"So, this is the new toy they have brought for me to play with?"

Fear gripped me by the throat as I sucked in a breath. I heard the mockery in his tone, and if I was being honest, then I could tell you that fear was a terrible thing, enough to make a grown woman pee her pants.

Thank God for the smallest bit of self-control.

My entire mind went blank at the sight of him. He was terrifying and handsome— if there was ever such a thing.

But there was, was it not? I was staring at him.

The Emperor himself.

He stood tall, with hair as dark as the night I came and a chin I found myself aching to run my fingers through. And don't get me started on his eyes. They were amber-colored with just enough cold to make you shiver and a glint in them.

Emperor Fenrir, the man I have heard every rumor about. The man that had most of the world in the palm of his hands.

I could still remember the image of myself in my parents' throneroom, shivering and crying when they first told me I was to be wedded to this cruel man. They had ignored my pleas, stating that the rumors of Emperor Fenrir's ruthlessness could be no more than just a maid's tale.

My father had said to me, "The matter isn't up for discussion. Decisions have been made. You must comply. The fate of the kingdom depends on you."

He said that I was acting like a child, that I didn't care for the kingdom's welfare if I hadn't agreed upon this marriage. However, have they thought about me— their child?

What was I to do when wed off to a monster?

When I first arrived at the palace, my fiance was nowhere to be found. The servants had claimed that he was busy, but watching the handsome smirk on his face, an uneasy feeling grew in my heart.

No doubt he had just been with a mistress, unable to find spare time to welcome his new bride. Men of powerful places always had more than one to warm their beds.

So instead, I had been left waiting for him, locked in my room as the howls of animals tore through the night. That had been all I had done since entering the palace— waiting for the Emperor.

And it seemed like it was finally time to meet the man in question.

"The rest of you may leave," he said, referring to the guards. When they were gone, he made his way toward me, his demeanor intimidating, his expression hard.

"Your name?" he asked so carelessly, making me swallow.

One would think that with the fact that he knew I was coming and that we were to get married, the man would know my name. But I didn't dare voice those thoughts. I wasn't trying to get killed. Not so soon.

"My name is Elinor, Sire," I said, my head bowing, "Princess of Pedron."

He lifted my head, placing his hand on my chin. One so scary had no right to be tender in any way, but here he was defying that law. And yet I trembled in fear of him.

"You're shivering," he said, taking his hand off me and staring into my eyes.

Cold and closed off as his eyes were, I couldn't resist them. They were… enchanting.

"I am sure you are hungry, Elinor," he said, with a slight tilt of his head. I just bit my lower lip, unable to respond,

"Care to join me for breakfast?" he asked, his hand outstretched, but when I didn't take it, he raised a brow, and I swallowed.

I shook my head as he dropped his hand.

"I'm not hungry." I lied.

The truth was, hunger wasn't the problem at the moment. I was terrified of this man and just couldn't imagine myself having breakfast with him. There were too many rumors about him, tales of how he slaughtered innocents, that blood tainted his hands, and that the road towards the throne was carved from the flesh of his family.

None of which were things too optimistic.

"As you wish," he said indifferently and turned away from me. "Take her back to her room," he instructed the guards.

And then, I let out a long breath I didn't realize I had been holding for quite a while.

~~~~

The Emperor was more than intimidating. The aura he exuded was downright frightful.

However, it was undeniable that while he was also incredibly handsome, his dark and mysterious demeanor was enough to make a woman, even a man, cower.

I had to decline breakfast because of my fear of him. I had no idea if he noticed, and to be honest, I wasn't trying to conceal it. I was too busy trying to leave his presence— to seek refuge.

But now that I was out of his presence, the feeling of hunger returned. I hadn't had a proper meal since entering the palace, and it didn't seem like I would be able to too, seeing how the guards had locked me in my room again.

I had heard over and over again that the whole act of locking me was for my safety, that it was the Emperor's orders. That only caused dread to grow in me.

"I have to find a way to leave this place. I have to find a way to eat," I said out loud and headed for the door.

I tapped against the door and waited for a response. When none came, I knocked again.

"Princess?" A guard called from the outside.

"Yes. I need to go to the garden. I need some fresh air." It was not a total lie. Some fresh air would be nice, too.

"I'm sorry, princess. But you can't leave this room for now. It's for your safety."

"But I feel choked up," I said in a whining voice. "I need some air. Please!"

They didn't say anything for a while, and I thought they were going to give in. Alas, my hopes were quickly dashed.

"I'm sorry, princess. Maybe another day. When the Emperor permits it."

"When the Emperor permits," I muttered to myself. Frustrated and even more hungry, I walked to my bed and looked out the window.

I let out a deep sigh and tried to think of something, and I bit my bottom lip as a thought came into my head.

"Hope this works." I prayed and walked to the closet and gathered a few sheets, tying them in thick knots. After some time, I got myself a rope. Smiling devilishly, I looked to the door.

"When the Emperor permits, my arse." I cussed and walked back to the window to let down the rope, tying the other end to the bathroom door, which wasn't so far from the window.

Thank God.

The makeshift rope wasn't all too long, and I found myself jittery with nerves. Standing by the window, a breeze blew against my face.

"Here goes," I whispered and began to work myself over the window, and carefully down the rope. It didn't exactly get to the ground, but at least I managed to get off a balcony.

I did a little dance in place, happy with my mischief and that it bore good fruits.

"Take that, Emperor," I said and giggled.

I let out a deep breath and walked through the door into a hallway, looking right and left. There wasn't anyone in sight, but I didn't know which way led to the kitchen.

"Must be here somewhere," I said, looking around, trying to be careful not to gather any attention and keep away from the guards.

"But where?" I turned left in another hallway, and the smell of food almost made me weep.

Inside the kitchen, there wasn't anyone there, and gratitude flooded through me in waves. I headed for the pantry, and I was astonished by the different varieties of food in it.

I didn't wait around beyond that. Grabbing a piece of bread, I took a big bite out of it, sighing in delight. By the time I was done, I had polished off several fruits and baked goods, leaving nothing behind to hint that it was once there.

With my stomach now full, I happily bounded out of the kitchen. I had memorized the way, planning to follow the route I had come from when I bumped into someone.

My first instinct was to run, but when I looked up and was met with a pair of gorgeous eyes and a charming smile, I found myself frozen to the spot.

"Well, hello."