Simone had her arm in his as she held up part of her skirt to descend down the staircase. “Fiance?” There were whispers. Simone had made sure that the paperwork made it to the one who mattered perhaps the most. The leader of the council Lord Varlez. He seemed pleased as he looked up at the Lady of Auclair and the man she brought with her.

Jerome was absolutely dumbfounded and staring at Simone. His mouth was wide open. “You should shut your mouth before insects fly in,” Simone spoke out loud as they passed him. “It might make you look like a fool.” Her words were sharp as Lewis’s arm left hers and snaked around her waist. “I apologize for making you all wait. My fiance wanted nothing but the best today.”

Llywellyn looked more dumbfounded than Jerome but he would wait to hear her grand plan. “Right, we’ve dragged this charade on long enough. Let’s make sure to end this pissing match today,” the new king of Sulwal was fresh to the council and it put a brake on what Jerome was trying to accomplish.

“You look as lovely as your mother did when she used to attend with your father,” Lord Varlez spoke up as he nodded. “It is a shame that your father has passed on.”

“Yes, it breaks my heart,” she looked up at Lewis and gave him a frown as he placed a kiss on her temple as if to soothe her. They were playing it just the right way so far as the chambers opened and Simone took her place standing in front of all eight men. Lewis wasn’t too far from her. There was support but showing that Simone could stand on her own.

“You lied,” Jerome had a few papers as he shuffled through. “Six years ago the lord Jurian Auclair died. The rightful Duke died and you played a charade.”

“It was no charade,” Simone answered coldly. “You broke off our engagement and thrust our house into pure and utter chaos with your nonsense deman–”

“I am not on trial.”

“You will not interrupt me again or so help me I will make sure that mouth of yours doesn’t open again for the duration of this meeting,” Simone put her foot down and left no wiggle room for Jerome. “Again, your nonsense demands for payment lost since you claimed the dowry you got in advance was not enough.” She glared in Jerome’s direction. “Two gold mines that had been in the Monte family for generations were taken from me as ‘payment’. When it was him who broke it off to pursue Lord Godwin’s daughter. My father found poison in his tea not even three days after I rejected to pay. It was fatal. King Avery Mirdai, myself, and my personal maid were the only ones aware of what happened.” She stood strong and addressed the council. “Which means for the last six years I’ve led the Auclair Duchy even better than my father had like he expected me to. I’ve not once made a bad deal. Not once failed on a trade agreement. Not one time did I bring shame upon the Auclair name.”

“She has a very valid point,” one of the other lords spoke up and looked towards Jerome. “While it isn’t normal… She hasn’t brought any dishonor and she has been very good for business.”

“A woman leading a duchy? It’s nonsense at its finest,” Jerome flailed his hand. “Besides we had already petitioned her to be married off when this mysterious Lord Terrowin appeared. How do we even know that he’s a lord? Hmm? Lord Galvin has already written up the document for marriage. You cannot trump that.”

“Oh?” Simone tilted her head. “Martha, my paper, please… It’s the gold sealed one.” One step ahead, she had to stay one step ahead. “May I present this?” Lord Varlez nodded and she brought it up to him.

He broke the seal and looked at the papers inside. “They’ve been engaged six years. Lord Terrowin received a dowry three times as much as you had previously Lord Jerome. Not only that but this is a certificate of marriage validated by the church…”

“As I said, our wedding is set for next month and the church are busy people. We had to submit it early.” Of course, they had signed Lewis’s name as soon as they could and sealed it with aging magic. “I was only informed last night that Jerome had tried to sell me off to Lord Galvin. I cannot be engaged to two people.”

“Lord Terrowin, what do you have to say about all this?” It was Llywellyn who spoke up this time. This man had managed to kidnap her three times but he still couldn’t get their angle.

Lewis watched as Simone talked her way through the men of the council, handling Jerome’s outburst with little grace, but made up for it with fury. It seemed as though the rest of the council did not care for the vitriol towards the man, which Simone seemed to play for an advantage. It wasn’t until; Lewis was asked that he realized he needed to seal the whole deal.

The assassin smiled with the charm of a complete snake. “I must say that my fiance has done quite the perfect job running her dutchy on her own while I attend my own duties. I must apologize on the reasoning behind her having to hide the wedding, for you see it was at my request. I must properly introduce myself…”

He stood up and walked to the foot of the massive council table, and took a bow. Magic swirled around him as his finely tailored close shimmered out of view, replaced with a brilliant, heavy cloak with silver white feathers set into the interior, giving off the impression of wings flowing behind him wherever he walked.

“My name is Lewis Argent Terrowin, the White Raven,” he took an elegant bow as gasps circled about the room. Llywelltn did his best to fake one, but it was to his luck that the rest of the room was far too distracted by the reveal to notice his false surprise.

