Chapter 1

Roselyn Carter felt that she was probably the first princess in history to be sold off at a bargain price by her own imperial father simply because she could eat too much.

"Rosie," the Emperor said with the warm smile of a loving father, "I've found you a husband."

Roselyn took half a step back in alarm. Based on sixteen years of experience, whenever her father wore that expression, nothing good ever followed.

The last time he had smiled like that, he had sent her favorite palace cat away for a "political marriage" with a Siamese female cat that had been offered as tribute.

"Whose son is it?" Roselyn asked carefully.

"Adrian Grant." her father answered.

Roselyn froze for three seconds, then burst out laughing. "Dad, you're kidding, right? Adrian Grant? The Minister of Revenue, Penny-Pincher Grant?"

The emperor's face twitched.

Roselyn laughed so hard she could barely stand. "You're marrying me off to the man who wouldn't repair his official carriage when it broke, so he stood by the road in the rain waiting for the storm to stop before riding home? The man who cut one Mid-Autumn mooncake into eight pieces so each subordinate could get only one slice? That Adrian Grant? The one who—"

"Enough, enough!" the Emperor said, pressing a hand to his forehead. "Just tell me whether you agree or not."

"Absolutely not!" Roselyn replied without hesitation.

"Really?" The emperor raised an eyebrow.

"Last month, you ate three times more than what the imperial kitchen planned for, and the empress dowager was so furious she made you kneel for three days. This month, you wiped out half the palace's makeup stash, and the concubines all teamed up to file complaints, begging me to keep you in check. And yesterday, I heard you beat up the son of the Minister of War?"

Roselyn muttered under her breath, "He insulted me first..."

"What did he say?" the emperor asked.

Roselyn clenched her teeth. "He said I was...a worthless girl no one would ever want."

The emperor was silent for a moment, then sighed. "That's why I found someone willing to marry you."

"But how could Adrian Grant possibly want me?" Roselyn protested. "He's so stingy. He'll definitely hate how much I spend."

"Well, isn't that a coincidence," the emperor grinned like a fox. "Yesterday Adrian Grant submitted a memorial suggesting cuts to palace spending. He even specifically mentioned that the princess's monthly allowance was too high and proposed reducing it by half."

Roselyn's eyes went wide.

"I agreed," the emperor said, dragging out his words, "but only if you marry him."

Roselyn was frozen in place, totally shell-shocked.

Her father, the emperor, the most powerful man in the land, had sold her off to the stingiest man in the capital just to save a little on her allowance!

"Father! Are you really my father?"

"No," the Emperor said calmly. "'Father' is not quite the proper term for the royal family."

Roselyn was utterly speechless, completely exasperated.

Three days later, Roselyn climbed into the bridal sedan sent by the Grant residence.

The moment her veil was lifted, she came face-to-face with the infamous Penny-Pincher Grant, or rather, her newlywed husband, Adrian Grant.

Honestly, he was pretty handsome. Sharp brows, bright eyes, and refined features. Dressed in his wedding robes, he looked every bit the cool and elegant young master.

If it weren't for the way he was eyeing her like she was some old debt he needed to settle, Roselyn might've almost bought into the whole 'destined couple' thing.

"Princess," Adrian greeted her with a formal bow, his tone as flat as if he were reporting the ministry's financial accounts.

Roselyn forced a smile. "Mr. Grant."

They stared at each other for three seconds and the silence was so awkward.

Adrian cleared his throat first. "Your Highness has traveled a long way and must be tired. I have already ordered hot water prepared, along with—"

"Wait," Roselyn cut in. "I'm hungry. Is there anything to eat?"

One of Adrian's brows twitched almost imperceptibly. "It is already late at night. By custom—"

"I know the rules say you're not supposed to eat after the mealtime has passed," Roselyn said matter-of-factly. "But I haven't had a real meal all day. Before leaving the palace this morning, I had two pastries. At noon, I gnawed on a cold bun in the bridal sedan. And tonight?"

She looked around. "I was waiting for the wedding feast. So where is it? The bride arrives and there isn't even one hot meal waiting for her?"

Adrian's expression stiffened. "I... assumed Your Highness had already eaten at the palace."

"Mr. Grant," Roselyn said, leaning closer and speaking one word at a time, "do you know how exhausting it is to get married? I had to wake before sunrise for my hair and makeup.

Then I sat half the day in a bridal sedan wearing a crown that weighs like a sack of bricks, and I was shaken all over the place. When I finally arrive at my husband's house, I don't even get a bowl of hot food or a cup of water. That's not exactly good hospitality."

Adrian drew in a slow breath. "That was my oversight. What would Your Highness like to eat? I'll have the kitchen prepare it."

Roselyn's eyes lit up. "Roasted beef, lamb chops, smoked pork ribs, pizza—"

*****