Unfaithful Marriage

“You will get married, whether you like it or not!” The moment Letizia stepped back home, it felt as if she was sentenced to a lifetime verdict in court. It was two years since Letizia ran away from home to escape her hellish fate. But she’s here again, kneeling down in front of people who treat her lower than a dog. “Next week, you will marry Knox,” her father continued. Letizia fused her fingers into steely clamps while listening to her father. She heard about this man named Knox, who would soon inherit the Renoir. According to the rumors, Knox is a violent man who only knows how to beat the weak and kill those he hates. Also, many say that Knox was cursed and no one would bear to look at his hideous face. A marriage between Esquar and Renoir should happen for peace between the two kingdoms. Therefore, Esquar will provide a bride for Knox. And who will they sacrifice? Letizia slowly tilted her beautiful face towards her father. Her blood came from this man. But she has never felt his affection ever since she was born. “Why me?” Letizia asked in a throaty voice. “Why should I marry that man?” Tears fell from her eyes. She knew that what was awaiting her after this marriage was only death from the hands of her future husband. “What do you mean ‘why’?” Sofia, her stepsister, butted in. She walked closer to her little sister and elevated down to match her gaze with hers. “It is only natural that it is you who should marry Knox. You are a princess of Esquar, right?” If the only qualification needed to be Knox’s wife is being a princess, then, there are three candidates. First is Sofia, who’s the oldest daughter of Esquar. Second is Letizia and last is their youngest sister, Lavigne. Since Sofia is the first child, she should marry Knox. However, both Sofia and their father disagreed. Their father cannot send his oldest daughter to a ruthless man who might kill her life. Thus, he decided to send the child out of wedlock. They will send the illegitimate daughter to the pit of hell. “You should be thankful,” Sofia added before she pressed Letizia’s cheek. “Even if you are only a daughter of a mere maid, you got the chance to marry a prince. Congratulations my dear sister.” Sofia pushed Letizia as if she was throwing a rag. Well, in her eyes, Letizia is disgusting trash. “Ahhh,” Letizia winced in pain. When she looked back, she saw Sofia raising her hand while waiting for a maid to pour alcohol in her hand. “What are you fools waiting for? Give me alcohol!” One maid came rushing. Holding a bottle of alcohol, she poured it into Sofia’s hands as she trembled. Letizia displeased everyone in this place. If they see her like a rag, then she loathes them to the bone. ‘If I am going to die in Renoir, I vow that everyone in this place will also suffer,’ Letizia promised. Joaquin, her father, gave a signal to the guards. “Take Letizia back to her room.” The poor princess was surrounded by guards. “Make sure that she cannot escape before the day of the wedding. Unless you all wanted to die. You understand?!” Joaquin threatened. Guards quickly dragged Letizia back to her room. As they pulled her, Letizia watched her father and her older sister, Sofia. They are all grinning, as if they had finally won. Feeling the churning in her stomach, Letizia bit her lower lip until it bled. When Letizia was taken, the maids bathed her and clothed her with a beautiful dress. She sat in front of the mirror, and that’s when Letizia remembered her position as the princess of Esquar. Yet, she is not delighted at all. “You can all leave me,” Letizia said to the maid who was watching over her. “But, Sir Joaquin clearly told us not to leave your side,” the maid answered. “I won’t escape,” Letizia answered as she looked at the windows of her room. Every window of her room was sealed with grills. “There’s no way I can,” she whispered. The maids looked at each other. They pitied the princess, but they cannot do anything to help her. If they do, they will surely die. Since Letizia couldn’t escape using the windows, the maids decided to go out and left her. The large door closed with a long creak. It was then Letizia felt comfortable. She stood up from the chair and stood by the window. She looked outside and saw the garden beside the palace. Someone who’s living in the Esquar won’t imagine the life of ordinary people outside modern society. The high buildings, the traffic in the street, the smoke, and the noise of the crowded people. Those feel like illusion for her now that she came back and was locked inside the palace of Esquar. Actually, Esquar seems to appear like a paradise compared to the city. But for Letizia, the life she spent outside the palace was her own paradise. When Letizia ran away, she learned how to live like a simple human away from the kingdom which was unknown to many. She experienced working in fast food chains, selling fruit in the street and working as a dishwasher in restaurants. It was tiring, indeed. But, she would rather choose that life instead of marrying Knox. “Haaaa,” she sighed while standing by the window. Now that she’s reminiscing about her life outside, she misses her lover, Austin, even more. “Austin, I will get married soon,” she whispered. “It’s your fault. You should have come back sooner.” Letizia only has one man in her heart, and that’s Austin. She met her outside the Esquar and instantly fell in love. Austin was like an Indian summer to her life; a brief fake warm weather before the stormy rain. Austin is the first person who gave her affection. And even if Letizia knew that there would be a day when her happiness would be taken away from her, she was still hoping that Austin would come back. If that happens, the two of them will elope and be with each other, forever. But Austin didn’t come back. Letizia, then, accepts that she will never see him again before the day she dies. Days passed. Letizia spent days and nights locked inside her room. And then, her most unwanted day had arrived. It is now the time to be sold to the Prince of Renoir.