“I had asked her to wait for our wedding, and keep our betrothal a secret for my line of work. Though…now my hand has been forced. I do hope that there are plans to keep this announcement a secret among the common folk and other lords. It would be impossible for an assassin to be outed like this…”

Jerome had heard tales of the White Raven. To think that Simone would have someone like him in her corner. “Why take interest in a woman like her to begin with? You are a man of opportunity and sure the Auclair Duchy is rich but you could easily have more than her…” Jerome was questioning his motives for wanting the Auclair Duchy.

“A flightless bird isn’t a defenseless bird,” Simone said it softly but clasped her hands and held herself up high. “It is similar to that of the caged rat.”

There were whispers around them now. That phrase was the one that Lady Azure used frequently to dissuade the council from taking a risk against a supposedly weak person. She was normally on point. Martha stepped in with a case as Simone opened it. “Lewis has shown his whole hand so it is only fair that I show mine as well.” She pulled out the familiar feather mask. “As for how we met… If you know then you are privileged to know.” She held it up to her face and looked at them all with her gray eyes. “I am not as blind as others would make me out to be.”

Those who were on Jerome’s side got quiet. “Imagine Lewis’s surprise when he found out,” Simone spoke his name so casually now as she dropped her ass kissing tone. “Of course, you lot do realize the implications of not giving me what I want.”

“Now you’re threatening us? Your useless mask doesn’t help yo–”

Jerome was cut off by someone else on the council, “Be quiet who knows what she knows.”

Simone tilted her head and a smirk appeared on her face, “It would be a true shame Lord Godwin.” Godwin looked in her direction and then looked in Jerome’s way.

“What did you do? What did he do?!” The lord was furious.

“You should probably wed him to your daughter quite fast lest her reputation will never recover,” she put her finger to her lips and smiled. She did a graceful bow, “Lady Azure at your service. Specializing in knowledge that is beyond men.” She always knew things that the lords did not because her methods were quite delicate. A noblewoman’s game was different in the end compared to a man’s.

Godwin was seething towards Jerome. “You will marry my daughter tonight.”

“I AM NOT ON TRIAL. There is no proof,” Jerome yelled and Simone snapped her fingers. Magic sizzled in the air and papers began to fall down.

“Do not be so certain,” Simone put her arm around Lewis’s. “Now, we have a fun evening with a dinner and inspection.” When Godwin saw the papers he started to snatch it away from all the other lords. “Come on my love…” She looked up at him with a blush as she lost her bravado. This would be where she struggled. She placed the mask back in the box and sent Martha off to help Sylva with dinner.

“Lady Auclair you are certainly full of surprises… I can see why the White Raven would take interest in you.” One of the lords commented and Simone curtsied.

“…Was it that or that she kept getting accidentally kidnapped,” Avery had said it just barely loud enough for Lewis and Simone to hear him and got a glare from Simone.

With the council meeting being done, Lewis took Simone’s hand and led her out of the room. He had notice that her bravado had vanished, and that she was starting to show her exhaustion. He smiled as they left the view of the others, taking a moment to pull her aside into one of the empty halls.

“Very well done, little rabbit…” The pet name had somehow stuck. Her bashfulness and inability to face his ‘charm’ head on was like that of a frightened bunny. He glanced around, making sure they were alone. “It did not take you long to control the council. We should have considered a partnership much sooner.”

There were murmurs as a small group of nobles from the council walked by, and out of instinct Lewis pulled Simone into him, hiding her in the shadows as they passed. The sudden closeness of Lewis took her breath away, and when he let her loose, he noticed that her face was a bright red.

He was going to enjoy this far too much.

They retired to the room for a moment, where they were met with Sylva and Martha There wasn’t a second to rest as the two maids went to work on dressing Simone in a new outfit, much to her displeasure, and in an hours time she was nowhere near close to being ready.

Lewis had disrobed from his White Raven attire and was walking about the room shirtless. Mostly it was to keep Simone on edge, but it was also him grilling Simone about the details of their ‘six year’ relationship. They had to have it down pat before the dinner. Jerome would have another chance to disprove their lie, and that meant they had to be perfect.

“We have to-” Simone started.

“Finish each other’s sentences,” Lewis interrupted, proving the point. “We can’t mess up.”

She thought about it and looked at him, “It might actually come in handy that I’m… shy.” She pondered it as the women fretted over what to dress her in. “Just pick one…” Simone was eager to be dressed already.

Martha and Sylva looked at each other and stuck her in a deep plunging black gown that seemed to cling to her. “I take it back!”

“No can do my lady… Look at Lord Lewis, his eyes are glued to you,” Martha spoke. “It is for the best!”

