CHAPTER 1

The clothes I wear were picked out for me.

These silver-stained shoes on my feet, embellished with multiple sets of diamonds, were also picked out for me.

And even this marriage was also prearranged for me.

Regrettably, I am involved in an emotionally distant relationship with the most vicious man I have ever met. And I detested every aspect of his being, including the day that I consented to marry someone as insatiable as him. 

He looks at me with those lusty oceanic-blue eyes that make me feel as though I am being stripped naked. His icy, aloof words made me come to the stark realization that I was merely a puppet in his hands, to be manipulated at his whim and discarded when he’s done.

I recall escaping from a similar prison of a dollhouse in the past, only to find myself once more ensnared by a new one with an owner that had a more carnal desire for my being.

“Did I not ask you to wear the red lingerie that I sent you this morning?” His voice, which was both deep and masculine, resounded in my ears like rolling thunder.

I instantly came back to my senses, following how he lured his mouth to bite my right earlobe. “Must I always have to do this so that you will listen to me, Leona?” he whispered.

His voice sent the fine hair across my neck to rise as those words reverberated through me. Before I could even utter any response, his rough fingers stroked my collarbone with the main intention of fully undressing me.

His lips were pressed beside mine, making me long for his touch as he whispered, "You will not need any of these when you are with me."

Before I could even protest, his hands went all the way down, fully undressing me. A moment later, I was already standing naked in front of his eyes—those very dominant and fearsome oceanic-blue eyes who claimed that my body belonged to no one else but him.

Eventually, he sat at the foot of his bed, and from there, he looked at me. “Now come closer,” he said.

I felt like every word that came out of his mouth left me feeling obliged to follow. The fear of being punished for insubordination echoed in my head. He demands something, and I always end up obeying him rather than suffering the bitter taste of his wrath.

With that, I eventually began to walk towards him. 

However, just before I could even make another step, he raised his palm forward as though he wanted me to stop. It made me wonder why he suddenly did that, until he eventually said, “No, not like that, Leona.” He looked at me very intently before he added, “I want you to crawl towards me... on all fours.”

My eyes widened in disbelief, not only because he was flashing a devious grin at me while clutching the other bold end of the chain collar that had been around my neck since I arrived, but also because he wanted me to act like his personal slave dog rather than his wife.

*****

IT’S THE LAST DAY OF MARCH AND ALSO THE END OF THE SPRING SEASON. Next month would be the start of summer and also the moment I could return back to the Victorian Manor in the eastern region of the Vulterion Kingdom—Estia, my hometown.

I could hardly wait to come home and see my fiance, Joffrey. Spending my whole spring in capital to auction some of my late mother’s belongings made me yearn to see Joffrey. But I have no other choice but to do it. I need to save up for the dowry once Joffrey and I get married.

It has been a customary tradition in the whole Vulterion kingdom that it’s the women who should pay dowry for the man they would marry. However, ever since my mother died two years ago, my family’s wealth spiraled into a tumultuous life burdened by debt, especially after my father remarried again.

My stepmother, Adelaine, together with her daughter, Myrtle,  lived a lavishly extravagant life under our roof that my father could no longer afford, leaving him to grapple with a hefty amount of debt from different people.

I was glad I had the chance to keep some of my deceased mother’s jewelry away from my stepmother, and that’s why I came all the way to the capital of the Vulterion Kingdom to put my mother’s jewelry up for auction.

While inside the carriage on our way back to Estia, my personal maid, Gwen, who came along with me, suddenly handed over the telegram as she said, “Oh and I almost forgot, my lady, a telegram came this morning addressed to you from Estia.” 

“My father again, isn’t it?” I knew that it was my father right even before I could check what was inside the letter. I refused to open it and hand it down beside the empty seat.

“Aren’t you going to open it, my lady?” asked Gwen.

And I quickly shook my head. “There’s no need. I already knew what’s in that letter anyway. It seems that my father really hasn’t given up on the bridal selection, I guess,” I eventually said, followed by a heavy sigh.

After being away from my hometown all spring, I settle in to look at the vast, beautiful fields beyond the capital's borders for the final time. 

“We’re almost at the borders of Estia, my lady.” Gwen was as excited as I am. 

“Yes, we are. I can’t wait to see Joffrey.” I replied with a glee painted on my face.

Gwen smiled at me. And although she didn’t even bother to tell me, I knew right from the spark in her eyes, how much she misses her family too. Of course, she missed her family back in Estia. We’d both been away for three good months.

However, this would be the last time I would be seeing the capital anyway, since I don’t intend to come back here after Joffrey and I get married. We both plan to stay in Estia and live at the Hanes Estate. The thought of finally living independently with Joffrey excites me, especially since I won’t have to see my stepmother and stepsister again.

Seeing this view already meant that I was closer to the borders of Estia. And in just an hour, I would finally be home and united with my dearly beloved mate.

Joffrey has moved to the manor ever since my father began to hide from all the people he had been indebted to. I asked him to look over the manor in my stead while I was away at the capital, as I was afraid that Adelaine might suddenly decide to sell the manor, which originally belonged to my late mother’s ancestors.

After the long wait, the carriage eventually stopped at the old baroque inspired porch of our manor. Gwen immediately climbed down to assist me, and due to my excitement to surprise Joffrey, I nearly slipped from the carriage.

“Be careful, my lady. The baron won’t run away.” Gwen teased, and I couldn't help but chuckle at her silly reaction.

“I’ll go inside first and surprise him. Please take care of the luggage,” I told Gwen, instead. Switching the subject before I head inside and straight to my bedroom to at least change my clothes first before I come find Joffrey. 

Fortunately, I didn’t come across Adelaine on my way inside. Perhaps she could still be around her noble friends for another lavish afternoon tea. I eventually shook off my thoughts over my opulent stepmother and just focused myself on how I would eventually surprise Joffrey instead.

It made me suddenly wonder if he could be out at the stable again looking at the horses that my father owned, or probably he could be at the study reading my father’s massive collection of books.

As I opened my bedroom door, the thrill I experienced earlier was swept away, leaving me feeling like I had just been drenched with a bucket of ice. 

My whole body stood there numb, as though I had just seen a ghost. I stared at them sleeping soundly while cuddling together, fully naked, about another few more seconds, still unable to grasp the fact that I was really witnessing this before my eyes.

“Joffrey?” I asked, and I saw him wake up instantaneously at the sound of my voice. The horror painted on his face proved how shocked he was for seeing me. He couldn’t even begin to explain himself, because I caught them red-handed.

Furious and betrayed, my lips trembled as I struggled to confirm, “Did you—did you just really fucking sleep with Myrtle inside my own room?!”