Chapter Thirteen

Primed, polished, and pristine. These are the conditions that Mariaisabelle has been put through her entire childhood. During this time, she thought that her father and mother were in love.

And she wanted that.

Mariaisabelle craves the feeling of stability. She was meant to believe that her purpose in life was to be married off and have plenty of children. And she was okay with that. Her naivety made her believe that she could find love.

And like her mother, she was set to marry and the age of thirteen. Her husband-to-be was Jaque Beaulieu. The son of a potential partner to her father, Strozo.

Jaque could be best described as a manchild. However, he was not malicious. He fancied sweets, making his physique moderately overweight. But he entertained the fair lady. He knew how to make Mariaisabelle laugh. His company was very much enjoyable. And over some time, Mariaisabelle accepted her fate and lost her virtue to Jaque.

As previously mentioned, her mark of stability appeared below her naval. Mariaisabelle assumed that its location was due to the conceived child.

Everything seemed to go well for Mariaisabelle. She was due to marry Jaque in one month. And later on, have her first child. However, tragedy struck when Jaque succumbed to his illness of the cold.

Mariaisabelle distinctively remembers the burning sensation from her mark. It was the last thing that she felt before passing out.

When she woke up, she was in her chambers. Even though it didn't show, she knew that her child was gone. Her father was on her side, yelling at her for failing to have an heir from Jaque. He kept screaming at how useless he was to her. Mariaisabelle's duty for her father failed.

She was deemed used and useless.

However, her mark and child were not known to the public. So she was eligible for another arranged marriage. But her mother refused for her to be married off so early. This small act of defiance is what Mariaisabelle believes ended her parents' marriage.

Mariaisabelle would go on and continue to not go to the seasonal balls. Each time her father, Stronzo Cattivo, insists, her mother would stop him.

And every time, it resulted in Mariaisabella receiving a beating from the resentful man. The screams from her mother at night kept replaying in her nightmares.

Mariaisabelle, at the age of nineteen, was going to attend her last seasonal ball. If she did not go, then marriage would not be an option for her. Mariaisabella, weak from the years of abuse, finally allowed her to attend.

She, along with her two younger sisters, was going to Paris. They were finally going to make their father proud. However, everything changed when Mariaisabelle's mother showed them the path to their new future.

Mariaisabelle was very upset at the time. This, to her, was the last chance of fulfilling her purpose. But, she still followed her mother regardless.

But now, Mariaisabelle knows that her mother did it to protect them. The eldest daughter finally sees the error in her cruel and cynical father. And thanks to her, Mariaisabelle feels like her old life was nothing more than a facade.

𝓗𝓮𝓻 𝓮𝔂𝓮𝓼 𝓱𝓪𝓿𝓮 𝓯𝓲𝓷𝓪𝓵𝓵𝔂 𝓫𝓮𝓮𝓷 𝓸𝓹𝓮𝓷

The howling night cascades over the small farmhouse. Mariaisabelle was supposed to help Emerenziano hoard off pests, then return to the house. But instead of going home, she decides to stay with the older man. Both of them are sitting on the porch having a nice conversation. During the warm night, the farmer brings a bottle of wine.

The woman chuckles as he grabs some glasses and pours her a drink. This is the most uncivil way to drink such a concoction.

But Mariaisabelle finds the action endearing.

Hours go by, and both of them are flushed with a tone of befuddled pink. Both of their guards loosen, and they sit closer together. The woman leans her head on the man's shoulder.

"You know," The comfortable silence is broken by Emerenziano's voice. "I have never felt this way since my wife, Donna," Emerenziano admits. Mariaisabelle turns to face him as he continues.

"Her real name was Valeriano. But I called her Donna. And she was the love of my life. Donna was beautiful and strong. She even helped around with the farm with me. However, Donna met her untimely end when she gave birth to Emery," Emerenziano's sad tone tells Mariaisabelle that his time of grieving has passed.

"Her final words to me were how much she loved me and how I can live without her. On that same day, I made a promise to never love another woman again. But it seems that I am breaking that promise," Mariaisabella's cheeks flush at the farmer's admission. Emery was right the entire time. Emerenziano holds feelings for her as well.

The walls around Mariaisabelle begin chipping apart. And a wave compels her to kiss the man.

The kiss is short and sweet, but the spark is electrifying. When they break apart, Marisiabelle leans her head onto his forehead.

She is willing to tell Emerenziano everything.