- No mother please spare me - shouted I, holding my mother's hands, trying to make her change her mind.

- I'm sorry my dear, but your father has already decided - replied her, looking at me powerless.

I looked at her with tears in my eyes and after I realized that there was nothing I could say to make her understand, I ran away crying. My long flowy dress was bordering the ground while I was quickly going up the stairs, trying to arrive to my rooms.

A few guards and a sloppy maid looked at me worried while I was running across the castel's corridor, but they didn't dared to talk to me. They never did. They couldn't, I was the duchess of the prestigious duchy of Milan and even looking at me in the eyes made them feel fearful. 

Lots of them envied me, they thought that beeing me must be easy, but it wasn't at all. Beeing a part of the nobility of the 1500's was more complicated that it seemed. Deep inside, under all the beautiful dresses and the precious jewels, I was just an eighteen years old girl, looking for a friend where seemed to be none. 

When I reached my rooms, I slammed the door behind me and I threw myself on the bed, where I immediatly strarted crying. I couldn't believe what my family was doing to me, what my father was doing to me.

Arrange a marriage without even telling me! What was I? An object that they could sell to the highest bidder? Did I mattered so little to them?

I didn't want to do it, I didn't want to get married to a spoiled English young man that I had never seen before. How could I ever get married to a stranger? Two people should get married if they love and respect eachother, not because is convenient for their families and their stupid political alliances.

I was lying on the bed when someone knocked heavily at the door, making me startled.

- Who's there? - asked I, trying to hide my shaking voice, caused by all that crying.

- Fredrerick the guard my lady, your father requires your presence immediatly - said him from behind the door.

- I'm not keen on seeing him at the moment - replied I strongly.

- I'm afraid that wasn't a question, my lady - said him before opening the door.

Since I couldn't do anything else, I stood up and I followed the guard in the main room, the sumptuous saloon where my father liked to recieve his guests or when he was in a particularly good mood, even his family.

- Juliet my dear - said him when he saw me walking into the room - come greet your father  - 

- Greeting you goodbye you mean dear father? Because I've heard that you want to send me away - replied I in a very unkindly way.

- Don't say that my dear. I arranged for you to get married to one of most powerful young man in all England; his father owns almost all the south lands of it. This marriage would bring us great prestige - said him looking at me.

- Father, all you care about is money. Don't you care about me? I will be miserable and unhappy if I marry him, I know that - cried I, trying to make him understand.

- Don't be silly, you don't even know him! - said him serious.

- That's my point sire, I can't marry someone I don't know. I can't and I won't - replied I.

- Yes you will! This union between our family and his one, is extremely important, daughter dear. You see... - said him thoughtful - our duchy is in danger. France is trying to conquer us and we don't have enough money to build a strong army. Your marriage, would bring us the English's protection - 

- But father... - tried I to say.

- Don't you want me and your mother to be safe? Don't you want all of your friends and your family to survive? Or do you want us to be slaves of the French's? - said him, looking at me in the eyes.

He was a very persuasive man when he wanted to; he knew my weaknesses and he was using them against me. Despite everything, I could never allow someone to put in danger my faimly and the people I cared about. If this was the sacrifice I had to make to save our duchy, my duchy, I must do it then.

- I'd do anything to protect you and our duchy, father - said I, trying to hide the tears that were marring my eyes.

- You are a good girl my dear - said him getting up and coming near me - Tonight, I organized a big banquet for you to meet your future husband, so make sure you put on a beautiful dress to show everyone your beauty - finished him, kissing my hands.

After the meeting with my father, I went back in my rooms, where my manservants were already preparing the dress and the jewelry for tonight's event. I sat down on the bed, trying to think clear but a million of thoughts were crowding my mind. I knew that I was doing the right thing for my duchy, but was I doing the right thing for myself? Well at that point, I wasn't sure that it counted anymore.

I needed an advice, someone to talk to, someone who could understand me. 

- Fredrerick - said I to my faithful guard - go call lady Diana, tell her that it's urgent - .

