“Oh my daughter!” Marquess Castina pulled Sasha closer. Her wet, freshly showered, damp hair was sticking all over her face. Unconsciously hiding the scars and cuts, she now had on her.

“F-Father, I c-can’t breathe-” Sasha stammered out. Her father happily ignored her plea and hugged her tighter. She felt like her lungs were being crushed but…but it felt nice. Nice to be hugged and to be loved.

Even though it was pity, sympathy, revenge or other whatever emotions, Sasha wanted to thank him for today. For saving her. Even if he wants to marry her to harm her for hurting her, or to simply cage the only danger left for the royal couple, he still is the reason she’s standing in her father’s embrace.

“Sasha,” Marquess looked down at her. “I was so worried. You didn’t even leave a letter this time. I thought you were abducted.” I thought I’d never see you.

“I am fine, father.” I am not.

“Where were you? I looked for you everywhere!”

“I went to the North. Do not worry, the village people were very kind. They let me stay.” She smiled. “And they helped me.”

Lies.

Lies.

Lies.

“Ah,” Her father looked like he was thinking and she knew what came next. He always asked her the stories, the lives she saw in her trips and about the trees, the land and the traders but she couldn’t say anything today. She can’t speak about the prison, the cold, the loneliness and the pain. She stopped and breathed.

“Father,” She spoke up, beating him by seconds which, otherwise, mattered thousands of hours. “I heard about the engagement.”

Her father stopped thinking and she won. “So, you’ve heard about it.” A sigh. “I know how you behaved and felt before all that happened but trust me Sasha, he is an-”

Her impatience interrupted. “No need for an explanation. I had talked with the duke.”

His eyes went a little wide. “Then do I have your consent?”

No. She wanted to say immediately but if anything, she had known that every sentence, word and letter matter. One word might bring her either luxury or death. So she settled with uncertainty. “I need time to think.”

Kyle won’t be able to hurt her if she marries Zachary. Zachary on the other hand won’t let her do anything to Kate. Sasha, for now, was stuck. She repeated the cons and pros in her head over and over.

It was night when she decided to knock on the door. Her father, Marquess, opened the door. Unexpected surprise drawn all over his face. “Sasha? Daughter, is anything wrong?”

“Father, I’ll do it.” Her voice was determined. She has carefully planned everything.

“Do what?”

“I’ll marry Zachary.”