Chapter Text
The concept of crowns and the kingdoms has always been one filled with conflict and sneer. One might be dedicated to the royal family, so dedicated that sometimes it scared the loyal person themselves. But sometimes, backstabbing comes naturally to others. It has always been like that, blood and water. No bloodline existed for more than a century or two, because they would just wither away either in peace or someone just claimed it for them.
Princess Adriana of Iron Keep was not exactly proud of her heritage. They were not exactly known for peace, they were rather known for weapons and blood lust. Her bloodline was one of the only untouched for more than five centuries. Maybe it’s fate, maybe it’s destiny or maybe it’s their sheer terror and fear that kept the invasions and backstabbing at bay. And maybe it’s their undefeated streaks at wars. Some said that they were blessed by the goddess of war and strategies and some said that they bribed their way enough to know the secrets of their enemy.
What is true, what is not, it didn’t matter because Adriana was more worried about her claim to the throne. She hated the way of the court but she loved the crown, she loved the sheer power she will one day hopefully wield. Just like her father, she was trained through the arts of swordman ship and became the most feared princess of Iron Keep.
Her claim though was getting weaker as her father’s hair greyed and now no longer able to reproduce leaving Adriana with two younger sisters. One might think that there would be no misogyny, hatred for women stronger than men, but you would be lying to yourself. Adriana’s claim was slowly slipping right out of her hand as she grasped on the whispers of conspiracy to overthrow Adriana and place the son of the general of the army and make a new bloodline.
Adriana would grit her teeth and bare them at anyone who would try to undermine her power in this kingdom. She had gone to many campaigns with her father, won many battles for him, her gender was not going to let her let go of the only thing that helped her to tolerate backstabbing bitches like the duke of Norwington.
“Princess Adriana, you need to come fast.” The words were enough to send an absolute chill down Adriana’s spine. She knew it, she knew it deep inside her heart that something has happened, something so fucking terrifying that she will have to act as a shield for her sisters.
She was running towards the throne room, her heavy skirt clutched in her hands and her ballet shoes a soft thuds against the floor as her hair whipped behind her, eyes wildly looking from servant to servant and finally, finally, she was in front of the almost empty throne room.
There were sobs, whispers and dreadful silence as some stood in the room with their heads bowed. Some openly displayed their heart break over something which Adriana had no idea about but she was about to find out. She slowly walked in, her hands leaving her heavy skirts and instead nervously clutched her hands together as she neared the man sobbing over someone on the floor.
“Lord Osterfield, who is that?” Her voice cracked, because she knew, Oh she knew , that something was horribly wrong and that her life was absolutely not gonna be the same after tonight. The older man’s sob hitched, his head slowly turned, and oh , that was her father on the floor,
His eyes unblinking, something like reddish foam on his mouth, and he was so dead. Adriana knew that he was dead, there was no way a living person stared into space ahead of them, there was just no way.
“Your royal highness.” King’s right hand, Greg Osterfield, said, but it seemed more heart broken than he intended it to be as Adriana’s eyes dimmed drastically, her legs seemed to be on auto pilot as she walked forward until she was right by Greg.
A strangled scream left her throat as her eyes landed on the woman beside her father, her mother. She collapsed on the floor, the tears streaming down her cheeks as she kept sobbing, kept crying whilst her hands clutched on the jewelled robe of her father and hid her face into his chest.
“Papa! Mama!” She screamed again, her life completely changed within the span of forty five minutes gap between the dinner and sleeping time. They had a dinner like a normal family, laughing and talking and discussing. Her father doted on his daughters despite the looming threat over his reign.
He was so proud when he crowned his own daughter as his heir apparent in front of all the kingdoms that matter when Adriana was old enough to understand the responsibility. He even pushed back on all the betrothals for his three daughters until he couldn’t anymore. They had been discussing the betrothals over dinner. It made Adriana frustrated but she understood, she understood about how much pressure her father was under.
Her father had a good fucking reason to delay the weddings of his daughters, especially Adriana, because he knew that literally everyone would be flanking over his innocent daughters. From sixty year old perverts to forty year old creeps, he knew it would fucking happen. His own courtiers made him shiver under his skin when they tried to offer their hand in the marriage for Adriana.
But they found one, Adriana’s mother and father found someone who had nothing to lose but everything to gain. Bahng Chan, overthrown heir apparent of kingdom Oceania. He was everything that Adriana’s father wanted in the partner for Adriana and she accepted it gracefully, to meet the famous former heir apparent to the biggest ocean kingdom.
