The day of their wedding finally arrived, Louise was up in her room, getting dolled up by her ladies in waiting. She wore a deep purple dress that was embroidered by gold chains, down to her purple heels that would make soft clicking sound as she got to the alter.

Her hair was pulled into a high bun with hair ornaments on it to give it more elegance. A little makeup and fragrance was used of Louise before they were finally satisfied.

“Y-you look so pretty my lady” One of the maids complemented as Louise just gave her a small smile, she opened and closed the hand fan given to her as she immediately brought it to cover half her face.

She had never ever imagined her wedding to be in this format, but fate had other plans for her and she just couldn't throw it away, the door flew open as Stellar's step mother walked into the room.

“Your grace” the maids chorused as Louise turned with a bow to look at her step mother.

“I'm surprised that you have come to see me, even on my last day here” Louise laughing softly as her stepmother just stared at her, confused by the sudden change in behavior. She didn't say anything, she didn't know what to say exactly.

“I haven't come to see you stellar, I pray you leave safe and sound with your husband. And never come back” Her stepmother said but Louise just burst out laughing.

“I have no plans of coming back. Rest assured” Louise's words but her stepmother at ease, she turned around swiftly leaving the room.

Louise sat on the chair, staring at herself in the mirror. Stellar was a very beautiful woman, too bad something might have happened to her soul when she drank that poison.

“It is time for you to go, my Lady” Lady suirei led her out, with two other maids right behind them.

The wedding ceremony wasn't too big but the Duke had a lot of gold to throw around. On getting to the large hall, a veil was placed over Louise's face, it was transparent to allow her walk on her own but it kept her face out of the public eyes.

As she walked through the middle of the crowd, Louise could feel her heart racing. She had thought the wedding would be like those that happened in the present time but she was wrong.

She was seated beside a very handsome and smart man, but he mainly just ignored her. An incense stick was burnt for them, they exchanged rings and the priest said a small prayer for them.

“Now, you may finally kiss your bride” The priest said and Louise felt time pause. The man seated beside her or rather, her husband, lifted my veil and she was so mesmerized by the color of his eyes.

“Don't expect love for me, stellar” His voice was cold and magnetic as he spoke, he pressed his lips softly on that of Louise as she immediately turned red.

“With that, I now announce them, Duke and Duchess” the priest said and a large uproar went around the room as she held her husband's hand in hers. He didn't seem to resist or just chose to ignore her.

The wedding reception was absolutely boring. Everyone was trying to make convo with Louise's husband who she later learned was learning the name Arnold. She smiled as she took a sip of her wine, the deed had been done and she could finally leave this toxic environment.

“Can we go home, hubby?” she suddenly asked Duke Arnold who was busy talking to one of the many politicians in the village. Arnold turned to his newly wedded wife with a smirk, she wasn't behaving the way she first behaved when they met.

“Home? You didn't seem to be interested in home the first time, what changed?” Arnold stared at Louise with nothing but keen curiosity but Louise just rolled her eyes at him.

“If you won't go, I'd leave alone. This air is literally chocking me” Louise said, pouting her lips as if she was being neglected and it only made Arnold's frown deepen.

“Let's go say goodbye to your parents and we'll be off” Duke Arnold said as he was pushed by his bodyguard to were Louise's family was seated.

“Father, mother, we would like to take our leave” Louise was the one to speak up, as she smiled apologetically to Arnold who just nodded at her.

“So soon? Don't you want to enjoy the liquor and music a bit?” Her old man asked but Louise just shook her head with a polite smile.

“We're fine, and if we don't head back soon we might get caught up in the rain” Duke Arnold said as he smiled up at the general.

“So be it, I wish you both a newly wedded life. Take care of my daughter” The old man said and Arnold just nodded, pulling Louise with him as he got wheeled out of the palace.

The trip back to Duke Arnold's Villa took at least five hours but when they were back. Louise was taken to a different room to wash up while Arnold was helped into his wheel chair by his bodyguard and wheeled back to his room.

“Wow, I smell so nice!” Louise said as she twirled around in her light pink satin dress, her hair was left to fall over her shoulder and a sweet smelling oil was applied to her skin also.

“Let's go, the Duke awaits you” The maid who had helped her freshen up said as she grabbed the lantern hung at the corner.

Louise nodded as she straightened her posture, a lady of nobility isn't meant to be seen in disarray, she thought before ollowing the maid to her new room or rather the room she was sharing with her husband.

“Good luck” The maid whispered to her as she got shoved into the room. Louise took a deep breath as she turned to face the bed, Arnold was staring at her with eyes as clear as water.

