Chapter 6

"O Duke, I am ready to marry your daughter today, and I will pay a hundred times the amount that this scum has offered. What do you say?"

Orig's voice was as cold as steel, his words slicing through the tense air of the room. His piercing gaze bore into Taya's father, leaving no room for doubt about his seriousness. He stood motionless, his regal bearing a testament to his authority. Moments later, his servants moved in, carrying plates stacked high with glittering gold coins and jewels that sparkled in the dim light of the chamber.

The sheer display of wealth was overwhelming. Gasps rippled through the room as the servants set the treasure before Taya's father. The clinking of coins filled the silence, punctuated only by Orig's unwavering stare.

Taya's father examined the riches, his mind whirring. 'This man is dangerous,' he thought, suppressing a shiver. 'The worst and coldest prince in all of Tulip. A man steeped in bloodshed and betrayal. And yet, he's offering all this for my daughter?' His lips curled into a calculating smile as he approached Orig, his steps measured.

Taya, standing on the edge of the room, felt her heartbeat quicken. The tension in the air was almost suffocating. Her hands clenched into fists as she whispered under her breath, "I don't want to be a maidservant to this loser." Her eyes darted toward Orig, silently praying that he would take her away from the nightmare she faced.

"Sorry, Your Majesty," her father finally said, his voice calm but laced with greed. "But Taya will go to the one who pays me more. I have... considerable debts to settle."

Orig didn't hesitate. He extended his hand, sealing the deal with a handshake, the grip firm and final. As the agreement was made, Orig turned his attention to the crown prince's brother, his patience visibly thinning. Without a word, he drew his sword. The blade gleamed as it caught the light, its sharp edge a silent threat. He pressed it against the crown prince's brother, just enough to leave a shallow cut—a lesson he would not soon forget.

"Prince Orig, let us discuss the rest of the arrangements," Taya's father said smoothly, motioning for the maids to escort Taya to her room.

Lucy, one of the maids, stared wide-eyed at the treasure piled before her. She leaned closer to another maid and whispered, "One coin from that treasure could sustain a family of three for a year."

But Taya's father barely spared the wealth a glance. To him, it was simply a means to an end. He couldn't fathom why Orig would part with such a fortune for Taya, a girl he considered a burden and a source of shame.

---

In her room, Taya paced relentlessly, her footsteps muffled by the thick rug beneath her. Her mind raced, thoughts colliding in a whirlwind of fear and confusion.

"I can't deny that I once had feelings for Orig," she murmured to herself, her voice tinged with bitterness. "But those feelings only brought me heartache. He never cared for me. And now... this marriage is inevitable. If I refuse, I'll be sold to that pervert. I won't survive a life of persecution and misery."

The walls of her room seemed to close in around her as she sank into a chair, burying her face in her hands. The weight of her fate pressed down on her chest, and she struggled to breathe.

A soft knock at the door interrupted her thoughts. A maid stepped in, her demeanor respectful but firm. "Your father has requested your presence in the meeting room, my lady," she said.

Reluctantly, Taya rose. Each step she took toward the meeting room felt heavier than the last, her mind swirling with memories of Orig—of the cold, indifferent man who had once been at the center of her life.

When she entered the room, it was not her father she found waiting. Instead, Orig stood by the window, his figure framed by the golden glow of the setting sun. His presence filled the space, commanding and unyielding.

"Where is my father?" she demanded, her voice sharp. Her eyes narrowed as she crossed her arms. "Did you instruct the maid to summon me here?"

Orig turned to face her, his expression unreadable. Her defiance struck a nerve.

'Again, she dares to address me without a title? Does she even realize who I am?' Orig thought, his frustration mounting. He took a step toward her, his movements deliberate.

"We're about to be married," he said, his voice dripping with sarcasm. "What would I gain by touching you now? And for the record, Lady Taya, allow me to properly introduce myself—"

She cut him off with a sharp, mocking laugh, taking a step closer. Her confidence was unshaken.

"You? The first prince of the kingdom of Tulip?" she said, her voice dripping with disdain. "Spare me the theatrics. I know your history—wars, murders, and all. But let's talk about who you really are."

Orig's expression darkened, his jaw tightening. But Taya pressed on.

"You have a weak personality. You solve your problems with underhanded tactics. You're a puppet, controlled by your stepmother and your grandfather's whims. You hate playing your role and yet lack the courage to break free."

Her words were like daggers, cutting deep. Orig, unable to contain his anger, unsheathed his sword and struck the wall beside her. The impact reverberated through the room, but Taya stood firm, refusing to flinch.

"That might have scared me once," she said coolly, her voice unwavering. "But I'm not the same Taya you used to know. You'll listen to me now. I want a grand wedding—one so grand that the entire kingdom will know you're my husband. Is that clear?"

Orig stared at her, stunned by her audacity. Before he could respond, Taya's father entered the room, his presence breaking the tension.

"You'll need to hold a grand wedding, Prince Orig," he said, his tone firm. "Otherwise, you won't have the leverage to save your men who were arrested for attempting to assassinate the crown prince in your name."

Orig clenched his fists, his mind racing. The situation was spiraling out of his control.

"Prince Orig has agreed to host the wedding in the Great Hall tomorrow morning," Taya announced, addressing her father directly. "All the nobles and princes will be invited." She turned and left the room without another word, leaving the two men to deal with the logistics.

"What happened to the plan to hold the wedding in your kingdom?" Taya's father asked, his brow furrowing in confusion.

"I changed my mind," Orig replied after a moment's hesitation. "Lady Taya insisted on a grand ceremony, and so it shall be. I'll leave the arrangements to you, but the financial costs will be my responsibility."

Without waiting for a response, Orig strode out of the room, his mind fixed on Taya. Her defiance had thrown him off balance, and he wasn't ready to let her dictate the terms of their relationship.

---

That night, Taya sat alone in her chamber, her thoughts restless. The maids bustled around her, preparing her milk bath and laying out her wedding dress.

"I have to win his heart," she whispered, her voice barely audible. Her hand rested over her chest as if to calm the storm within. "It's the only way to survive."

---