That’s what they talked about during the dinner, their meeting, their potential betrothal despite the scowls thrown towards the idea, of not having a foreigner rule as King consort, but Adriana’s father was firm in his decision and he was just simply informing them about the arrival of the prince in time of a day or two as they had already set out to meet the king and the queen of Iron Keep. The court should simply begin with the preparation for the events that will follow the arrival of the prince.
But now, Adriana will have to do it all alone, greeting the former prince, accommodate his entourage and help him to adjust in a landlocked empire, famous for wars and weapons.
She had tried to talk to her sisters, trying to make them understand that their parents are gone and now they are at the mercy of the cruel court. But Greg Osterfield and Kim Seonghan, ever the loyalist to the Barebone blood line for the literal centuries, stood firmly against any and every attempt to overthrow the freshly orphaned princesses.
“Over my fucking body I will let you snatch away the birth right of Princess Adriana Barebone! You are such a filth and nothing else, Norman. You should choke on your shit and die in the gutter where no one will bother to find you. You wanna know how easily i can rip you limb by fucking limb?” Greg had threatened the traitors and executed the ones responsible for the death of the king and the queen.
Adriana of course heard it, she was angry, so so angry that she stormed the throne room, her sword in her right hand whilst she walked to the throne, a bittersweet feeling swirled in her inside as she finally stood in front of it. “ Watch over me, papa.” She whispered to the throne before whirling around to face the arguing nobles and treacherous dukes and duchesses.
“My father, your king has been dead for a day, and you plan to usurp my claim to the throne already?! You seem to have forgotten your place in this kingdom. You are where you are because of my ancestors. You want me to take your claim to your little pieces of land? I will do it without a fucking hesitation. Do not test me and definitely do not test my power.” Adriana growled at the royals present in the room. They visibly shrunk to escape the wrath of the princess who can easily decapitate them.
“I do not want you to plan against anything that involves me and my sisters or so help me god, I will wipe away your entire lineage without remorse. Because I know all of you, except lord Osterfield and Lord Kim, had something to do with my parent’s untimely death and their murders. I cannot indict you without any proof, but I swear to myself, I will not let you ruin my sister's life.” Adriana glowered at everyone in the room, her hand threateningly wrapped around the hilt of the sword.
“I am now your queen, and you will obey me. Do not force me to become a tyrant for you, or it might just not go well for you.” The threat loomed in the air, Adriana looking around for any protest, any disobedience, but they knew better. They all bow their heads as if they weren’t just planning to usurp the throne just moments ago.
“Prince Christopher of Oceania will arrive tomorrow, I got the message from their navy. I hope you make him feel welcomed and not outcasted. He is my betrothed and the marriage will happen during the onset of Autumn, a month from today. The funeral of my parents will take place in time of three days. So I hope you won’t play the role of slithering snake under my sleeve, for your own sake.” Adriana announced, her grip on the hilt tightening. The thought of the funeral was making her absolutely nauseous.
“What about the coronation, your majesty?” Lord Kim asked, daring to look at the heir apparent or now the new queen of Iron keep and its ten kingdoms. “After the wedding, Lord Kim. I do not want him to not have a coronation or a separate coronation. I despise to think about how my people will treat him if he has to go through the coronation alone. Or force him to have no coronation at all.” Adriana said, her eyes lingering over quivering nobles in the room.
“I really wish for your sake that you got my message straight and without a problem. Because it will not be of any good for you to interrupt the way I will rule my kingdoms, am I clear?” Adriana’s voice boomed across the throne room, making everyone get on their knees. “Yes your majesty.” Everyone’s voice held a grudge, a promise to ruin her but they have no idea what Adriana was capable of doing so she lets them think they are something.
As the night overtook the cruel day, Adriana found herself staring at the intricately designed ceiling, her fingers nervously picked at the cuticles of her nails, scared to the bones about the sudden change in her life. She still had so many years before her father would have descended the throne letting her take over the responsibility of being a queen sovereign of her kingdom.
But here she was, wondering how her betrothed (they will have to accept it because Adriana has no time and Chan has no other place to go to) was in real life except all the rumours had made their way into her kingdom. The overwhelming rumours were that he was the most kind hearted King to be, he had no evil bone in his body. The kingdom of Oceania were so in love with their Heir Apparent, but sadly, the vultures paid no mind to your kindness, your soft spoken way of life. They just tear you apart and leave you with nothing, sometimes also robbing you of your life.
