Chapter 1 – The Proposal

Act 1: A Hell of a Wedding

‘I won’t stand for this.’ 

Cecile gnashed her teeth as she glared out the window of the coach, at the beautiful and vast white castle that could be seen yonder.
The maids sitting across from her were at a loss for what to do, but that mattered not a whit.
Cecile was so furious that she did not even spare a look at them.

She gazed down at her own outfit.
A finely woven lace bridal veil, a white silk dress so smooth that one’s hand might simply slide off it, and at the hem of the dress was an array of sparkling crystalline pearls.

Yes.
What Cecile was wearing was a wedding dress.

Cecile was on her way to get married, but she was not the least bit happy.
The closer she got to the castle, the more she felt like her throat was being choked.
As Cecile’s coach passed through the city gates, a band that had been awaiting her arrival began to play music.
The music was beautiful, yet it only sounded like a funeral march to Cecile’s ears.

‘If I go in there…I’ll die.’ In the instant this thought crossed her mind, Cecile’s face turned even paler.

“Save me…” 

She could not stop herself from murmuring for help unconsciously.
But the maids sitting across her did not ask what she was on about.
They merely nodded with understanding pity on their faces. 

One of them gave a reply and said, “We’ll die if you run away.” 

“…”

‘Come on, will it hurt to comfort me a little?’ 

Cecile audibly ground her teeth again before shooting a glare at the bouquet she was holding.
The reason why Cecile was grinding her pearly whites on what should have been the happiest day in her life was simple. 

‘Why do I have to marry the emperor!’ 

There was a big problem with the man who was to become her husband.

Emperor Estian.

He was the groom of Cecile’s upcoming marriage.
The problem, however, lay in the fact that he was the very worst, insane tyrant on the continent.
So much so that none would show surprise even if he were to murder his bride on his very wedding day.

‘How did thing