“But it basically shows everything!” Simone whimpered.

“Master, you get the final say… Should she wear it?” Sylva was enjoying this. Lewis looked over and gave them two thumbs up and Simone was bright red again. “We need to change your makeup so if your face could not be red…” It was just a bit longer until she was ready. The maids left Lewis and Simone alone and Simone came up to Lewis. She was grasping at her gown just a bit after watching him put a shirt on.

She pushed herself up and pressed her lips to his neck leaving a mark. “You were so impressed with me that you couldn’t keep your hands off of me.” There was that confidence again. “A reward since being myself is to be so skittish to hide that I’m Lady Azure. Now I need to bring all of it forward and I’m slightly struggling but I will learn. Maybe not the sultry part but you believe I can mesh the two.” After the confidence she got bright red again. “It will help keep our story straight… I think…” She looked away from him shyly.

Lewis smirked as she talked about their ‘story’ and why he had a mark on his neck. “We have time. No need to fake…” He pushed her against the wall, his mouth only inches from hers. “We don’t even need to take the dress off. We can….work around it.” He could tell that she was breathless. “Well little rabbit…how about it?”

Simone stared at him wide-eyed for a moment, almost terrified to give an answer. Almost, being the key word. It was only a few seconds longer before she was nodding her head yes, excited for what was coming next…

—

Sylva and Martha were fantastic together. It was incredible how well they synched when they started working. The rest of the staff was almost in disbelief as the two danced and weaved about the kitchen, preparing the night’s feast with minimal effort needed. The rest of the staff was almost unnecessary.

It was when they saw Lady Simone and Lewis that they stopped in their tracks, shocked at what they were seeing. Lewis’s hair was a complete mess, and there were clear marks on his neck. Of course, he made it out better than Simone did. There were scratch marks all down her arms and exposed back, and bite marks that could clearly be seen on her chest and neck. Her hair was an absolute wreck, and her dress was no longer straight, with wrinkles and folds where they shouldn’t be.

“M a s t e r L e w i s,” Sylve said slowly, her eyes clouding over with rage. “What. Did. You. Do.”

“Made it convincing,” Lewis responded with a half smirk.

Simone was in Lewis’s arms as he carried her small form. She was hiding her face and she was blushing so much her arms were even turning red. She had really liked it though and she would never deny Lewis if he wanted her. “My lady! Please tell me this wasn’t your idea…” Martha looked at the duchess and Simone peeked through her fingers.

“I… Didn’t say no,” Simone was sheepish.

“To the table at once!” Martha and Sylva yelled. The lords and their wives were all sat down waiting once more. Simone was once more hiding herself this time she put her face in Lewis’s neck.

“…You’re late,” Jerome spoke but he saw how marked Simone was and looked furious.

“We spent so much time on your hair… and your dress,” Sylva and Martha brought a brush and makeup into the dining room.

“But… Everyone is watching…” Simone was blushing.

“Master Lewis should have restrained himself!” The women yelled and Simone hid her face again but Lewis was smirking. “Put her into her chair.”

“What if I want her in my lap?” Lewis was teasing her and Simone reacted as such.

“…Later?” Simone looked up at him.

“How can I deny that look?” Lewis teased her with a kiss as Simone turned a different shade of red. He put her down in her chair where Martha and Sylva assaulted her.

They were fixing her makeup and her hair. “What about Lewis?” Simone looked at his messed up hair.

“He’ll survive,” the women said in a salty tone as they scooted her chair in and Simone looked Pristine aside from the bite marks.

“You both are so passionate,” one of the wives spoke up and Simone blushed. “I knew Lady Simone was shy but this shows so much. It’s always been cute when you’ve reacted.”

“Please, it's embarrassing,” Simone laughed a bit. “Lewis just likes watching me react to him.”

“You’ve always been against giving up your chastity,” Jerome quirked his eyebrow at her, “What changed your mind?”

“That’s… certainly a question,” Simone looked uncomfortable. “I can’t help myself with him.” She scratched her face lightly as she thought about it. “He also likes watching Sylva and Martha torture me with dresses. I suppose what I’m saying if that… He likes me for me and that makes me more comfortable to give him my everything.” That much was true.

Lewis kept watching Jerome who was staring at Simone. Simone had always worn dresses that were very conservative but right now she was in a tight black halter. It was sexy even with her small body. So… Lewis moved her chair and picked up Simone putting her on his lap.

“Master!” Sylva put her hands on her hips.

“I missed her,” Lewis put his lips to the top of her head and Sylva knew he was doing it to be difficult.

“How will… we eat?” Simone looked up at him with a blush.

“We can feed each other.”

