Chapter 148: A fool’s paradise.
After the untimely demise of her mother, Lettice York had stayed at Stormwind, she was neither a servant nor a relative of Roland’s. In a way, she was an unofficial ward that he had been taking care of since he was a teenager. Lettice was only six years younger than Roland, four and two currently.
Roland had given her every advantage and treated her with kindness, raising her as if she was a noble lady. As the years passed Lettice York’s admiration for Roland grew into something far more dangerous: a deep, unspoken love.
She always watched him from afar with admiring eyes, accompanied him on his morning rides during which time they sometimes watched the sunrise. She often took walks with him along the shores of the sea.
Every decision she made was about him. All of her education was dedicated to helping him manage Stormwind, as his right hand woman.
Lettice’s heart always fluttered at Roland’s every word and gesture. In her mind, she wove fantasies of a future where they would stand side by side, not as ward and guardian, but husband and wife. She was aware that the position of main wife would have to go to a titled lady and as much as she did not like it, she was willing to concede and give it up.
She had convinced herself that they could be like the king, queen and Rina. Roland as king, with a queen he did not love but needed for politics, to appease the nobles and her as the beloved secondary consort who owned his heart.
Lettice lived in a fool’s paradise, her dreams were foolish and when news came to Stormwind of Roland’s wedding, her heart had shattered. When it was announced that he would not take a secondary consort, a dagger was taken to her heart.
When Roland didn’t bring Sigrid to his fief, Stormwind, her hope was reincarnated. If he loved or recognized her as his wife, surely he would have brought her and introduced her to his businesses and tenants. So, Lettice continued on dreaming, weaving a fictional life with him.
That dream had been ripped apart when Roland showed up with Sigrid today. Not just her, but her family too. He had taken her on a tour of Stormwind, held her hand, hugged her in public and he was now locked in the bedroom with her, laughing happily.