### Chapter 2: Contract Marriage (2) "Did your father orchestrate this meeting?" Edgar's brow furrowed, grasping for explanations in the dim light that swathed them. "My father is oblivious to my presence here, Duke Edgar." Alessandra’s voice was steady, betraying none of the internal turmoil she felt. "The party is indoors. I was not meant to be seen. Trust me, he would be furious to find us together." Indeed, the baron’s daughter was a rare sight; Desmond, her father, kept her carefully tucked away from prying eyes, her value obscured by the mask she wore and the gossip that clung to her like a shadow. "You claim this has nothing to do with your father, yet you stand before me, proposing marriage. What is it that has driven you to such desperation? Is your father planning to marry you off to a man twice your age? Or has he decided to send you away to some forsaken place you would loathe?" Edgar's cigar met the rough stone wall, the flicker of ember illuminating his curiosity. “It’s like being trapped in a suffocating cage. My father has all but forgotten my existence. I am not charmed by your looks, Duke Edgar, nor your wealth, nor any of the desires that other women might have. I see you merely as a means of escape," she laid bare her intentions, the urgency behind her words palpable. Their encounter had taken her completely by surprise, yet Alessandra wasn't one to back away from the chance to voice her thoughts. ….. "I’ve heard whispers of how the king desires to see you wed. For a man who wishes no romantic entanglements, perhaps I might fulfill your needs. I will remain as unobtrusive as a shadow, catering to your wishes, and I shall never know love,” she proposed, her tone serious. "Is that so?" Edgar regarded her with newfound interest. Her words, resonant with a surprising honesty, pierced through his usual indifference. However, marriage was a concept he wasn’t prepared to entertain with any seriousness just yet. “It wouldn’t be difficult to find an actress willing to play the part of my wife.” “If it were that simple, then why haven’t you done it already?” Alessandra countered sharply, cutting through his bravado. He would need someone respectable enough to satisfy the king’s expectations. “If the king plots against you, marrying a woman of my standing would surely be a decision he would come to regret.” A hint of a smile curled at the edges of Edgar’s mouth. "You’re quite sharp, aren’t you? This is why I often warn my peers against believing in rumors. Alessandra Barrett is said to be nothing more than a timid girl who flees at the sight of company.” “You are branded a monster, yet you come across as more human to me.” She took a cautious step forward, her resolve bolstering with each word. “I do what I must to survive this existence. If you decline my offer, I will leave you be.” Her determination was evident as she awaited his decision. Silence loomed heavy in the air until, unexpectedly, he responded. “Meet me at my residence tomorrow. We will discuss this matter further, and then I shall give you my answer.” Alessandra spun around in shock, nearly losing her balance. The very idea that he was actually considering her proposal sent her heart racing, and the notion that he wanted to see her again at his residence was utterly disarming. "I cannot leave here," she stammered, caught off guard. “I gathered that from your clandestine movements. This is a test of your resolve. I cannot linger longer; I have already overstayed my welcome here. It was a pleasure conversing with you, Alessandra. Until tomorrow,” he said, turning on his heel, heading back to rejoin the festivities. As she watched him walk away, a wave of anxiety crashed over Alessandra. How would she manage to meet the Duke tomorrow? The uncertainty was gnawing at her, but it held a glimmer of hope if he genuinely took her seriously. “I promise we will meet again,” she asserted. Just then, Kate Barrett, the baron's younger daughter, emerged from the shadows of the doorway. “Duke Edgar? Who were you speaking to?” she inquired, her voice sweet but laced with suspicion. She had heard of the Duke’s solitary presence and sought to entertain him, only to find him in conversation with her sister. A flicker of jealousy ignited within her, boiling her blood. Kate prided herself on her looks, her long blonde locks and striking blue eyes inherited from her mother. They were her weapons in the social battle for status, and she envisioned herself as superior to her peers. Dressed to the nines, Kate had intended to capture the Duke’s attention, only to be thwarted by her sister's intrusion. “I sincerely hope she did not offend you, Duke Edgar. She shouldn't have been out here,” she shot a warning glare at Alessandra as if she were to flee at any moment. “Hmm?” Edgar paused beside Kate, his expression stoic. “She hasn’t offended me. Not in the way your father has.” “Thank goodness. She—” “Don’t you think, given that I’m an only child, you should refer to her as your sister or at least use her name?” Edgar interjected, sensing the tension palpable in the air. He could tell the younger sister didn’t hold her older sibling in high regard. Taking advantage of the moment, Alessandra decided to slip away, eager to escape the potential storm brewing now that Kate had emerged from the shadows. Edgar listened as her footsteps faded into the distance, while Kate struggled to formulate a response to his earlier query. Whatever secret gripped Alessandra about her sister, it seemed to leave a deep mark. "You’re right, Duke Edgar. Sibling dynamics can be complicated. We often resort to childish antics, but I do truly love my sister. She is simply shy and a bit awkward, which is why I worried she may have offended you,” Kate feigned concern, carefully veiling her true motives. Her strategy was simple: to display a facade of loving sisterhood, hoping it might paint her as an ideal match in Edgar's eyes—none other was worthy of becoming her husband. "If that eases your mind," Edgar replied coolly as he took a step back. If only he could trade places with Alessandra and be free from Kate’s unsolicited attention. “You know, Duke,” Kate continued, her voice taking on a more teasing lilt, “I was hoping for some more intimate moments between us. I could demonstrate just how fitting I would be as your wife,” she suggested, grasping his arm to slow his departure. With a suppressed sigh, Edgar felt the frustration bubble within. Kate was a caricature of a spoiled princess, molded by her parents to revel in her own entitlement. "Is there a misunderstanding here? I’m not looking for a wife solely to share a bed with,” he replied, shaking her hand off, unwilling to fall prey to her desperate advances. It left the door open for rumors to swirl, and he had no intention of adding fuel to the already raging fire of speculation surrounding him. "I apologize," Kate stammered, momentarily taken aback by his outright rejection. Numerous men would leap at the chance to indulging in her overtures. “But I heard tales of your visits to the red light district.” With a casual shrug, Edgar brushed aside her insinuation as irrelevant to his future. “Isn’t it possible I go there only to read a book?” “It is rather loud there,” Kate pressed, undeterred. “I find noise stimulates my thoughts,” he quipped, enjoying the realization crossing her face. “What would the daughter of a baron be doing in such places, unless you were there to eavesdrop on the tales swirling about?” "That's not...," Kate faltered, flustering visibly. The truth was, she had never set foot in such a place. "Listen well, Kate. Your advancements will not entice me. Besides, I have received a more intriguing proposal." With that final dismissal, he turned away, leaving her in a whirl of confusion and embarrassment.