Married to a king I did not know, had never seen or met. I was sold off simply because I was a girl child. My father, King Frederick of Athens, loved his own kingdom more than he did his family. In his quest to expand and become more powerful, he lost to a kingdom mightier than his own. To save his kingdom from perishing, he sought help from the King of Siberia, who demanded his daughter in marriage as the price.
The Siberian Kingdom wielded immense power. Their king, King Argus, known for ruling fiercely and mightily across all lands, had succeeded his father, King Raymond, who was equally ruthless. Argus continued his father's legacy, ensuring they conquered every kingdom they desired, bringing more than eight realms to their knees. Siberia was considered the strongest and most powerful kingdom of all, so it was only wise to seek their aid. However, King Argus never helped anyone without demanding something in return, and for my father, what he wanted, was me he requested that I marry him—I was the bargain.
I had lived in my father's palace all my life with no friends, hardly ever allowed to go out. Locked up day and night, I never knew what it was like to have companions or even fall in love. They said going on adventures and exploring other kingdoms was meant only for princes; a princess was never allowed to be seen outside. I never truly believed those sayings. Although my mother, Queen Alisa, taught me everything about being a princess, I always yearned for more. I wanted to experience the outside world, to truly ride a horse, embark on adventures, and perhaps, just perhaps, find love for myself. But I suppose my dreams were over.
My two maids, Frances and Elsa, helped me prepare for that day, the day I dreaded the most. When my father returned home one night, he summoned the entire family to meet him in the throne room and then announced the news. The news hit me so hard, as if I'd been stung by a bee or hit by something hard in the head. I couldn't speak; I had no reaction. My mother looked at me with pity, while I stared back with no emotion. There was nothing to be said. I was to be married off in a month, to a total stranger, and of all people, it was King Argus. The man already had five wives, so what more did he want with me? Ever since that day, when my father mentioned my arranged marriage, I could barely sleep or eat.
The day came faster than I expected. Nobles and important people from our kingdom gathered in the castle's ballroom. Soft, calm music filled the entire castle. My father was with his guests, talking about only God knew what. I was in my room, prepared by Frances and Elsa. They chose the finest of my gowns, embedded with rhinestones and exquisitely stitched. It was crafted by the best seamstress in our town, made to fit me perfectly, showcasing every curve of my body. The dress fit beautifully, almost too perfectly. Its mesmerizing color matched my blue eyes and thick brown hair.
"My princess, the gown is very beautiful. The seamstress truly outdid herself with this one. You look like a work of art," Elsa said.
"I mean, it's only because of the gorgeous and well-endowed body the princess has that gave the dress this beauty," Frances added.
"Do you guys really think I look that good?" I asked.
"Of course, my princess, you look very stunning. There's actually no word that can describe how beautiful you look right now. You look like an angel," Frances insisted.
"Thank you both so much," I said, my voice thick with emotion. "And I'm going to miss you both so, so much. You both have been like mothers and friends to me, caring for me since I was little. If only I could take you along, maybe my hell wouldn't be so bad."
"Don't say that, my princess. No man in his right senses would ever treat a beautiful and gorgeous woman like you badly, not even King Argus," Frances reassured me.
"Trust me, once he sees you, he'll be so captured by your beauty that he might even begin to shed tears," Elsa added with a smile.
We all shared a small laugh. "I will miss you both so, so much. I promise to always write to you both when I have the chance, okay?"
"We would miss you too, my princess," they both said in unison.
The time for me to be presented to King Argus arrived. My father summoned me to meet them in the grand hall. I descended the staircase as carefully as I knew how, but my gown still got in the way, and I slipped and fell. Just as I was about to hit the ground, a strong, muscular body pressed against mine, preventing my fall. I looked up and stared into his eyes—they were the most beautiful, captivating eyes I had ever seen. His lashes were long and rested perfectly on his eyes. His face was like that of a Greek god. His lips were thin and finely pressed, utterly irresistible. His hair was dark brown and looked incredibly soft and silky. And his body... it was finely built, very muscular. You could see his chest and hard abs beneath his shirt. And his scent was like that of cold rain mixed with a sweet flowery scent that could make anyone drool.
"Are you all right?" he asked, pulling me back from my thoughts.
"U-u-uhm," I stuttered, "yes, yes, I'm fine, thank you."
He then bowed and left. Frances and Elsa came rushing to me. "My princess, are you all right?" they asked, their voices filled with concern.
"Yes, I'm fine," I replied.
"That young man who caught you," Elsa asked with a silly smile, "could he be King Argus?"
"I have no idea," I replied, "I've never met King Argus before."
"If that is he, my princess," Frances chimed in, "I guess your hell won't be that bad after all."
We laughed, and then I continued my way to the grand hall.
