INDULGENCE - KILLER X READER (Medieval AU)

CHAPTER SEVENTEEN - Nerve

"I am going to be sick."

Today was the day I became Lord Donquixote Doflamingo's wife.

Rebecca stood to the left of me, waving a fan in full force so I wouldn't sweat through the hideous dress, and Perona was to my right, attempting to fix my make-up after I had yet again rubbed some of it off. My corset was pulled so tight it felt as though all of my organs had been forced into my chest cavity, and fainting wasn't off the cards.

"Just wait until you're standing at the alter and let it all out on that ugly bastard." Perona offered her advice, and as tempting as it was, I wasn't sure I'd even make it there in time to do so.
"Is there anything else I can fetch for you, Your Grace?" Rebecca asked, peeking out from behind the large lace fan. "Anything at all?"

I want Killer...I want Marco...

Alas, I could not have them by my side. They had both received direct orders from my father to remain in the great hall, much to my dismay. I was without my two greatest supports on the most difficult day of my life, and it somehow made everything a thousand times worse.

"No...No, thank you..." I almost wheezed out, startling when my handmaidens stiffened all of a sudden, bowing their heads. Looking up, I met eyes with my father.
"Dismissed." He had barely raised his hand to wave Perona and Rebecca off before they scurried away, obviously and rightfully fearful of the king. "You look beautiful. So much like your mother."

Do not mention my mother.

My back teeth clamped down upon my tongue in an attempt to keep certain choice words to myself.
"This is a grave mistake, Father. Do-"
"Doflamingo is hardly a mistake. My kingdom needs power, and that is exactly what Lord Donquixote shall provide." My father cut me off, squaring his shoulders as a silent warning to submit to his whim. "Your duty is to marry and provide heirs. Such a simple task, in the grand scheme of things."

Fists balling, I opened and closed my mouth a few times, itching to lash back at him, to cut him down with my words, but I knew how futile it was. The show of suitors had been just that. A show. Doflamingo had clearly been chosen by my father long before my name day, they just wanted to create the illusion of chance and choice.

"S..So you are gladdened by the thought of your daughter's life being reduced to nothing more than that of a broodmare's?" Foolishly, some small part of me still longed to believe that this was all some cruel ruse, and that my father would never dream of allowing a man not 10 years his junior to take my hand.

The King's jaw twitched, just a little, but his expression didn't so much as falter.
"(Y/N), I love you, but you need to understand that this is for the good of the kingdom. Necessary." He began, voice taut but level. "Doflamingo will treat you as the Queen you shall one day become, as long as you do your duty. I will hear no more of your childish complaints."

Duty this, duty that. The only thing that would benefit our kingdom is feeding and healing our people...

All I could do was offer a stiff nod of acceptance. What else could I have done? There was no way to escape from this now. I was about to walk down the aisle and hand myself, body and soul, to a man most foul.

I felt sick. Nauseous. Dizzy.

"-standing together, Gods and men, to witness the union of man and wife. One flesh, one heart, one soul, now and forever." It was like I had blacked out. Standing before Lord Donquixote, in front of so many people, I couldn't even recall moving a muscle to get to my place. "Princess Sakazuki (Y/N), do you commit your lifeblood to Lord Donquixote Doflamingo?"

My mouth was dry. My throat stung with each beat of my pulse. The corset cinching my waist felt as though it was crushing my ribs to dust. Could I even recall how to breathe?