Chapter Three- Rejection

As the sound of the approaching carriages drew closer, my mind travelled back to the day I first met Marcus. The memory was as vivid as if it had happened yesterday.

I had encountered him on the outskirts of the city, deep in the forest where I often went to escape the suffocating atmosphere of the Keller household.

It was there that I found him laying unconscious and bleeding profusely from a stab wound. He had barely survived a war, his once-mighty form had been reduced to a shadow of itself.

I didn’t know who he was then, only that he needed help. Driven by a strange pull, a feeling I couldn’t explain at the time, I had dragged him to a nearby cave. For days, I nursed him back to health, feeding him, cleaning his wounds, and staying by his side as he fought to recover. I kept it hidden from everyone but my faithful maid.

When he finally woke up, his piercing eyes had locked onto mine, and a single word had escaped his lips. “Mate.”

The bond between us was undeniable. But when he expressed his desire to claim me, to mark me as his, I had panicked.

“You don’t even know me,” I had whispered, my heart pounding. “If you want me, find me. Prove it. Marry me.”

And then I ran.

I was the illegitimate daughter of the Keller family, born from my father’s betrayal of his noble wife and if I wanted to get married honourably, I needed someone who would love me genuinely despite this stain.

I had fallen terribly ill from being exposed to the harsh conditions and went into a coma for weeks. I had been shocked, horrified and excited when he had found me and he turned out to be the emperor of the Zenox Empire.

But instead of honoring the mate bond, he had chosen to use my existence as nothing but a pawn. To secure favor with the Kellers and align himself with their influence, Marcus had proposed marriage, not to me, but to Cassandra, the legitimate daughter of the house.

The betrayal had shattered me. The heartbreak of losing my mate and the subsequent humiliation of watching him favor my sister had been too much to bear.

And now, he was coming…again.

The sound of horses and chariots pulling up outside the mansion jolted me back to the present.

I clenched my fists, forcing myself to remain calm.

This time, things would be different. Marcus might think he could waltz back into my life and control my fate, but he would soon learn that I wasn’t the same naïve girl he had betrayed.

The mansion buzzed with frantic activity as servants rushed to prepare for the arrival of the royal envoy. The air was thick with tension, a mixture of excitement and fear. My family, always eager to grovel at the feet of power, had assembled themselves with practice.

Outside, the royal carriages finally came into view, my grandmother’s lips pursed in satisfaction.

“They’ve spared no expense,” she murmured, her sharp eyes taking in the golden insignia imbibed on the carriages and the red and blue banners billowing in the wind.

Behind her, my father straightened his robe, a rare expression of reverence crossing his usually indifferent face. Cassandra stood to his side, a calm and gentle smile plastered on her face. It was fake, but no one but me would know. She was dressed in a gown that sparkled under the sunlight, a calculated move to capture attention.

I stood slightly apart, my heart thundering in my chest. I wasn’t sure if it was anger, dread, or something far more dangerous.

The carriages came to a halt, and from the leading one, soldiers in gleaming armor disembarked, forming a line along the driveway.

The first soldier stepped forward, holding a long scroll. His voice rang loud and clear.

“Announcing His Imperial Majesty, Marcus Zenox, Emperor of the Zenox Empire!”

At his words, my family sank to their knees in unison, their heads bowed low. I followed, even though my body felt stiff.

The carriage door opened, and there he was.

Marcus descended with the regal air of a man who commanded empires. He was dressed in a deep navy tunic embroidered with gold, it was the same one he had worn in my last life. I had a feeling of dejavu as I watched him.

His piercing eyes swept over the kneeling figures, landing briefly on me.

I held my breath as our gazes locked for a fraction of a second. His face betrayed no emotion, but I saw the slight tightening of his jaw, and the flicker of something unreadable passing his eyes.

Behind him, attendants began unloading lavish gifts from the carriages: chests of jewels, bolts of silk, rare artifacts….

My grandmother, ever the opportunist, raised her head slightly, her voice dripping with deference. “Your Majesty, it is an honor to welcome you to our humble home. Your presence graces us beyond measure.”

Marcus barely acknowledged her, his attention momentarily diverted as one of his men whispered something in his ear.

When he finally spoke, his voice was deep, commanding, and laced with a quiet menace that only I recognised. “You may rise.”

He stepped forward, his boots crunching against the gravel. As he passed, my family put down their heads, their eyes cast downward. I couldn’t stop the resentment bubbling within me.

This was the man who had shattered my life. And now, he was here, striding through my family’s home as if he owned it.

The moment we got to the hall and he was seated.

"Please, be seated," Marcus said, his voice echoing through the hall.

Everyone obeyed, exchanging nervous glances.

"My Emperor, to what do we owe this honor?" my stepfather asked, attempting to sound dignified.

Marcus's gaze swept the room, settling on each face before returning to my stepfather.

"I've come for my wife," he stated, his voice firm.

The room fell silent.

Cassandra's eyes widened, her face pale. My grandmother glanced at her and me, the two young ladies if the Keller house, and expression turned calculating.

"Your wife?" my father repeated, stalling.

Marcus's gaze locked onto me.

“Kathryn Keller. We were betrothed in our previous encounter. I've come to claim her as my empress.”

My family's shock was almost physical but mine was greater. What the hell is happening? This is not what is supposed to happen.

"I'm afraid there's been a misunderstanding, Your Majesty," my father began. I couldn't agree more.

"No misunderstanding," Marcus interrupted. "Kathryn and I have unfinished business. She will accompany me to the imperial palace and that final.”

Not in my watch. I won't allow that happen.

"I reject it!” I said, my voice steady.

Marcus's eyes narrowed.

“You dare to reject me?” he said, rising from his seat.