"I will accept whatever terms you will give, even if it is my life, Your Majesty."
The emperor's crimson eyes stared intently at Jillian before he finally opened his mouth to say the terms he was referring to. "Marry crown prince Dion."
Hearing the man's answer, both Jillian and Dion were shocked, even astonished at the word marriage.
Marriage? Of course that was beyond both of their minds, when they had previously tried to kill each other and even the wounds from that fight were still there.
"W-Wait what the-- Umph!" Before Dion could protest with that, the black-haired man standing next to him immediately covered Dion's mouth tightly with the palm of his hand. Silencing his brother before he could finish his sentence.
"Sssh... Don't be like that, Dion. You know Father won't like it if we contradict him," whispered the man who was none other than Dion's twin brother, Theodore. Although they were twins, they were physically very different.
Meanwhile, Jillian immediately raised her head to look directly at the man sitting in front of her, "S-sorry for my impertinence Your Majesty. But... That can't be--"
'I...? Marry that man??? Seriously. I really want to punch that annoying face of his!' she thought.
"Why not?" asked the man with long black hair and red eyes who was none other than the emperor. He was also known as Ferid George Keinheart. A leader known to be quite ruthless throughout the kingdom.
"B-because... Under the rules, it's not supposed to happen..." Jillian tried to object to the marriage.
"I'm the Emperor, I have the rules and whatever I say, it means I hold the power. Not you, do you understand so far?" asked Ferid in a very intimidating tone of voice, making Jillian instantly speechless due to the terrifying aura Ferid possessed.
"Y-yes, Your Majesty..." Jillian's head was bowed again. She occasionally glanced at Dion who was also staring at her. 'Just looking at his face makes me upset,'
"So what do you say? Marry my son and your people are safe again or do you accept your punishment right in front of everyone?"
Jillian took a moment to think. Her lilac eyes closed for a moment then took a deep breath and exhaled slowly. Her head lifted to look at Ferid with confidence.
"Yes, Your Majesty. I will do whatever you command."
After agreeing to the marriage, the emperor had some servants escort Jillian to a room for her to sleep in before the wedding took place at the end of the month which was still three weeks from now. Jillian knew that this marriage was tantamount to her being used as an article of peace. Giving herself up as a tool for their kingdom.
The main reason for all this was because Jillian was very talented in several fields, her marriage with Crown Prince Dion, would produce prince that would be very useful for their kingdom later on.
At the same time, Crown Prince Dion could not refute his father's words. So he couldn't do much and agreed to his marriage with Jillian.
"I have arranged your marriage, now you must stay in the kingdom until the day comes."
"Yes, father," Dion replied, bowing his head.
Theodore, his twin brother, could feel the compulsion in his brother, but there was nothing he could do about it.
******
"These are the things you asked us to bring here, princess..." said the servants who came with Jillian's things in their hands after the agreement was made a week ago.
"Alright, put all my things in the room. Just put them in the corner of my room, I'll take care of everything myself."
The servants and guards brought in all the items Jillian had requested. Once she knew she was pardoned, she asked the emperor for permission to take her belongings. At least the weapons she used and the clothes. The emperor agreed and Jillian took everything.
"We have placed everything as you ordered, princess..."
"Good job. You may leave."
They bowed and walked out of the room and closed the door. Jillian sat on her bed and lay down, looking up at the ceiling of her room. It was very noticeable, Keintheart Castle was much bigger and more luxurious than her small kingdom. It had been a week since she had been in the kingdom. Jillian was still thinking about the risks of her choice.
"But marriage... Can I do it? I mean... It's a... A big responsibility. I'm going to be a queen in the future and I've prepared myself. But... Looking at the current emperor... Is it possible... I'll just be his puppet."
She let out a long sigh, trying to accept the reality of her life that she felt was getting worse. But he did it all for the sake of his people. There was no choice he could make anymore.
"At least they are safe from everything as long as I follow what he says."
Jillian tried to calm herself down, but her mind kept saying something else.
"Why not with his twin brother instead? He's much better than Prince Dion. Why does it have to be... It has to be that annoying guy?!"
'But come to think of it, the emperor also looks very young and handsome. There's not even an empress accompanying him...' Jillian thought. 'He's handsome, not too old despite looking very stern and still very attractive so to speak.'
For a moment she was silent until she finally began to realize what she had said.
"Wait Lian! Don't think about it!" Jillian covered her flushed face with the blanket.
She actually felt unprepared for marriage, because she was sure that after marriage they would be forced to have offspring. For the noble men she had met, in their eyes women were only machines to produce offspring as their successors. That's what made Jillian hesitant to have a partner.
She didn't want to be used as a tool, she wanted something more that she could fight for. She doesn't mind if she has children later, but that doesn't mean that's her only job.
"Offspring, huh... That means Dion and I have to..."
Jillian's hand unconsciously touched her own stomach. She looked down at her eyes as if she was wondering if this was the right decision or not at all.
She couldn't imagine at all that she and Dion would have to do something like that in order to have offspring.
"Ahhh never mind! Why should I think about it now? I'm sure he doesn't know how to do it either!"
"Do what do you mean?"
Suddenly from the door came a man's voice that reflexively startled Jillian. As soon as she turned her head, it was Dion who stood leaning against the door.
"Huh?! What are you doing in my room?!" snapped Jillian irritably.
"Just saying hello to my future wife. What's wrong?" asked Dion in a teasing tone.
"Tch, go away! I don't want to see that annoying face of yours!"
"Huft... My future wife is so grumpy, I'd go crazy marrying a woman like you. But what the hell, we're already stuck in the same box. So enjoy your time while you can..." explained the red-eyed man.
"Because after marrying me, your life will be full of misery." He continued with a horrible grin on his face and walked away, leaving Jillian silent on her bed.
"Just meeting you is like suffering for me."