Chapter 1 - Fated Marriage

"I refuse to get married to a man I know nothing about," Her expression hardens. "And why does our family have to be the one to agree with this alliance?!"

"Arianna, that is enough! I will not alter my decisions. And you will fulfill your duty as the youngest daughter of the Albrecht family." Her father said, tapping his walking stick on the luxurious porcelain tile of his study.

"Father...." Her older sister begins to say but is cut off.

"Aki, our guards will escort both you and your sister to the residents of the Ortega family. Arianna, you would do well to make a good impression on your husband-to-be."

"Yes, I understand, Father," Aki replied, her eyes looked anywhere inside the room as she avoided making eye contact with her sister.

With that being said, the Head of the family ignored the pained look on his youngest daughter's face as he left the room.

A sob escapes her, "Arianna..." Aki placed a hand on her sister's shoulder as she tried to comfort her but her hand was swatted away.

"You stood by while father tried to marry me off to that man who only lives and breathes war! It could have been anyone else but that monster!"

A look of hurt appeared on Ari's face, but it went unnoticed. "I trust my husband's judgment, as he also supported your marriage with the Ortega family. Don't forget that without him, the wars would have not ceased. And I believe there is more to him."

"Even so, I don't approve of this marriage. And it is clear to me that I am nothing more than a chest piece to father," Arianna's sobs turn into shallow gasps.

Aki's eyes soften, "I am here for you Ari, and no harm will come to you as I swear this on the Mori's name."

The oldest son of the Ortega family was known for his seemingly arrogant and ruthless personality. Even so, she had hoped her sibling would consider this union maturely and logically. Their father had only informed her about the Ortega's family acceptance of the proposal a few days ago. And since then, Arianna hadn't slept and refused her meals.

She was concerned for her younger sister, as she was only nineteen. And to her, she was being stripped of a life she desired.

Aki wasn't given a choice as she was the oldest. But she had thought that her younger sister would walk a different path from hers if she as the oldest had gotten married for the sake of the family to a general.

But, today had proven how wrong and naive her younger self was.

Their father had only ever produced a line of females. They were destined to keep the family line going as they would produce sons of Generals.

...The Ortega's Residence ...

The cool evening breeze creeps throughout the courtyards of the Ortega's residence where Eiser sat with his papers. He had moved to one of his residents that was closer to the Albrecht residents for a week as he was convinced that his fiancé would feel more comfortable. He felt annoyance seeped into him, why should I be concerned about her convenience? It was their choice to send their daughter to the Ortega's... Not like I didn't have Options.

But this alliance benefited both families, he would be foolish to pass up such an agreement. But the irritation he felt towards the marriage crew.

"Eiser, why are you burning a hole into those papers?" A woman walks out of the bedroom, draped in a silk lavender robe.

"Did I not satisfy you enough, earlier?" He raises an eyebrow as the woman slips into his lap, her slender fingers running over his bare chest.

"You certainly did. But, that was earlier, and I need a repeat of our earlier activities." Her eyes locked onto his lips, and moving forward she claimed them in an open-mouthed kiss.

He stands with her in his arms, her legs automatically encircling his waist as he melts into her kiss.

"I guess I wasn't rough enough, but after this one, you'll be laid up in bed for a week." He gave her a devilish smirk, as he made his way back to the bedroom.

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