My Life Is Yours

Crisp chirps of birds and taps of their beaks in the glass window resounded in her ears, disturbing her sleep for a moment. She slowly opened her eyes. Her eyes stared straight at the rose-colored ceiling with flower patterns touched with gold leaf on the edges. Quickly, she took off her quilt, her two legs lifted and stepped flat onto the floor, and stayed there motionless with wide, bright eyes.

'Donne will be my husband today! Can't wait!'

Meara Haelan is a normal 18-year-old maiden with light caramel wavy hair, bright innocent cornflower blue eyes, a sensually developed body and a heart fully captured by General Donne Kyree Xelt. He is her dream husband along with numerous women from the village. No. The whole kingdom.

She walked in a daze towards the bathroom and noticed that her Nanny Lione had already prepared the water in the tub; warm and rose-scented, awakening her senses for the day. She took a bath first, washing thoroughly before finally immersing herself in the aromatic bathtub.

She carefully walked along the cobblestone finish of the washroom with a fluffy towel. She went straight to her dress which is displayed in a torso mannequin at the corner of the room near the window where the morning light shines through, giving it a tranquil beauty.

'Hope I give him a good first impression.' She dreamt happily at the thought.

General Donne Kyree Xelt, the object of her affection, is at the peak of his career as the youngest general ever in the history of the Aishnova Kingdom at the age of 19. Now at the age of 24, his ruthlessness knows no bounds but his loyalty to the King is steadfast. His fame rose as he aged, defeating numerous attempts to destabilize the kingdom. He is the general of generals. The Golden Sabre Wielder, the Demon Warlord, and the Strength of a Thousand Swords, to name a few of his war names.

Donne is a very attractive man. He is very tall with a muscled body, arms that can squeeze you breathless, piercing forest green eyes that can make you confess a crime you didn't do, a bridged nose, and a mouth that will make you ask to be bitten.

Meara sighed while yearning. Who wouldn’t want to be obedient to such a man?

She called for Nanny Lione and she assisted her in putting on her dress. Her supposed wedding dress. It's an off-white ruffled dress, with a shallow V-neck front and back, farol colgante sleeves, and free flowing skirt which undoubtedly shows her youth. The body, however, is womanly in all aspects, making her unintentionally desirable-looking. In her mind, she looks pretty and cute. For others, she looks alluring, sexy, and an object of sinful obsession.

She put on her rainbow-colored bracelet made from a mix of semi-precious stones. Each piece is about a centimeter in diameter and tied on a thin elegant brass chain. It makes her mark a bit inconspicuous.

A few days ago, her father Sigor Haelan suddenly called for her.

During that time, she was sitting on a polished stone in the garden and playing a solemn melody from her flute, the legendary Winds of Brahmin; a prehistoric musical gem sold to her father during one of his travels in the north as a merchant.

Her nanny called her softly and she immediately stopped to look in questioning gaze.

"Young Lady, your father calls for you."

Because he rarely talked to her, she went obediently with a trembling heart.

Yes. Her father hated her. Her existence is a nuisance to him. Between a trade of domesticated pigs, if somebody will offer an exchange for 20, her father may down-deal her at 15.

"Yes, Father?", she asked.

Her father is sitting elegantly in front of a sumptuous dinner. He took his time trying and chewing a few dishes before finally drinking Cabernet wine from a large Bordeaux glass.

Without asking her to sit, her father started speaking.

"Here's the deal of a lifetime. General Xelt will add you as his third wife. I talked with his father and this deal is made to ensure his vitality essence is stable and readily replenishable. In this way, you have to fulfill your duties religiously. Finally, your existence will be of use and the years of raising you won't be in vain. Your essence is full to the brim every day since you were a child and you will be of great help to him and the kingdom in effect. Of course, bearing him a child is not a bad thing. But keeping him in tip-top shape is a priority. There will be no wedding banquet or whatever. The King's defense tactical heads are on high alert and every action is an urgent matter, including this."

That conversation happened a few days ago which left Meara with mixed emotions. Right now, as she touched her chest and felt her heart beat erratically, her happiness to serve the man of her dreams outweighs the thought of her being used as an essence replenishment source. She slid off her bracelet and touched the serpent-shaped birthmark on her left wrist in bright gradient colors of green-red-blue. A rare mark is said to be an indication that she is a cursed child by her father as well as her childhood friends. Rather, childhood acquaintances decided to exclude her when they knew about her mark. She grew up without friends, sheltered in their manor, and raised by her nanny.

'I will serve him well then!' she thought.

Her nanny brought her heavy luggage and dowry chest to the carriage. Sadly, her nanny cannot come with her. She was calm and composed though because they already cried together two days ago knowing this was the first time they would be separated in this life. Meara will be assigned a courtyard and a servant girl. In the end, her nanny is not needed anymore.

Slowly, the carriage went off on an hour-long journey to the General's home. Along with the overflowing sense of anticipation and happiness for her future married life.

"My Lady, we are here." The rented coachman announced.

Meara disembarked and the coachman unloaded her luggage and dowry chest She whispered her thanks. The coachman nodded and left.

Her eyes widened at the sight. She was standing in front of a massive iron gate with intricate designs of dragons and swords, topped with what seemed to be sharpened spears. Looking over at the garden inside, there are about a hundred meters to reach the main door of the house at the center. There are pathways on both sides that should lead to the courtyards of the wives or concubines and servants of the master of the house.

"Excuse me, Sir, can I bother you for a bit please?" Meara immediately called the attention of the gardener she noticed working on the bushes near the gate.

"Yes, madam, what can I help you with?" The gardener wears a straw hat but his frontside is protected with a dark blue apron, with few traces of dirt and dried leaves. He is around 40 years old, with skin darkened by the sun and a welcoming smile.

"I am supposed to enter this house today as Mr. Xelt's… Ahmm guest," she answered hesitantly. She can't say "his wife" yet. A blush crept into her cheeks at the thought.

"I will call the butler. Please wait a moment." The old man left her outside the gate.

After a few minutes, a sophisticated man in his early 50s greeted him at the gate.

"Ms. Haelan, I am Finn Milton, the butler of General Xelt Household. Please follow me." Mr. Milton led her inside the Mansion, climbed into the staircase to the left, and proceeded into the hallway where there were four adjacent rooms. They entered the one on the far right which turned out to be a study room.

"Please wait for Mr. Xelt here. He will be with you at the appointed time. You came earlier than expected. Please enjoy a few desserts and tea while waiting." He said while a young female servant with delicate features entered the room and served dessert and tea on the center table in front of the couch.

"Yes, of course. I miscalculated the travel time so I got here early." Meara responded shyly and sat promptly.

"Then please excuse me."

As Mr. Milton strode towards the door, it opened abruptly, and in came the man of Meara's dreams. He walked past the butler who bowed respectfully.

"Leave us alone." He waved his hand dismissing the butler in a hurry.