"𝐢𝐭'𝐬 𝐛𝐞𝐜𝐚𝐮𝐬𝐞 𝐲𝐨𝐮'𝐫𝐞 𝐟𝐫𝐞𝐞."
A STORY IN WHICH, you've never had a choice, especially not when you were forced to marry the future king of marley, 𝘻𝘦𝘬𝘦 𝘺𝘦𝘢𝘨𝘦𝘳.
things were difficult from the start, a foreign country a host...
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(trigger warning for physical abuse!)
When Zeke came back from his hunting trip a fortnight after the incident, [Name] was the first to greet him at the castle entrance. Zeke was laughing with Porco Galliard at his side, and their entourage riding closely behind them.
Zeke caught a glimpse of her and quickly whispered something to Galliard that she could not hear. Galliard only gave a curt nod, before disappearing into the crowd of men.
"Wife," Zeke greeted.
"Husband, you're back," she said, offering a small smile as he dismounted his black stallion. "Is it safe to assume that the hunt went well?"
"Beyond well." He grinned, and strangely she heard the whining of dogs in the crowd. "We caught nearly a dozen wild boars, and double the amount of elks."
"I see..." She replied, doing her best to stall. "It seems as though we will be having quite the feast tonight. "Shall I make the preparations?"
"Yes," He said so quickly, it made her flinch. "I want to have a celebration like my father used to do. With you at my left and my children at my right. Onyankopon found five hounds in the woods, still babes, one for each of my boys. I'd like to give my children their gifts before we all sit down at the table."
Her stomach sank as she struggled to find the right words. She was about to speak, she had already parted her lips before Galliard approached Zeke with a bouquet of violet flowers and a condescending expression.
"For your royal highness," Galliard told [Name], his mocking smile never fading. "From your loving husband." He slapped the flowers against Zeke's chest.
"You miserable fool," Zeke retaliated with a smack on the back of the head, before he turned his attention back to his wife, pushing the bouquet towards her. "I saw these and thought of you. They're the same as those you have planted in your Château."
She tried to ignore the spinning sensation in her head as she took the flowers from him.
"Lilacs," she said softly, realizing he'd made a mistake... The purple flowers buried in her garden were wolfsbane. "Thank you."
Zeke nodded, clearly pleased with himself, but another howl from the hounds drew her attention back to the carriage. That's when she caught a glimpse of another set of flowers being carried out of the carriage. It was a set of deep-red blossoms, a bouquet of burgundy dahlias, Pieck's favorite flower.
"Porco!" Zeke called out, and he was about to leave when she caught his sleeve and pulled him back towards her.
"Zeke," she said his actual name. "I must have a word with you."
He furrowed his brow, clearly annoyed at the interruption, but he relented and followed her into his study. The room was dimly lit and felt slightly abandoned, as no one had been inside for weeks. The air was heavy with dust and the scent of humidity.
