Episode 1

"I won't deny that your visit surprised me; I would love to know what the flower of society is doing in my home."His scrutinizing gaze would have frozen me in the past, but not now; I was determined, and that man would be my husband, there was no turning back this time. Bastian Chevalier was going to be mine.

"I'll be direct, do you want to marry me?" It was the first time I saw surprise on his face. Bastian Chevalier was not just any man, he was the Archduke of Terra Nova, an unscrupulous man, who had been widowed years ago and had not remarried, although he enjoyed a bad reputation because several noblewomen tried to hold the title of Archduchess by entering his bed and even so they did not succeed, leaving Duke Chevalier with a terrible reputation among the young women and ladies of high society.

Since the sudden death of Lady Hamilton, no woman dared to try to entangle the Archduke, despite his connection to royalty.

"I see that Lady Margare Vitaly does not fear for her life. Do you know how many have lost their lives to such an insinuation?"

"I know, but unlike other ladies, I don't just seek to hold the title of Archduchess; I seek to have the Archduke by my side. I am the daughter of a very important Duke, one of the pillars of the empire, the only woman who was allowed to be single after her coming of age without being frowned upon by society. As well as meddling in political affairs and my father's business, I have been endowed with great intelligence. And, apart from that, I do want him as a man; that is what differentiates me from the others"I said with my chin up, looking him directly in the eye. After going back in time, I have been braver than I was in my past life. When I woke up, the first thing I did was get ready and meet the only man who truly loved me in my previous life.

"I understand that Lady Vitaly was deeply in love with a Count, the same one who claims to be the lucky one to marry her this year. Besides, I am a widower twenty years her senior."I couldn't back down; not now, I refuse to.

"I have had a childhood friendship with said gentleman, but that does not mean that he is going to be my future husband. Besides, the man I desire is in front of me." I felt my face burn as I felt his dark eyes shamelessly watching my body, but I knew him better than anyone.

He got too close and cupped my face with one hand. I know he was trying to intimidate me, but it was causing a different emotion than the one he wanted to provoke in me.

"What would Earl Derby say if the woman he has so professed to marry is in front of me asking me to marry her and, furthermore, saying that I am the man she desires?" His lips brushed against mine, his hands were on my waist. I know this is morally wrong, but it is inevitable to let myself be carried away by him.

"He has nothing to say, the man I want is you."I couldn't help but put my hands on his neck and join our lips in a longing kiss on my part. At first, he was stiff, but then he let himself go, taking control. A raw, wild desire was the most dominant thing right now, it was what we both felt the most; his hands ran over my body over my dress. I know what he wanted to do, but I wouldn't let him, not yet. I gathered all my strength and pulled away from him; we were both shaken by such a heated moment, but it was necessary to set boundaries, it is one thing to give him a little taste, another very different thing is to let him devour me whole.

"If you want me in your bed, you're going to have to marry me. I'm not going to be another one of your flings. I expect you tonight at my father's mansion for dinner. If you don't go, I'll understand that you're not interested in my proposal, and I'll have to look for another gentleman. You will understand that my father is very ill, and he does not have much time left, his greatest dream is to see his daughter marry, with your excellency's permission."I left as quickly as I could, what I said about my father wasn't entirely a lie, but I know he had more years to live, I'll have to investigate further, the origin of his illness, I covered my face again."I asked the butler to be as discreet as possible; one wrong move and my reputation would be ruined."

I am Margaret Vitaly, daughter of one of the most important Dukes of the Terra Nova Empire. Being the only daughter of a very influential family, I had too many privileges, the same ones that led me to stand out in society, but none of that saved me from my tragic end.

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