Chapter 2

Adriana always wore a plain hairpin in her hair, but she never failed to buy me new fur mantles.

Adriana would always say, "The wind and sand out on the borderlands are harsh. Even if you don't care about yourself, I do."

She kept reminding me like this, making me feel the kindest warmth in this world.

Now, seeing how extravagant our wedding suite was, my heart finally felt at ease.

After all, everything I had risked on the battlefield was so Adriana could have the life she deserved.

I had already gotten the king's permission for leave, and for the next six months, I was set on staying home and making it up to Adriana.

I took out the hairpin I had bought for Adriana during my time on the borderlands.

It was inlaid with a violet, and I was certain Adriana would be delighted.

But as I reached out to draw back the veil, my heart brimming with joy, I was met with the face of a complete stranger.

I stammered, "Who are you?"

"My lord," the woman called out.

She seemed startled at first, then her face lit up with joy.

I staggered back, fear gripping me. "Who are you? Where's my Adriana?"

A sense of dread crept over me, and I kept asking her, "Where's my Adriana?"

The woman's face fell, sadness flickering in her eyes.

"My lord, don't you remember me?" she asked, her voice trembling.

"I'm Andrea. Two years ago, I was attacked by bandits near Graystone Abbey, and you swooped in like a savior and rescued me."

"I spent two years searching everywhere just to find the one who saved me. Don't you remember me?" she pleaded.

I vaguely remembered that incident, but I couldn't see what it had to do with today.

Andrea?

Did my mother mean that the bride she spoke of today was this person, not Adriana? That meant they all knew about this wedding and only kept me in the dark.

But I already had a wife. If this woman was supposed to be my bride, then where was Adriana? Where had they sent her?

A wave of panic crashed over me, and before I knew it, my hand was at the woman's throat.

"I'm not your husband. I have a beloved wife, Adriana. Tell me, where is she? What did you do to her?" I demanded.

Her face flushed as she managed to choke out her words.

"We've already gotten married and spent our wedding night together. You're my husband now, and I'm your wife," she insisted.

I snapped back, my voice sharp with anger. "I have a wife, and it's not you."

The maid outside heard the noise and rushed in, trying to pull me away while shouting angrily.

The maid said, "How dare you! You're just a soldier. Princess Andrea chose you; it's a huge honor for you.

"How could you lay a hand on Princess Andrea herself!"

I let go of her, my hand falling away as the word hit me. Princess Andrea?

No way, I couldn't lay a hand on a princess. If I did, Adriana would get dragged into this.

But how did I end up marrying Princess Andrea, the king's own daughter?

Andrea finally caught her breath, her eyes brimming with pain as she looked at me.

"My lord, you saved my life. Is it so wrong for me to marry you to repay your kindness?" she said, her voice soft and pleading.

"I've given you all my love. How could you break my heart like this?" she said.

"Repay me?" I scoffed, my voice icy.

"I saved your life, and now you want to take my wife's place and marry me? Is this your idea of gratitude, paying me back with betrayal?" I snapped.

At that moment, my parents entered the room.

They pulled me aside, urging me to kneel.

"Please forgive him, Princess Andrea. Our son is simply overwhelmed with joy at marrying you today," my mother pleaded, her voice trembling.

"Once we've taught him properly, he'll cherish and honor you as you deserve," my father added earnestly.

I shoved my father aside, my voice shaking with anger.

"I don't want this. I don't want to marry her. I just want Adriana. She's the only one I care about. Where did you take her? What have you done with her?" I shouted.

The moment the words left my mouth, I felt like I was falling apart.

Even though Andrea was a princess, everyone knew she had a terrible reputation. Even way out on the borderlands, I had heard stories about how she was spoiled, bossy, and mean as a snake.

Just thinking about it made my blood run cold. God knows what kind of hell they had put Adriana through.

My father slapped me hard across the face.

"You ungrateful brat!" he shouted.

"What nonsense are you spouting?" he snapped, his face twisted with anger.

"You have a princess right here, and you still want that cheap, loose woman who doesn't even know how to act like a proper wife? Are you out of your mind?" He yelled.

"Are you trying to ruin everything the Donovan family has built?" he roared, his voice echoing through the room.

I snapped, "Don't talk nonsense. Adriana would never do something like that."

My mother, looking absolutely heartbroken, pleaded, "Maurice, we saw it ourselves. She was in bed with her lover. What more proof do you need?"

"Do you really have to see it with your own eyes before you believe it?" she pressed, her voice sharp and accusing.

"Princess Andrea is real royalty. She's so much better than that trashy woman. Why are you still hung up on her?" my mother said, exasperated.

"I don't believe a word of it! You're all just trying to set her up," I yelled, pushing my mother away.

I was at my breaking point.