The grip on her blanket tightened, biting her lips, tears welling up in her eyes because she didn’t have to just prepare for her coronation and wedding, but her parent’s funeral as well. She was afraid and scared for her sisters because she just has no idea how to deal with barely adults. Isabella was of ten and six, and Aurora was of ten and four. They weren’t as mature as Adriana, and it scared her because she never had to deal with her upset sisters, that was reserved for her parents.
The door of her room opened, signalling someone entering her room. She lifted her head, turning it towards the noise. It was Isabella and Aurora, looking scared and Aurora was downright sniffing and wiping her tears. “Can we stay with you tonight, Ana?” Isabella squeaked, biting her lower lip.
Adriana offered them a smile, before beckoning them to join her. Relief washed over their faces as they rushed to join her on her bed, slipping inside the heavy blankets. Isabella took her place on the right side to Adriana, and Aurora took the left. Both of them clinged to their elder sister, hiding their face into the crook of her neck on both sides as Adriana somehow managed to wrap her hands around them. She kissed both of their foreheads, knowing what a turmoil of emotions they were going through.
“Is mama papa really gone, Ana?” Isabella asked, her voice breaking Adriana’s heart over and over again as she wondered how is she managing to keep her shit together. “Yes baby, I am so sorry. I sadly cannot change this outcome. They are gone, and I know it hurts.” Adriana said, her voice shaking with mourning.
Aurora sniffed, holding on to Adriana more tightly, her hand fisting Adriana’s sleeping robe tightly, she was probably crying. “Will we be taken away from you? I heard that we will be sent to Aunt Rosalia’s townhouse to live with her.” Isabella asked, she was scared, Adriana noticed that in her voice.
Adriana’s jaw ticked, unfiltered anger rushed to her head leaving her vision blurry and extra colourful making her head hurt. “No, baby. I will not let anyone take you two, my sweethearts away from me. They will have to fight me.” Adriana placed a fluterring kiss on Isabella’s head first and then on Aurora’s hair. “You are my responsibility now. I will rather die than to let you down. You have my word for it, Bella and Aurora.” Adriana promised her sisters.
“And is it true you are to be wedded soon?” It was Aurora, speaking for the first time after not uttering a word for two days straight. “Yes, my love. I have to wed in order to keep a claim on this throne.” Adriana answered, honesty was the key for communications between the sisters. Isabella’s hand tightened around Adriana’s waist, as if she was concerned for the woman.
“What if he treats you badly, Riana? What if he doesn’t want us to be with you? What if he hates us?” The questions spilled out of her mouth, genuine concern laced every single one of it. “Then he will have to go. If he hates you and me, he simply will have to be shipped off to the place he came from. I will not let any man treat you and me like ragdolls. You two are safe with me, okay?” Adriana promised the girls again, promised them their safety and comfort and that they are more important to her than anyone will ever be.
“Will Lord Osterfield retain his position as hand of the queen? Will his family still stay with us in this castle?” Isabella asked, her question had curiosity and hope. Wait, hope? Hope for what? “Yes, he was father's trusted hand. So I will keep him with us. Why does it have you intrigued though? You were never interested in nobel politics.” Adriana asked, she tried to get a look at her sister’s emotion.
Isabella blushed and hid her face away from Adriana’s prying look. “I might have harboured feelings for his son. I was going to tell papa about it, but as you can see, he is gone.” Isabella muttered into her neck, making Adriana coo a little. Her sister has a crush. But she was also a little apprehensive, because did the boy like her back? Or was this doomed to crash before it even gets to fly?
“Bella, you know if only he consents, this can become a betrothal, right?” Adriana softly said, not wanting to break her sister’s heart just yet. “It’s mutual. He has already spoken to his father. He said something about waiting until your betrothal to ask for my hand in marriage for his son.” Isabella muttered, and joy spread in Adriana’s dull heart for a moment.
“Are you sure of your feelings, Bella? Are you two sure of your feelings?” Adriana’s follow up question made Isabella finally look at her sister. She nodded her head, she couldn’t form words as her eyes stared into her sister’s green yes. “Well then I will ask for it from Lord Osterfield myself. But it will happen after the funeral, I swear. Okay?” Adriana said, more like another unvoiced promise to her sister.
