The Villianess story: A 100 ways to kill your husband Chapter 5: Sealed Fate

Abrielle proceeded towards the altar, where the officiating priest, who happened to be her uncle, awaited. The altar was situated beneath a glass ceiling; moonbeams pierced through, casting reflections upon the clear water below.

Facing each other at the altar, Cedric gently removed her veil. She met his gaze, his face concealed by a golden mask, and became thoroughly convinced he was the primary antagonist from her book – a man she’d characterized as cold, manipulative, and avaricious.

The narrative explained that he wore the mask to conceal a gruesome scar acquired during his first deployment to the battlefield at the tender age of fourteen. "Now, extend your left hands and face one another," the priest commanded. Both Abrielle and Cedric complied with the priest's directive. The marriage rites in Darconia, while peculiar, were regarded with utmost sacredness.

The priest then procured a silver dagger, making shallow cuts on both their palms. Their blood flowed into a ceremonial bowl positioned on the altar. Abrielle's features contorted momentarily from the sting of pain, yet she strived to maintain composure. Once the wounds were inflicted, the priest commenced incantations to bind the couple.

Upon completion, a soft luminescence emanated from the bowl. He then surveyed the assembled guests. "Does anyone present have a valid reason why this man and woman should not be joined in matrimony? Speak now, or forever hold your peace, as their union will be unbreakable."

An immediate hush fell over the hall; Cedric's eyes swept across the crowd. Even if someone harbored objections, none would dare challenge the bloodthirsty prince, known for his capacity to annihilate an entire kingdom within a single day.

Observing the lack of any opposition to the wedding, the priest shifted his focus towards them. "Lady Abrielle Nightshade, the sole daughter of the Duke of Nightshade, do you possess any reason why you would not consent to this marriage with your groom?" he inquired.

Abrielle’s gaze fell upon the cut on her palm; she harbored countless reasons to refuse. Perhaps this was her sole chance to escape, given that this marriage could only be dissolved by death.

She inhaled sharply, prepared to seize the opportunity. "I do not wish to..." The crowd collectively gasped in astonishment, and an immense pressure descended upon her, as if an invisible force was pinning her down. Her eyes flickered upward, meeting Cedric's golden irises, and the ambient temperature seemed to plummet drastically.

She swallowed again, finding his stare utterly terrifying and inwardly yearning to flee for her very life. "Could you please finish your statement?" the priest prompted.

Abrielle cleared her throat. "I do not wish to spend another day without being wedded to Prince Cedric," she declared finally, managing a strained smile. Though she appeared as a bride resigned against her will, the priest accepted her words at face value. Abrielle silently cursed herself for losing her nerve at the critical moment.

"I shall take that as a 'yes'," declared the priest, Malakai Nightshade, and a palpable sense of relief washed over the temple as the oppressive aura finally dissipated.

"Firstly, Prince Cedric Von Drakkar, son of the King of the Dragon Kingdom, do you have any reason whatsoever why you should not be wedded to your bride?" Malakai asked Cedric.

Abrielle clung to a faint sliver of hope that he might object, thereby ending this ordeal. To her dismay, however, a subtle smirk played on his lips as he responded, "I have no reason why I should not be married to the lady." His pronouncement heralded the onset of Abrielle's personal hell.

She was powerless to prevent the ill-fated union. "You may now take her hand," Malakai instructed, and Cedric grasped her wounded left hand.

Malakai retrieved a white ribbon and proceeded to wrap it around their clasped hands. He then took the small bowl containing the blood-mixed water and presented it to Abrielle to drink.

Abrielle accepted the bowl, consuming half of its contents, with the remainder offered to Cedric. The peculiar, metallic tang of blood caused Abrielle's nose to twitch. Once the ritual concluded, the priest covered their joined hands, bestowing a blessing upon their union.

"This marks the union between a dragon and a goddess," he proclaimed, followed by a round of applause. They turned towards the assembled guests, who were largely composed of the Nightshade family and their friends, cheering her on.

Cedric's sole attendees were his loyal knights. Abrielle's gaze met her parents', and she was taken aback to see her mother weeping. She had assumed that Rebecca Nightshade would be overjoyed that her troublesome daughter was finally being married off, especially after ten prior failed attempts.

Abrielle intended to maintain her notorious reputation; she would forever be recognized as the vile noble lady. "Allow me to introduce Prince Cedric and Princess Abrielle of the sacred Drakkar Kingdom," Malakai proclaimed, prompting everyone to rise and pay their respects. Even Malakai, the holy pontiff, demonstrated deference to the royal lineage.

"Regrettably, my bride and I must forgo the festivities due to our pressing journey. However, a celebratory banquet has been arranged at the Nightshade estate," Cedric declared, leaving Abrielle utterly astonished. He evidently wished to prevent her from absconding by excluding her from her own wedding reception.

With their hands bound together, the resentful bride and her groom disembarked from the temple amidst the bows of the assembled guests. Abrielle was consumed by apprehension and fear. She had been wedded to the bloodthirsty prince, and her sole avenue of escape from this union was death.

She had no desire to perish, leaving her with but one recourse: to eliminate the most perilous individual in this kingdom and within the narrative itself. Even the protagonist had encountered considerable difficulty in dispatching him, and now this daunting task had fallen upon her.

An opulent carriage, easily thrice the size of her previous one and drawn by six magnificent horses, awaited the newly married couple.

A footman opened the carriage door for the royal pair. Cedric extended a hand to aid Abrielle in boarding before entering himself.

They took their seats at opposite ends of the carriage, which then proceeded on its journey, escorted by a squadron of knights on horseback providing external security.

. The jolting motion immediately commenced. Cedric abruptly yanked Abrielle's tethered hand, pulling her forcefully towards him. Her heart leaped into her throat.

Before she could comprehend his intentions, she was violently thrust against the carriage wall, his hand tightening around her throat. Shock registered in her wide eyes; Cedric's golden irises blazed with a dark fury, as if he intended to snap her neck.

"Would you care to elucidate the purpose of your little escape attempt earlier?" he interrogated, his voice dangerously laced with anger. Abrielle struggled to release his grip, gasping for air, but his hold was unyielding.

How could she have forgotten that he was an unforgiving monster who harbored profound hatred for her?