3: He Wants This Marriage

                        The Herald Family was one of the most powerful noble families in the Darkenshire Empire after the fall of the Dorumn Kingdom 29 years ago. They were a clan of healers who participated in the great war between King Ruan Dark and the prince of that kingdom.

            With their contribution, they rise into fame and power. And amidst their glory was the rumored beloved daughter of the family, Caia Lilith Herald. They said, she was the epitome of ethereal beauty. The noblest lady after Princess Harieth.

            She was so loved and treasured by the Herald Family that she wasn’t allowed to step out of their estate in fear of her being hurt. They were afraid to lose her. Thus, when an imperial decree was sent to propose a marriage between her and the rumored ruthless prince, everyone in the family was heart-broken.

            They refuse to marry her off to that blood-lust prince.

            Caia gulped for the nth time that Dark lost count of. Because she knew the flaw in that story. She, the said treasured daughter of the Herald Family, wasn’t as perfect as they thought.

            Because she is not treasured. She is not loved nor cared of. She… was just a useless daughter of the Herald Family that was in the brink of being thrown away. They said her family cannot bear to see her hurt. Yet, she lost count of the time she had to grit her teeth to endure those countless lashes of her father’s whip.

            Thinking of those dreadful memories, she grimaced. And that didn’t escaped Dark’s notice who was inside the same carriage as her.

            “I know it’s my fault for taking you away without your permission. However, my decision won’t change. If you despise it so much to be seating close to me, then I shall ride my own horse.”

            Her eyes widened in surpise. She didn’t meant it that way!

            “N-No!-” she tried to stop him. However, Dark was so quick to exit their carriage and left her all alone inside. She bit her lower lip, her hand fell to her side. “… I didn’t hate staying with you at all…” she muttered, her eyes falling to her feet.

            However, her voice was so weak that Dark didn’t hear it.

            Their journey continued in a dreadful silence. And this made it worst for Caia. She was terrified of what was waiting for her in Dark’s estate. Before their journey begun, he told her that they were going back to Dark’s territory.

            In the wasteland of Dorumn. Back then, when the Dorumn Kingdom still haven’t fallen, that land was already unfertile. And along with the fall of the kingdom and it’s people, the land too became abandoned until it turned into a waste land.

            Not until King Ruan granted that land to his son, Dark. And since then, Dark has been managing it.

            Now that she’s going to marry him, does that mean she’s going to live in that dreadful place?

            Back in the Herald Estate, she had heard a lot of rumors about that wasteland and her husband-to-be from the servants. They said the Dorumn was a place where monsters always appear. And as if it was cursed by the goddess Luna, no living thing thrive in that place.

            And Dark was reffered in either names. The blood-lust alpha who cannot live a single day without spiling blood. Or the dark alpha who brought darkness to everywhere he goes.

            However, it’s strange.

            Although he looked scary and dangerous, he’s not as evil as she thought him to be. They said he’s the bringer of darkness. Yet, she still clearly remember the streak of light that appeared along with him when he entered her dark room. He said, he’s there to take her away.

            And his touch… she didn’t hate it.

            Due to her father’s sever punishment, she developed a strange emotional resistance to touch. A single brush of her maid’s skin to her body always reminds her of the whip’s painful touch on her body.

            It made her repulse so much that it was enough to make her vomit and nauseated.

            However, Dark’s touch is…

            Caia snapped her eyes open when she felt a brush against her cheek. With her instinct kicking in, she felt a lump on her throat as she began to shake. However, spotting the one who own such impudent hand that dared to touch her, she calmed down.

            It was Dark.

            She didn’t notice she fell asleep in the carriage. And now, Dark was inside, watching her in such an intense stare. His index finger caressing her cheek was so gentle. As if afraid that even a soft force will break her.

            Yet, he didn’t even show surprise or embarrassment when he was caught watching her asleep and touching her face. Is he this shameless?

            “Awake? Are you hungry? Let me feed you something.”

            What? Feed her? Is she some pet he needed to feed?

            Her eyebrows knotted in annoyance and sat up. “I’m not hungry,” she replied. However, her cheeks turned like a ripe tomato when her body betrayed her.

            Her stomach just growled so loud that Dark heard it too!

            “Little liar,” he muttered under his breath with a naughty smirk.

            “I-” he gave her no chance to lie anymore. Holding her wrist, he pulled her out of the carriage.

            Caia’s plan to protest failed when she was again stunned by the fact that someone was touching her. And her body didn’t even react. And she loved it!

            The cold wind brushed against her skin but it wasn’t enough to calm her feverish body. And her heart, why is it beating so fast?!

            “Dark. Everything is prepared already. You can rest inside now.” Noticing the small stature behind his alpha, the man she just saw now bowed to her with his hand carefully placed on his chest. An act of recognition. “Lady Herald. Pleased to meet you. I am Alpha Dark’s beta, Theodore Marwick.”

            “H-Hello!” she greeted back, flustered at the sudden gentleman gesture. This is how noble men often introduced themselves to her. Comparing to Dark, he’s a mile better in manners compared to Dark’s rough and authoritative gestures.

            “Enough. Don’t steal my wife from me, Theo.” Dark pulled her in his back, hiding her tiny body so easily with his huge built.

            Caia frowned although her heart skipped a bit with how he called her.

            ‘Wife?’

            “Dark. You still haven’t exchanged vows. So she’s technically your bride yet, not your wife.”

            “F*ck off! So does that give you the right to steal her?”

            Caia was stunned at how good he is in cursing. And why does she finds it sexy?

            “No one will dare to steal the Dark Alpha’s bride.”

            “Yet, someone foolishly went to kidnap her from her own family’s estate.” One voice interrupted from somewhere.

“And someone even more foolish followed his alpha despite the risks and danger it might cause.” Another voice added.

Caia wasn’t able to see who it was since those men were in front and Dark was keeping her in blindsight. Peeking from his side, she was stunned to see two identical men in front of them.

The two were wearing a black cape with an intricate mark on their armor. Noticing her, their faces suddenly lit up into a charming smile that was enough to catch every lady’s heart.

Bowing to her, they greeted her in chorus.

“We finally get to meet you, our luna. Seeing you today made us realize why our alpha is so adamant in marrying you. no wonder, he even dared to kidnap you in a broad day light. You’re as gorgeous as they said.”

With their sudden sweet compliment despite the sarcasm in it which they were throwing at Dark and Theo, Caia was unable to react. She didn’t know what to say. Or how to feel.

These guys… were all so strange!

“He insists in marrying me?” she muttered, looking at the man who’s keeping her chained in his arms.

Dark was also staring at her; his eyes were even darker than the night.

Did he really insist in marrying her? But if so, then why did he keep her waiting for seven years?

There were even times when she was in the torture room, unable to stand the pain anymore. That in her dazed and half-breathing state, she wished that he would come and save her from this misery.

Yet, several years had passed. He never once went to see her. Maybe, he had already forgotten about her. Maybe he already had someone he wants to marry. Maybe he really never wanted this imperial marriage in the first place.

Naturally, she stopped placing her hope on him.

But now, they’re saying he wants this marriage?