Chapter 4: The tournament - Ep 1 - part 4
At noon we went to introduce ourselves to Lord and Lady Derderián. We meet in the great ballroom of the mansion. The one adorned with flowers on the walls. Marco and his younger brother Lucio were also there.
My parents were very nervous. Despite being the bride's family, they were subservient, humble, as they always were when they were servants.
Lord Derderián looked at me with eyes of disbelief. As if he still couldn't understand how his eldest son had fallen in love with me.
"Under His care," the Lord of House Derderían greeted.
"Under His care," my parents and I replied.
"I suppose we shouldn't even think of a dowry," Lady Derderián growled.
Embarrassed, my stepfather lowered his head and shook it.
Marco chuckled.
"I thought so…," Lady Derderián lamented.
"Do you know the song The Tears of the Coast?" Lord Derderian asked.
I nodded. My parents denied it in shame.
I had heard it at Marco's dance practices.
"What many don't know is that this song is based on a tragic true story," Lord Derderián began to explain. "The Costas was a family of nobles from the Green Wall region. Famous for having given us the most talented musicians. Many times they were invited to the Royal Palace to perform the King's favorite melodies. This is how they gained popularity. Any social event that was respected had to have the Costas as guests. However, their status would not last long. The patriarch of the house committed what was then a sacrilege: he fell in love with a dark-skin and married her in secret. The law was clear: he had to die for that transgression. However, the Costa family was not going to leave it so easy to the troops of the armies of the other Dukes, who swore to apply the King's law. There was a civil war. The Costas did not survive. The whole family was razed. Even the elderly and children. And then, after the massacre, the King commissioned to compose a song called "The Tears of the Coast". And his Majesty ordered that it should be played at all events. The latter was not always true, but ... the tune was played at enough social events to make it clear that dark-skins should never marry a noble. Ironic, huh? The tragedy of the Coasts was immortalized by music. "
My parents looked at me confused, like asking me to explain why Lord Derderián had told that story.
I shrugged. What were we supposed to get out of it?
"Times have changed, my lord," I stated, lowering my head.
"Yes ... unfortunately ...," Lord Derderian replied.
Unfortunately?
"You are a wise man, my dear," Lady Derderián flattered him.
"My son is my most valuable legacy," Lord Derderián said. "It is not this mansion, not even my lands. Marco Derderián is the most important thing in this house. "
I saw that little Lucio lowered his head as if that last comment from his father had offended him.
"The wedding will take place after the Al-Thule house tournament we have been invited to," Lord Derderián continued, "Don't worry about the dresses if you don't have anything… presentable. We will take care of it. "
I nodded.
I had realized that I had not said much. I just tried to be silent, say yes to everything, and not offend anyone.
"It is time to tie the ribbon," Lord Derderián announced.
Marco took my left arm, extended it, and gently tied the white ribbon around my wrist.
"This symbolizes his commitment!" Lord Derderián stated, "from now on you will use it at all times until your wedding day when Marco will rip it from your wrist on your wedding night!"
"May The Supreme bless you, all his children the Saints and the Holy Mother," Lady Derderián said.
My mother and Torum looked at each other with pleasure. Marco smiled at me and I smiled back. Although deep down I wanted to scream.
After the meeting, I went for a walk with Marco in the gardens of the mansion.
"Your Grace ... excuse me for daring ... Did you convince the High Priest to approve this engagement?" I dared to ask.
"Please, Bachué, call me Marco. And regarding your question: what if I did? "
"No, Your… Um… Marco… It's fine. "
It was so strange to call him by his name. Would I ever get used to it?
Marco stopped, stared at me, like that time we met when he discovered the color of my eyes. It took a great deal of willpower for me not to avoid his gaze.
"I'm going to make you very happy, Bachué. With me, you will never lack anything. "
He stroked my cheeks and tried to kiss me. I quickly parted his lips.
I could feel the frustration on his breath.
"Please Your ... Marco, not until the wedding day."
He nodded. He grabbed my neck so hard, it felt violent, like he was claiming ownership over me with his fingers.
"You are going to be mine, Bachué. Soon."
That day I moved into the mansion. It was so… surreal.
***
I went from doing everything myself to having maids at my service.
They brought me breakfast in bed.
«A few days ago that was me» I thought.
They helped me to bathe, to dress, to put on makeup. They taught me how to use the cutlery at the table. Did you know that there are different types of cutlery for different purposes? How unnecessary, how pompous. As a maid, I saw how they were used, but never bothered to learn.
