Despite her protests and struggles, the guards hoisted Erika into the royal carriage with little effort, as if she weighed nothing. The doors slammed shut behind her, and she sat across from a young man who appeared to be the Prince’s aide or friend. He was reading a book calmly, as though this abduction was part of his daily routine.

“Ah, you’re finally here,” he remarked without looking up, his voice dry and disinterested.

“What in the world is going on?” she demanded, glaring at him. “Do you people always kidnap innocent women like this?”

The aide glanced up, arching an eyebrow. “Only when the Prince Alaric deems it necessary.”

“Necessary?” she sputtered. “Necessary for what?”

“To save him from an arranged marriage. I'm Dominic Serault, the Prince's aide and only friend,” he replied with a nonchalant shrug as if this were the most trivial matter.

Before she could hurl another string of insults, the carriage suddenly stopped. The door was flung open, and she was unceremoniously pulled out and escorted into the grand hall of the royal palace.

"Nice to meet you, fiery woman from the Far East." Dominic said as she was dragged out. The luxury of the place, with its marble pillars and golden accents, left her momentarily breathless, but there was no time to take it in as she was pushed into a room and the doors were slammed shut behind her.

The room was dimly lit by the soft glow of candlelight, casting flickering shadows on the lavish tapestries that lined the walls. Erika paced back and forth, her frustration palpable, like a storm brewing beneath the surface. She had been trapped in this castle, held against her will, with no explanation that made sense—until now. The heavy door creaked open, and he stepped inside. He moved confidently, the smirk on his lips suggesting amusement rather than concern for her predicament. He was the source of all her current misery, the man who had thrown her life into turmoil with a single lie, the Crown Prince Alaric. The Prince was tall and strikingly handsome, with a disarming smile that made him look younger than she had expected. His tousled golden blonde hair and bright green eyes gleamed with unmistakable mischief.

“I AM NOT THE WOMAN YOU’RE LOOKING FOR, SO RELEASE ME ALREADY!” she shouted, her voice cutting through the quiet of the room, echoing against the stone walls.

He raised a brow, seemingly unaffected by her outburst. “Yes, I know,” he replied casually, as if discussing the weather. “Those things I said were random. A way to stop my father from marrying me off to some random aristocrat.”

Her jaw dropped, and she stared at him in disbelief. “You said what? I’m in this situation because… you lied to them?”

He gave her a lazy, unrepentant grin. “Well, yes. Is there something wrong with that? I only mentioned a few… peculiar characteristics I thought no lady here could possess. I assumed they’d give up. But apparently,” he chuckled lightly, “the knights of our kingdom are far more resourceful than I anticipated. They managed to find someone who fit my description. So, kudos to them!”

For a moment, she was too stunned to respond. Then, her frustration boiled over. Spying a pillow on a nearby sofa, she grabbed it and hurled it at him.

“You spoiled, arrogant brat!” she yelled as he dodged the pillow with a smirk that only deepened her fury. “You trapped me in this castle because you couldn’t handle the thought of marrying a stranger?!”

“Yes,” he said simply, his tone so calm it almost sounded reasonable. “I didn’t want to marry a stranger.”

She scoffed, disbelief lacing her words. “How is that any different from me?”

He leaned against the doorframe, arms crossed, an amused glint in his eyes. “Well, in their eyes, you’re not a stranger. You’re my supposed ‘one true love’—the woman I fell for at a grand ball.”

“Are you serious?” she demanded, her voice a mix of incredulity and anger. “So, you’re considering marrying me—a baron’s daughter from the Far East? What possible benefit could that bring your empire? There are plenty of more suitable ladies out there, Your Highness.”

His expression softened, just for a moment, as he looked at her. It wasn’t pity—it was something else. “Yes, there are many deserving ladies,” he acknowledged. “But none of them have eyes like yours. Brown eyes are rich, so… different. Are they even real?”

The casualness of his comment made her want to scream. “You want me to poke them out and give them to you?” she snapped.

His laughter rang out, genuine and full of amusement. “My word, you’re bold. I admire that. No one’s ever spoken to me this way—much less thrown a pillow at me. I could actually… love a woman like you.”

