Payne escorted me to his study but I just couldn't stay put and started in front of the door:
"I don't want to marry you. I already told you."
Payne didn't say anything and opened the door for me.
"Hey, did you hear me?
-Yes.
-If you heard me, you should have answered.
-I apologize.
-So what is your answer?"
He followed me inside the study and pulled a chair for me:
"I don't want to sit down. Answer my question.
-Would you like some tea?
-No! I don't want tea! I want answers!"
Payne sighed before sitting down behind his desk. He was so calm that it was driving me crazy:
"Why are you being so calm? I told you that I didn't want to marry you!
-I thought we already agreed on this matter.
-And why would you ever think that?
-We agreed that you signed the contract.
-But...
-Given the contract and Her Highness's approval, there is nothing we could do against this union.
-Of course there is! You are the Duke! You could have convinced the Temple to give you more time!
-I didn't want to.
-What? Why?"
I quickly added:
"Don't you dare say that it's because you love me."
Seeing that Payne wasn't answering made it hard to keep my cool.
"You!
-You told me not to say it."
I forced myself to take a breath.
"I told you that I just needed a few weeks here and I would leave.
-The contract binds us together.
-You should have destroyed it! Why bother keeping that? It's crazy! You are on the losing end!
-I am satisfied with the contract.
-How can you be so stupid?"
Payne didn't even flinch.
"The date is already set. In a week, we will hold the wedding.
-A week?"
I thought I would faint. I let myself fall on the chair. I still didn't understand how that stupid contract got here in the first place and I still didn't know how to get rid of it. And now, I learned that I only had a week to figure everything out? It was way too short! And even the silhouette was nowhere to be seen. What could I do?
"That's rushed. You clearly need more time to organize a wedding.
-Everything will be ready by then.
-You can't plan an entire wedding in a week.
-I can't, indeed."
My shoulders relaxed a bit.
"Finally some common sense.
-That is why I started planning as soon as I found the contract.
-What?
-Do not worry. You will have the grand wedding you deserve. You will be satisfied.
-I won't! Because you are the one I'm marrying!"
Payne flinched.
"I will do everything to make you happy.
-You can't. The only way I would be happy is if you canceled the wedding.
-That I cannot do.
-You!"
I looked at the stupid box with the stupid contract. Everything was because of that. I could feel all my rage be directed towards the paper and hit it with all my might. I knew that I wasn't strong enough to break the box but a little part of my brain hoped that my anger would be enough to make a miracle happen. Payne was faster however, because he placed his hand under mine, protecting it from the impact. Seeing him protect me angered me even more and I pushed him back:
"Don't touch me!"
I turned around and started running away.
"I do have some questions concerning the organization of the wedding.
-Figure them out yourself! I don't want to see your stupid face!"
I ran away as fast as I could and didn't turn back once. I really needed to calm down. I felt as if my entire body was being filled with lava. I couldn't look at anything without wanting to smash it on the ground. I had to calm down. But how? Nothing was working out the way I wanted. That stupid contract. That stupid Duke. That stupid wedding. That stupid silhouette. Where was it when I needed it most? Everything was because of it! It was the one that didn't keep its word. Nothing would have happened without it. I shouldn't even be back here in the first place.
Before I could think I found myself in the library. That was where I spent most of my time with Adaranth in the past and smelling the books did calm me down a bit. I rushed to a deserted corner and sat down rocking myself back and forth. I had to find a solution. I wanted to leave. That was the plan. I was supposed to stay a bit and leave with Ranti. I couldn't marry the Duke. I hated him with all my heart.
"I can't marry him. I can't marry him. I can't marry him."
But what could I do? Payne didn't want to destroy the contract and it was protected by a spell that only let him through. I couldn't reason with that man. He was way too stubborn. I had to find another way but what?
"I could really use your help right now, silhouette! It's time you finally showed yourself!"
Silence.
"Seriously! Where the hell are you? Have you abandoned me? What? Because your plan didn't work out? That's all on you! I did everything you said! If you want things to work out you should help me!"
Having still no answer, I laid against the shelf. I did feel a bit better after screaming and my thoughts finally cleared up a bit. I had a week. It was way more than enough. A week was the perfect time to convince Payne to let me go. And if he didn't want to, I would use his family against him. After all, they hated me more than anyone. Everyone would have been happy to see me leave. It was going to be okay. I was going to find a way like I always did.
I felt my heart finally calm down and looked around me. This place reminded me of Vance.