“Will we be okay, Ana?” The simple question posed by Aurora simply shattered Adriana’s heart because that’s supposed to be an innocent question, but the meaning was so much more deep. The throne and crown is a place where you can’t be sure if you are gonna make it out alive or will you simply become a victim of the game of chess played by the court.
But Adriana promises herself tonight that she won’t let her or her sisters become a pawn in someone else’s game of chess and keep her sister so far away from the ugly reality of the court and the crown. It was her burden to bear, and she will do it with a smile on her face whilst keeping them safe as much as possible for her.
“We will be, Aurora. I promise, we will be. Now go to sleep darlings. We have too much to do tomorrow. I will be out for the majority of the day, but do not fret. Lady Osterfield and Lady Kim will keep you safe with them.” Adriana said, kissing them on their foreheads again. She started to hum the tune that was their favourite, hoping that it was enough for them to fall asleep.
The dawn started to become apparent as the dark sky started to turn into dark blue, the birds started to rouse from their slumber and began to fly in different directions to search for food and to make their home for the upcoming season to stay safe in their makeshift home. Adriana didn’t get a wink of sleep as she sat by the window. Her face was void of any emotion as she kept staring at the changing sky, her ears picking up the chirps of the birds flying by her.
Multiple thoughts raced through her head, it ranged from how was she supposed to accept someone she has no knowledge about, or how will she even go through the inevitable wedding day. But the big question was, how will she come out of her parents’ funeral completely intact? How was she not supposed to cry in front of everyone when it is her parents she was burying and won’t be able to see from that day forward?
She sighed, feeling utterly lost. She stood up from her window sill and decided to begin her day already. Her maids quickly rouse from their sleep as they heard some movements outside their sleeping chambers whose door was hidden by a bookshelf. They were confused because the princess never woke up before the complete sunrise, but they had to adapt with it. They all rushed out of the room softly, approaching the bathing chambers in the room knowing that’s where the prince- fuck, no it’s queen now. The adjustment will take a while, but they will get used to it.
Adriana was stripped out of her sleeping attire, looking at herself in a blotchy mirror in the bath chambers when the army of handmaidens poured into the room. “Your majesty, will you like us to draw a bath for you? Or would you wish to wait for a little longer?” One of them asked, there was a foreign softness to it, Adriana registered. She absolutely hated pity, especially the one that was aimed towards her. She gritted her teeth, they are just handmaidens, they don’t know any better. Adriana kept repeating to herself, again and again.
“Draw the bath for me. I have to be at the port by the noon to meet the prince coming from somewhere I have no idea about. Use the vanilla scent for me today. Roses give me absolute poor headaches for days.” Adriana instructed, watching them shuffle in and out of the mirror reflection, doing their work with absolute dedication.
“What do you wish to wear today, your majesty?” The one with ginger hair asked. “Just get out my riding gear, please. I won’t be able to stomach a ride in the carriage.”Adriana said, not peeling her eyes from her reflection. “Yes, your majesty.” She bowed her head before rushing out.
Bathing didn’t take long as she was now carefully dressed in her riding gear, carefully putting her hands into the tight sleeves of the undershirt. The pants were then perfectly put to their place, buttoned it carefully and made sure the buttons would stay intact for almost the entire day. The riding jacket was simply a thick long black jacket, she refused to wear any colour, not until her wedding at least.
Once she was deemed ready, with all the makeup and hair pins shoved into her bun, Adriana walked towards the throne room where her entourage waited for her. Her heart was heavy but she was also familiar with how much responsibility a sovereign has on their shoulders. There was no crying day for them or mourning when it came to their kingdom. Adriana had a very vast kingdom waiting for her to take up on her responsibility and she was not going to let them down, ever.
Her entourage consisted of Lord Kim and Lord Osterfield alongside their sons, Master Harrison and Master Seungmin, as one day they will be stepping into their fathers shoes. Alongside them, there were few soldiers and some nobles responsible for noting down every single event that will be taking place.
As she stepped into the throne room, everyone in the room kneeled before her. She nodded her head in acknowledging manner as she stepped on the stairs leading to the throne and took her rightful place on the throne. There was no sovereign crown on her head except the crown that was given to her to signify that she was the heir apparent to the throne of Iron Keep.
