The news—oh, the news. How wonderful! Mari was excited, elevated, and as happy as she hadn’t been for a long time.

  Si, her Si, he didn’t yet respond to her messages, but no wonder, he had to be very busy. No wonder, oh, no wonder. They had seen each other a few days ago, not even a week. He must be busy.

  “Patience, Mari!” she reprimanded herself.

  What a scandal, but of what kind!

  Her family knew before the news was public. That Shadows Young Master announced that the alliance contract would not be fulfilled. That he was about to break off the engagement.

  Reasons unknown.

  Si had said that! Mari at first didn’t believe it when her parents discussed it with each other; she thought it was all just gossip.

  What she received as an answer to that was that her parents said that Domini was not gossiping and that he ordered all the prominent families to meet very early in the morning. Not to tell jokes but to discuss important matters.

  Mari felt embarrassed. Her father, scolding her, was very right to do so. Her comment was not mature enough. Not proper.

  Later, she had a thought that she should work on her behavior. Being the future Shadows Lady demanded from her reasonable responses no matter her excitement or the hour of the day.

  … Mari had punished herself when she was alone in her rooms. She looked at her arm again. Oh, excellent. She needed to be reminded that exquisite behavior was a must if she wanted to be Shadows Lady.

  Regardless!

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  Her Si, he would soon be free of the engagement.

  Free! Mari silently exclaimed; she couldn’t hold it anymore. A minute later she had to punish herself again.

  “Behave,” she reprimanded herself once more.

  She started to pace around her rooms. It was quite a walk; her part of the residence was combined with the rooms of her brother.

  What luck he was dead.

  “Forgive me, my ancestors, but he not only deserved to be punished, but he also deserved to be punished to death,” she murmured to herself.

  Whenever she thought about what Xavier had done, she felt anger. How could he? Her family had to sacrifice many of their resources to cover it up and make everybody forget it.

  She felt sorry for Corja. He was a very unfortunate victim of the whole situation. Though, or him or her family.

  The choice was simple in her mind. But she felt sorry for Corja nevertheless. Recently, she tried again to offer some help, but he rejected it. Mari summarized that it was his choice. She decided to try for the last time, once or twice, but not more. Or, to put it differently. This topic should have evaporated from her mind the moment she became Shadows Lady. Then she would need to look to the future, not linger in these past events.

  Suddenly, she stopped.

  “Oh, Si…” Mari bit her hand slightly to prevent herself from screaming in joy.

  It was because she recalled the dream that she had just that night.

  In her dream, she was Shadows Lady. They were on a walk; everybody was in the streets, and they were all smiling at them. Saying nice words like, 'What a beautiful couple, how beautiful Lady looked today, how Shadows Lord looked happy.' Oh, all the people around were cheering and laughing.

  She, Mari, dreamed about it; these visions were sharp as if they were true, as real as her current self, biting her hand.

  They were on the walk, Shadows’ people were surrounding them, and they were grateful because she, their Lady, the day before had spent her day reading tales to children. 'What a good Lady, how beautifully she read those stories to small kids,' all the comments that Mari heard in her head made her feel good.

  Then, her Lord, her Si, looked at her with love in his eyes. He was deeply in love with his Lady; everyone also said it aloud; everyone noticed, and she, Mari, she could feel it—his love for her. She then thought about how passionate he was, his love, in her dream, and then she…

  Mari had to bite her hand deep; tears showed up in her eyes.

  She was not sure how to handle her emotions. One thing she was certain of, though. It had to happen; she had to have it, this dream.

  “Oh, Si, oh, together, let’s live this fantasy…”