Duke Edmund and Duchess Larisa were stunned to see Celestine chewing her peach dress.
"Did she seriously lose her mind?"
Mimi nodded her head.
Duke Edmund's head dropped to his palm.
"What am I supposed to do now?" His mouth whispered underneath his fingers.
"Duke Athan would never accept a crazy girl as his wife!" Beatrice murmured, suppressing her evil smile.
I wish I could snap that thin neck of hers right this instant. If only my soul weren't into a side character's body.
"Let's hide this from Athan Kingsley, and once they're married, it will be too late for him to do anything." Larisa whispered.
Larisa and Beatrice were mirror images of each other. Not just by looks but by personality as well.
The reason they're forcing me into this marriage is because of a deal between the northern region and the southern region.
The North wanted food supplies from the South, whereas the South wanted the strength of Northern knights to protect them against monsters. A marriage alliance was formed on the emperor's orders to protect the promise between North and South.
Athan Kingsley is rumored to be the most dangerous man in the Esclairk kingdom. He doesn't have a heart and enjoys blood on his face. Horrified by the rumors about Athan Kingsley, my stepmother gave my name for the marriage alliance instead of her own daughter's name.
Good for me!
I want to get out of this mansion as soon as possible.
Celestine started clapping, and everyone turned their heads to her. Edmund twitched his brows, and Beatrice sighed.
"Why are you clapping?" Edmund questioned.
"I am getting married, Father!" Celestine replied and flashed a wide smile.
Edmund clenched his fist in anger.
"What a nuisance!" He mumbled beneath his breath and angrily walked out of Celestine's room, slamming the door behind him.
"Yay!" Celestine cheered.
"I can play with my husband all the time." She shouted.
Larisa widened her eyes.
"This is your fault, Beatrice!" She whispered to her daughter beside her.
"Make sure Duke Athan doesn't find out about her illness; otherwise, you'll marry that northern monster." Larina warned.
"Don't worry, Mother." A smile conquered Beatrice's lips.
"I will take care of my sister." Her words assured Larisa.
Larisa and Beatrice left the room, and Celestine sucked in a breath. She was exhausted, jumping like a child.
It's good that my excellent acting convinced everyone.
Celestine perched on the bed.
If I am not wrong, in the original story, something happened to Celestine before her wedding.
What was it?
For now, I have five destiny stones. Using them for big events, instead of pretty problems, would be better.
***
A night before Celestine's wedding day…
The wooden door pushed backward with a creaking sound. Celestine opened her eyes, sat straight, and focused her inquisitive gaze on the door.
A guard stepped into the room.
Who is he?
"My dear Celestine!" His devilish voice replenished the room with an eerie feeling.
Celestine immediately got out of the bed.
"I heard you lost your mind." Words rolled down his mouth.
Oh! It's him!
Kalez, Beatrice's personal guard.
Since Celestine was abused by her family, everyone else also treated her however they wanted. The maids were rude to her, whereas the guards ignored her.
Mimi is the only exception.
In the original story, Kalez took advantage of Celestine's situation and tried to force himself upon her.
Now that he knows I have lost my mind, he wants to take advantage of it.
Kalez stepped into Celestine's space and clutched her shoulder. His eyes perked up with ill intentions, and a smirk arose on the corner of his mouth.
"I am the only one who cares for you, Celestine," Kalez whispered.
"Really?" Celestine smiled.
Kalez felt something odd about Celestine and cocked a brow.
"You seem different." He muttered.
"Of course!" Celestine agreed.
In the blink of an eye, she grabbed Kalez's wrist and flipped him down on the floor. He was about to scream, but Celestine grasped his mouth with her palm.
"I have handled many men in my previous life, and trust me, you're the weakest."
Kalez's eyes widened.
I can't kill him, but if I let him go, he will tell everyone the truth.
Think Celestine!
An idea entered Celestine's mind, and she smiled mischievously.
I just have to hide you till my wedding.
Celestine clasped the white bedsheet and ripped it into three pieces. One piece was put into Kalez's mouth, then she tied his hands with the second, and his legs with the third.
She opened her abundant wardrobe and pushed Kalez inside.
"Shhhhhhhhhhhhhh" Celestine put her finger on her plump lips.
"Just stay here till my wedding." She whispered.
Celestine closed the wardrobe.
***
Meanwhile, in the North…
Athan Kingsley arrived at his mansion after two weeks, covered in blood. Everyone was scared by his arrival; even the birds in the trees left their nests.
He went to his bedroom, and a debate started among the maids outside.
"I am not goi-ng inside!" A maid murmured.
"Someone has to arrange the bathtub for the Duke." The head maid raised her voice, hiding her fear.
"We can't go inside, madam." All the maids refused together.
A drop of sweat slid down the head maid's forehead, and she gulped.
"What's going on?" A familiar voice caught everyone's attention outside the Duke's bedroom.
"Sir Zachary." The head maid stepped forward.
"Uhm…no one wants to go inside…"
Zachary sighed.
"I will handle this!" He answered.
The head maid bowed, and the other maids did the same.
Zachary was the only one in the mansion who could dare to approach Athan Kingsley. He was not only a commander but Athan's childhood friend.
The maids left, and Zachary opened the door to Athan's room.
He stepped inside.
"Did you kill those monsters alone?" Zachary asked and quietly closed the door behind him.
Athan was standing at the window, and his bloody clothes were still on his body, glorifying his victory over the monsters.
His deadly eyes glared at Zachary.
"I wanted to take out my frustration!" Athan muffled.
"What are you talking about?" Zachary moved closer to him.
Athan furiously thumped his fist on the window glass.
"Tomorrow is my wedding with that girl."