“I request your wives to look after my sisters today, Lord Kim and Lord Osterfield.” That was the first direct order to her nobles. Both the lords in the question bowed their heads before speaking up. “As you wish, your majesty. Our family will always be here at your call.” The simple statement put Adriana’s heart at ease.
“Master Seungmin and Master Harrison, your responsibility from today going forward will be increased slowly. I hand over the dukedom of Gradyshire to you, Master Harrison. And I hand over the dukedom of Norwington to you, Master Seungmin.” Adriana announced, this will be the first change in hierarchy that will come from Adriana as a queen of ten kingdoms.
Seungmin’s and Harrison’s eyes went wide as they looked at their respective fathers who were just looking at Adriana with nothing but shock written on their faces. “Your majesty, why the changes in the hierarchy?” Lord Kim asked, his eyes wide.
“It’s a reward for the centuries of the loyalty towards my ancestors. My father didn’t change it but I will. The people who are loyal to my kingdom are the only ones who will be in my privy council. Let’s be off, it will take long to reach the port.” Adriana said, stepping down the throne, down the stairs and walking out of the room, whilst others dutifully followed her out of the room.
“I have heard, your majesty, that the youngest prince of the kingdom in the east is in the Prince Chan’s entourage.” Kim Seonghan spoke up, watching the future queen put on the gloves handed over to her by one of her handmaidens. “Is that the truth? Prince Han Jisung is in the prince’s entourage? Interesting.” Adriana spoke up, finally done putting on her leather gloves.
“It’s just a few rumours following the arrivals of a few nobles from the kingdoms from the place they are coming from.” Lord Kim answered, feeling a little out of place because yesterday he was addressing the king, and now he is addressing his daughter as the queen? That was so sudden.
“Do you have knowledge on who else might be on the entourage?” Adriana asked, stepping out of the main entrance where four to five carriages and six to seven horses were waiting for the journey. “Well Prince Chan has his brother, Prince Lucas with him, and General Seo’s son, Changbin as well. Jisung’s friends are in the entourage too. Yang Jeongin, Hwang Hyunjin and Lee Felix. Lee Minho, the youngest prince of the north eastern empire, is said to be there too.” Lord Osterfield stepped in, hearing a few words from his men on the port.
Adriana nodded her head, approaching her night black steed, petting her nose first. “How are you, my girl? I hope the weather and stable boys are treating you well, Aphrodite.” Adriana greeted her horse, who nudged her nose into Adriana’s hand in return. “My beautiful steed.” Adriana muttered, before giving her last pet and went to check the saddle on the horse’s back. “Well let’s be off then. If they might arrive early, we ought not to make them wait.” Adriana said, climbing her horse, her sword attached her hip.
Her entourage nodded their heads and went to their respective rides, horses and carriages before letting Adriana lead the entourage towards the port. It would be a little short journey as the port was nearby, not so far away from the main castle.
Adriana’s heart thudded with both, anticipation and nervousness. Her life was already flipped 360 degrees, what else was happening would ruin it for her? Oh well too much, she guessed bitterly. She will have to prep the prince with the working of her court, which might be drastically different from his own former court. People of Iron Keep were dangerous and cruel, and people with a heart of steel can get through living there with their brain intact.
She knew she didn’t know the man at all, but she was not going to willingly throw him to wolves of the Iron Keep. She will protect him and his entourage with all her power. Sadly, he will have to attend a funeral first, just two days after his arrival. A dampening event just before his supposed wedding to her. He must not even know about the death of the King Adrian and Queen Freya of the Iron Keep, much less prepared for the funeral of someone that was supposed to be alive to welcome them into this country.
A sigh left her lips as they finally approached the port, with a ship anchoring near the port. Perfect timing. The flag on the ship was astonishing to everyone that was here to meet them and escort them back to the castle. “That’s the flag of the Dorias Kingdom. Prince Han Jisung’s father is the king of the kingdom. We knew he was coming along, but didn’t know he would be representing the kingdom.” It was the voice of someone in the entourage.
Adriana was surprised as well, because the news of far away kingdoms is hard to get by because it would become an old news by the time they would get it. Adriana halted her horse near the stop meant for the horses and carriages and climbed from her steed. She kept clenching and unclenching her hands as she waited for others to join her.
“Are you okay, your majesty?” Lord Osterfield’s voice brought her out of her thoughts, making her look at him. “Yes, my lord. I am just fine.” Adriana shook her internal conflict out of the window and locked it. There was no time to be overwhelmed by a sudden urge to cry.