“You don't have to be so stiff, you know we aren't doing anything” Duke Arnold said as he closed his book, clearly tired of reading.

“Oh…okay” Louise was half happy he didn't want them to do anything but she couldn't help but feel like she was rejected. Taking slow steps towards the bed, she lifted the covers and slipped under it, leaving an inch of distance between them.

“Why did you finally agree to marry me?” Duke Arnold asked as he stared at the chandelier. He had been searching for a suitable companion but everyone he found had always turned him down for the same reason.

Because he was a cripple.

But stellar didn't, at first she was a bit harsh and unhappy but he felt good with her beside him. Louise scooted a bit closer to Arnold as she placed her hand on his chest.

“I just figured, you aren't that bad, even though you are crippled. We can still make babies” Louise loved the idea of babies but hearing her say it made Arnold frown but he said nothing.

“So you are happy with the fact that you are married to a bedridden man?” Duke Arnold asked and Louise had no idea but she found herself nodding. She looked up at him, her eyes almost glowing under the light before placing a small but quick kiss at the corner of his lips. “Arnold,Perhaps I can heal you".

Those words sounded impossible but it warmed Arnold's heart. Louise turned to the other side with a red cheek trying to fall asleep but she felt a strong arm wrap around her waist as she was pulled closer to his chest. “Maybe this isn't such a bad idea”, Arnold whispered against her next making Louise shudder involuntary.

The next morning, as the sun came up and the chirping of birds echoed through the room. Louise turned in bed changing positions only to find out that the warmth for last night was now gone. She blinked severally turning to the spot beside her before yawning.

“Good morning, my lady” She heard a voice call out to her and Louise immediately sat up, flashing a smile at her new assistant.

“I am Nina and i would be your personal advisor and attendant during your stay at the crystal fortress”

“Thank you, so much” Louise said as she threw herself out of bed, stretching lazily.

She had no idea where Arnold was so she decided to freshen up and go find him, as she showered, she could still feel the warmth of his chest against her back making her blush.

After showering, her hair was dried and styled by Nina, who helped her into a black dress that really made her look mysterious but gave off a vibe of authority.

As they walked down the hallway, Nina showing her the important places she needed the know. Louise was so engrossed in sight seeing, the fortress was decorated even more extravagantly than her father's own.

When they got to the dining she was surprised to see Arnold seated but with a woman beside him.

“Good morning, my Lord” Louise curtsied as she turned to the woman seated at the right side of Arnold.

“Good morning, I guess you slept well?” Arnold asked with a shrug and it only made Louise smile but she just nodded.

“Wouldn't you introduce us, my Lord?” Louise needed an explanation to who this woman is. She had no idea how another woman could appear on her first day as the lady of this fortress and it seemed as if Arnold was cheating.

“Oh, this is meimei. She is one of my many concubines” Arnold said as he immediately tore his gaze from Louise focusing on the scroll he was reading.

Concubine?

If she was a concubine, then what would that make Louise? She laughed at herself as she took a deep breath.

“Can you give us some privacy?” Louise said to Meimei who had her head down as she and Arnold spoke.

“Y-yes my lady” Meimei immediately stood up as she walked out of the dining, fidgeting as if she was scared but Louise didn't matter.

“If they are your concubines, what does that make me?” Louise asked as she took her seat at the left hand side of Arnold.

“You scared the poor girl, Stellar” Arnold's voice was cold and emotionless as he raised his eyes to meet hers. The tone in which he was speaking to her was because she asked that concubine to leave? She scoffed running her fingers through her hair.

“If she is your concubine. What exactly am I? Arnold” Louise couldn't control herself and called the Duke by his name but he didn't mind.

“My wife, my Duchess and the lady of this house. You shouldn't feel threatened by just a concubine” Arnold said with a small chuckle. Louise sat there, confused but the jealousy in her heart had disappeared.

Louise didn't say anything more as they served her breakfast. A maid who had her head bowed at the corner of the room suddenly looked up, an evil glint in her eyes as she stared at Louise.

“Arnold? Why is she staring at me like that?” Louise couldn't pull her eyes away from the maid, it felt as if she couldn't even more. Arnold turned towards where she was looking at the maid who was standing there flashed him a dark and isolated grin.

“I want my body back” she mouthed but only Louise could hear what she was saying. “Give me my body back!”

“Go bring whosoever is standing there. They need to apologize to their lady” Arnold reached over to touch Louise's arm but it was so cold. “Stellar?”

“Give me my body back Louise!!”