Chapter 1: Holly bells
Guide: VerOnica, AristophАn, RОzenblatt, HОmanine, Kir-'Erdey, Belsamel
"What does that mean, Veronica?!"
Out of anger, the reddened man threw a stack of papers at the girl standing on the other side of the wooden long table. In the room were thick clouds of smoke from cigars that one after another a man smoked before calling his daughter, but it did not help him to calm down. Despite the thick door of the workroom, the girl was sure that this scream was heard in the corridor. A fine scratch appeared on her cheek. A little drop of blood rolled down her white skin. She continued to stand completely undisturbed, until her father again unleashed his rage on her.
"What wedding? Veronica, you're as mad as your sick mother?" Leaning over the girl, he looked into her calm face with glass eyes that in the light of the moon turned red.
"Did you change the walls of your home? Not for someone, but for the dogs of the house of Aristofan? So you pay me for the kindness that allowed you to bear the name Rosenblat??" With every word thrown, the veins on his neck and temple grew stronger.
"Father," her ringing voice sounded in the office. " I'm immeasurably grateful that you have accepted me into the family, but don't think I've done enough? Moreover, is it not a shame to have an unmarried adult daughter from one of the six great families? I'm just concerned about our family's reputation, father. "
The sound of a damp slap sounded across the room. The skinny girl couldn't take it and fell to the floor. Her cheek was burning.
"Reputation!?" he laughed nervously. "Don't jump over your head, Veronica. There's a long-standing agreement between us and the Homanine family. You were engaged to their youngest son for 8 years! And you destroyed it all overnight! Kir-Erdey? Ha! Despite your mother's low pedigree, you are the daughter of the House of Rosenblatt! How could you change your status and messed with them? And now, looking straight into my eyes, you dare to say something about our honor?!" He ran through his teeth, roughly grasping the girl's black hair like a shimmer, staring into her shameless eyes.
Despite the tense situation, she remained calm. On her face appeared a light smile, and eyes glistening with steel.
Another person would bow his head to be forgiven, but if you were subjected to this treatment for the rest of your life, you would eventually stop feeling fear.
"Father, are you asking for a divorce?"
Naturally, she knew that one of the six great families of the Belsamel empire could not afford the luxury of a divorce, despite all the absurdity of the situation. Veronica secretly married without the family's approval, this status is much lower than her family's status. Divorce and even more shame are unacceptable. And they both understood that.
"Damn it!" He yelled, threw the girl away and stood up. "Klaus, come in!"
The door to the office opened immediately. A tall guy in a black shirt came in. Without even looking at his little sister on the floor, he stood beside her, before the table to which their father had returned.
"How can I help you, father?"
"Your useless sister screwed up. We need to deal with this as best we can." Exhausted by his emotional exhaustion, the man rubbed temples while covering his eyes.
"I heard rumors of marriage to Kir-Erdey's second son. Arrange a wedding in the coming days?"
"It would be better to get rid of him and lock up this girl for the rest of her life, but that's only the second son. There's no point in it. It will just cause too much attention."
And he was absolutely right. For the six great families that are the pillars of the empire, there are completely different rules. If a girl marries an heir of lower rank and becomes a widow, she must return immediately to her manor , so as not to cause political controversy. Veronica's chosen man is known only for his military service, no more, so after his death there is not a single reason for her to leave the manor of Kir-Erdey. Her father calculated the risks and possible consequences in a short time, so he chose the safest option - to perform the wedding and get rid of the eye lice.
"I don't want to have problems with Aristophan, much less with the emperor. Arrange a wedding as soon as possible and call the other side." The man gave a chafing look to the girl who had already come up from the floor. "I will not let this crazy girl ruin the family's reputation. Let her get out of here."
"Got it, father."
***
"What's your plan for this one, Veronica?" She didn't leave her father's office until the first big brother came around the corner.
Niklaus Rosenblatt - the heir of the Rosenblatt family. Veronica and him is absolutely nothing connected. All their lives they pretended not to know each other. But even better, everyone is busy with his own business. No sympathy, no hatred.
In general, Veronica didn't consider anyone in this house as her family. They only had the same last name and looked alike. Fun fact: Veronica has another mother, but she's the one who looks most like their father. The same black as oil hair, which each time in the moonlight and sunlight acquired an interesting shade. The same big eyes-chameleons. Sometimes it's like fire, and sometimes it shine purple. The full set of unusual appearance was only her.
"Are you unhappy with something, dear brother?"
The guy came out of the corner, slowly approaching the girl. In the moonlight his calm purple eyes shone.
"It's amazing how you did, considering the ban on leaving the estate. I was thinking!" he said, looking surprised. "Where does your maid go? And she turns out to be your hands, feet, and even mouth. Shouldn't you thank me for not reporting it to my father?
"What kind of nonsense are you talking about?" she scoffed, grinning. "Funny joke, Niklaus. Don't pretend you did me a favor. We were both well aware of each other's movements. You wanted to get rid of me and I left this house. Everyone was left in the plus." Having finished her monotonic monologue, she slowly walked down the cool corridor, echoing the sound of her thin heels.
"I'm okay, " continued the guy, looking at the moving figure. "But will Eric accept it?"
Veronica stood still for a second. Straightening her hair, she straightened her back and moved on.
***
Church bells ringing. There were two in front of the altar. The girl in a white dress with a veil on her face, and next to her a guy on his head above her, with dark-brown hair. He was also wearing a white suit.
"Leon Kir-Erdey, Veronica Rosenblatt, I declare you husband and wife." The priest has finished the ceremony.
The couple turned toward each other. Leon raised his veil and saw his wife's face for the first time. Glowing purple eyes looked at him. He gently covered her lips with his own.