Chapter 3

Lucian’s POV

To say I was against this marriage was an understatement. I never even thought of marriage until that cunning man brought it up, saying he was tired of bloodshed and to end the feud with a marriage between the two families.

It was easy for him to say, knowing he wouldn’t be the one marrying himself. For me, this marriage was nothing but a burden… A sign of surrender and it pissed me off damn much.

“This is ridiculous,” I groaned, coming out of the restroom washing my face to cool down my head. “I don’t have time for this.”

I was on my way out when I heard sounds coming from the women’s restroom. I made it clear not to let anyone in the hotel other than the Morettis and the Vales.

It was unlikely for the other clans to stay still after the news of the truce between the two powerful families. Sending assassins to disrupt today’s meeting would be their natural response.

Slowly, I pushed the door open to the restroom and walked in. What I saw was a young woman in a pink dress, looking rather clueless, I might say. 

She was making silly faces in front of a mirror like a toddler who had nobody to play with.

How old is she? Five?

But I grew up on a darker side of the world and seeing someone this silly shouldn’t be enough to put my guard down. There were times when those who looked more harmless were actually the ones bearing deadly poison.

I was only a few steps away but she still didn’t notice me. Was it acting or was she simply stupid?

Sighed, she pouted. “Looks fake to me,” she said.

I didn’t waste any second and grabbed her by the neck. She was shorter than me, making it easy to grab her neck from the back.

“Couldn't agree more,” I said, holding a knife against her neck. “Move and your head will be rolling off the floor,” I threatened, waiting for her to react.

I watched her small body shiver before me, like a helpless rabbit caught in a predator's grasp. She could be an excellent actress as she was good at pretending to be scared.

“Answer me. Who are you and what are you doing here?” I tightened my grip, grazing her neck with the tip of my knife.

Wait, could it be that she’s…

“S-Sienna… My name’s Sienna Vale,” she replied, her lips trembling as she closed her eyes.

Sienna Vale? Isn’t that my fiance’s name? But this woman…

“And what made you think I’ll believe that?” I continued, provoking her. 

The ‘Sienna Vale’ I saw in the portrait didn’t look this… stupid.

Am I really going to marry this woman?

“Uh… Nothing? What am I supposed to do if you don’t believe it?” She snarled, her eyebrows met as she glared at me through the mirror. “My parents are waiting for me. You can ask them if I’m really their child. But first of all, who even are you to question me?”

Uh-huh? So, she doesn't recognize me? I thought everyone in the city knew what I looked like.

I leaned in, pressing the cold edge of my blade just enough to scare her. The Vale would definitely start a war if I ended up killing their daughter before the marriage even happened.

I felt her pulse pounding beneath the steel, but she didn’t flinch.

A brave little bunny, hm?

“Funny,” I whispered, inhaling her disgustingly sweet scent. “You talk like you’re in charge. Well, bunny. You’re not.”

“Oh?” Her elbow slammed into my ribs hard enough, making me grunt.

I lost my grip for half a second, just long enough for her to twist free and shoved me back. By the time I found my footing, she was already facing me, dress swirling, and her annoyingly loud heels scraping against the marbled floor as she drew a weapon from under her thigh like she’d done it a hundred times.

My mouth twitched.

Bold move, bunny princess.

I certainly didn’t let my guard down, I just didn’t expect her to have that strength for a small body.

“Ah, you’ve got a gun,” I said, raising my hands as I let go of my knife. “Cute,” I smirked.

She tilted her head to the side, a half smile formed on her lips. “I’m not cute. I’m pissed,” she growled.

Interesting. But at the end of the day, she’s still a Vale. An enemy…

“It looks like I’m marrying a ferocious rabbit, huh?” I chuckled, shaking my head. The look of confusion on her face made me laugh even more. 

“Oh, you didn’t know? You came here to meet your future husband, didn’t you?”

Sienna frowned, her lips parted as she processed what I just said. “Y-You’re Lucian Moretti?”

“The one and only,” I replied, walking toward her with open arms. I didn’t expect she’d be able to get away from me and even had a gun with her.

My intel said that the head of the Vale clan cherished his daughter dearly. Who would have expected that the cherished daughter could break an opponent’s bone and know how to shoot?

“I couldn’t believe your father’s marrying off his princess when you’re this talented,” I muttered, reaching out for her cheek… Only for her to pull the trigger, grazing my shoulder with the bullet.

“Don’t touch me,” her cold voice echoed through my head.  The sweetness in her vanished, replaced by a bloodlust I knew all too well.

I guess I’m not the only one who doesn’t like this marriage. Well, that’s better.

“Okay,” I said, raising my hands in the air. “I don’t want you thinking I want this marriage either,” my tone shifted from casual to serious. “Just so you know, this marriage is nothing more than a duty. So, don’t expect anything out of it.”

She glared at me like she was ready to shoot another bullet.

“And oh, don’t go playing around with that toy of yours.” I leaned closed and whispered, “If you’re not a Vale, you’d be dead by now.”