REINCARNATED TO BE THE WOLF'S SAVIOUR

FOUR

POV- Annabelle

I stormed out of the court first– my chin high, my dignity questionable, and my soul halfway out of my body. My maids, who had been eavesdropping, trailed behind me. Not sure of what to say. This wasn’t how it was supposed to go.

I was almost in the corridor when I heard them, my step sisters, or rather, the step sisters of this body. They appeared from behind the pillar like two badly written villains who had spent all morning practicing their lines.

‘Oh my,’ the first one said, ‘look who survived another day.’

‘Father must be desperate. Truly desperate. Marrying you off to his hound of all people.’

‘Figures, who would want a liability like her. Your marriage isn’t even political; it’s charity if you ask me. Commander Zhao really is a man with open arms,’ they giggled.

Who is the writer of this book? Why do these characters even exist? Curse you, writer.

‘I heard something rather interesting,’ the eldest Meiyun whispered, coming close as if to share something the whole court didn’t already know, ‘a maid from the tavern said the commander visits more often than not. They say he’s relentless in bed,’ she fondled with my cloth, ‘oh, little sister. How can you survive the commander? You’re too fragile.’

‘That's right. If you break on your wedding night, I’m sure your father will understand. You’re so… delicate.’

They giggled among themselves, but my will to fight back was weak. They didn’t deserve my attention.

Thank you for your concern. I smiled sweetly, ’but I, on the other hand, am more concerned for you. I heard the emperor rejected many of your marriage proposals because he thought you were stress-aged.’

Their smiles faded faster than my hopes this morning. That is what I hoped to see. I breezed past them as much as my body would allow me. But something made the hallway go silent. I turned around. Commander Zhao was making his way here.

Perfect. Just the person I want to see.

My sisters straightened like broomsticks and bowed.

‘Commander Zhao!’

‘it’s a pleasure to,’

He passed them like they were two decorative columns and stopped in front of me. I took a breath, time to confront the one responsible for my life now.

‘We need to talk,’ I whispered.

‘Here?’

His eyes flickered just for a moment to all the court attendants who were pretending to work while waiting for gossip to unfold. How did everyone already know what had just happened at the court? Is this author for real?

‘No. Follow me,’ I turned on my heel as I led him to my chambers. I flung the doors open, ready to rant. I turned and bumped into something, strong and tall– the commander. He was too close, close enough to see the patterns on his shield and the rise and fall of his chest. If I were in my former body, I could take him.

I staggered backwards; this body was really too weak. I stood in the defensive position– hands crossed over my flat chest, ’ Why did you accept the imperial decree?’

‘Was I not supposed to?’ his expression didn’t change. Of course it wouldn’t. The man was carved from dignity and suppressed emotions.

‘No- I mean yes. You were supposed to.’

He studied me closely, ‘Were you hoping for my rejection, princess?’

‘Yes!’ I exclaimed, ‘a beautiful, humiliating public rejection is what I had hoped for this morning. I walked into the court today, hoping to be tossed aside like a used rag.’

He blinked twice, which for him counted as a shocked gasp.

‘I do not intend to humiliate you, princess.’

‘Oh, please do for the love of god,’ I groaned, ‘I need to be humiliated.’

His eyes narrowed, and he covered the gap between us. ‘Princess, are you unwell?’

I scoffed, ’ What do you mean, unwell?’

He came closer, so close we were recycling the same air.

‘Are you sure? Because you seem… different,’ he whispered, and for the first time, I saw why all the ladies in the tavern would die to be under. This man was unbelievable.

‘What do you mean by different?’ I laughed nervously, ‘Oh, that? Must be character growth.’

He didn’t look convinced. He picked me up in his arms and carried me to the bed. Just then, my two maids rushed to close the door through which I didn’t realize half the court was peeking from. Those damned gossip chasers.

‘If you didn’t want to wed me. You should have to his majesty about it.’

‘I tried-,’ I began.

‘Did you?’

Then it hit me. Why was I not as radical as before? I should have made the emperor swallow his words. Like I said, not my life, not my consequences. If I died now, I have another life waiting for me. Right?

‘As long as you publicly state your opinion about this to his majesty and the court before the auspicious day is set, you can walk away free from the shackles of marriage.’

Yeah, no kidding, like that would be easy.

The door burst open for the third time today. That was never a good sign. A servant ran in as though he was being chased by a tiger that had been set on fire.

‘My lord, princess, ‘he bowed.

‘What is it?’ he sounded irritated.

‘The message from the empress dowager’s pavilion. An auspicious day has been set for the wedding. It would be held tomorrow in the palace.’

My soul left my body, circled the city, and came back just to faint again. Oh, you’ve got to be kidding me. What happened to suspense and thriller, and all the other elements that made a book not cringe? My breath became fast; this body was too weak.

‘Understood,’ he answered without looking away from me.

I mustered what was left of my strength and sprang up on my feet, ‘you,’ I grabbed my chest, ‘you caused this. At least you’ll take responsibility.’ Then my legs gave away their soul to the devil, and so did my consciousness. I felt myself falling, right into his strong arms. Again. But funny enough, I couldn’t seem to recall what I did that was so evil, the empress dowager would hate me so much.

If that’s all for today, I can’t wait to see how tomorrow goes.

No, literally, I can’t wait.