Chapter 15: chapter 15

The visiting day with the Gravels had arrived, and Amelia’s parents were busy getting ready. In the early hours of the morning, Amelia's mother was occupied with her usual chores, moving about the house with purpose. The faint morning light filtered through the windows, but there was no sign of Amelia.“Amelia, wake up! We have to get ready!” her mother called out from the kitchen, her voice sharp and clear.No response came from Amelia’s room.Growing irritated, her mother wiped her hands on her apron and stomped loudly toward the room, each step echoing her frustration. She pushed open the door, the creak of the hinges cutting through the silence, and strode to the bed. With a swift motion, she pulled the blanket aside, only to find it empty.“Oh, she’s already woken up,” her mother thought to herself, a mixture of relief and annoyance crossing her face. Straightening up, she began calling out again, her voice carrying through the house.“Amy! Amy! Where are you?”Still, no response.Frowning, she started searching the house. From the kitchen to the garden, even the little corner where Amelia liked to sit with her books, there was no trace of her daughter. Concern began to creep into her chest, replacing her irritation.Finally, she decided to check Lucy’s house, Amelia’s closest friend. Draping a shawl over her shoulders, she stepped outside, the cool morning air brushing against her face as she hurried down the path.Arriving at Lucy’s door, she knocked firmly. A moment later, Lucy opened it, her cheerful face turning curious as she saw Mrs. Risberg.“Lucy, dear,” Amelia’s mother began, her voice betraying a hint of worry, “did Amelia come to you?”Lucy tilted her head, her expression shifting to concern. “No, Mrs. Risberg. Why? She’s not at home?”“No, Lucy,” Mrs. Risberg admitted, her hands twisting nervously in the fabric of her gown. “We can’t find her anywhere. I thought maybe she’d come to see you.”Lucy shook her head slowly. “No, Mrs. Risberg, she didn’t tell me anything about going anywhere. She hasn’t been here.”Mrs. Risberg sighed, the weight of her worry pressing down on her. “Thank you, Lucy. If you  see her, please let us know immediately.”“Of course, Mrs. Risberg,” Lucy said, her face serious now. “I’ll keep an eye out.”Returning home, Mrs. Risberg informed her husband of the situation.Mr. Risberg’s face paled as the news of Amelia’s disappearance settled in. His usually composed demeanor was cracking at the edges, but he took a deep breath, willing himself to stay calm. “Alexis,” he said, placing a hand on his wife’s trembling shoulder, “let’s wait for a while. She might have gone somewhere and will return shortly. Let’s not jump to conclusions.”Though his voice was steady, anxiety churned inside him. Where could Amelia have gone without a word? He glanced out of the window, his eyes scanning the quiet village road, hoping she’d appear any moment.But Amelia had no intention of returning anytime soon.A few days before the visiting day, Amelia had been racking her brain, desperate to find a way to stop her parents from visiting the Gravels. She knew how much the visit meant to them, but something about this marriage filled her with dread. Nicolas Gravel was the son of the Duke of Alden. They were extremely rich, owned a large amount of property, and were powerful in every aspect. It was a golden opportunity for Amelia's parents.If Amelia married into that family, she would be the future Duchess. Their social status would rise, and everything they ever dreamed of would finally be within reach. So it would be a waste of time and effort to try to make them understand that she couldn't marry a man she had met only once. A man whose name sounded heavier with expectations than with affection.She had thought about telling them the truth—how the idea of marrying him felt like walking into a trap. But no words seemed strong enough to shake the excitement in her mother's voice or the satisfaction in her father's eyes. They wouldn’t understand. They wouldn’t even try. She had thought of countless excuses, each one weaker than the last. Nothing seemed convincing enough.Then, an idea struck her. It wasn’t a great idea—in fact, it was reckless—but it was the only way out of the situation. A master plan began to take shape in her mind. If she wasn’t around on the visiting day, there’d be no visit. Simple.So, Amelia decided to disappear.The morning of the visit, long before the first rays of sunlight touched the sky, she quietly slipped out of bed. Moving  silently, she crept through the house, her heart pounding with every creak of the floorboards.She stepped outside, the cool dawn air biting at her skin, and hurried away from the village. Her destination was clear—the forest.Ivar told her he lived there, deep in the woods where the river bends, trees grew so thick they blotted out the sun. Amelia wasn’t entirely sure where to find him, but she was determined to try. He had always been nice to her whenever they met and he is the only one her parents don't know  about , a mysterious but comforting presence, and she felt certain he would help her.She hadn’t told Lucy about her plan. Lucy was her best friend, but she was also terrible at keeping secrets. If Amelia’s mother questioned her, Lucy would crumble under pressure and tell the truth. Amelia couldn’t risk that.