~By Kalen~
Plot
Ariella, the ill-fated Crown Princess, was imprisoned in the tower for ten long years all because she was deemed ugly.
In the end, she died at the hands of her tyrant husband… only to open her eyes and find herself back on the first day of their marriage.
Her heart burned to flee the Empire,
but the family who had been slain by his hand was still alive.
Even if it meant stepping into the jaws of the dragon itself how could she turn away?
So she dared to make an outrageous offer
to the man known as the ghost of the battlefield, the living hell of men Crown Prince Dmitri.
“I will make you the greatest ruler in our history.”
Dmitri let out a short, incredulous laugh.
Ignoring it, Ariella walked to the window where he sat, stretching her arm toward the heavens where the dying sun flared in its last glory.
“O small sun that lights this Empire…
Please, grant me the honor of standing beside you in your moment of splendor.”
She would tame this merciless tyrant.
Just for five years.
—
That was when he took hold of her chin,
forcing her to face him.
“Don’t look anywhere else.”
“Pardon?”
“Your eyes should be on me.
You like me, don’t you?”
“W–well, of course, but surely I can look”
“No.”
His finger pressed against the corner of her eye, then slowly caressed it.
Even such a small touch stole her breath away.
His hand moved without mercy, until it finally descended to the lips he had coaxed apart.
“You must look only at me.
With this small mouth, you told me you like me…
that you wanted to stay by my side.”
