Until now, I have never held a weapon like this in my hand. Thinking about whether, with my crippled legs and weak arms, I could hit anyone, a fear enveloped my whole body.
In the fireplace, the smell of musk rose. The strong scent enveloped the quiet space of the room. There was no groom in the bridal room, so the bride didn't have much to do.
“Ha…”
A sigh, I don't remember how many times.
Today is the day I, Irenea Flores, illegitimate child of the family of the Duke of Flores, marry Cesar de la Rosa Constanti Fiore, First Crown Prince of the Empire.
The Duke Flores family was one of three clans that were granted titles thanks to the great magician Cosimo Flores's work in eliminating dragon light. I, their illegitimate child, wandered the streets until I was seven years old before I was adopted. After that, he lived in poverty and suffered mistreatment from his family.
My position is always at the bottom. Lower than the servants in the mansion. Sometimes even lower than horses or hunting dogs kept at home. Then one day, when I was eighteen years old...
My foster mother, Celestina, suddenly called me into the living room.
That day, I understood why they always considered me a thorn in their eyes, and why they brought me into this mansion. Celestina's soft but scornful tone made me shiver.
"The Flores family has given birth to a Queen for many generations. This time, Crown Prince Cesar has been chosen to be my fiancé."
It was an official marriage. Even though the youngest sister, Bernadetta, was still young, the eldest sister, Giovineta, was never engaged, yet they chose me, their second daughter and an illegitimate child.
Unacceptable. Furthermore, this is also a marriage with the Crown Prince, who can inherit the Emperor's throne. They couldn't give me such a noble position.
I understand. The reason they brought me back to the mansion was to... serve this wedding.
Even though I've lived in a mansion for many years and paid little attention to things outside, I still know a little bit.
Crown Prince Cesar had been weak since childhood, rarely appeared at ceremonies, and was the son of Queen Adelaide, who went crazy and committed suicide after giving birth to him.
From then on, unlucky rumors about Crown Prince Cesar never stopped.
Monster prince.
The Crown Prince is always labeled that way. His appearance was disgusting, his birth mother didn't even love him, so she committed suicide. He is a monster born from his mother's flesh and blood.
The prince is cursed.
With rumors like that, it's hard to find a Prince Consort. All marriages with foreign royalty have failed. The royal family had to lower its standards and accept marrying the Crown Prince to a non-royal aristocrat.
A marriage proposed by the royal family is not something that is easy to refuse. The noble families who know this must quickly protect their precious daughters. Otherwise, they will find a way to bring unrelated daughters into the family line, or adopt illegitimate children into the family.
So, that's why the Flores family included me, a street wanderer, in their family list.
The person I spoke about had four noble girls die after being married to the Crown Prince. No one knows the real cause, but people say that the curse caused them to be in trouble.
Marriage with the Crown Prince is a bet. It sounds prestigious at first, but is actually a discarded network of cards.
If unfortunately Cesar, whom I was married to, dies, what disasters will come? I could be falsely accused of murdering the Crown Prince and locked in the tower to death. Alarm bells rang in my head.
This is a trap. A cup of poisonous honey. If you drink it, you will lose your life.
“I… will become the Concubine Prince…”
My words were softly spoken, as foggy as fog. Truly, marrying someone you've never met, who happens to be the cursed Crown Prince...
As if to stop me from refusing, Celestina quickly continued:
“That's right, you will become the noblest woman in the empire.”
I shouldn't have listened to that poisonous snake. This is a poisoned cup. I am no longer a seven-year-old girl who dreams of becoming a princess in a fairy tale. I know nothing in life is free.
“…Then…”
Yet, I still have to drink that poisoned cup. Because I have no other choice.
“I will.”
Nodding, both a small glimmer of hope and dark worries quickly flooded back.
“I will marry the Crown Prince.”
If that happens, I will die in a noble position. A temporary moment of power, a moment of uplift, but one that could also lead to death.
To prevent me from changing my mind, Celestina quickly took the paper, handed it out, made me sign it, then cut her finger and made an oath.
"It's done. You will be the Prince Concubine. How wonderful."
Celestina's look, her breathing heavy with joy, was imprinted in my memory.
But I must forget. To endure this situation, one must fill that memory with something else.
“I will be the Prince Concubine…”
Yes, it's all my decision. Even though it's a poisoned cup, I still want to taste it.
Sweet fruit of power. Even though it's rotten, I still have to put it in my mouth.
Even though that path leads to death, even if I have to be eaten by myself, I still grit my teeth and move forward.
Even though it was a marriage, I never saw the groom's face until the wedding day.
Cesar, known for his weakness, did not appear even at the wedding. Only the representative wore a mask for him.
The blessing ceremony, the marriage vows, all take place with a representative. The atmosphere was cold, different from royal weddings. I also had no right to ask for anything, so I had to silently accept it.
I wanted to ask if virginity was also represented, but apparently not. I was taken to the bridal room after completing my makeup.
That's why I sit alone beside the bed strewn with rose petals. The flickering candle creates a scene that is both magical and strange.
Suddenly the sound of iron hitting iron echoed from the heavy black wooden door. The room door was wide open.
He comes.
I mentally prepared myself and slowly turned around. I almost laughed in surprise and jumped up.
Caesar is not alone. A servant and four knights followed. Or more accurately, he was carried in on a stretcher. The body was tightly chained. Every time the stretcher shook, the iron chain made a rattling sound.
“U…eh?”
I let out a bewildered sound. But none of the knights or servants responded.
“W-What… is this?”
I asked quickly, and the servant replied indifferently:
“This is Crown Prince Cesar.”
I know he's Cesar. Hair blacker than night, skin as smooth as marble, face as seductive and beautiful as a pre-wedding portrait.
But I didn't ask to confirm he was Cesar.
I want to know why the Crown Prince of a country was brought into the room chained and unconscious.
The knight quickly placed him on the bed and removed the chains. When the last lock opened, they backed away, leaving without hesitation.
“Wait!”
I quickly called out, afraid they would leave. The servant looked back.
“I'll wake up soon.”
With that, they left, closing the heavy wooden door. Even the sound of locks and bolts echoed from outside.
“What is going on…”
The daytime wedding was nothing more than a bizarre ceremony. I was not prepared for this scene. Thus, the wedding night will also not be normal.
I turned back to look at Crown Prince Cesar.
Could it be that... he's not dead?
Luckily, his chest rhythm was steady. He seemed to just be sleeping. The knight said he would wake up soon. So they must have used anesthesia.
“Ha…”
In the suffocating silence, I laughed softly. Before studying marriage lessons, this situation had never been mentioned.
My mind is chaotic, the world seems to be spinning. What should I do now?
And then…