Diana was my most trusted friend, she always knew how to give me a good advice and I knew that especially in this situaion, she would have helped me a lot since she was going through a similar situation too. A few weeks ago in fact, her family arranged a marriage between her and sir Oliver, the oldest son of the Dubh Linn's lord, the richest duchy in Ireland. She wasn't that happy about it neither at first but then, when she met her future husband, she started to change her mind saying that he was a very kind young man who made her laugh a lot. Who knows, maybe I might be lucky as well, maybe I may actually love my future husband.

Those were my thoughts when I heard my guad's voice and immediatly after that, a knock at the door.

- You may come in - said I, hoping to see my friend's face.

My prayers were answered because as soon as the door opened, I saw lady Diana's beautiful face smiling kindly at me. She walked in, and she sat down on the massive wood bed that I owned. 

- Oh, dear friend - said I hugging her - I'm so glade you could come to my rescue -

- There's no need to be rescued friend dear. I've heard the news but don't worry, nothing bad is going to happen to you - said her with a reassuring voice.

- You don't know that, you don't know who am I going to marry! He could be less than a gentleman, he could... - tried I to say, before she interrupted me.

- I do actually my dear, my family and I are hosting him and his family at our mansion throughout their stay here - said her trying to calm me.

- You are? Oh what a lovely piece of news. I beg you dear friend, in the name of love, tell me about the man that I am to marry soon - begged I, trying to maintain a little bit of self-control.

- There's no need to beg me my lovely friend, I will gladly tell you what you asked me to. The man that you are going to marry seems a kind man. I watched his demeanor in these days and he is very kind with his sister and mother and he doesn't abuses of his power against his servants. But despite his kindness of heart, I must admitt that he has a quet particular manners - said her smiling.

- What do you intend? - asked I curious.

- You see my dear, he has a quiet vibrant personality. His strange accent sometimes makes incomprehensible the words he says and he acts silly quiet often; plus, the way he eats isn't exsactly indicated for a nobleman. I must admitt that he is funny - answered lady Diana, laughing. 

I started laughing too. Her description of this man sounded very likely but I wanted to know more about him, I wanted to know as much as I could.

- And tell me my dear, is he handsome too? - asked I.

She looked at me laughing - Well if you want my honest opinion, he's quet funny in his appearance too. His curly brown hair almost obscure his view and his mouth...well, it never stops talking! But despite all, almost all the ladies of the duchy fell for him -

- Did they? That must be a good sign - said I, already reassured.

- It must be indeed - replied her smiling.

- And what's my future husband's name? - asked I when I realized that I didn't know the most important thing about him.

- His hame is Harold, sir of the county of Cheshire - said her.

- Harold, you say? I must know him then, I've heard stories about him and his ability to seduce women, they say that he's a real casanova. I can't marry him Diana, what if he will have other lovers besides myself? - asked I worried.

- My dear, you are to be married soon, he will be faithful to you, don't worry. Now, let's get ready, the banquet will start soon - said her giving me a hug.

The banquet really started soon; one moment I was in my room trying to decide which dress I should wear and the next moment I was sitting at the sumptuously laid table of the sumptuous saloon of my manor. People were laughing, eating and looking around waiting for sir Harold and his family to join us. This event was is his honor, to impress him and make sure that he was still decided to marry me and he was late, but after all, those people were going to wait for him even if he was going to arrive five hours late. I mooved my attention to the centre of the saloon were almost all the young ladies were cheerfully dancing with the best men of the northen Italy and England's society. In the midst of those people, I noticed my friend Diana, who was passionately dancing with a young man. I immediatly recognized him; it was lord Louis of Doncaster. The two of them had always been close to eachother since the first time they met and I always thought that they were going to get married but then, she was promised to the oldest son of the Dubh Linn's lord, in Ireland and I couldn't help but notice that she was so disillusioned when she found out. On the other hand, her parents bestowed her hand to the richest pretender, like my parents did with me.

Suddenly the music stopped and all the people that were dancing, started to moove at the sides of the saloon, to make room for a tall pageboy. After there was silence, he started talking " Let us all welcome lord Styles, accompanied by his family and his younger son Harold " he said.

