205 A Cold Night
âHeâs proposing?!â One of the maids exclaimed with a surprised gasp, looking awed to see his highness go on his knees, to propose a marriage not just to anyone, but to a human?? Soft murmurings flowed amongst the rest of the servants and their faces expressed shock and delight.
Anna remained still like an unmoved statue, her delicate fingers clutching tightly to her dress, keeping her nervousness hidden as Roshanâs word replayed a thousand times in her head. But along with it came the happiness that streamed through her heart and tingled her poor soul.
âAm I dreaming? Iâm definitely dreaming! This canât be real, I must still be dead and floating in my fantasy world again, that should be the case.â she inwardly told herself with a slight nod, this happiness she felt was too good to actually be true, and she didnât want to come out of her dream state just yet.
Roshan proposing a marriage to her was like a dream come true, not just in front of her, but to everyone as a witness, and no words could describe what this act of his meant to her, it was one she wouldnât forget, even in her afterlife.
Sensing her delay, Roshanâs hope faded a little, he was starting to have second thoughts about her choice of agreeing to marry him, not until she extended her hand forward, grinning from ear to ear and she nodded her head.
âYes.â
âYes what?â He asked with a look of hope, wanting her to complete it and Anna lowered her gaze, feeling all mushy on the inside.
âYes, Iâll marry you.â She shyly added. Roshanâs face brightened at her response and he got to his feet. Holding her extended hand, he slipped the cute ring right in, and it was a perfect fit.
âThank you.â
.....
Leviâs loud clap of congratulation was the first to go round before everyone else joined in, including the maids. Lady Odette didnât seem to approve of it, her face was currently twisted with rage at the abominable show displaying in front of her, but to her greatest shock, Letitia was also clapping for them.
âAre you really in approval of this??â
âWhen will you get rid of your hate, she deserves a chance, just let her be.â Letitia tried to console the Matriarch but she shook her head, unwilling to let herself budge and fall into the spell that silly humans had casted on almost everyone in the Viscarrian Palace.
âI am not giving my consent for this!â She strictly announced, gaining everyoneâs attention and silence returned, âI really canât believe you all are agreeing to this, nothing has gone right with that girl here andââ
âAnd if you utter another outrageous word about my wife-to-be, then you might as well be ready to leave the Viscarrian Palace, cause sheâs going to be the Queen of Viscarrian, with or without your blessings!â
Roshanâs sharp decisive tone threw Odette off guard, he sounded serious with that shocking phrase of his and all Lady Odette could do was stare in disbelief, as though she never expected such attitude from Roshan, needless to think that heâd want her out of the palace.
âAre you really saying that to me, donât you consider your family??â
âHow can I consider you as family when all you do is ruin my chances of getting the happiness I deserve.â He retorted, âyouâre a self-centered, poisonous toad that just hops on peopleâs destruction, but not today Aunt, so you either learn to live with it or get the hell out!â
He pointed at the main door, signifying the way out of the palace if she canât handle his relationship with Annalise.
Meanwhile, Annaâs eyes widened at Roshanâs reaction and how he stood up for her. She already knew the elder lady wonât accept her union with Roshan, she sensed it all even before she said yes to him, but to think Roshan would send her out just so they could be together- her heart canât take all of this.
âThis girl will bring you bad luck!â Odette spoke up, not willing back down, âyouâre so blinded by this thing you call love to not see the truth.â
âI donât care what the truth is,â he snapped at her, âbut the only badluck I see is you, cause you tend to ruin things for me with your stupid laid-out facts, so just shut up and eat them, cause no one wants to hear it.â
âYouâll regret this decision of yours Roshan, and when you realize it, itâll already be too late. Donât say I didnât warn you.â Odette was beyond furious, Roshan had the audacity to speak to her with such disrespect and itâs all because of the witch of a human, else how is she alive??
Eyeing Anna with visible hatred, she walked off and headed up the stairs. Levi and the rest quietly made way for her to pass and when she was out of sight, Levi looked at Gemma who watched him mimic Odetteâs angry walk style and she held back a giggle, covering her mouth with her palm.
Azazel, who wasnât a man known for smiling, felt his lips curve a little at Leviâs imitation of Odette. He intended to look away but his eyes accidentally shifted, meeting the gaze of Calista who smiled his way, and his own smile vanished from his lips.
Calista wanted to say something but he deliberately looked somewhere else, ignoring her completely, but Calista still chose to speak as she moved closer to him.
âUnbreakable iceberg, can you take me back home.â She asked sweetly, her lashes adorably batting at him and even Levi couldnât ignore how pretty the princess of Euphrasia looked.
âAzazel is so terrible with this,â he whispered to Gemma whose eyes narrowed as she watched her favorite Azazel ignoring such a nice lady.
âHeâs even worse than Roshan, if I was Azazel, Iâd sweep the lady off her feet, but again, I feel grateful that Iâm not Azazel, I mean look at herââ
Gemma looked at her brother with one slender brow raised in suspicion, but Levi blocked her ears with his palm before hissing out. âI forgot I was talking to a child, for once I feel glad she canât speak,â he shuddered at the thought of what Azazel would do to him if he heard all these things he said to Gemma.
Downstairs, Anna watched the Matriarch leave the dining room with such vexation, but Roshan blocked her view before Odetteâs rejection could sink into her heart.
âDonât stare too much,â he whispered, âpeople like her will leave your eyes sore, I want your eyes on me Anna, no one else.â
Smiling again, Anna reached out to hug him, and he embraced her, planting a kiss on her forehead and Levi and the rest suddenly crowded them.
ââ
Standing before the window in Roshanâs chamber, Anna stared at the golden ring in her finger, gently rubbing her thumb along the side to feel its smooth texture. There was a small circular gemstone in the middle, adding to the beauty of the ring and Anna found herself smiling.
âAnd whyâs she smiling all to herself?â Came the voice of Roshan who stood behind Anna, and her heart skipped after realizing who it was, leading her to turn around and her eyes lit up at the sight of him.
âYouâre here already.â
âI wish I was here sooner,â he sighed before turning Anna around so they could watch the snow falling outside, as always his hands would link themselves around her waist, pulling her close to him but Anna didnât try to run away from his hold.
The snow falling outside the window was a sight that only started to appear beautiful before Annaâs gaze, the snow continuously fell straight and steadily from the sky, looking like angels that chose to finally visit the earth while falling with such grace and elegance, it was a remarkable sight that left a satisfying sigh escaping from Annaâs lips.
âThe snow is beautiful.â She commented, and when Roshan didnât respond, she continued, âam I dreaming?â
To her surprise, Roshan placed a kiss on her cheek, leaving her eyes to widen and after studying her expression, he shook his head.
âIf it was a dream, youâd have woken up right after I kissed you, so itâs not a dream.â He didnât stop, he continued to drop soft kisses along the side of her face, to her cheek and down to her jawline before going back up to start and Anna shivered from the intimate touch.
âWait-â she freed herself from his hold, and to her surprise he let go. She turned around to look at him, and his intentions became clearer when he placed a hand against the window she was currently backing, trapping her there and it made sense now as to why he released her.
His eyes were burning and before Anna could speak, he hushed her up.
âItâs a cold night,â he uttered sexily, âand I feel cold.â He leaned in, forcing Anna to shift back while pressing her back against the cold glass of the window and she flinched, but forced herself to remain where she was.
âTsk! I guess Iâm not the only one cold,â he teased, âhow about we be each otherâs warmth tonight.â With that being said, the scheming being slowly began to unbutton, and Annaâs face turned scarlet.