Chapter One: The Law of Surprise
Cathedral bells rang across the capital city of Juvannial, echoing over white banners that fluttered from every tower. White Doves soared into the sky in pairs and rose petals cascaded from noble carriages as they passed down the main avenue toward the heart of the city.
To others, it was a blissful day. Smiles bloomed across the faces of peasants and nobles alike as they gathered to witness the royal wedding of the kingdom's Third Princess.
My wedding.
To Lord Alaric of Astembogred.
My father claimed this marriage would forge peace between the royal house and the Ten Saints of our god, Luminous. But for me, standing at the altar in the Grand Cathedral, it felt like the end of everything.
I stood with a bouquet trembling in my hands, my fingers wrapped tightly around the stalks of white lilies. A veil of gossamer silk rested atop my head, the blank, sad expression I wore beneath. They had dressed me like a symbol of divine grace, but I felt like a sacrificial lamb.
I wished—truly wished—it had been one of my older sisters standing here instead. I was the youngest. I didn't understand why I had to be married off first… unless you count one of Father's vague excuse: "It's for the good of the kingdom or it's destiny, it's fate that you were chosen to save our house from the warth of the Saints"
Next to me stood Lord Alaric, short, round, and so old he could've been my grandfather. In fact, his eldest son already had a daughter three years younger than me.
I stared at him in disgust as he clutched my hand like I was some kind of rare prize he'd won at an auction.
Across from us stood the High Priest, robed in shimmering gold, framed by a massive stained-glass portrait of the god Luminous himself. Or rather, what they claimed he looked like. The figure in the glass was nothing more than a golden silhouette—no face, no eyes, just an outline of divinity. They said only the priests had ever seen him.
The High Priest cleared his throat.
"Before the Supreme God Luminous and the court of Juvannial, you may now say your vows."
Lord Alaric smiled at me, revealing yellowed teeth. He lifted a goblet from the altar.
"With this, I'll fill your emptiness."
You are the cause of my emptiness, I screamed inside my head.
He set down the goblet and raised his hand.
"With these hands, I'll lift your sorrows."
You are my sorrow.
He touched his chest and continued, "With this body, I'll stand beside you in health and in sickness, in good times and bad, until death do us part."
I wish death would part us now.
The Priest tilted his head. "What about the vow for wealth and poverty?"
"My wealth is a gift of Luminous himself, saying I'll be poor is like spitting on that blessing"Lord Alaric said with so much pride in his voice before shooting him a glare. "I will never be poor. Don't even say it—unless you're ready to die."
The Priest swallowed hard and nodded. The court chuckled nervously.
Just then, I noticed a servant whispering something urgently into my father's ear. His expression shifted—first confusion, then shock. Without a word, he stood and followed the servant out of the hall.
"King Rafus?" Lord Alaric called, brow raised. "We'll need your blessing soon."
My father gave a weak smile and gestured politely, the kind that meant I'll return shortly.
I had no idea what the servant had told him. I was too distracted by the pounding in my chest—and by the Priest, who called my name again.
"Lady Natasha, is something the matter?" Lord Alaric asked, resting his sweaty palm over mine.
I shook my head.
Without waiting for instruction, I began the vows.
"With this goblet, I'll lift your sorrows. With this cup I'll—"
The Priest frowned.
I sighed and started over.
"With this hand, I'll lift your sorrows. With this goblet, I'll fill your emptiness. With this body, I'll stay beside you in health and in sickness, in wealth or in poverty, in good times and in bad… until death do us part."
My voice felt hollow as I spoke. Through the sheer veil, I stared blankly at Lord Alaric. He beamed proudly and picked up the ring from the pillow offered by his attendant.
"And with this ring," he declared, "I ask you to be mine."
The Priest turned to me.
"Lady Natasha, with Luminous as witness and before the court of Juvannial, do you take Lord Alaric to be your lawfully wedded husband?"
A tense silence gripped the cathedral. Hundreds of eyes turned to me.
"I… I…"
Then suddenly I felt a sudden cold chill in my spine. luminous stare they called it but I call a sign of something bad is going to happen. I turned my eyes towards the doors.
Suddenly—BOOM!
The cathedral doors slammed open. Gasps filled the hall.
My father rushed back in, pale and breathless. Behind him strode a man I had never seen before, dressed in a dark, tailored coat of a style unfamiliar to me, boots clicking over the stone floor. He wore a sliver mask and a hooded cloak and carried a shiny sliver sword in hand.
He raised the sword and pointed it straight at me.
"She's mine," he growled. "Get your filthy hands off her."
My entire body froze.
I didn't even know him. I had never seen him in my life. And yet—my father dropped to his knees, pleading.
"I have two other daughters!" he begged. "Please—you may choose one of them. But that one—that one is already getting married to him!"
"What is the meaning of this?!" Lord Alaric thundered, stepping protectively in front of me. "Who are you to interrupt a sacred and noble union? This is blasphemy against Lord Luminous himself!"
But the masked man did not waver. His voice was low. Cold.
"You promised me. I've come to take what is mine."
My father trembled. "Please… I didn't expect it to be her ..."
The man's reply was louder this time—absolute.
"I invoke the Law of Surprise."