Episode 1

It was a beautiful spring morning, and one could feel a gentle breeze stirring the curtains in my bedroom. It was easy to proclaim this one of those days that could be deemed perfect.

But for me…

It was the day I was going to lose my freedom, the day of my wedding.

Now, I know what some might say, that marriage doesn't mean the end of your freedom, don't be so dramatic, but in my case, it was quite literal.

My parents were marrying me off to Duke Forest.

Well, actually, they were selling me.

My father, a baron who had fallen into misfortune, now had nothing left but our title. That's why my parents decided on an arranged marriage. They had been looking for a wealthy suitor for me for some time since all knew we were bankrupt, and no noble would be interested in me, but the rich were a different story. For them, it was a prime opportunity to acquire a baron's title and ascend to nobility.

One morning, as my father was poring over several marriage proposals for me, a carriage arrived with several royal guards. They brought numerous trunks to the study where my father was. He examined them all meticulously, but none seemed to fulfill his desires.

What he really meant was that none offered enough money for me. That was to be expected, as we were bankrupt and I wasn't exactly a great beauty.

The guards entered the study and handed my father a letter, which was a marriage proposal; it seemed the prince had heard that my father was seeking a suitor for me.

The prince was the best friend and cousin of Duke Forest. And since no noble would consider marrying their daughter to the duke, he thought it a good idea to seize the opportunity for him to marry me, and he was right. My father, upon seeing what was within the trunks, immediately accepted.

What can I say? One doesn't get to choose the family they're born into—some are lucky, and others are not. I belonged to the latter, always stumbling and tripping over the hem of my dress, chairs breaking under me, animals attacking upon sight, and insects biting. Saying I was unlucky was an understatement.

Many rumors swirled about the duke. Some said he was a heartless, bloodthirsty monster, others that he was the devil reincarnated. A general of the king, he had made a name for himself by entering the battlefield at a young age, feared and nicknamed the Bloodied King, for his enemies' blood always covered him, a man whose gaze alone could make one tremble. And this was the man I was to marry.

As I've mentioned, my bad luck always follows me.

The wedding was rushed, set to take place two days after the proposal had been received.

On the day of my wedding, my father hired several maids to prepare me. It wasn't to be a grand or lavish ceremony like other noble nuptials; only close family were to attend as the duke had stated a preference for simplicity.

I had always dreamed that on my wedding day, I would be the happiest, in a dream wedding, a gorgeous dress, and the person I'd chosen to spend my life with waiting at the altar to vow eternal love before God.

Fantastic. I couldn't even have the splendid wedding I had always dreamed of.

Once the maids had finished dressing me, I looked in the mirror and wanted to cry. I looked ridiculous in the dress that was hastily chosen because of the rushed wedding. It was my mother's, but she was far more voluptuous and curvy than I. In the dress, I looked like a child playing in her mother's clothes. I was just sixteen, my body not yet fully developed, and I was no beauty. My only attractive feature was my green eyes, gleaming like emeralds.

Otherwise, my appearance would be called plain at best. With my luck, had the duke seen me beforehand, he might've called off the wedding. Yet, there was still a chance he'd change his mind seeing me at the altar, but I didn't hold out much hope, not with my bad luck.

All I wanted was for the day to end as quickly as possible. The maids ushered me to the chapel, where I would meet my future spouse for the first time—or so I thought.

Upon entering the chapel, only my parents, the priest, and a man much older than my father with thinning hair stood at the groom's place. I knew this couldn't be Duke Forest; despite his ill repute, those who had seen him claimed he was incredibly handsome, and he was only thirty. He couldn't possibly look like that.

For a moment, I thought maybe luck was smiling down upon me and the wedding had been called off.

But, as I've said, I'm extremely unlucky, so that wasn't the case.

It turned out that the duke was too busy to attend his own wedding. He had sent his steward in his place, and thus the ceremony was concluded.

After the ceremony, the steward told me I needed to come with him to the duke's mansion. By the time we arrived, it was late afternoon. The steward helped me down from the carriage, introduced me to the servants, and showed me to my large, albeit somewhat drearily decorated room.

After leaving me in my room, he departed and a throng of maids came in to help me out of my dress. As they tended to me, I inquired,

"Where is the duke?"

The maids exchanged glances and after a silent moment conveyed,

"The duke is not at home at the moment."

"Do you know when he will return?"

"No, my lady… Is there anything else you need?"

"If you could bring some snacks for me."

"Yes, my lady."

I hadn't eaten all day as the maids spent an eternity readying me for the wedding, which hadn't really paid off—I looked ridiculous and the duke didn't even bother to show up. I was genuinely curious to see what Duke Forest was like for myself.

And so, my married life begins, now all that's left is to see what my future holds.

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