Simone gave him a look and nodded, “Alright.”

“You… Are just going to let him do whatever he wants?” Llywellyn was dumbfounded.

Simone wanted to hide away and blushed more, “I can’t say no to him?”

“I’ve seen you take down men his size before,” Avery pointed out. “You are so docile with him.” Both of the men were amused.

Lewis took his time feeding Simone the appetizers as Llywllyn and Avery poked fun at Simone’s new predicament. The more they spoke, though, the angrier that Jermone seemed to get. Watching his face turn red was almost as fun as feeding Simone, but Lewis knew that there was an explosion coming, and he was more than prepared.

“How dare you show such lewd acts in public display,” Jerome exclaimed, pointing at Lewis. “I demand that you-”

“Demand what of me!?” Lewis' eyes went cold, and he stared past Jerome’s eyes and into his soul. “What would a pathetic man of your stature demand of me in my home? You storm into my manor and speak out of turn!?”

“This is Simo-”

“You will address her properly,” Lewis replied sharply. “Or not address her at all.”

Jerome was quiet for a moment. “Lady…Auclair…”

“It may be her manor, but as I am her fiance…this is as much my home as it is her’s, is it not?” the assassin continued, not giving Jerome a chance to speak. “You will not tell me how to act in my own home. If you have a problem, you can leave.” He nodded to Sylva and Martha at his sides. “Sylva and Martha both can escort you out if you have a problem….”

Jerome looked back down his plate. “There is no problem…” It was obvious that there was, but he wasn’t willing to fight it at this time.

Simone was meek with Lewis and it was different from the show she had put on during the council meeting. The duchess tugged at Lewis gently and he looked down at her after his big thing with Jerome. “Yes Rabbit?”

The nickname made her blush more but she pulled him down gently and kissed him. “Thank you,” she gave him a sweet smile. The wives were in awe of how dominating Lewis had been with Jerome to how gentle he was being with Simone now.

“Mmhmm,” Lewis gave her a smirk.

“You both are so precious together!” One of the Lord’s wives struck up a conversation with Simone now. “I could never been this open with my husband in public.”

“It’s hard because it’s our first time together like this,” Simone smiled at the wife. “Because we had to hide our engagement and the frequent land inspections by Sir Jerome… We haven’t been able to spend a lot of time together. Mostly letters.”

“I will apologize on Sir Jerome’s behalf,” the leader of the lords spoke up. “No one authorized those land inspections nor even realized he was doing them. For the distress this has obviously caused you the mines that the Montes possessed will be returned to you.”

“What?!” Jerome put his hands on the table.

“You broke off your engagement and ran away with the dowry. Then, unknown to the rest of us, you extorted her. That is not going to go unpunished. She was right to hide her father’s death from you. She is a better business partner in the long run.”

“Thank you,” Simone bowed her head and Jerome was seeing red.

“You… We were engaged since we were six. You never even let me kiss you in private,” Jerome was seething. “And yet you let this man take everything.”

Simone tilted her head, “I trust him. I never trusted you. You were a snake even as a hatchling. I was right never to give you my precious moments considering you left me high and dry as soon as something better came along.”

“And what makes you think he won’t leave you when something better comes along? Hmm? You’ve always been plain,” Jerome caused Sylva and Martha to move but Simone put her hand up and smiled up at Lewis.

“I don’t think he would ever replace me. I might be plain to you but he’s always looked at me in a different light even since the first time we met face to face. And I won’t deny that the first time we met masked that there wasn’t a connection of some sort. The man under the mask was just as precious as the masked one that’s aided me over the years. You could say I was in love with both of them before we realized who each other was. It made it all the more sweeter.”

The women were scooching in and hushing Jerome down, “Was Lady Auclair that much different when she was masked? What was she like?!”

Lewis smiled. The fact that most of the nobles and their wives were on board was a massive win in their court. He cleared his throat for story time.

“The day we met was like any other night. I donned my mask, and walked in…”

The story went as expected, but he embellished certain parts to make it more romantic. The wine wasn’t just any old wine, it was a ‘good year’, the food wasn’t the boring stuff they always served, it was ‘fine dining under the candlelight.’’ It was as if it had truly been ordained by the stars. The story turned into an almost night of passion, where it was interrupted before anything could happen. The women were practically sitting on the edge of their seats, and when the interruption came, several of them scoffed and rolled their eyes at the tease.

The dinner continued with more light conversation as the main course was served. At first bite, everyone was stunned into silence at the taste. Even Jerome could not find any flaw in the food.

“Perfect as always, Sylva.”

Sylva smiled and curtsied. “Of course, Master Lewis. Ido share the praise, though, with Miss Martha as well. Please do remember that we worked together on this wondrous meal.”