Tangled By Fate

Chapter 549  FORCED ENGAGEMENT

Being separated from Ovior, a forced engagement and imprisonment at her own house were enough to make Dorothy upset. Then, she found out that her fiancé just wanted to use her to climb the ladder. She was devastated and scared.

She ran away from that place, not knowing where she was going. Afterward, she crashed into someone. "Dorothy?" A familiar voice called out. With teary eyes, Doroty looked up and saw Ovior's worried face.

"Why are you crying, Dorothy? What's wrong? Did something happen to you?" He agonized as he cupped her face.

He came to the Royal Library to study for his upcoming exam. He didn't expect to see Dorothy blindly running in the royal compound. She was also startled by the unexpected presence of Ovior. They had recently become lovers and promised to marry him but her parents forced her to be courted by a nobleman who wants to use her for his gain. Seeing the man she loved all of a sudden made her heartbroken.

"Ovior, take me away from here, please," she cried out as she begged.

Although Ovior knew nothing about what happened to her, it was the first time she saw her so devastated. He held her hand and took her somewhere quiet. Nôv(el)B\\jnn

After she calmed down, she told him what happened after their last meeting. Ovior attentively listened to her. his heart ached that she suffered while he was busy studying.

"Dorothy, do you want to run away with me?" he suggested.

She looked at him in disbelief. The boy she liked was never a person who would recklessly do something without a plan. He had a dream and a goal, and he worked very hard trying to reach his goal. His wild suggestion only made her realize that he said it only thinking of her. "We can't, Ovior," she said. "My brother is your friend. I don't want to destroy your friendship just because of this. What will happen to your dream?"

Her worry was worth caring about. Young Master Eckles became friends with Ovior because of his talent. Although Count Ackles didn't like a commoner loitering around his place, he didn't say anything to his son as he adored him so much. Young Master Eckles also trusted his friend. Ovior got to meet Dorothy only because Young Master Eckles created the opportunity.

Who would have thought that his only sister and commoner friend would become a couple under his nose?

Furthermore, Ovior was getting a scholarship from Count Eckles. His recommendation gave him access to the Royal Library where only royals and aristocrats could venture. If they were to run away together, Ovior's dreams and hard work would go to waste. That was something she ever wanted. She squeezed his hand and forced herself to smile. "I can wait for you. I will endure the engagement. If I listen to my parents properly and make them happy, I can request that to move the wedding after two years. This way, you will have time. Focus on your study. After you officially become a magician, you can send the marriage proposal to my father." Ovior stared at her intently. "Are you sure you can push back the wedding?"

Dorothy nodded. He felt helpless. A sense of powerlessness washed over him. He paid no heed to his destitution. With his pride so high like a tower, he always strove for success. He worked hard to get where he was. Nonetheless, his beloved, the only person he cared about broke down and shared her sadness. He realized how insignificant he was. Because of this, he couldn't even do anything to protect her smile. He had to let her get engaged to another man even though he was the one who put a ring on her finger. She had to endure being engaged to a man she didn't even know properly. He was the one who proposed but she was the one who was fighting to be with him.

He never hated his situation more than he did at that time. His pride crumbled.

He embraced her close to his heart and promised, "I will definitely marry you, Dorothy. You don't have to be scared. If things get worse and you are forced to do something you don't want to, I will hide you. I will never let anyone take you away from me."

Dorothy nodded silently in agreement. Her red eyes teared up once again. She bit her lips not to let out her sobs. Afterward, she became obedient and stayed home. Unless her parents took her somewhere, she didn't step outside the gate. Her parents were pleased by her behavior. Soon, she got engaged. After that, her parents didn't stop her from going anywhere.

Finally getting access to go outside, she went to the Royal Library often. Only there she could meet Ovior. After the engagement, Ovior avoided going to the Eckles Mansion. So, the library was the only place they could meet. While Ovior studied, Dorothy would peel apples for him and would feed him. Sometimes, she would even prepare sandwiches or bake cookies for him. She later pleaded so that the wedding was pushed back until she turned eighteen. Although the groom's family didn't want to push the date for another year, she managed to make her mother agree to her request saying her heart would hurt and cry for her parents if she left to get married so soon. She was engaged anyway. If the wedding was after two years, it wouldn't harm anyone. Countess Eckles' heart softened. Although Count Eckles didn't want to push the wedding date for another year, he had to listen to his wife. Dorothy was relieved. She couldn't be happier. However, things went awful on the groom's side. Her future husband started to become rude toward her. He often disrespected her in front of his friend and made fun of her. Since she was too soft to complain or argue, he took advantage of her personality. Sometimes he was rude enough to engage with other females right in front of her without caring for her.