The entourage walked to the middle of the port, with three of the soldiers holding their flags in their hands. Adriana stood in front of the entourage, with Lord Osterfield and Lord Kim just behind her. Seungmin and Harrison were standing beside their fathers, looking nervous but determined.
The plank of the ship was brought down and a man started to descend down the plank shortly followed by six men, a boy and others who held the flag of the kingdom of Dorias. The man in the front had ginger hair, she recognised the hair from the portrait that was shown to her. That was Prince Bang Chan, son of the King Jack Bahng. First born and heir apparent, all the shebang.
Adriana schooled her expression into one of friendliness and welcoming. As they approached, she managed a soft smile. Their eyes met, and oh were his eyes more beautiful than the portrayal had suggested. All the opinion she formed after seeing the portrait just jumped out of the highest tower, because it did no fucking justice to his real beauty.
His pale skin was so smooth, it glowed under the glowing sun on their head. His ginger hair was longer than she expected it to be, but again they must have journeyed for a month or two to reach here. His lips were so plum, it would make any and every lady in her court fume with jealousy, or they would fawn over his beauty and jealous of Adriana because this man, right here, he was so different from the men she was used to.
But she also noticed that Lord Kim must share the race with Prince Bang because they shared the same monolid eyes and all the features. There were a handful of people from Prince Chan’s race so she was glad that they wouldn’t be outright feeling out of place in the castle. He halted just in front of her, she watched him take a deep breath, as if he was mesmerised.
Chan was scared, thoroughly scared and nervous when he stepped down the plank. It has been two miserable months since the curse of a ship, he doesn’t know whether the Princess of the biggest kingdom has taken a betrothal or she was waiting for him. His gloved hands were clammy and cold with the amount of anxiety harboured in his heart.
But all his doubts and uncertainty were shoved on the side as his eyes landed on the woman he assumed was the Princess of the kingdom. He was confused because he was told he would be greeted by King Adrian, not the princess. Maybe he was busy with something. Her beauty was famous kingdom wide, everyone was mesmerised by her beauty, but were put off by her behaviour.
She was more powerful than any prince that was alive in the kingdom. She was more hot headed than all kings combined and she was more kind than all the queens combined. But Chan admired her, once he got to know about her. She knew what was hers and was vocal about it. He was truly mesmerised by her. Though he noticed that there was sadness on her face, her eyes were dull as if something had happened.
The man fell into a courtesy as he stopped in front of. He was on his right knee, with a hand on his heart, his head bowed. A perfect courtesy, a sign of a loyal person, no malicious intent in it. “Your highness, Princess Adriana. It is quite thrilling to finally meet you.” Chan spoke up, extending his hand.
Adriana placed her hand into his extended hand and corrected him. “It’s your majesty now.” The effect of the sentence was immediate. Everyone on the opposite side looked at each other with wide eyes, because they certainly and understandably had no idea about the change. “I apologise for every inconvenience you will be subjected to. But My parents, the king and the queen, they were sadly murdered a night ago. You won’t have to prepare for a wedding, but also a funeral and a coronation. It is too much, but this is the state we are now in.” Adriana said, beckoning the prince to stand up.
Chan was astonished and surprised but he understood why there was sadness on her face just a moment ago. He definitely does not understand the pain of losing parents, but he knows the sadness on their face when they were thrown out of their kingdom by someone they thought were their friends. The pain might not be the same, but he wanted to be there for her. If he is to be her husband, which she just confirmed, he will try to shoulder half of her sadness and pain and responsibility.
“May they rest in peace.” He said, closing his eyes and bowing his head in respect for the dead. “When is the funeral?” Han Jisung, the youngest prince of Dorias empire asked. “In the time of two days. We do not wish to prolong the funeral.” Lord Osterfield answered for Adriana, which she was grateful for.
There were whispers, whispered exchanges from the other entourage. It made an uneasy feeling swirl in Adriana’s stomach, but her thoughts were put to a hold as former Prince Chan held her hand steadily and gave it a squeeze making her make an eye with him. There was a warmth to them, he gave her an understanding smile.
“I am here for whatever you need me for. I am your loyal servant, from now till the day my bones will be nothing but dust. Even after that, I am always at your service, for whatever you ask me for, I will do it.” The words were of an undying promise, a vow before the marriage and it made Adriana’s heart flutter. This marriage was certainly one of a convenience, but who says it has to be miserable?