Aria's mother came up to her and hugged her so tight. When she pulled away, she said,
"Congratulations my dear, I knew you would make us proud one day. My daughter is now the crown princess of Ixtal, you'll be queen of one of the most powerful kingdom."
Aria couldn't believe how selfish her mother had become. She only cared about wealth, power and status, not caring if her daughter was happy or not.
"Listen carefully Aria, you must be a good wife, listen to your husband, and give him anything he want. Do you understand?"
"Yes mother, I understand. You don't have to worry."
"Good, you have to go now. The carriage is waiting for you outside."
Her eyes held tears in them and with heaviness in her chest. Even though her parents never cared about her, she still loved them and this was probably the last time she would ever see them.
The prince and his newly wedded wife arrived at the castle . Aria's jaw dropped immediately. The castle was so huge that Aria thought her whole kingdom could fit in there. The castle was grand and the garden even more luxurious than the one back home.
"They are here." She heard a voice and turned her head to see who.
Two ladies dressed like royals approached them from a distance. One of them had blonde hair and green eyes and the other has black short hair and green eyes.
"Congratulations brother," they bowed and Aria noticed how they looked so much like prince Lycidas.
The two ladies turned to her and offered her a smile, "Welcome home, sister in law."
"Thank you." She smiled.
"Let's go." The prince said and they were about to walk away when the two ladies stopped them.
"Where do you think you are going brother. Aren't you going to greet father?" Said the lady with black hair.
"Why don't you join us for dinner? We....."
"Maybe another time," he cut her off.
"But brother.....We would like to spend time with our beautiful sister in-law."
At first, Lycidas didn't want to let her go but when his sister gave him a pleading look he released her and left without a word.
.....
In the Prince's chamber, Lycidas' sisters made Aria wear a red night dress with nothing underneath.
"Uhm... There's no need for all this, Milady" Aria said when one of the princesses, the one with blonde hair started brushing her hair.
She sighed, "There's no need for you to be so formal with me, we are sisters-in-law, just call me Mira."
Aria offered her a smile.
"I'm so sorry we didn't introduce ourselves, "I'm Iris." Said the princess with black hair.
"We'll leave you now." They gave her a reassuring smile before closing the door.
Oh no. Aria wished there was another way to get out of here, but there wasn't one. She didn't want this, she wasn't ready for their wedding night.
When Lycidas stepped into the room, Aria's heart skipped a beat. "Milord."
She stood up and bowed, "M... milord, I...I have something to tell you."
The prince gave her a stern look and she gulped, "Listen Aria," he took a step towards her and she took a step back, "Or whatever your name is, I only married you to make your life a living hell. I have no feelings for you at all. I'll inflict you with so much miseries."
Aria was dumbfounded for moment. Did she do anything wrong?
"Milord, I don't understand. What did I do wrong."
She heard him groan angrily and turned his back to her.
"Don't speak if I don't permit you to. That's rule number one."
"Rule number two, whenever we make love don't you dare reach me or make a sound."
"Rule number three, I'm dominant in bed, be sure of wipes and handcuffs. Remember this isn't for pleasure but punishment for you."
Aria swallowed in pains and drew back the tears threatening to fall down her from her eyes."
"Rule number 4, you can never get pregnant, and I'll make sure of that," Aria could feel his hot breath on her face when he came closer.
"Rule number five, which is the most important rule. Don't you dare think of having feelings for me because the day you do, I will kill you and send your dead body back to your precious parents."
Aria stood there and gulped in fear while she proceeded all that he said to her in her head. She felt her head ache as she imagined what will become of her starting from this day.
"Welcome to your new world." He turned to her and grabbed her arm, and made her stare directly at him "You'll pay for what your brother did to me. It's because of him my wife is gone forever."
How is that possible? She had two brothers and she didn't know which one.
"Adrienne." He said and her eyes went wide in shock, "He killed my wife because of his carelessness."
"He would never."
"What? How dare you talk back?" He demanded in anger as he tightened the grip on her arm which made her whimper in pain.
He groaned angrily and let go of her arms, and like a twinkle of an eye he was gone.
"Holy goddess," she murmured when he disappeared. Swallowing in pain, she collapsed on the floor and dragged her knees to her chest. The tears fell on her cheeks, which she had been trying to suppress.
She wondered what she had gotten herself into. Not only will she have a brutal prince but she will also be tortured like a slave in bed. Aria gulped in pain as she imagined all she might go through for the rest of her life.
Sighing heavily, she stood up on her feet and stared around the room, and noticed the room was huge, there was a large bed at the center of the room, while the room was designed with beautiful interior, like a room meant for royalties.
She didn't even notice how beautiful the room was, maybe she was too occupied thinking about what'll happen on their wedding night.
Aria was still staring around, trying to process everything when a word rang in her head.
"Chains and whips."