Exploitative Marriage

Before the wedding, Rita wrote a suicide note. As Words slowly filled the crisp piece of parchment paper, her heart sang a melancholic tune.

Rita was convinced that her marriage would be fatal, and she welcomed the shame and dishonor that would come with taking her own life, rather than submitting to her doomed fate.

Is it what she deserved? A miserable end for a royal princess, who devoted her life to the country and royal family? Her accomplishments and efforts turn into ashes the day her family sold her like a common good-in exchange for wealth. No matter how hard she tried, at the end of the day, she was only a mere tool for others convenience.

Oh, but death would be a sweet escape from the death she was to face.

Julius Blackwood, Rita's betrothed, was old enough to be her father, yet despite her objections, she was given no say in the matter. His immense power and influence had rendered her parents powerless, leaving them with no choice but to acquiesce to the arrangement - or perhaps, more disturbingly, they had willingly sacrificed their daughter's happiness for the sake of political expediency.

When the royal family accepts Julius's Proposal, Rita vows to retaliate. To blemish the highest quality goods prepared by the royal family. It was the only revenge Rita, in her powerless state, could possibly do.

The horses were ready, saddled and waiting to convey Rita to the residence of Julius, where her impending wedding ceremony was to take place.

The arrangements have been made without her permission. For the coming days, Rita pictured out what was going to happen in her head. After a three-week-long carriage journey, She would arrive at the causeway. There she would exchange vows with an old Julius, share the kiss of oath and...spend the night with him.

Rita's mind was haunted by the image of Julius Blackwood's leering face, his eyes gleaming with excitement at the prospect of claiming her young body as his own.

Unpleasant shivers ran up her spine, disgusted to think that he, who looked like a toad, would ride her body.

But Rita already did the irreversible. After their first night, Julius will find that his new bride is impure.

In the realm of Heartgate, a bride's chastity was paramount, and Julius, having paid a handsome sum for Rita's hand in marriage, would be outraged and humiliated to discover that she was not a virgin, perceiving it as a grave insult to his honor and wealth.

He was not a man to trifle with. His power extended even to the barbarians in the periphery. Moreover his fury was enough to strangle the fury of the capital. Therefore, the royal family, which had already lost all their power and remained only a luxurious shell, would suffer a terrible fate under Julius' rage. They would have to vomit out more than what they had received from him, just to quell his anger.

Rita would be forcibly stripped of her royal title and forever branded as a disgraced outcast, her reputation tarnished by the scandal of having sullied her own honor.

It was a perfect ending. The only unfortunate thing was that Rita would not be able to witness the ruin of the royal family with her own eyes. Because by then she would already be a cold corpse.

"Princess, these are the wedding papers."

Just before leaving Heartgate the court-martial brought in papers Rita had to sign. Without resistance, she wrote her name, smearing a fine ink on the paper.

The lavish signature was the same as the one she left on the paper she made. The black letters on white paper were as clear as night.

When she put down her pen, Countess Melissa, the maid of honor watching from the side, burst into tears. As soon as she wept, the other women who were holding back tears began to sob in unison. Even the court-martial who brought the wedding hall also has a disastrous look on his face.

Everyone was grieving for her, but Rita was calm. She elegantly put down the paper and straightened her back.

"Stop. I must go. There's no time to waste."

"Princess..."

"Rita!" An urgent voice resounded. Rita halted in her steps, and slowly looked back to see a man of a foreboding stand, panting as he reached her.

The Crown Prince of Heartgate, Robin.

Looking at her half-brother with dazzling silver hair, Rita smiled serenely. One of the few advantages of this terrible marriage was that it was no longer necessary for her to see Robin.

Robin beckoned the servants and guards around Rita to stop loading Rita's luggages to the carriage at once. At his arrogant display of authority. Rita only looked straight at him. The sight of her not avoiding his gaze, like she used to, made Robin laugh hoarsely.

"Well, well, well. Isn't it the whore who baited a large fish? She seemed to be full of herself now."

It was a remark devoid of any dignity, resembling that of a street vendor. But since she wouldn't have to deal with him anymore, now that she was to leave the palace, Rita responded without a trace of agitation.

"Please step aside. If I delay any longer, I won't be able to leave the capital by today's end of today."

This was not the reaction he expected. Her indifference unnerved the prince and raised his hand with a grimace. Instead of flinching, Rita gave a cold retort to the man who was about to slap her hard on the cheek.

"I am now a property of Julius Blackwood. Do you dare mar his property, brother?"

Robin's eyes shook with anger. Slowly he lowered his hand and strode close.

"Don't you ever think that this marriage can let you run away from me." A hair breath distance between them, a contemptuous whisper pierced into Rita's ear as though it was of a snake. "The day I ascend the throne... I'll be the first one to bring you back here in the capital."

