Chapter 122 - The Rejection!

Abigail pov

"I will talk to my sister. She would handle the matter." continued the man adamantly. 

"It does not matter, your highness. My daughter is still too young. I will let her decide whom she wants to spend her life with, but after her coming of age ceremony." my father replied and the eyes of the man narrowed.

"Then, shall i take it as you are rejecting my son" the voice of the man turned sharper. I was sure he would take this as a declaration of war if my father refused again.

Thankfully, my father shook his head.

"I am only saying that I will reply to you after 6 months, your highness. Once she is an adult I will personally talk to her about your proposal." he said in a softer tone and the man snorted.

"You are a stubborn man. Fine, then six months it is. I will come and ask for her after her coming of age ceremony then. But one thing I want to assure you, George, I will never deny my son's wish. And he likes your daughter." ha! What did he think of himself! God! Or emperor? I would make sure to break all his pride in these six months. So he would not be able to stand in front of my father and ask for my hands brazenly.

I thought the conversation had ended so I decided to walk away discreetly when I heard my father's voice again, this time it was not soft or mellow. But a strict commandant strong voice which can even shook the walls.

"My daughter is not a thing to be gifted, your highness. She is free to choose anyone she desires. If your son is that much interested in my daughter then he has to woo her and earn her affections. I would not bend in front of power!" my heart felt warmth at his words. He was still giving me priority even when he knew that archdukes have much more power than us.

I wonder if this conversation took place in my last life too! Was that the reason that Gerard had started wooing me!

I heard footsteps behind me and I moved discreetly to hide behind the bookshelf. Archduke Wiltshire left the library and so did my father. I was standing there alone.

I decided to wait for a while before going out. The dim light in the library was making me feel dark too. Why and when did he take interest in me! No! It was not that easy! There must be some reason, because i have seen there was no love in his eyes and his expressions.

But if it was about powers then his family had more powers. We are a family of knights that serve the empire, but even if I got married to him, my father would not go against the emperor. Why did he want to marry me?

The question was bugging me from two lifetimes!

I could no longer hear any sound, so I moved out of the library. The hallway was deserted as I walked towards my chamber.

Should I take his advances and let him come closer to me to know his motives or insult him and keep him away from me to clear the line and get peace.

Since my rebirth i wanted to beat him into a pulp every time i see him!

How much time had passed when I heard a knock on the door.

"My lady, Sir Seymour is calling you on the training ground" she replied, bowing her head and I nodded. I have decided that I would not go down but now I am too excited to go and take part in sparring.

I stood up and followed her to the ground. There was already a sparring competition going on. Sir Seymour smiled looking at me as he singled me to come closer to him. 

"You would be the next to go in, sir Abigail. Are you ready?" he asked me with a warm smile and I nodded.

"But I did ot want to spar with you." I added and his smile turned stiff.

"Then who else do you want to spar with?" he asked with a frown.

When I pointed at Gerard, I was startled.

As if the man was listening to us since start, he turned his face towards us and then asked,

"Do you want to have a sparring match with me, my lady?" The smirk on his face was telling that he was more than confident of winning. Why wouldn't he! 

He was strong and well built. He has been practicing sword wielding since he was 12. It has been 6 years, while I only have training for one month or so. Or so as he thought.

"If you do not mind, my lord. I have heard a lot about your strength and prowess. I want to get some pointers from you.'' I replied with a bashful smile and he chuckled.

His face filled with pride when he got the boost in his confidence. And I smiled. It was so easy to manipulate him to do my bidding. 

"Well how can i reject the request of a lady like you. It would be my honor to have a competition with you after all, you are the new hero of commoners" he said, making me frown! Hero and that also of commoners!

He stood up from his seat and at the same time we heard a round of applause for the current fighters.

"Shall we?" he asked like a gentleman and I nodded.

We both walked towards the ground and took our place.

This was my first and last chance to beat him. To make him suffer so that my heart would feel at peace. I have to use all my power to show him that I was not weak like in the past. He could not hurt me anymore. Not in this life.

"So.. is there a prize the winner will get?"

"......"