厨房从后面挺进李婷

At that time Melinda tactfully walked out, shutting the door behind her and leaving us alone.

I couldn\'t believe my happiness.

Dad didn\'t seem to have changed a bit since then, except that he looked pale. But that wasn\'t surprising.

— Leah,» my father looked at me anxiously as we pulled away from each other, «you\'ve grown so much… I can\'t believe how much time has passed.»

— I\'m sorry…» I put my head down guiltily, «I\'m sorry I left so suddenly…»

After I ran away and didn\'t even tell him anything, I expected my father to scold me a lot. In fact, I quite deserved it. But instead of recriminations and accusations, the Archduke only pressed me harder against his chest.

— It\'s all in the past… The important thing is that you\'re all right.

— Are you? — I was surprised, — You\'re not angry with me?

— Of course I was angry before,» he didn\'t deny it, «but then I realized… That you\'re an adult now. You can make your own decisions.»

I didn\'t expect my father to be so thoughtful about this, and I was even more touched.

We sat down on my bed and chatted nonstop for half an hour. I told the Archduke what had happened to me in these three years, and he, in turn, shared what was happening in the country.

At last, when we were both more or less beginning to understand the situation, I begged my father:

— Dad, please do something! I don\'t want to marry Rachel Cassius!

The man looked away uncertainly.

— Leah, you know it\'s not that simple… I can\'t take you out of here right now.

— Why not? — I\'m stunned.

— The new queen… No one can defy her. Even as Archduke, I was the right hand of the previous King. Now all those privileges are irrelevant.

I couldn\'t believe my ears.

— Papa, you are not the last man in the country! — exclaimed desperately,» Rachel could not simply ignore you.

Henry Ashford answered nothing, and for some time looked excitedly at the palms of his hands in his lap.

— Leah…» he said quietly, «Times have changed. You must understand that.»

I hesitated, not believing that my father was actually telling me this. Tears welled up in my eyes.

— I\'m your daughter,» I sobbed pitifully, «Are you really going to leave me like this?»

My father turned to me excitedly and took me gently by the shoulders.

— Don\'t worry,» he said confidently, «I\'ll think of something… In the meantime, be patient.»

— Really…?

— You are the most precious thing in my life,» he assured me, «Of course, I won\'t leave my little girl in trouble.»

The Archduke\'s words gave me a little hope for a good future. I should not have doubted that he could save me.

— And when…? — I asked timidly, — When will you do it?

— Um… As soon as I can.

My father\'s thoughtful demeanor at this point made me remind him.

— The wedding is in two and a half months. Please get me out of here as soon as possible! — I asked.

— Yes, yes…

Henry Ashford brushed me off mirthlessly, but assured me that he would do his best. I could only wait and hope.

As my father and I remained silent for a while, each minding his own business, there was a knock at the door. I shuddered. The person I was most used to seeing in my chambers appeared on the threshold.

Beautiful as a porcelain statue, but at the same time there was a vibrant energy in her. Black hair the color of a raven\'s wing, scarlet eyes, and a perfect trim figure. The graceful face with sharp features distorted at the sight of the Archduke.

— I hear we have guests,» Rachel said calmly, «Your Grace, have you come to see Lerian?»

The man was embarrassed and rose from his bed to bow.

— Your Grace, you don\'t have to call me that. To you, I am merely one of your subjects.

— Not at all,» she grinned, «Still, I should show respect to my future father-in-law.»

The Archduke hesitated.

— As you say, Your Majesty…

Meanwhile, Rachel looked at the two of us with interest. I, on the contrary, turned my face away, wanting to stare anywhere from here.

— Archduke, have you come to congratulate your daughter on her wedding? — …the girl inquired.

— Uh… Yes,» the man replied uncertainly.

Rachel nodded.

— You are always welcome at the palace,» she went on, «We shall soon be family, so you can visit Leriana at any time.»

— Thank you for your hospitality, Your Majesty.

They exchanged a short kind remarks, after which Rachel suggested:

— Perhaps you would like to join us for dinner? I was just coming here about that.

He looked away, for the idea clearly didn\'t excite him. More accurately, on the contrary. The man was overcome by an obvious desire to get out of the room as quickly as possible.

— Maybe some other time,» he hissed, «I still have some work to do.»

— Well…» Rachel agreed understandingly, «In that case, I won\'t keep you.»

— T-thank you…

My father nodded weakly at me and promised me that he would be sure to visit again soon. Out the door, Rachel and I were left alone.

— So, are you ready?

I had no choice but to sigh and obediently follow her. We walked down the palace corridor toward the imperial dining room.

Every day, no matter how busy Rachel was, we had dinner with her alone. It became a kind of tradition that the girl herself had established.

I just had to put up with it.

We found ourselves in a luxurious room with a long table that could hold at least twenty people. But no one else was there except Rachel and me.

The girl kindly pulled out a chair for me, as usual, and we sat down next to each other. There was already a pile of different dishes.

I sighed heavily and looked at my «bride», who was quite casually sipping a glass of red wine before eating.

I wondered what she was thinking at that moment.

In the beginning I tried to fight Rachel with screams and scandals, but then I just ran out of steam. This time, staring grimly at the plate in front of me, I asked tiredly:

— Do you really want all this?

Rachel shifted her gaze from her glass to me.

— I don\'t know what you mean.

— I mean our wedding,» she challenged, «You know I don\'t love you.»

I said it bluntly, while Rachel wasn\'t the least bit embarrassed. Like she\'d always known that.

— It doesn\'t change anything.

— Doesn\'t it? — I grinned bitterly. «Is that really how you want to live your life?»

— It\'s all right with me,» she said calmly.

— …

I hesitated.

— So nothing\'s going to change? — How much longer are you going to keep me here?

— Forever.

— Wha…?

Rachel suddenly leaned over the table and grabbed my face like it was some kind of thing. Then she ran her thumb across my lower lip, which made me flinch.

Rachel grinned icily, looking me straight in the eyes.

— In this life, Leah, you\'ll always be there for me.