"I want to place the ring on your finger, not break it," said General Prince Agenor Dell, his gaze cold as he looked at the brunette princess before him. He gently slid a ring with a red gemstone onto the ring finger of the grey-eyed girl.
A new chapter began in Syrena's life as she became engaged to Prince Lagardioz, the second prince. He was a well-built man with a pair of beautiful blue eyes.
[If fertility isn't a requirement to become the crown prince of Lagardioz, I'm not interested in dealing with women. After marrying her, all I need to do is have a child with her.]
The day that girls worldwide had been eagerly anticipating turned out to be the worst for Syrena. She strongly disapproved of sudden marriages for any reason, especially those driven by politics.
Syrena stared at the brown-haired man before her, his face void of any smiles. His actions irritated her, as they confirmed her suspicions that he would only use her as a political tool.
[Why did I have to marry such a young tyrant?]
Although inwardly irritated, Syrena couldn't deny the prince's charisma as she looked at Agenor's face. He had a handsome visage and an ideal physique.
However, being handsome was not enough for Syrena, especially if the prince viewed her merely as a source of gratification.
In the grand royal hall of Ruxenia, they celebrated Syrena's engagement with a lavish party. The spacious room had high walls and domes adorned with paintings of the night sky. The guests appeared both enthusiastic and anxious.
"Did you hear? I was told that Prince Agenor's engagement to Princess Syrena is a requirement for him to compete with his stepbrother for the crown prince title," whispered a black-haired female guest from behind a red fan that concealed half of her face.
"It seems so. It's unfortunate that Princess Syrena is entering into a political marriage with a prince known for his arrogance in his domain. Will that wicked man treat the princess well?" expressed a worried red-haired woman.
"Well, we have no choice. On the other hand, it pains me to see the princess forced to marry a wicked man like Prince Agenor. Nevertheless, I am grateful for their engagement because it saves our kingdom from the threat of colonization by the Lagardioz kingdom," resignedly replied the small-faced woman.
"You're right! We mustn't forget the threat posed by a dark wizarding kingdom like Valcke in the north. Fortunately, our kingdom has a beautiful princess. Otherwise, a proposal from a powerful kingdom like Lagardioz would never have materialized," added a plump woman.
The women engaged in gossip suddenly fell silent. They believed that sacrificing a princess to marry a wicked prince was a lesser evil compared to everyone suffering due to colonization and attacks from the dark wizarding kingdom.
The rumors about Prince Agenor's cruelty seemed to be true. When Syrena's and Agenor's eyes accidentally met, an instant chill ran down the silver-eyed princess's spine. Syrena's hands trembled, even as they were held by the prince.
Loud applause filled the royal hall as the prince placed the engagement ring on Syrena's finger. The king and queen gazed at their brunette princess, filled with emotion. Perhaps, for the Ruxenia king and queen, sending their daughter off for an alliance marriage would be more beneficial than allowing her to continue aimlessly in the palace.
[Let's see! I swear this engagement will fail!]
Although Syrena's pink lips wore a smile, her heart burned with hatred. She detested this restraint the most.
In Syrena's mind, marrying someone without love would only keep her trapped, like a bird in a gilded cage. She would be nothing more than a display doll during the day and a sex slave at night.
The princess clenched her hands, her chest heaving with anger. She couldn't bear the thought of living even a single day in Prince Agenor's palace.
However, her eyes sparkled with excitement when a maid approached to deliver drinks to Syrena and her future husband.
Together with the guests, they both sipped the served drinks. The princess's eyes glanced at the prince's glass, which was already empty. She inwardly chuckled.
[Accept this engagement gift from me, Prince!] Syrena chuckled inwardly.
Shortly after sharing a drink, Prince Agenor massaged his right temple. Though he maintained a calm appearance, Syrena was certain that something strange was happening within his body.
Beads of sweat formed on Prince Agenor's forehead, growing to the size of corn kernels. Suddenly, his body collapsed, causing everyone to scream in panic.
Guests were filled with fear as they witnessed the prince rolling and writhing as if possessed. Several guards rushed to surround the prince, who groaned in pain.
One of the guards attempted to assist the prince, but was thrown far away by Prince Lagardioz's power.
Amidst a terrifying scream, two enormous wings tore through the prince's garments. All eyes widened as if they were about to pop out of their sockets upon seeing a pair of gigantic black wings emerging from the prince's back. The excessive size of the wings caused the fabric of the prince's upper shirt to tear.
[Aha... it worked!]
Agenor tugged at the cloth that wrapped around his arms with a rough motion. The guests stared in astonishment at the upper body of General Prince Agenor, with his strong physique, broad chest, and firm muscles. Then, the prince's brown hair gradually turned white like pearls.
[Damn it! Someone has bewitched me on my engagement day!]
Syrena hurriedly approached the king and queen.
"My king and queen! Look, the prince has transformed into a monster! Are you sure you want me to marry a monster?" cried Syrena. All eyes immediately fixed on the oval-faced princess, disbelief etched on their faces.
"Princess Syrena! Do not utter another word!" snapped the king in front of the crowd.
After writhing on the ground for a while, Prince Agenor slowly stood up. A pair of massive black wings clung to his back, their span long enough to touch the floor, compensating for the prince's towering height.
Holding his throbbing head, the prince locked his gaze on the guests. People gasped in shock as they saw his blue eyes transform into a golden hue.
Syrena never expected her future husband to turn into a black-winged man with fangs and claws.
"You monster!" shrieked Syrena, pointing her finger at the prince's chest.
[That girl! It must be her doing!]
The golden-eyed prince glared at Syrena with hatred. He flapped his enormous wings, causing a gust of wind to swirl around. Instantly, a sour expression crossed the prince's angular face.
"Is it true that the prince has transformed into a monster?" Whispers among the guests grew louder, filling the palace hall. King and Queen Ruxenia looked panicked.
Without delay, the transformed prince lunged toward Syrena. Prince Agenor's black claws gripped the delicate neck of the princess of Ruxenia.
Syrena's face turned red, her eyes wide open in shock as if she were gasping for air. Fearful screams erupted from everyone present, including Syrena's father.