Riel.

Riel.

“M-marry you?” I asked in horror, looking at him in disbelief.

I've always been known for my feminine appearance and was labeled as “effeminate” and “gay”. It wasn't exactly a surprise that I grew up alone with no friends except my family, no one wanted to be around the gay boy anyway.

But this man who looked like a Greek god wanted to marry me?

“Did you make some kind of mistake, Mr Blackmoor?” I asked, running my hand through my hair. “I'm not a girl. I'm a man, maybe my masculine voice didn't show that but just because I look feminine doesn't mean I'm a girl—”

“I'm not mistaken or confused.” He cut me off and I froze. “I'm not blind to see you're not a girl, your chest and back are quite flat.”

My face burned at his words and I could tell that my parents were embarrassed too.

“We understand your concerns, Mr Carlos, but we can't just give our son to a total stranger for marriage. He's not… that way.” Dad said and Carlos tsked in amusement.

“What way? Gay? Oh, trust me, I'm not gay either. Neither am I doing this because I love your son, I don't.” He responded and my brows furrowed in confusion. “Unless you want my men to beat the hundred grand out of you while in fact, I will still take him away, I'd advise you to rethink your decision.”

“Threatening us won't work! You can't take our son away!” Mother screeched and just then, Carlos gestured for one of the men to move.

“Stop.” I finally spoke up, my voice shaking as I stood in front of Carlos. “I'll go with you.”

“Riel…” Mom called out but I ignored her.

“You have to keep to the end of the deal. You'll help their business, give them a million dollars, and let them be. If you promise that, then I'll marry you.” I muttered, keeping my voice steady and his cold, silver eyes landed on me.

“Good choice.” He whispered and then turned to the door. “We can depart now. We've got no time to waste.”

“Now?” I asked in disbelief, walking up to him. “It's the middle of the night. At least give me time to say goodbye and pack my things.”

He looked annoyed as he stared at me before he finally waved his hand.

“You have ten minutes. If you're not done, I'm dragging you out of here.”

I took my parents’ hands and pulled them with me to the small room where I started packing my things into my suitcase.

“Are you really going to marry that dangerous stranger? We can help you escape, you can go through the window—”

“And then what, Dad? Let him hurt you? I took the loan, I made the mistake and I'll make up for it.” I whispered, turning to them. “Besides, if he pays you a million dollars and helps the business grow, isn't that what we've always wanted?”

“Not at the expense of you! You're our son, there's no way we're letting you get married to a man!” Mom said in exasperation as she tried to stop me but I knew it was too late.

My fate has been laid out in front of me.

“Please, let me do this. For you.” I begged as her eyes watered. “Even though it didn't turn out as I wanted, this has always been my dream. To save the business and help you both out of this awful place.”

“But Riel…”

“You've always taught me to be a ball of sunshine. And he's like gloomy and cloudy. Surely he'll get bored of a man like me and send me away if I annoy him in the right way. Maybe it won't be so long before I return home. I'll send messages all the time as well.” I whispered but they didn't look relieved in any way.

“What if he's a kidnapper and he tortures you to death?” Mom asked in tears and my eyes watered too at the thought of that.

That would be the end of me then. But it wouldn't be fruitless. At least my parents will be content.

“That won't happen.” I reassured them even though I wasn't so sure myself. “I'll come back, safe and sound—”

“Ten minutes is up.” 

I finally dragged my small suitcase out of the room where Carlos was leaning by the door with his eyes closed. 

“Can we please ask you to reconsider, Mr Carlos?” Dad asked and Carlos sighed, opening his eyes.

“Do you have my money?” He asked and my dad fell silent. “That's what I thought. Let's move.”

I hugged my parents tight, fighting the urge to cry because I didn't want them to think I was scared even though I was. When I didn't move for a long time, I felt strong arms lift me off and throw me over his shoulders.

Mom and Dad tried reaching for me, even begging Carlos to give us one more chance. But I knew it wasn't going to work. With me over his shoulder like this, I was already his property so I gave up struggling.

I've been his property since I signed that loan agreement. I was just too dumb to realize.

Carlos threw me into the car and got in with me as the car sped down the road. My parents and houses faded away until I couldn't see them anymore even with my face plastered to the window.

I finally settled into the chair, sitting away from Carlos as I picked my nails nervously.

“Are you going to hurt me?” I asked before I could stop myself and he scoffed.

“If I wanted to, I'd do it in front of your parents. So no, I'm not.”

“Then why do you want to marry a man? You could have just made me work for you.” I pointed out, making his jaw clench in annoyance.

“Quit the questions. You're not property now and I decide how I want to keep you.” He snapped and I went silent.

The ride went on and on for hours until I eventually fell asleep due to how exhausted I was. When I woke up, I realized that I had trusted him too much by sleeping in his car. But the sun was already rising and the car hadn't slowed down.

Where on earth were we going?

That was when I saw it from afar.

A magnificent kingdom with tall buildings that pointed to the sky. Like the ones I watched in fantasy movies filled with fairy tales. I cleaned my eyes to be sure I wasn't dreaming but the view didn't fade.

Instead, it drew closer until the car was now driving in the streets of this… kingdom. Did we travel back in time or something, what was going on?

I glanced at Carlos to see that he had his eyes closed like he wasn't bothered. Just then, something fast moved by the car and my head snapped to the right. 

My breathing grew heavier as I inched closer to the window and just then, a large animal, way bigger than a dog, slammed into my door.