"What the fuck am I reading?"
Straw said as she stared at the papers in front of her. The words left her mouth before she could stop them. They echoed softly in the high ceiling chamber, bouncing off stone walls that had probably never heard such language spoken so casually before. The room was quiet in that dangerous way, the kind of quiet that felt like it was watching her.
She was seated at one end of a long table carved from dark wood, polished to a dull shine. The chair beneath her felt stiff and formal, like it had never been meant for comfort. Across from her sat Princess Berryanna, perfectly composed, her posture straight, her hands folded calmly on the table as if this were nothing more than a routine meeting. It was just the two of them, along with the Royal Barrister, Ser Philly.
Tall windows let in filtered sunlight, the kind that made dust particles visible as they floated slowly through the air. Heavy curtains framed the glass, their fabric thick and expensive. Straw noticed those details without trying to, the way her mind clung to anything familiar to keep from focusing on the papers in front of her. The heading on the front page read 'MARRIAGE AGREEMENT.' The letters were bold, official, final.
Straw stared at it in disbelief, her eyes scanning the words again and again as if they might change if she looked hard enough. She traced the title with her gaze, then the seal at the bottom of the page, then the neat, merciless lines of text in between. Her fingers tightened slightly on the edge of the table.
"If I may ask," Straw said, her voice flat, "why am I getting married to you?"
She did not care that she was speaking to a princess. She did not soften her tone. She did not lower her gaze. The question sat between them like a challenge.
"Because we spent the night together," Berryanna replied.
Her voice was calm, as if she were stating something obvious, like the weather or the time of day. Straw pushed back her chair and stood up abruptly. The legs scraped loudly against the floor, breaking the silence in a way that felt satisfying. She planted her feet and stared at the princess, and even though they were not close, the way their eyes locked made it feel like they were standing inches apart. The air felt heavier between them.
"It was a fucking one night stand. No fucking emotions," Straw said. "I don't know you. You don't know me. So why the hell would I get married to a complete stranger?"
Her chest rose and fell as she spoke. She could feel the heat in her face, the adrenaline buzzing just beneath her skin. She did not look at the barrister. She did not need to. Her focus was entirely on the woman across from her.
"We will have our whole lives to get to know each other," the princess said calmly, still seated.
She did not raise her voice. She did not look offended. She did not even shift in her chair. That alone made Straw's stomach twist.
Straw laughed sharply. The sound came out dry and bitter.
"Are you fucking dumb or something?"
The moment those words left her mouth, the barrister flinched. His shoulders tensed, and he sucked in a sharp breath like he was bracing for impact. He turned to the princess, watching closely, clearly expecting an outburst. But Berryanna did not move. She did not speak. She simply sat there without any expression. Her face was smooth, unreadable, her eyes dark and steady. And somehow that felt far more dangerous.
"Are you insane, young lady?" the barrister snapped, unable to hold himself back any longer. "Do you know who you are speaking to? You are in the presence of Princess Berryanna Noor Anthony."
"So what?" Straw shot back.
She turned her head slightly, finally acknowledging him, her eyes sharp and unyielding.
"Should I bow again? I already did that. I should still have freedom of speech."
She crossed her arms, the movement defensive and defiant all at once. Her voice rose with each word, frustration spilling out unchecked.
"Why would I get married to someone I just met yesterday? Where is the dating phase? The engagement? None of that. Just fast forward straight to marriage. Are you for real girl?" She scoffed, shaking her head.
"I dated a girl for six years, and we didn't even talk about marriage because we were still getting to know each other. And guess how that turned out?" Straw said bitterly. "Horrible."
"Well, you..."
"Leave us," Berryanna said, interrupting the barrister. Her voice cut through the room cleanly. Not loud. Not sharp. Just final.
The barrister froze for half a second, then composed himself. He straightened his coat, bowed deeply to the princess, then shot Straw a mean look that carried both warning and disgust.
"You should be lucky your head is still intact," he said before turning and leaving the room. The heavy door closed behind him with a dull thud. The silence that followed felt thicker than before. After he left the room, Berryanna stood up from her chair and spoke.
The movement was slow, deliberate. The sound of the chair shifting against the floor was soft but noticeable. Straw watched her rise, every muscle in her body tense.
"I have never given myself to anyone," Berryanna said. She took a step forward.
"But last night, I gave myself to you." Another step. "Lady Fayrouza, from the moment our bodies collided, you became mine. And what is mine is mine."
Berryanna walked toward Straw, closing the distance between them. Straw felt her breath hitch without meaning to. The princess picked up the papers from the table, the same ones that had made Straw curse moments ago, and placed them into Straw's hand. The parchment felt heavier than it should have.
"This is a marriage between us," she said. "But it is a contract marriage. I don't need you to love me. I only need.."
She placed her fingers on Straw's shoulder, playing with the fabric there, slow and deliberate, like she already owned it.
"Your body," she whispered against Straw's ear.
Straw swallowed hard. Her throat felt suddenly dry. She drifted backward a step, trying to put space between them, trying to compose herself before speaking. Her heart beat loudly in her ears, but she forced her voice to stay steady.
"So let me get this straight, dear princess," Straw said evenly. "You don't need a wife. You need a sex doll."
"Whatever you choose to call it."
"Okay," Straw said. "Let's say I don't agree to this marriage, because I have rights. What will you do?"
She already knew the answer. In situations like this, there were never any real choices. It was all part of a dark romance trope. The blackmailing. The threat.Berryanna walked back to her chair as she spoke.
"Well, I will do nothing." Straw felt her shoulders loosen just a little. Her breath slowed.
Then Berryanna continued.
"If you agree to become my wife. But if you disagree, I will kill everyone you love. Your brother. Your mother. Your city. I will let you watch. Then I will kill you."
Straw's mouth fell open. She tried to act intimidated. She widened her eyes slightly, let her body go still. But inside, there was nothing. No fear. No panic. She had no loved ones in this world. They all belonged to her past life. Her open mouth slowly curled into a smile. This was the kind of romance she loved.
"So," Straw said lightly, "where do I sign, Princess?"