They instructed me on etiquette protocols. Who to greet first, second, or third and how to do it. It turns out that when you enter a social room, you must first greet the male head of the house. If he is not, he passes to his heir, and if the heir is not in the room, then to the closest rank. Basically, you must take into account the hierarchy of a family to know in what order to greet. I already knew that from the countless times I had to greet Lord Derderián before everyone else, but they didn't bother to skip that lesson, they tried to teach it to me and repeat it over and over again like I was a monkey about to learn new tricks.
Meals were a welcome change in my life. I had never been asked what I wanted to eat before. In my village, they ate what was available or what could be paid with little money. That "I want to eat this or that" was unthinkable for us.
I tried dozens of new dishes: smoked fish stuffed with rice and tangerine sauce for lunch, pasta with fried vegetables for dinner, bread stuffed with cheese, jam, and orange juice for breakfast.
If I had a craving in the middle of the afternoon, I could order whatever I wanted. Maybe tea with sandwiches and desserts.
The other servants of the mansion viewed me with hatred. They believed that it was not noticeable, but it was very evident. Several times I passed them and they began to whisper. Who knows what expletives they would give me.
I don't blame them. It must be difficult to see how a dark-skinned person like you suddenly becomes engaged to the lord of the house and now you must serve and treat as nobility someone who in the past was as poor as you.
If they only knew ... if only they knew that I didn't want to marry Marco Derderián. If they knew that, if it were up to me, I would trade places with any of them.
The dresses were also a welcome change. I could have as many as I wanted. Of the fabric that I wanted, of the color that I wanted. Lady Derderián insisted that I didn't repeat dresses in public.
"No way to wear the same dress twice," she kept repeating.
My favorite color was pink, so I had several of that color. Lady Derderián insisted that I try other colors.
"I think yellow suits you," she asserted.
I wasn't so sure. Yellow was a very… radiant color.
I felt guilty for having so many privileges overnight, whereas in kingdom villages dark skinned like me had to decide between breakfast or lunch, as they had no money for both meals.
Once, in the middle of a dinner with the Derderián family, I proposed that we donate food to the villages near the mansion. Everyone at the table burst out laughing.
"My love, you no longer have to worry about ... them ...," Said Marco.
The way he said «them...»
Had they also referred to me that way? Had they also referred to my family that way?
On the day of the tournament of Al-Thule, the family of the Guardian Duke of the Southern Region of the Kingdom of Alba Terra arrived. Dozens of knights gathered outside Al-Varan Castle.
Marco didn't miss the chance to show me off. I didn't feel like his fiancée. I felt like a hunting trophy. Like an exotic animal.
The fact that the firstborn Derderián was promised with a dark-skin was for many a scandal or an unprecedented adventure, depending on who you ask. But it never represented indifference.
I learned through the mouths of my maids that it was said among the dark-skinned neighborhoods that the girls were envious of me. They could not explain how I had managed to "charm" a noble light-skin. It was even rumored that I had used witchcraft.
The truth, I couldn't explain it to myself either.
I sat as a guest of honor on the bleachers of the host family. I felt like everyone was looking at me, judging me with their looks. I listened to the whispers. It was unbearable. Maybe they weren't even talking about me, but I thought they did.
I was clearly uncomfortable, but Marco didn't care. He kept showing that arrogant look. Those eyes that never fully saw you, as if no one is worthy.
«This is going to be my life from now on…»
The tournament started. At least a dozen knights passed. With their armor, shields, and swords. The truth is that so many blows bored me and it made me nervous when they hit each other so hard. I felt like they were going to hurt each other.
Suddenly, an unknown gentleman appeared. In black armor and a covered face.
The black knight defeated opponent after opponent. The audience was in awe of his prowess.
Until one of the champions of the Al-Thule house defeated him. Before leaving, the black knight approached the stands, took out a rose, and handed it to me. I heard a howl of shock from the audience. I was in shock as well. I looked around to make sure the gift was for me. I took the flower between my trembling hands. Oh, Saints!!! I wanted the earth to swallow me.
"But what happens to men, have they gone crazy?" I heard a female voice say close to me.
"She must be enjoying some kind of witchcraft," replied a male voice.
The black knight bowed to me and simply walked away.
I looked at Marco and found that he was giving me a murderous look. I've never seen him so angry.
"I… don't know… who he is…," I tried to explain.
Outraged, Marco got up from his seat and I didn't see him again until the end of the tournament.
Oh, dear Marco. It was going to get worse for you...
CREATORS' THOUGHTS 
LuchinSilva
LuchinSilva If you want to know more about the worldbuilding, trivia, fun facts or see designs of how the characters look like you can follow me on Twitter and Instagram: @imluchinsilva
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Gifts
-- Gift
received Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone