Caden Lists had rejected yet another woman. Being a King meant, daughters of other nobility will aim for your hand, but he was young in comparison and smart. Caden knew who was insincere or not. He was smart enough to let others down gently but firmly.

He wanted to get married to a woman who would suit him. It was getting tiring since he was nearing his twenty-fourth birthday. He couldn't prolong this anymore. He worriedly sits at his desk wondering what do. His wife must be competent to be able to rule a country but also a good-natured person, so the people will give him more support. He was hoping for his birthday that he would have found a suitable wife.

You were going to attend Caden Lists' birthday party on behalf of your sister⎯⎯⎯half sister to be more accurate. You were a bastard child of the Lord Tiene but was born a little while after his legitimate daughter. Both of you happen to look similar growing up, and they took full advantage of it.

Lord Tiene made you the companion of his daughter Scarlet. He would dote on his daughter. If there were any public services Scarlet didn't want to do, you would have to do in her stead. It was rather abusive in your opinion, but you put up with it for the sake of your mother who currently was ill. Once she died, you would leave. Lord Tiene did pay you, not much, but he did pay.

Lord Tiene did try to convince you not to leave, once someone told him of your plans. You remained firm about it though then he did what he did best: mock you and try to bring down your spirits, and Scarlet joined in too. The way they treated you led you to be quiet most of the time since you found it safer not to express your opinions in front of anyone as anyone can rat you out.

Scarlet was sick this time or so she claimed. A pretty woman she was, so naturally, she had suitors. She said to you to go find her a husband who would be handsome and reject all who weren't beautiful in her eyes. You only nodded that day. In the carriage, Scarlet's caretaker was listing things that were to be done, and you were listening half-heartedly. When she notices this she sighs annoyed.

"Really. Your father sent you here to do something nice for your sister. For once can't you be grateful," she says disapprovingly. You only look at her.

"Since when did he consider himself my dad? And since when was I considered his daughter?" The caretaker made the motions to slap you, but you stop her by saying. "You better be careful. If you slap me, technically you are slapping Scarlet." She puts her hand down grudgingly.

When you arrived, you were shown to your room another party where she would smile and wave. You pitied the man who would wind up marrying Scarlet. Nevertheless, someone would. You wondered about your mother. When she told Lord Tiene she was pregnant, his only words to her were, "Only if he is a son." If you were born male, you believed life would be different. You would have been loved, but you are happy though. You weren't a part of their life directly, and soon you would be able to leave. You had just finished getting dressed when a maid entered.

"King Lists requests that all the woman and men wear masks to the party." As you take the mask, you ask why. "He intends on finding his bride here." You nod at this. Masquerades were certainly going to make things difficult, but you still had enough information to figure out who would be the man Scarlet wanted. You put on the mask and headed to the party.

You survey the men. Though half of their faces were covered, you could tell who was more handsome than the others. You are standing near a wall when you see a man offer you his hand.

"May I have this dance?" You only nod and take his hand. The man looked handsome enough. Scarlet shouldn't have any complaints. The man talks to you about things, and you only nod or shake your head. You interject only when you find it necessary and on occasion laugh at his jokes.

Caden was dancing with a young woman. She was reserved but polite where it mattered. She didn't seem rude and overall was pleasant to be around though she doesn't talk often. The two of them spend a few more dances together before he leads her outside.

"You don't seem all that enthused being here."

"It is not that. I just happen to hear that King Lists was looking for a bride. This isn't the smartest way to do it though." Caden looks at her interestingly.

"What makes you say that?"

"Think about it. If all the woman is aware of this, many will go out of their way to be some perfect woman just for tonight. Is it really getting to know someone." Caden looked into your eyes. This was your honest opinion. You didn't seem to know it was him.

"You are a very smart lady. Which house are you from?"

"House of Tiene," you replied. He has heard of your house. It wasn't very powerful but had some influence. You were a good woman who was polite and smart. As goes through his mental checklist, he noticed you seem to have all the requirements.

"I hope we meet again," he says before he has to leave. After all, you aren't the only girl at the party. Caden met several women but didn't like any of them. You were his perfect match. The party came to an end and soon after you left.

You reported what has happened and went back to take care of your mother. Sadly she had died after your departure, and you mourned her death. After she was buried, you were called by Lord Tiene.

"I really must congratulate you F/n," he says. "You did a fantastic job of getting King Lists to want to marry my daughter."

"I only did as I was told."

"I know my dear F/n," he says walking up to you. "Now I know you want to go, but," He looks at you with a glint in his eyes." You look too much like my daughter. I was planning on having you killed now that you fulfilled your role, but since you managed to get someone of such high power. A scar seems more suitable."

Two guards hold you down, and you try to break away. "Don't worry though, we will make sure you get all better," he says brandishing a dagger. You scream as he cuts you.

Caden was happy to know that his marriage proposal was accepted. He was making a trip to go visit his bride. As for you, Lord Tiene did keep his promise, and your cuts were treated. You were going to run the minute your face was healed leaving now would cause infections that might cause you to get sick. Even though you were recovering, you were forced to work alongside the servants.

Caden had arrived, and there was a banquet. He was waiting for Scarlet to arrive. You were also serving at the banquet. Scarlet had arrived and Caden smiled at her which she returned. His smiled faded when he realized they weren't the same. Her eyes were different. They weren't the ones he remembers at the party. He pretended everything was okay, but he figured out this Scarlet wasn't the woman at the party.

The meal had ended, and he glared at Lord Tiene. "Your daughter never did show up at the party did she?" Lord Tiene grimaces and you smirk seeing your father in a tough position. He couldn't exactly lie since his king was present and could wind up losing his head.

"No, she didn't."

"Who was the woman who was there then?" Lord Tiene says nothing. When Caden sees this he picks up his knife. "If you don't tell me, I can assume, you sent a spy instead. You can be tried for treason, can you not?" Caden points the knife at Lord Tiene. "Who was the girl?"

"...My illegitimate daughter F/n," he says looking at you. Caden sees you and smiles.

"Those are the eyes I remember." You were rather surprised he said nothing about the scars. Caden walks up to you. "Now, I came here with the intentions of marrying you. Say you will agree."

"...I don't know," you reply. Caden smiles at your indecision. You couldn't outright reject him since he was the king.

"May we talk for a bit. Alone." you nod and the two of you go outside. "Why my dear? You don't want to marry me. Why?"

"I have lived my life for my mother. Now that she is gone, I intend on living for myself."

"I see. But won't that be difficult? It is ashamed Lord Tiene, the man who is your father, had done such a cruel thing to you." He says lightly running his finger over one of your scars. "The world we live in is just as cruel. No one would spare you a glance or even pity."

"What makes you so sure?"

"They say a parent's love is the strongest known emotion. Your mother had died, and your own father did this to you. What would a stranger think when they see you?" You look to the side. He wasn't wrong. Work would be much more difficult for you if you were to leave. Caden gently turns you to face him. "But if you become my bride, you would be opening doors to so many possibilities."

"Like what?"

"You are illegitimate. And your skin marred by the man who, biologically is your father. With you as my queen, you would serve as an inspiration to those victims of their fates. Be it a deformity or bloodline. There would be small problems here and there, but that isn't something I can't fix. It is considered treason to try and harm the queen."

You think about what Caden is saying. If you were to become queen, then perhaps you would be able to help the children born out of wedlock. "Would it really help their situation though?"

"Not directly but it will give them hope. All you have to say if that you will be mine and you would be doing something far greater than any of the previous queens could ever do." You think for a moment before nodding once more. "Thank you my dear." he hugs you.

You were married, and he did keep you happy. You only recently learned of what happened to Lord Tiene and his family after marriage. The family was murdered, mutilated to the point where they didn't even look human. You never learned but suspected Caden. Caden, after all, did tell you it was treasonous to harm the queen.

Edited by WrappedInABlanket