“You are unbelievable!” she fumed. “I don’t want to marry you, and I certainly don’t want to be Empress!”

He sighed, his gaze turning thoughtful, though still unyielding. “Even if you’re just a baron’s daughter, you’re still a noble. My father will accept you. All he cares about is that I marry and settle down.”

“And what about me?” she demanded, her voice raw with frustration. “All I want is to live peacefully in the east, far away from the headaches of royal duties and affairs. I wouldn’t even know where to begin with all this!”

He gave her a dismissive wave. “My aides and my trusted people will assist you.”

“My etiquette isn’t even passable,” she argued, searching for any escape from this absurd situation.

“Then you’ll have tutors,” he replied, completely unfazed.

“I’m—”

“Enough,” he interrupted, his gaze locking onto hers with a sudden intensity that made her breath catch. “There’s no point in arguing, my love. I’ve made my decision. I will marry you.”

She felt a surge of defiance rise within her. “I never agreed to this!”

He stepped closer, his face mere inches from hers, his voice dropping to a soft, almost intimate whisper. “May I at least know the name of my soon-to-be betrothed?”

She folded her arms, setting her jaw in stubborn refusal. “I will never tell you my name.”

He tilted his head, a mocking smile playing on his lips. “Very well. Then I shall call you ‘my love’ or ‘my beloved,’ since I don’t know your name.”

“You are impossible!” she exclaimed, her exasperation reaching its peak.

“And you are fascinating,” he replied, his voice gentle but unwavering, as though he had found exactly what he had been looking for all along.

“Even if you’re not the woman from the ball,” he said thoughtfully, leaning back and studying her, “you’re already here. And I like you. So why not stay?”

“Why not stay?” she echoed, her voice dripping with sarcasm. “Why on earth would I stay here and marry a man I barely know?”

He flashed her a teasing smile. “Because I’m giving you the chance to be part of a grand story—a tale of love, adventure, and perhaps even a little chaos.”

She rolled her eyes. “Or perhaps because you’re desperate not to marry any of the other noble ladies?”

“Precisely,” he said cheerfully. “See? We understand each other already.”

Before she could retort, the doors burst open, and the Emperor himself strode into the room. He was a tall, imposing man with a stern expression that could silence an entire hall. He took one look at the scene before him—his son laughing while the woman stood fuming, fists clenched—and narrowed his eyes.

“What is going on here?” the Emperor demanded, his voice like thunder.

“Ah, Father,” the Prince said smoothly, rising to his feet. “I was just getting to know my one true love. The woman who, as you’ve heard, fits the description perfectly.”

The Emperor’s gaze shifted to the young woman, scrutinizing her as though she were a specimen under a magnifying glass. “You?” he asked, disbelief evident in his tone.

She opened her mouth to explain, but the Prince cut her off. “Yes, her,” he declared firmly. “She’s the one I’ve chosen.”

“You can’t be serious,” the Emperor snapped, his voice filled with frustration. “This girl is the daughter of a mere Baron from the eastern provinces. What possible benefit could be marrying her bring to our empire?”

Erika stepped forward, unable to hold her tongue any longer. “Exactly! There’s no benefit. This is all a misunderstanding, Your Majesty. I’m not the woman he met at the ball because I’ve never been to one!”

The Prince smirked, clearly enjoying the chaos. “Don't listen to her, Father. She’s refreshingly honest and a good entertainer. But I’ve made up my mind. I will marry her.”

The Emperor’s face turned a shade of red she hadn’t thought possible. “You insolent child,” he snapped. “This is not a game! You cannot simply decide to marry whoever you please. The council will not take this lightly. Think about your reputation, Alaric.”

“Why not?” the Prince retorted, his tone suddenly serious. “If I must marry, shouldn’t it be someone I want to spend my life with? And hell with the council, you married mother by defying them in the past. Why can't I do the same?”

“You don’t even know her name,” the Emperor argued.

“That’s irrelevant for now,” the Prince said with a dismissive wave. He turned to her, taking her hand gently in his. “From this day forward, she shall be my beloved, the woman I chose above all others.”

She yanked her hand back, glaring at him. “You’re insufferable.”

“And you’re the most interesting woman I’ve ever met,” he countered with a grin. “We’re perfect for each other.”

She glanced back at the Emperor, who looked on the verge of a royal meltdown, then back at the Prince, who watched her with that same infuriating, confident smile.

“This isn’t over,” she warned.

“Oh, I certainly hope not,” he replied, his voice low and teasing. “This is just the beginning.”

Erika curtsy at them and then she stormed off the chamber. The room fell into an uneasy silence as Erika stormed out, her footsteps echoing through the grand hallway outside. Alaric watched her go with a faint smirk tugging at his lips, his posture relaxed as though he hadn’t just ignited a firestorm. The Emperor, however, was anything but calm. He turned on his son, his expression thunderous.

“Are you out of your mind, Alaric?” the Emperor demanded, his voice rising. “Do you even comprehend the ramifications of this foolishness? This isn’t just about you—it’s about the future of this empire!”

Alaric folded his arms, meeting his father’s glare with practiced ease. “Oh, I understand perfectly, Father. And that’s precisely why I’m doing this.”

The Emperor’s brow furrowed, his patience wearing thin. “Explain yourself, then. Because to me, this looks like the reckless whim of a spoiled prince.”

Alaric straightened, his tone losing its earlier playfulness. “You’ve spent years preaching that I must marry for the good of the empire. That my union must secure alliances, wealth, or political advantage. But tell me, Father, where has that mindset truly gotten us? Noble marriages devoid of connection, agreements held together by fragile treaties, and a council that sees me as nothing more than a puppet to be married off to their liking.”

“This is not a debate about the council,” the Emperor growled. “This is about you acting recklessly. That girl—she isn’t fit to be an Empress. She has no training, no connections, no—”

“Nor did Mother,” Alaric interrupted sharply, his voice cutting through the air like a blade. “She was a commoner, wasn’t she? A daughter of a merchant with no noble blood, no training, and certainly no council approval. But you married her anyway. Why? Because she was the woman you loved.”

The Emperor stiffened, his jaw tightening. “Your mother was an exception.”

“And why can’t she be one too?” Alaric countered, his eyes glinting with determination. “I’m not asking for your blessing, Father. I’m telling you—if I’m to marry, it will be on my terms, just as you once did.”

“You’re gambling with the stability of this empire!” the Emperor snapped. “The council will revolt. The aristocracy will be outraged. Do you think they’ll follow a woman with no ties to their world?”

Alaric’s smirk returned, though his tone remained steady. “Let them revolt. If they’re so shallow as to undermine the empire over my choice of wife, then they aren’t worthy of their positions. And as for her, I’ll make sure she’s more than prepared for the role. She has more spirit than any of those simpering noblewomen paraded before me. That’s what this empire needs—someone who can stand tall and not wilt under pressure.”

The Emperor exhaled slowly, his anger simmering but contained. “You’re playing a dangerous game, Alaric. You’d better hope you’re prepared to face the consequences of your actions.”

Alaric stepped closer, his voice lowering. “I’ve been prepared for this all my life, Father. You taught me to be a ruler, to stand by my convictions, and to fight for what I believe in. That’s what I’m doing now. If you can’t support me, then stay out of my way.”

The Emperor studied him, his stern gaze unwavering, but there was something unspoken in his eyes—a glimmer of respect, perhaps, or reluctant pride. Finally, he spoke, his voice heavy. “Very well. Do as you wish, but don’t think for a second that I’ll shield you from the consequences.”

“I wouldn’t expect anything less,” Alaric replied smoothly, bowing his head just enough to toe the line of respect. “Thank you, Father.”

The Emperor turned on his heel, his robes swirling behind him as he strode toward the door. Before leaving, he cast one last glance over his shoulder. “Don’t make me regret this.”

Alaric waited until the door closed behind him before letting out a breath he hadn’t realized he was holding. His confident facade didn’t waver, but a spark of satisfaction danced in his green eyes. He had won this round, and though the road ahead would undoubtedly be fraught with challenges, he felt a thrill of triumph.

“Let the games begin,” he muttered to himself, a grin spreading across his face as he thought of that woman's fiery spirit. This was going to be interesting.