Chapter 838: Leaving For Husband’s Home
The wedding was over and so did all the formalities towards guests by Duke Guan. The guests started to leave to return to their homes.
When Arlan and Oriana were leaving, Aaron, Lucian’s family, and Arthur came to see him off.
"WHere is Nathan?" Arlan asked.
"He already left," Aaron replied, "he asked me to inform you."
Arlan hummed and faced Arthur, "Don’t worry too much. Everything will be fine."
Arthur could only nod and said, as he looked at Oriana, "Take care on the way."
Oriana offered a nod, and he said again, "Evie wished to come here, but she is caught up with some other matters."
"I understand," Oriana replied, "Send her my good wishes."
Meanwhile, Erin hugged Oriana, "I felt like we didn’t get enough time together."
"I felt the same. But, you should consider coming to Karlin so we will have more time together."
"I will come to see your baby," Erin said, "By the time Arria will be old enough to travel for long."
Finally they left.
Aaron talked to Arthur. "When will you come to send your sister?"
"They are talking about sending her from here instead of returning to Karlin. It would be a long journey for her," Arthur said, "So they are preparing everything already."
"I will wait for you there," Aaron assured, "and I will make sure Nathan won’t make any scene."
Arthur hummed, looking utterly defeated as a brother and a friend.
"Lord Clarence," Erin said, "Do not worry about Evie. I am there for her."
"Thank you," Arthur responded softly.
The north-east people left while Arthur returned to his guest mansion.
His mother and aunt, Duke Guan’s wife, were preparing things to send with Evie, who was leaving the next morning. Her clothes, jewellery, everything she needed and a dowry with her.
Evie was silently sitting in her room, not bothering with the preparation.
"Evie, is there anything else that I must pack for you?" her mother asked, busy instructing the servants.
She shook her head as she stood by the window, looking at the birds on the tree.
After a few hours, they finally finished, as servants carried the heavy wooden trunks outside the room.
Evie’s mother finally went to her, who was now sitting idly on the bed. The mother and daughter were finally left alone.
"Evie," her mother called softly.
She looked at her mother and heard her, "I know everything is happening so fast. Even I am not comfortable with it, but who will tell your father? You must be disappointed in us. I wanted to have a grand wedding for my daughter."
"Mother, I do not wish for a grand wedding. I am fine with how it is," Evie said calmly, holding her mother’s hand. "You do not need to feel bad about anything."
She stared at her daughter for a moment and said, "I know you have been a good daughter, but I wonder if this is right for you. My heart somehow can’t be at peace. Are you truly happy?"
Evie pulled out a light smile. "I am."
"But your eyes, they don’t tell me you even feel anything about this marriage," her mother caressed her cheek. "Will you tell me what’s in your mind? Do you not like Nathaniel as your husband?"
"Mother, there is nothing in my mind at all. I am just at peace and looking forward to moving ahead. That’s it. About Lord Nathaniel, I don’t know him much, so I have no opinion about him. But then, that’s how it would have been, whoever I would have married, isn’t it?" Evie squeezed her hands gently. "Do not worry about me, Mother. I will be fine. And I am grateful for your care and love you have always shown me. I am going to miss you."
"I will miss you as well." Her mother’s eyes turned teary. "And I am grateful to have you as my daughter. I wish I could do more for you."
Evie wiped her mother’s tears. "I am content with what I already have."
The mother and daughter hugged.
Arthur, standing outside, heard the talk but didn’t dare enter the room. His eyes turning moist, he left.
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The next morning, the convoy of the Clarence family was ready to leave for the North-East, to reach Nathaniel’s estate. Arthur led it as he had to send his sister to her now new home, her husband’s home.
He sat in one carriage, while Evie sat in another with one of her personal maids, Kara, who was sent with her to serve her.
It took three days to reach there as Guan Province wasn’t far from the North-East. And with new short ways found and created by the lord of the North-East, it became more convenient, with multiple stops where they could rest during the journey.
The evening they reached Nathaniel’s estate, Aaron and Lucian were there to welcome them. Knowing Nathaniel’s unhappiness with this marriage, no one had expected any good reaction from him.
Lucian welcomed them on Nathaniel’s behalf and as the Lord of the East, while Aaron was with Nathaniel.
"Nathan, you have to be there," Aaron said to the man who was busy drinking wine.
"I didn’t ask them to come here," Nathaniel said, having a sip of wine, his expression annoyed.
"As per custom, you need to welcome your bride personally or she can’t enter the home," Aaron reminded him. "You can’t dishonor the lady of your home."
"Aaron, I told her I don’t want it, but she insisted, so it’s not my fault," Nathaniel said in a bored tone. "She is here on her own wish, so she can do the rest on her own."
Aaron let out a deep sigh, his voice strict now. "If you don’t go right now, I will send her back for sure, but at the same time I will go to your father."
Nathaniel finally looked at him. "My father wasn’t enough, now my best friend has started blackmailing me."
"I have to, so you can do the right thing," Aaron said. "You can’t blame everything on her. She had to follow her father’s wish as well. Now get up, or I am leaving you, and that you wouldn’t like."
"Damn it!" Nathaniel smashed the glass on the floor and stood up.
"After you," Aaron gestured to him to walk ahead and followed him.
