Chapter 1

There are a few unfair things in life that you can’t avoid, no matter how much effort is put in, some things cannot change. 

In short, things like being born a woman, or who your parents are, and the day you were born, you don’t get to choose those. 

Knock knock-.

Standing in front of the grand, gold adorned door, the woman, her face tense, knocked and clasped her hands together, frowning.

No response came, she was waiting, with her head bowed. 

“Come in.”

The voice finally said, she had been standing there for over ten minutes, staring blankly at the door. 

“You called me, Father….” 

“Have you ever met the barbarians?”

The man, who had never summoned her since her first day in the royal palace, finished his sentence before she could complete hers.

“What? What do you mean… ? 

“Answer.”

The man, frowning, not wanting anything other than what he asked, spoke curtly.

The woman became tense, she bit her lower lip lightly and obediently opened her mouth.

“No, I have never met them.”

She had never been allowed to leave the palace except for the rare times she snuck out in secret.

And the one who’s forced her to stay is none other than the emperor in front of her.

“Yes, I suppose so. But then why did they specifically request you?”

The emperor, sitting in his luxurious office, muttered quietly as if talking to himself.

A fresh cut of his cheek, still raw and red, seemed quite painful, causing him to grimace.

The emperor, annoyed, pounded the desk with his fist, and abruptly lifted his head with a fierce expression.

“You will marry the king of Xieman in a month, for the sake of peace.”

 It wasn’t a request or a question, but a demand without context.

“What? Suddenly, what do you…”

“Even a piece of trash like you can finally be of use.”

Only after she spoke, did his cold, blue eyes, previously fixed to his documents, finally look towards her. 

“I…”

She wanted to protest, but the man’s icy gaze silenced her. 

It has always been like this. 

She was a tiny insignificant being in front of her father, the emperor. She had been taught to live like that. 

“If you have any sense of shame and gratitude, you will leave, quietly.” 

At those cold words, the woman, who had been lowering her head in pale terror, hurriedly knelt down. 

“Father, please give me a chance to leave instead. I swear, I will never come near this land again, so please…” 

“Who are you calling father? Watch your words, or do you want to be re-educated?”

“Ah… no, Your Majesty.”

The woman’s body trembled like a leaf in the wind at the emperor’s angry outburst.

The deep-seated fear had bore its head once again. Nisha tensed her neck.

“This is your last chance to save your life.”

The emperor spoke with a fierce expression, as if warning her not to press further. 

“…”

“Do you understand?” 

“… Yes, Your Majesty.”

Biting her lip slightly, she bowed and slowly rose from her seat.

The man, meanwhile, had his head buried in his documents again. As she bowed and turned to open the door to leave, he spoke again. 

“The defeat in war was painful, but at least something good came out of it. We can be rid of you, the sewer-rat, for good.”

“…”

“In a few days the delegation from Xieman will arrive. Since you’ve inherited your mother’s looks, make sure you are properly prepared without any shortcomings.”

The malicious words ended with a humiliating warning. 

Biting her lower lip, Nisha pushed herself through the half-open door, and exited the room. 

“I will escort you to your room.” a maid said, bowing.

So that’s why a maid suddenly accompanied her instead of the servant. This was the plan all along. 

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Thymeon

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