“You need to calm down, Hazel. Maybe it is a chance for you to get out of these four walls and find your happiness with a man who will cherish you!” Hazel looked at Anne with wide eyes.

How could she speak out that loudly in front of the emperor? Was she not afraid that he would kill her?

Her head snapped to her father, but surprisingly there was no reaction on his face as if he did not hear her! A frown formed on her face as she looked at her father with a confused look!

“What is it? Are you not happy that I am going to marry you?” he asked in a cold voice as the warmth on his face dissipated, and Hazel realised that he had heard Anne, he had just decided to feign ignorance conveniently.

But she also realised that she did not have any choice but to accept the marriage for now. Or else her father would be furious. She was sure that the man did not love her to show her any sympathy. It would be better for her that he thought that she was an obedient person before she could come to a decision.

So, she bowed her head and shook it._.

“No father! How could that be. I am just surprised at the sudden news.” her voice was meek and her head was bowed that surprised the ego of the man sitting in front of her.

He nodded with a pleased smile on his face.

“That is fine! You still have some time left. You will get married on the day of your coming of age and will travel to the family of your husband on the very same day.

So, start your preparations. I would arrange for a teacher for you in the garden to come and teach you some etiquette of a noble lady.” she wanted to laugh at his thoughtfulness. Only now did he remember that she needed to be taught too.,

But then could it be that she was getting married to a higher noble that was why he was putting some effort even if it was minimal. As she was sure that he would not have taken that much initiative if it had been anyone commoner who could offer him a good deal.

But then there was a chance that she was the second wife of any old fat noble who was already the father of children older than her? Or else who would want her as his wife!

She was even surprised that someone other than the royal family knew about her existence too!

“Since there is nothing else, I would take my leave first!” he stood up ready to leave, without even giving a single look to the table that was filled with all types of dishes by Anne.

Only I knew how much hard work she had done in preparing them. Poor girl! I did not have the prowess to teach my father a lesson.

“Wait!” I remembered I still did not know anything about my husband , not even his name. Then how would I decide whether I should marry him or not.

After all, I did not want to end up getting tormented by the main wife all my life and shed tears while hiding in my room only to get molested by a sleazy man.

Only the thought made my skin crawl and I shivered badly.

The man gave me a side glance with his indifferent eyes yet his face filled with annoyance.

He did not look pleased that I had stopped him in his tracks, but it was a matter of my whole life.

“Hazel!” Anne called me in a worried voice but I gave her an assured look. It would be fine to ask about the name of my husband. Right?

But when he looked at me giving an assured look to a maid, his frown only grew further. He stomped his feet in annoyance as he turned completely to look straight into my eyes.

“Would you even speak? Why have you stopped me?” his chilly voice rose all the hair of my body. But i gulped the fear and replied in a clam voice,

“Father, i think you forgot to tell me the name of my future husband.” I asked in a meek voice but a smile started to form on his cold face but it was neither pleasant nor warm!

“Do you even know the names of a few nobles, huh? How would you even know who he is even when I tell you his name?” he asked as he titled his head while his gaze bore hole in my heart.

‘How could he be so heartless? Did he even look at me as his daughter.’ she wiped the sweat forming on her hands as she looked at the worried face of Anne, her only friend and family.

“I still want to know the name of the man I am going to spend my whole life with!” Hazel replied in a low but confident voice as she looked at the man with resolute eyes.

Though she had never met a single noble all her life, she had read all the books that existed in the empire. She had even read the books issued by the royal family that contained the details of all the nobles many times that she knew everyone by heart.

A single glance at them and she would be able to recognize all of them.

The man looked at the stubborn girl with a smrk, even if she knew the name or the person, it was not like she could change her future!

If she tried to do something funny, the man was capable of feeding her even from the depth of hell, She was bound to him the day he had annouced her as his future wife, that even gods could not change the decision yet the girl was trying to outsmart him. how funny!!

“Rafael Casanova de Carta”