It was a threat, but Rita felt no fear. Instead, a soft laugh slipped from her lip, which stabbed the prince in his gut. She wanted to answer back but realized that exchanging words with a senseless person would be a dire waste of her time. Without a farewell bid, she got in the carriage, completely ignoring him.

When the carriage door was closed, Julius shouted and Pounded against the door with his fists. But Rita couldn't hear his long winded curses and insults anymore- she chose not to listen rather. Whatever the prince said, his words were futile- a wooden spear aimed at steel.

The carriage moved and with the turn of its wheel, a tear rolled down from Rita's eyes. She pulled the curtain slightly apart and looked out of the window. The palace of Heartgate was rapidly moving away from her sight, from her grasp...

It is a place where she lived her whole life, but she felt no regret or sorrow. Rita never belonged there from the start.

However they were lingering feelings that bothered her.

She bit her lower lips and closed the curtain with a sigh. She didn't know why she kept on thinking of him. a cocky, unruly, inscrutable man.

From what she heard, the brute left the palace a day ago. Ah! She scolded herself internally. It was foolish of her to miss an already broken relationship. But while cursing herself for being stupid, she still couldn't shake off the onslaught of thoughts.

While left in her musing, the carriage left the capital and reached the outskirt of the capital. Gone were the houses; what greeted them was an open plain full of grass. It was a beautiful scene, but it didn't endear her one bit, instead Rita just lounged down on her seat miserably.

She wished time would pass quickly so that her boring and useless life ends sooner. With nothing else to do, she fluttered her eyes to a close, when suddenly she felt a shift in the wind.

A trumpet sounded amidst the tranquility that reigned. Its ear splitting sound made Rita sit straight immediately, her hair standing on end. Following the roar of the first trumpet, the horn went off one after another. Her heartbeat ran haywire at the chaotic noise that spread over the once peaceful plains.

Rita drew the curtain and looked out of the window. With the sight that greeted her, she swallowed hard. Dozens of men on horseback were trailing in their direction. The royal knight guiding her carriage shouted hurriedly.

"It's an ambush!"

From this point, the carriage began to run rough. But the pursuer's movements were surprisingly agile. They simply caught up with the procession and surrounded the perimeter. The piercing sounds of instruments and shouts mingled in the air. Iron swords unsheathed rang out everywhere.

Out of nowhere, a rope flew which wrapped around the throat of the knight who guarded Rita from outside of the carriage. He then pitifully fell out of his horse, his head hitting the ground grotesquely.

Arrow rained down, cutting the wind in succession, frantic horses kicked and went wild.

As she looked out of the window, she saw the carriage horse men fell to the ground. Rita closed her eyes tightly. The carriage, with only the horse dragging it, terribly shook. In no time her whole word turned upside down.

She gasped, the carriage was terribly overturned, its wheel broke, its door turned open. Aside from the scratches that mar her skin, it was fortunate that she survived the accident unscathed. Only, she felt dizzy, and when she finally came into her senses, Rita pushed the carriage door out of her way.

Crawling out of the wrecked vehicle, she met the cold wind which already smelled of blood. Her head was tingled and she looked around. Royal knights were battling their pursuer's on a pool of blood. But it was a meaningless battle. The royal knights were swept away in vain as if they were only nothing. One knight roared in a bloody voice.

"How dare you, savages-"

He was unable to speak until the end. A sharp long blade penetrated his neck. From his throat blood streamed to the grass. At the horrible sight, Rita covered her mouth with her hands, suppressing a shout.

The image of the raiders were embedded in her vision, High-chromatic eyes, dark hairs and tattoos on tanned skin

The men who attacked the royal succession were savages, the Wolfians.

Among the beastly men, a prominent figure emerged. The tall man driving a giant horse drod up to Rita.

Under the disheveled black hair, a hot goldeneye pierced Rita. The moment their gazes met, Rita felt the air snapped from her. Breathlessly she opened her lips.

"Why"

Her whisper barely uttered in a split voice, was quickly drowned by the man's laughter.

"Don't you remember?"

Stretching his hands, he fetched Rita from the ground and maneuvered her to be atop his horse, fronting him. In resistance, Rita twisted her body but was simply overpowered by the man's strength. A large hand clasped her waist firmly, so that she could not wiggle to no effect.

With a smirk, the man behind her mumbled against the top of her head. His words sent shivers up her spine.

"I told you, I will ruin your life."

The wedding of Rita and Julius Blackwood of the causeway was arranged. To her frustration, her opinion was not heard, it being given no importance in this political marriage. She received the news without any prior discussion.

Isn't Julius Blackwood a faithful hero of Heartgate? The best expression from the royal family is you, Indeed!

I told you that your body belongs to the royal family. This is a duty a royal princess must bear.