Chapter One: The bargained bride
Married to a king I did not know, had never seen or met. I was sold off simply because I was a girl child. My father, King Frederick of Athens, loved his own kingdom more than he did his family. In his quest to expand and become more powerful, he lost to a kingdom mightier than his own. To save his kingdom from perishing, he sought help from the King of Siberia, who demanded his daughter in marriage as the price.
The Siberian Kingdom wielded immense power. Their king, King Argus, known for ruling fiercely and mightily across all lands, had succeeded his father, King Raymond, who was equally ruthless. Argus continued his father's legacy, ensuring they conquered every kingdom they desired, bringing more than eight realms to their knees. Siberia was considered the strongest and most powerful kingdom of all, so it was only wise to seek their aid. However, King Argus never helped anyone without demanding something in return, and for my father, what he wanted, was me he requested that I marry him—I was the bargain.
I had lived in my father's palace all my life with no friends, hardly ever allowed to go out. Locked up day and night, I never knew what it was like to have companions or even fall in love. They said going on adventures and exploring other kingdoms was meant only for princes; a princess was never allowed to be seen outside. I never truly believed those sayings. Although my mother, Queen Alisa, taught me everything about being a princess, I always yearned for more. I wanted to experience the outside world, to truly ride a horse, embark on adventures, and perhaps, just perhaps, find love for myself. But I suppose my dreams were over.
My two maids, Frances and Elsa, helped me prepare for that day, the day I dreaded the most. When my father returned home one night, he summoned the entire family to meet him in the throne room and then announced the news. The news hit me so hard, as if I'd been stung by a bee or hit by something hard in the head. I couldn't speak; I had no reaction. My mother looked at me with pity, while I stared back with no emotion. There was nothing to be said. I was to be married off in a month, to a total stranger, and of all people, it was King Argus. The man already had five wives, so what more did he want with me? Ever since that day, when my father mentioned my arranged marriage, I could barely sleep or eat.
The day came faster than I expected. Nobles and important people from our kingdom gathered in the castle's ballroom. Soft, calm music filled the entire castle. My father was with his guests, talking about only God knew what. I was in my room, prepared by Frances and Elsa. They chose the finest of my gowns, embedded with rhinestones and exquisitely stitched. It was crafted by the best seamstress in our town, made to fit me perfectly, showcasing every curve of my body. The dress fit beautifully, almost too perfectly. Its mesmerizing color matched my blue eyes and thick brown hair.
"My princess, the gown is very beautiful. The seamstress truly outdid herself with this one. You look like a work of art," Elsa said.
"I mean, it's only because of the gorgeous and well-endowed body the princess has that gave the dress this beauty," Frances added.
"Do you guys really think I look that good?" I asked.
"Of course, my princess, you look very stunning. There's actually no word that can describe how beautiful you look right now. You look like an angel," Frances insisted.
"Thank you both so much," I said, my voice thick with emotion. "And I'm going to miss you both so, so much. You both have been like mothers and friends to me, caring for me since I was little. If only I could take you along, maybe my hell wouldn't be so bad."
"Don't say that, my princess. No man in his right senses would ever treat a beautiful and gorgeous woman like you badly, not even King Argus," Frances reassured me.
"Trust me, once he sees you, he'll be so captured by your beauty that he might even begin to shed tears," Elsa added with a smile.
We all shared a small laugh. "I will miss you both so, so much. I promise to always write to you both when I have the chance, okay?"
"We would miss you too, my princess," they both said in unison.
The time for me to be presented to King Argus arrived. My father summoned me to meet them in the grand hall. I descended the staircase as carefully as I knew how, but my gown still got in the way, and I slipped and fell. Just as I was about to hit the ground, a strong, muscular body pressed against mine, preventing my fall. I looked up and stared into his eyes—they were the most beautiful, captivating eyes I had ever seen. His lashes were long and rested perfectly on his eyes. His face was like that of a Greek god. His lips were thin and finely pressed, utterly irresistible. His hair was dark brown and looked incredibly soft and silky. And his body... it was finely built, very muscular. You could see his chest and hard abs beneath his shirt. And his scent was like that of cold rain mixed with a sweet flowery scent that could make anyone drool.
"Are you all right?" he asked, pulling me back from my thoughts.
"U-u-uhm," I stuttered, "yes, yes, I'm fine, thank you."
He then bowed and left. Frances and Elsa came rushing to me. "My princess, are you all right?" they asked, their voices filled with concern.
"Yes, I'm fine," I replied.
"That young man who caught you," Elsa asked with a silly smile, "could he be King Argus?"
"I have no idea," I replied, "I've never met King Argus before."
"If that is he, my princess," Frances chimed in, "I guess your hell won't be that bad after all."
We laughed, and then I continued my way to the grand hall.