My heart started beating faster and despite I was trying to look calm, my excitement was growing. Finally I was about to meet my future husband. Finally, after all the things I had heard about him, I was about to see him live. 

The pageboy stepped aside and a man and a woman walked in, Harold's parents I assumed, followed by their daughter and a young man. When I saw him, my jaw almost dropped. He wasn't like I imagined when I thought about the face of my future husband, he was better. His face was illuminated by a beautiful smile and his green, deep eyes were looking around curious to all the people attendant there. But above his gorgeous toned body, the thing that immediatly got me were his beautiful curly hair.

My father immediatly stood up and went to greet them and after he did, he looked at me and with a slight nod, he invited me to do the same. I looked at Diana who encouraged me with a warm smile to go there and I stood up with shaking legs, making my way towards him.

- Here it comes my beautiful daughter - said my father smiling at me - young Harold, may I introduce you to my loved daughter Juliet - continued him.

Harold looked at me with his hypnotic eyes and after a deep bow, he kissed gently my hand. - It's my pleasure to meet you my lady - he said.

I did a light bow too, couldn't help but staring at him. Our parents were confabulating and after Harold's one whispered something in his ear, they left leaving me alone with him.

- Would you do me the onor to grant me this dance? - asked him with his deep voice.

- Yes, I would - replied I smiling lightly.

He took me by the hand and we walked in the centre of the saloon where the music had already restarted and the youth was again dancing and having fun. His hand mooved to my waist and after I placed my on his shoulder, we started dancing following the music's rhythm. He wasn't only incredibly handsome, he was also a very good dancer.

- I hope this story of the arranged marriage hasn't been too hard on you, Juliet my lady - said him, while dancing.

- Forget my lady, please call me Juliet - said I - and no, it hasn't, I'm happy to do what's best for my family -

- You have a beautiful heart Juliet, almost as beautiful as you - said him, making me blush.

- You are kind my lord, but I'm sure that with all the girl that have fallen for you, you have seen beauties far better than me - said I.

- Indeed I may have, but you are to be my future wife, and no one will be able to compare herself to you - said him showing me his beautiful smile - May I take you for a walk outside? - added him then.

- Yes you may - replied I smiling.

We made our way outside in the garden, and we sat down on a bench near the marble fountain illuminated only by the moonlight.

The sky was clear and the stars were shining, looking like little lights on the dark sky. No one was there, except for a few people that were coming and going from the party. 

- I can't believe that I'm going to leave all this in two days - said I looking around a little melancholic.

- Does this make you sad? - asked him.

- No, I just have to get used to the idea - replied I.

- I'm sure you are going to love England, the weather isn't the best but it's a really nice place to live - said him, trying to reassure me.

I was about to reply when I heard some voices of someone laughing coming from behind. We both turned around to see from who those voices were coming from and I saw lady Diana, merrily laughing with... .

- Lord Louis? - said Harold smiling - I thought that you were leaving this afternoon -

- I was going to but I couldn't leave without my beautiful lady - replied him smiling sweetly at Diana.

- Are you not promised to sir Oliver of Dubh Linn anymore? - asked I.

- I am indeed but we are going to talk to my father tomorrow morning to make him change his mind - replied her, smiling.

- Do you think he is going to agree? - asked Harold.

- I certainly hope so but despite his answer, I am willing to do anything to be with my true love - said Louis.

- Well my friend, I wish you all the best luck - said Harold before the two of them left.

I was really happy for Diana and I could see that she was too, she was like a ray of sunshine and she couldn't stop smiling. I always knew that they loved eachother but I never thought that they were going to actually get married since she was already promised to someone else.

- She looks really happy - said I smiling.

- She does, they both do - replied Harold - and I hope that one day, if you will let me, I will be able to make you that happy as well - finished him.

- I hope that I will be able to do the same, my lord - said I smiling.

Harold smiled back at me coming closer. He gently caressed my cheek and approached his head to mine and I couldn't help but notice that his eyes were even more beautiful illuminated only by the moonlight. He came even closer, untill his lips touched mine giving me a warm kiss, a kiss that assured me that no matter what was going to happen afterwards, I was going to be ok.