The Lord’s Forced Bride +21

CHAPTER 3

ELENA

Since my father spent the night in my room, that bastard couldn't come into my room again. My father was already asleep. Even my father's grumbling and the noise in the hall couldn't drown out the voices in my head. The screams of a woman coming from the next room were especially loud. How vulgar to hear what she was doing with her husband! Although I doubt she was with her husband. Would a husband expose his private life with his wife like that? Definitely a barbarian Scotsman is having s*x with a Scottish whore... Wait a minute! Those sounds are coming from the next room, aren't they? My barbarian Scotsman said he was in the next room. I hope that barbarian Scotsman isn't my future husband!

My curiosity got the better of me. I went out into the hallway and approached the door of the adjoining room where the sounds were coming from. It wasn't hard to guess the disgusting scene I would see. But if I'm being cuckolded, I'll take my father and go back and demand that the King arrange a new marriage for me. It can't be worse than this cruel Scotsman, can it?

Just as I opened the door, I flinched at the warm breath on the back of my neck. And that familiar musky scent filled my nostrils. "My lady! If you want to be f****d, I can help!"

His arm wrapped around my waist. As he pressed me against his body, he looked into my eyes with curiosity, as if waiting for an explanation.

“Andreas… I mean, my Lord… I…” I said, panicking.

“What are you doing at my soldier’s door?”

“I thought it was you… you said you were in the next room… when I heard the sounds… I… thought I’d been betrayed.”

“I’m in the other room, Lady Elena! And you’re coming with me!”

“No! Never!”

“See what happens when you don’t stay put at night!” he said, grabbing my wrist and suddenly hoisting me onto his shoulder, slapping my hip. “Stop struggling!” he said harshly.

“Let me go! I don’t want to stay in the same room with you!”

“Shut up! You can’t defy your husband!”

“We’re not married yet! I said let go, you barbaric Scot!”

“Your punishment is increasing!”

He shoved me into his room and slammed the door shut. In one swift motion, he threw me onto the bed and started unbuttoning his shirt. As I backed away on the bed, I said, "Stay away from me!"

“Instead of watching others have s*x, you’ll be the one getting f****d! What more do you want?”

“Your foul mouth is making me sick! I despise you! I think you should take a lesson from those English gentlemen!”

"I'll f**k those English babies and I'll f**k you too! At least I'm not bloodless like the bastards you praise!"

“Ha! Let me laugh so it doesn’t go to waste, my noble Lord! Do you realize you’re trying to rape me right now?”

“Didn’t you come to my feet to be my wife, my Lady? What are you waiting for, for me to put you on the castle walls like a decoration and water you or something?”

I averted my gaze. "At least don't force me until you're officially my husband... I'm not trying to shirk my duty. But I won't let you touch me and humiliate me before we're married!"

Andreas pulled his shirt off his shoulder and tossed it aside. Then he took off his pants and left them on the chair. There was a small piece of cloth covering his huge tool. And my eyes were involuntarily drawn to it. That thing that had been poking me on the horse was almost as big as my head. What is this!

While I was expecting Andreas to force himself on me, he lay down on the edge of the bed and pulled the blanket over himself.

“Sleep! We have a long journey ahead tomorrow!” he said, surprising me.

“What, are we going to sleep in the same bed?”

"If you don't want to get f****d, learn to keep your mouth shut. Otherwise, I'll gladly discipline your tongue. I'm sure you won't be able to talk with my c**k in your mouth..."

“You!”

"Say one more word and you'll find my d**k in your mouth!"

I wanted to yell, "Thug, scumbag, pig," but I couldn't bring myself to do it. He threw his arm over my stomach, practically pinning me to the bed. I had no choice but to lie down. I fidgeted restlessly as Andreas closed his eyes. How could I sleep next to this man? Especially when he was practically naked...

I stared at the ceiling, thinking: Is this marriage my step into hell? Andreas understood the fear inside me and didn't hesitate to use it against me.

But my father was right; this agreement was a chance for peace. Perhaps thousands of people would survive because of it. So this was the price of my fear and hatred... My father was helpless too.

