CH 1

There are a few unfair things in life that you can’t avoid, no matter how much effort is put in, some things cannot change.

In short, things like being born a woman, or who your parents are, and the day you were born, you don’t get to choose those.

Knock knock-.

Standing in front of the grand, gold adorned door, the woman, her face tense, knocked and clasped her hands together, frowning.

No response came, she was waiting, with her head bowed.

“Come in.”

The voice finally said, she had been standing there for over ten minutes, staring blankly at the door.

“You called me, Father….”

“Have you ever met the barbarians?”

The man, who had never summoned her since her first day in the royal palace, finished his sentence before she could complete hers.

“What? What do you mean… ?

“Answer.”

The man, frowning, not wanting anything other than what he asked, spoke curtly.

The woman became tense, she bit her lower lip lightly and obediently opened her mouth.

“No, I have never met them.”

She had never been allowed to leave the palace except for the rare times she snuck out in secret.

And the one who’s forced her to stay is none other than the emperor in front of her.

“Yes, I suppose so. But then why did they specifically request you?”

The emperor, sitting in his luxurious office, muttered quietly as if talking to himself.

A fresh cut of his cheek, still raw and red, seemed quite painful, causing him to grimace.

The emperor, annoyed, pounded the desk with his fist, and abruptly lifted his head with a fierce expression.

“You will marry the king of Xieman in a month, for the sake of peace.”

It wasn’t a request or a question, but a demand without context.

“What? Suddenly, what do you…”

“Even a piece of trash like you can finally be of use.”

Only after she spoke, did his cold, blue eyes, previously fixed to his documents, finally look towards her.

“I…”

She wanted to protest, but the man’s icy gaze silenced her.

It has always been like this.

She was a tiny insignificant being in front of her father, the emperor. She had been taught to live like that.

“If you have any sense of shame and gratitude, you will leave, quietly.”

At those cold words, the woman, who had been lowering her head in pale terror, hurriedly knelt down.

“Father, please give me a chance to leave instead. I swear, I will never come near this land again, so please…”

“Who are you calling father? Watch your words, or do you want to be re-educated?”

“Ah… no, Your Majesty.”

The woman’s body trembled like a leaf in the wind at the emperor’s angry outburst.

The deep-seated fear had bore its head once again. Nisha tensed her neck.

“This is your last chance to save your life.”

The emperor spoke with a fierce expression, as if warning her not to press further.

“…”

“Do you understand?”

“… Yes, Your Majesty.”

Biting her lip slightly, she bowed and slowly rose from her seat.

The man, meanwhile, had his head buried in his documents again. As she bowed and turned to open the door to leave, he spoke again.

“The defeat in war was painful, but at least something good came out of it. We can be rid of you, the sewer-rat, for good.”

“…”

“In a few days the delegation from Xieman will arrive. Since you’ve inherited your mother’s looks, make sure you are properly prepared without any shortcomings.”

The malicious words ended with a humiliating warning.

Biting her lower lip, Nisha pushed herself through the half-open door, and exited the room.

“I will escort you to your room.” a maid said, bowing.

So that’s why a maid suddenly accompanied her instead of the servant. This was the plan all along.

It was an unspoken warning that, from now on, she would be monitored and managed like a jewel to be sold at auction. 

‘So in my life’s final moments, I’m to be sold off.’

No words could describe how horrible it was.

Though it was called a betrothal, even she, with little education, knew it was essentially a hostage situation. 

And from Roshan’s perspective, she was a worthless sacrifice, one they wouldn’t miss even if she died.

‘A lifetime of imprisonment, only to be locked up again?’

And this time, in a land of so-called barbarians, marrying a man she had never seen, living as his wife?

But the so-called sewer-rat princess had no choice in the matter. 

She squeezed her eyes shut.

Xiamen, a nation founded by the Kashan Tribe, who were known as the mightiest among the barbarians.

There were many rumors about Xieman, the most famous being that the moment you crossed their border, the smell of blood and iron would make you dizzy.

Corpses were said to be everywhere, skulls rolled like stones. Their national bird, the crow, was considered an omen of misfortune in Roshan – a land where “survival of the fittest” trumps all.

Moreover, the current leader of Xieman was rumored to be merciless, executing those he disliked without hesitation. 

Those who met him all described him as a beast with a beast with a vicious temper.

A cruel beast with neither blood nor tears. 

Everyone who has seen the King of Xieman said the same thing. 

‘I’ve heard the current ruler of Xieman is the young chieftain of the Kashan…’

The ‘Kashan’ were an infamous minority tribe. 

They had united the scattered barbarian tribes and minority groups, and was arguably  the most dangerous of them all.

Moreover, the current King of Xieman, was said to be the strongest leader in Kashan’s history.

At the mere thought of this, her legs felt heavy and she began breathing heavily as she made her way back to her room. Her heart pounding with the weight of her fate decided by others. Struggling to hold back tears, she forced herself to walk, only to sense someone approaching. 

Lifting her head slightly, she saw her half-siblings, a dazzling twin brother and sister, striding toward her. 

Like the other servants, Nisha stepped aside, lowered her head and cast her eyes down. 

Even though she was royalty, her status was worlds apart from theirs.

Not a single member of the royal family welcomed her presence in the palace.

The reason was simple: Nisha was born bearing all kinds of ill omens. 

“Oh my Volaf. Don’t you smell something foul?”

I’m bound to, with a dirty sewer-rat stinking up the castle.”

There was never a day without such encounters. Nisha sighed inwardly from exhaustion. 

With snickers and laughter, malicious words sharply fell upon Nisha.

 “Ah, there’s the rat. No wonder it stinks around here. So, you’re getting married to a barbarian? Congratulations! Honestly, who else but some uncivilized savage would take you? You’re a perfect match!”

“…”

“My sister’s right. You should be grateful. It’d be best if you never set foot here again. You smell awful.”

At the raw, unfiltered insults, Nisha’s eyes trembled slightly. The twins were undeniably beautiful, their appearance angelic. Without hesitation, they hurled venomous words at Nisha as they headed toward the Emperor’s chambers.

Nisha, used to this treatment, kept a calm face, slowly exhaling to steady her breathing as she continued walking 

“Cough, cough-.”

Hearing the sudden coughing and wheezing sound of her unsteady breaths, she quickly crouched near a large tree, burying her face between her knees.

“Cough, cough-.”

Her relentless, choking coughs continued unabated. Only when her pale face had grown even paler, did she manage to hold her bloody, scratchy throat and stand up.

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