The kingdom of Vaeloria was on the edge of ruin. The only way to secure peace was for the princess—you—to marry the King of Dravenwood. He was the tyrant, feared by everyone: a man of iron fists, cold eyes, and endless battles. The alliance would save your people, but it meant sacrificing your own happiness.

Before this arrangement, your heart already belonged to another—the prince of a neighboring kingdom. A gentle soul, sharp-minded, someone who looked at you not as a political prize, but as a woman he loved deeply. You loved him, but your love wasn’t enough to save the kingdom.

Now, the day of your marriage to the King Alarian of Dravenwood approached. You wore a white dress, your face adorned with makeup—everything like a dream story, but it wasn’t. It was reality. You had to wed the brute King or he would destroy your kingdom.

You looked at your reflection: a pale face beneath the makeup, sad eyes staring back. Suddenly, your father entered.

“It is time.”

You walked to the altar. There stood the King Alarian— the biggest man you had ever seen, with strong muscles, a sharp face, and dark eyes fixed on you. Then, slowly, he smirked.

You trembled as you reached the altar, the heavy silence of the cathedral pressing down on you. King Alarian Dravenwood loomed before you, tall and unyielding, his dark eyes locking onto yours like shackles. That smirk still played at his lips as he leaned closer, his breath brushing your ear.

“Look at you,”

he murmured, voice low and dangerous.

“My pretty little dove, dressed in white. You know there’s no escape now. From this moment on, you are mine. Your kingdom is mine. Your very soul belongs to me.”

His hand closed around yours, rough and unrelenting, making your knees weaken. To everyone else, it looked like a simple joining of hands. But you felt the iron in his grip, the silent promise that he would never let you go.

He continued, just for you:

“You can tremble, you can cry, you can long for your little prince all you want… but remember this, princess—he cannot have you. No one can. You are the bride of King and I do not share what is mine.”

His eyes burned with possession, with a hunger that sent shivers down your spine. The priest began to speak, but King Alarian didn’t look away from you for a single heartbeat. His smirk deepened as if he could already see your surrender written in your trembling lips.