As I tried to sleep, I felt a heavy weight on my heart. But actually, that weight wasn't just on my heart, it was on my stomach. I said the man had muscular arms, right? And I think one of his arms might weigh fifty kilos. At least, that's how it felt...

When I woke up, I was alone. As I stretched and got out of bed, I couldn't believe I had slept in the same bed with him last night. Was it a dream?

My dad rushed into my room and asked, "Why are you in that man's room?" "When he woke me up this morning and said you were in my room, you should have seen the look on his face... I thought he had done something to you. Are you okay, sweetie?"

"Don't worry, Dad, nothing happened. I had gone out into the hallway and heard some noises. When he happened to see me in the hallway, he insisted that I sleep in his room, so we just slept."

"If he pressures you again, tell me..." he said and stopped. He couldn't finish his sentence. Because he knew that even if I told him, he couldn't do anything.

My father and I went down to the inn's garden. Andreas and his men were preparing the horses. Andreas didn't say anything when our eyes met. Nor did he give me a threatening look. I saw him wink at a young woman. The young woman bit her lower lip and looked flirtatiously at the Lord. Was he flirting casually, or did he already have a history with that woman? But rather than ask and trample my pride, I chose to remain silent.

By evening that same day, our horses had crossed the misty and rugged roads of the north and reached the castle on the slope of a hill. Steep ramparts, gray stone walls, tall towers... I shuddered at the sight. This was Andreas MacKenzie's castle.

As we entered the castle courtyard, the Scottish soldiers who approached us showed great respect for Andreas. But the looks they gave me seemed to say, We don't want you here.

My father approached me on his horse. "Don't be afraid," he whispered. "I'll stay with you here for a few days, and by then you'll get used to your new life, my daughter." The worry in his voice was obvious. And my father knew very well that it would be impossible for me to get used to it.

As I dismounted with my father's help, Andreas appeared beside me. He just stood there and looked at me. Without being rude in front of everyone, he said, as if he were eager to marry me, "The long journey must have tired you, my lady. Go to your room. We'll talk tomorrow."

I simply replied, "Thank you." The distance in his gaze was like a harbinger of the pain I would endure... though he had already made that clear.

Just before leaving my side, he leaned toward my ear and whispered quietly, "This is my land. My rules apply. I hope you adapt, my lady!"

I shuddered. Deep down, the question lingered: could I endure this cruel and loveless marriage? Because my dream had always been of a loving marriage. My path would cross with a handsome prince or duke at a ball, and I would fall in love at first sight. And we would marry immediately and have children.

But now everything felt like a nightmare.

***

When I reached my room, the maids removed my travel clothes amid their cold stares. A bath was prepared for me to wash. They barely glanced at me; they didn't greet me or show me any respect. My whole body was tired, but the real exhaustion was the indescribable heaviness I carried inside. My father would stay at the castle for a few more days, but eventually, he would leave me here and return. I didn't know if I would be able to stand when that moment came.

While washing in the tub, I was in no state to ask anyone questions. As the cramps in my legs eased under the warm water, I realized I could stay in this water until morning. The girls waited for me to wash with their heads bowed, so I washed quickly.

When I got out of the water, they brought me a towel. Then they emptied the buckets of water and moved the tub aside.

As another helped me get dressed, she said, "My lady, your hair is very beautiful."

"I thought it was forbidden for you to speak to me."

The young girl looked away and said fearfully, "Actually, yes, we're not allowed to speak to nobles except to answer orders. Please forgive my mistake, my lady."

"Oh no, I don't have such a rule. The lord's rules don't apply in my room. You can relax. What's your name?"

“Delma,” she said.

“Delma? Aren’t you Scottish?”

“No, I’m Irish…”

"I should have guessed from your red hair and freckles. Your hair color is very beautiful, Delma."

“Thank you, Lady…”

“Elena,” I said.

“Lady Elena,” she said with a smile. “Welcome to the castle.”

I wasn't sure if I was welcome, but I just smiled. When Delma left, I was left alone. My father was resting in the room given to her. I lay down quietly on the bed given to me to rest. It smelled strange... It wasn't as comfortable as my own bed.

***