she and Emily were talking about anything but the gentry of Niapachad Island.

"YOU did again, Tom," Daniel Cutler, the Viscount of Vyckos, was smirking at his friend. Niklaus was smirking as well before Tom scowled.
"It was not my fault," Thomas Rambova, Earl of Raine was sipping on his blood-laced wine before Ian chuckled at his statement.
"Why is Marsh not here tonight? I thought he would be with us for our reunion. It's not every day that we can get together in a public space," Niklaus said as Ian shrugged.
"Beat us but man, your wedding reception has to be this grand, eh, Belikov?" Ian started as the others were snickering at Niklaus. Niklaus just rolled his eyes at his best mates.
"Whatever, it's not me who was paying—"
"Cousin, it's time for your first dance with your wife," Queen Arabella greeted Niklaus and his mates before the others bowed to the young queen.
Well, except for Niklaus.
"Your Majesty," they all spoke simultaneously before Arabella was looking at his best mates.
"Oh, Marquis of Kain, Viscount of Vyckos, Earl of Raine. I thought you would not come. Where's Baron of Fell?" Arabella asked before Niklaus was looking at the queen.
"Something came up in his task. He has to go and make sure that everything is fine," Niklaus stated before the young queen was nodding at him.
"Well, where's your duchess? The ton was waiting for your first dance together," the queen asked Niklaus as he was glaring at Tom. He thought that he would have a chat with the Earl later.
"Ah, there she is! I think I might say something before I have to go back to the Royal Castle now," Arabella stated before Niklaus was arching his eyebrows.
"You're leaving now?"
"Yes, I have work to be done and Aiden doesn't like the crowd that much. He gets...agitated around them," Arabella whispered to him as he nodded.
"Shall we?" He said as he was helping his cousin to meet his duchess. Niklaus hoped that Becca was in her right mind when the young queen met her. But of course, that was only a dream when they were at the table where Becca, his wife, and another woman were sitting.
This night could get any worse.

"AND then, I have to dodge it so that my father would not come after me. Instead, he went after my brother," Emily said as Becca was laughing at her anecdote. How come one gets away with anything? Becca mused before she remembered that she was the youngest and her sisters had been married.
Of course, her mother would focus on her.
But that ended tonight as she will be staying at this lavish estate when she will be losing her virginity to her new husband, the Duke of Belikov. Becca gulped before she turned to see that her husband was walking with someone that she knew. It was the young Queen Arabella Dragomir of Niapachad Island.
Shit! Becca was trying to control Emily's laughter before she looked at the young queen as well. Emily shut up before they both stood up and cried to the queen. "Your Majesty," they both said as the young queen was beaming at Becca.
"You must be happy that you are oblivious to the scowl and frown of the ladies around you, cousin," the young queen was saying as Becca was blinking her eyes.
"What?"
"You're laughing very loudly and yet ignore the scorn of the polite society," the young queen stated as she was smiling at Becca.
"Oh! I am so sorry then if you have to see that, Your Majesty, we were just—"
"No, it's fine. It was a good thing perhaps to get that polite society off your back. This is your night, enjoy it," the young queen said before her eyes were trained on Emily. Becca hoped that she would not take any interest in Emily.
But of course, 'tis only a dream.
"And who's this?" The young queen asked before Emily was blinking at her. Becca had to think of something before Niklaus was clearing his throat.
"I think it is due time for me and my wife to dance. Duchess, will you dance with me?" Niklaus asked her as Becca was looking at his offered hand. She sighed inwardly as she was smiling at her husband.
"That would be my pleasure, my lord," she stated before she took his hand and electrics were all over her veins. This is not normal, Becca mused before they walked to the dance floor as the others followed them to dance the waltz as well.