2 Chapter 01: The Martyr

"Milady, are really sure about this?" Eliana heard Daisy asking from behind her.

Eliana looked at her face from the mirror in front and wondered if she was sure about all of this as much as uncertain her maid was to her decisions. She tried to calm down and wanted to smile at Daisy to ease her maid's worries but Eliana found herself biting her lips instead.

"I… I don't know." She shake her head. Eliana felt conflicted with everything that has happened these past few days. She could no longer know what to feel anymore.

A knock sounded and the door to the room opened wide, revealing a tall man with huge built, it was Fabios, her father's friend. He walked into the room, wearing clothes that he rarely wore and even father couldn't force him to always wear it in front of delegates from other state. He had a dark look in his face as he glared at her back.

"You know you can still give up this insane idea." Fabios told her with a scowl on his face. Eliana carefully thought of his thoughts and wondered if it was really an insane idea.

Maybe, it was.

'After all, I'm marrying a stranger.'

Shaking her head and forcing herself to wear a brave look for him to see, Eliana replied to him, "But this is the only way. I cannot let that bastard pressure us into surrendering to him and enslave my people. We can still stand a chance to fight and win against him."

"By doing what? By marrying a stranger?!" Fabios exclaimed. His voice rang inside the room and Eliana glanced at Daisy, who trembled by how loud his voice was. "Little girl, your father will not agree to this if he's awake."

'Then, it is fortunate that he is still asleep." Eliana shot her maid a glance and Daisy retreated backwards. Thinking about her father's current condition broke her heart. She could hear her heart sinking down her stomach and feel the tension she almost forgot by his arrival returning.

Eliana desperately forced the nervousness down. She couldn't show that she was afraid – not to anyone.

"My father is asleep and I don't know when he'll wake up. And if he does, I don't want him to wake up and see that the place my grandfather built fall under someone else's banner." Eliana faced him.

"But what you're doing is not different from what the duke wanted."

"No. It is different." She retorted. "I'm not marrying the Duke and the man I'm marrying now has five hundred men who will help us fend off against our enemies. At least, he lives in our lands and is familiar with some of our people."

Of course, she didn't mention that most of these people who knew the man she was about to marry not because they were in good terms with him, but because they were too afraid of him and some were known to have come back to their homes with bruises under their eyes and humiliation riding their backs.

Fabios shook his head, finally giving up from convincing me against this insane idea this little girl he watched grew up from his knees devised. He perfectly knew exactly why she was doing this but he just couldn't accept that the little girl he watched grew up marry a stranger and sacrifice herself for her people.

"Alright." He put his big paws on her shoulders, "I'll let you be the martyr. For now. But remember, if that man tries to hurt you or betray you, I will gladly gut him in public."

Eliana laughed at that. Grateful of his approval albeit reluctantly. Her laugh sounded bitter but she felt reassured by his words and was glad that even though her father wasn't around, this time, Uncle Whitebeard was here to take care of her and worry about her in his stead.

After half an hour of preparation, Eliana finally walked out of the room. Wearing a silk white dress with sparkling beads at the hem of the skirt, the collar of the dress was low and an ample amount of cleavage was showing, and a white laced glove covered her hands. The dress was longer than she thought and the train dragged around behind her.

And unlike the usual bride, Eliana didn't wear a veil. This marriage was just a sham that she and the groom decided to agree in order to meet their needs. Honestly, she didn't think that her wedding would turn out like this.

Like every other young girl, even little girls, would daydream of when they will marry and who will they marry. Eliana dreamt of a man who will marry and cherish her with love and stay beside her for a lifetime. She imagined herself walking down the aisle with a bright smile, being congratulated by everyone else in the castle, and having a family that would stay healthy and together for a long time.

But that was only dream, and this was her reality. The reality she needed to face in order to save her people.

"Be strong, milady." Eliana heard Daisy whispering beside her as she walked towards the reception.

When they finally reached the huge set of double doors that will lead them to the hall, Eliana couldn't help stabbing her nails against her palms, feeling the brief stinging pain helped her grip herself together.

'This is what I wanted. What I needed.'

'And there's no backing down now.'

Squaring my shoulders and with my back straight, I walked into the wide hall with my chin raised high. The door immediately opened and revealed the people waiting for me to enter, looking at me watch my silk shoes as I walked down the aisle.

But I couldn't stay looking down my shoes as I felt that fiery and intense look that was boring in me when I first entered the hall. As though something was pulling my eyes to look that direction, I sensed rather than feel my eyes looking towards that direction.

There, I saw the man I am about to marry, smiling at me.