This is for the sake of Heartgate

Words that were supposed to comfort her further fueled her ire. To tie her to her duties, people started whispering to her ears, gauging her to submit to the royal decree. Julius Blackwood won't want a hesitant wife, after all!

Upon finding out that her existence was only for the sole purpose of gearing up a beneficial treaty, she felt despair, and as soon as the immeasurable sorrow left her, anger took its place.

As her gaze raked over the official document notifying her of her union with Julius Blackwood, she had made up her mind. She decided to leave a long lasting disgrace to the royal family of Heartgate, even if it meant an untimely death for her.

As she refused to resign to the fate of the royal family painted for her, a wicked plan started to take its course.

Tonight, she will have an overnight company. The royal family would then be accused of giving a deflowered bride to the high and mighty Julius.

For a moment, as her decision took precedence, she held her breath, her fingertips trembled badly as fear slowly crept in... Her hair stood on ends and leg slightly wobbled.

However, this slip of vulnerability quickly faded; her determination remained undamped.

The night was young. Rita bit her lower lips tightly and continued to grace the streets shrouded in darkness and obscenity.

Drunk people walked in faltering steps underneath the lit lamp that hung between old buildings. Giggles sounded as vulgar, filthy jokes delivered in boisterous tones were spoken.

Rita squeezed her cloak tight around her body. After she carefully checked each establishment that she passed by, she finally found her target place- it was a shabby inn which looked like it would collapse anytime soon.

The knob felt cold under her palm as she hesitantly pushed the wooden door open.

The inn was already full of tipsy, intoxicated people. Naturally, she attracted some attention upon her entrance. But soon, few of those who turned their gaze to Rita lost interest in her and they continued chattering among themselves.

Before coming here, she already made arrangements. Her company would be seated in the most concealed corner of this establishment, wearing a dark ensemble for the sake of discretion.

Her gaze darted to every nook and cranny of the place and it was not long until a man donning a dark cloak in an inconspicuous corner caught her very attention. He was buried in the shadows away from the bustle and hustle. At a quick glance the man seemed to blend in darkness-the shadow and him merging into one body difficult to differentiate.

Rita slowly started to draw nearer to the mysterious man. Upon reaching him she tapped the table where the man was seated and instantly, the lone hand that held the wine glass froze in mid air.

His hands, wrapped in leather gloves, were so big the glass it held looked like a mere toy.

"Are you my company tonight?" She asked boldly.

An agonizing second passed. The man's lips only parted before he uttered, "it seems so..."

It was a low and strong voice that seemed to scratch from his inside. Rita blinked hard. She heard that men of such pitch are gentle and beautiful.

But his voice that reverberated in her ear was different from what she had imagined. Though suddenly surprised, she soon pulled herself from her musings. Anyway, once things are done right, this will soon be over.

"Follow me" The man directed to which she subserviently nodded in return. He soon led her to a flight of stairs heading to the second floor of the building.

The wooden stairs creaked with her every step. After passing through a long hallway, they entered a room at its most end. The man opened the door for her and let her inside first.

Surprisingly, the renter room was the best one in the inn. Heavy draperies and cozy furniture, if anything, it looked romantic and deserving of couples wanting their first night to be memorable. Such a waste though, for this night was never intended for romance. But rather, she came here with a clear agenda.

Entering the room after her, the man closed and bolted the door. Its clicking sound sounded like a death sentence to Rita.

There is no going back now...

Mustering courage, she turned around and faced the man. As she did so, she drew a sharp intake of breath.

"...!"

A while ago, the man sat in the shadows and slouched low by the time he stood up, making Rita miss his towering height. Now, facing him in all his glory, an ample height difference between Rita and his chin was hard to ignore. Despite the dim light in the room, she could barely see his broad shoulders and strong physique.

She was candidly embarrassed by the stark contrast in their frames. The man must have noticed as his lips slowly twisted to a faint smile. He loosely threw his heavy cloak with one hand, revealing his face.

What welcomed her was a healthy looking bronze skin, dark brown hair, and dull yet fierce eyes.

In the dark, his piercing golden eyes remained clear and bright, reflecting the wildness of a beast.

Though angular, his features were brutally beautiful. Filled by an overwhelming fascination for this man, she unabashedly fixed her curious gaze on him.

Rita's heart raced. Her throat dried as a realization hit her.

That man was not human.

"...Wolfian?" She muttered unconsciously to herself. Her mouth trembled so slightly as this taboo word was spewed carelessly. Dark skin, huge physique and golden clear eyes with intensely colored pupils were the special characteristics of a wolfian.

He raised his eyebrow and coolly conceded.

"It's been a long time a person has called me wolfian. Nowadays we are normally called savages." He said, slurring the last word.