Reborn: I’ll Save This Doomed Marriage

What time was it? Mariana had no way of knowing. Her head pounded, the cold concrete doing little to soothe the fever that had set in her body. How did this happen? The memory stood clear in her mind, her ruin, at the center of everything; he stood there, mocking her. She knew exactly how this happened; she sucked up her tears, reality setting in that she was no longer the daughter of the Duke. She was now a prisoner, a political asset. She would be married off, soon enough. Traded between kingdoms like some slave. Tears pooled in her eyes, stinging, as they flooded down her chapped, cut cheeks. Where had she gone wrong? Her eyes darted towards the unlocked door, the footsteps sending chills up her spine. “Oh, Duchess!” the voice called from beyond the bars, his sickeningly sweet forked tongue spitting out its venom towards her again in taunt, “Wakey, wakey, it’s your turn to be of use.” Mariana spit at his feet, cursing in her native tongue. She looked up at the tall, imposing man, who was supposed to be her husband, but lacked the faithfulness and care of one. One of the guards took this chance to rile Octavian up, spewing insults towards her. “Fiesty one, I can’t wait until she’s thrown in the encampment,” another guard called out. Octavian’s face froze them in terror. Quickly backing down, they cowered away. Mariana’s heart stopped, taking in Octavian’s furious look. “You’re nothing but a used w***e now,” his words sliced her heart, whimpering as she vied for one last chance to gain his favor, one last chance to save her life. “I did everything for you,” she pitifully cried out, “Octavian, I loved you with all my heart!” She grabbed at his hands, wishing for any kind of connection, wishing him to just see that she could stay silent. Octavian gently wrapped Mariana’s hands in his handkerchief, wiping them of the grime that she had been exposed to these last months. He couldn’t deny that Mariana once had beautiful hands; it had been a shame they had not held up over the span of the last few months. “I know, darling, and that’s why I’m setting you free today.” He bent down, wrapping his arms around her, planting a longing kiss on her forehead. The tender care of his touch only startled her further; she grew rigid in his arms. He sensed her reluctance, a calm smile collecting on his face. He calmly stroked her hair, gazing into her eyes, beckoning her to respond. She kept her lips sealed, swallowing a knowing gulp. “Free?” she barely managed to whisper out. “I only wish to stay by your side…” Mariana’s line almost made Octavian reconsider what he was about to do. He sighed, taking all of her in. She had fallen so deeply into ruin, Mariana was hardly the young woman he had known in the past. “Come with me,” he gently chided, leading Mariana out of the musty cell. Her legs were weak, unable to fully support herself after being starved for so long. Octavian noticed her lightness, but said nothing of it. Mariana had known she had smelt of piss and excrement, that her hair was a tangled mess, she had, at the beginning, tried to at least maintain. Mariana’s steps faltered when they reached the familiar-looking balcony. Octavian had proposed to her here; had she been in her own house this whole time? She tried to snuff out her stifled cry, taking in the scene of the scorched rose gardens, their horses scattered about the yard in disarray, flanked by Octavian’s soldiers. “My love, you’ve served your purpose.” Before she could respond, the press of his cold dagger pushed into her back, his warm lips pressed to her temple. “Know that this is the only kindness I could ever sincerely offer you.” Mariana’s eyes closed, her body slumped forward, falling over the rail. Hitting the stone, she wished that she could go back. If she could return to that day, she wouldn’t trust Octavian. She shifted restlessly, a sudden gasp startling her out of her sleep. She had been reborn! Mariana rushed over to the table, knocking her maid of in the rush. "Miss Mariana, please, pace yourself." Eliza, her maid, shifted uncomfortably as Mariana vainly admired her beauty in the silver hand mirror. "Oh, Eliza," she cooed, "It's a good thing I'm still so beautiful." Mariana gently stroked her wild hair, sighing in contentment over her second chance at life. She wouldn't squander it, not this time. The maid giggled in response, agreeing with her, "Yes, miss, are you excited for your engagement party tonight?" Mariana's face paled. That was today? She had less time to cook up a scheme than she thought. Her maid caught on right away, gently brushing Mariana's hair, inquiring without overstepping her bounds. "Eliza, what would you say if I was having some...cold feet?" Eliza gently set the brush down. "Well, you might ought to take it up with the Duke." "The Duke? Do you think Father would allow me to break it off so close?" Mariana already knew this answer. Yes, she was beloved, especially by her father...but he would never agree. He would simply insist it was a case of nerves. She would have to conjure up some other way to end this engagement and ally herself with another house. No one would be willing to step in for her; she would be a laughingstock, and although their dukedom had money, what they needed was political allies to subdue the mongrels that threatened their territory. That was the sole reason for this marriage alliance in the first place. Octavian had been the obvious choice. He had been looking for an Empress, someone from a rich and noble family. What everyone didn't know was the disaster he would leave in his wake. Instead of bringing unity and prosperity to our allied nations, he waged a bloody war that brought the end of her life. She wouldn't allow that to happen again.