The Empress Who Returned in Time: Kidnapping and Marriage
Chapter 01
“Hold me, Your Highness.”
“I cannot do that.”
“Do you not desire me, Your Highness?”
The soft moonlight shone into the room as a graceful voice whispered secret tempering words.
The woman asking to be held was the most desired bride in the empire. Her father was Duke Rosana, a man at the center of power. She was also a breathtaking beauty, full of elegance. She was the noble lady who rejected even the crown prince.
The most precious flower of high society. The beloved daughter of Duke Rosana. Even though she had passed the usual marriage age, many suitors still begged for her hand.
She was desired by every man who laid eyes on her.
They only hesitated because they feared her powerful father. But if they had the chance, they would have tried to win her over.
Flint Howard, the Grand Duke who ruled the northern lands of the Bianteca Empire, had once looked at Eliano with interest. However, it wasn’t out of desire for her.
Even though every man in the world wanted her, Flint could not.
“I do not embrace women without feelings.”
His words were firm and cold, but the woman did not seem upset. Instead, her emerald-green eyes sparkled.
“Then, have feelings for me.”
“You do not love me.”
At his blunt response, the woman let out a bright, clear laugh.
He was unexpectedly romantic. Her green eyes curved beautifully as she smiled.
“If I tell you that I love you, will you hold me?”
“Lady Eliano…”
“Then, I will say it. I love you, Your Highness.”
Suddenly, the man felt breathless. His mouth went dry. He could hear the sound of a heartbeat, but he didn’t know whether it was his or hers.
“But, Lady Eliano…”
She reached out and gently touched his chest. Seeing him flinch, she smiled slightly.
“You will come to love me, too.”
“This is… not right.”
“But you do not say you dislike it.”
She placed her hands on his shoulders and kissed his lips. Even though there was no love in the kiss, it did not feel uncomfortable.
As she applied a little pressure, his body fell onto the bed.
His gray eyes flickered, and Eliano smiled.
“Hold me as I am, Your Highness.”
At that moment, the man wrapped his arms tightly around her waist.
Their positions flipped in an instant. Her long hair spread across the bed sheets. His warmth surrounded her.
She closed her green eyes and melted into his hold.
Eliano had reached the end of a miserable and tragic life.
But, like a miracle, she had returned to the past. She was no longer an ignorant, weak girl. She was no longer a foolish girl who believed in eternal love and a man’s heart.
She knew exactly what she needed to do to change her fate.
And she was willing to do anything to make it happen.
—
Eliano was a noble lady of the Bianteca Empire. She was a progeny of the empire’s founding heroes. Her father, Duke Rosana, was a powerful man who adored his daughter. She was the most precious gem of high society.
Whatever she wanted, she received.But her life was controlled by her father.
So, it was no surprise that he would choose her husband for her.
She always knew that one day, she would marry the man her father chose. But she never imagined that she would have to leave her homeland. And worst of all, her fiancé was a prince from another empire—Zacador.
Eliano was raised like a delicate flower in a greenhouse. She was naïve but not completely ignorant.
She knew that, unlike Bianteca, Zacador allowed men to have multiple wives.
“Many wives? Not just mistresses? How can people live like that?”
When she complained, her nanny gently explained.
“That is the culture and law of Zacador. But some men only have one wife…”
No matter how much her nanny tried to comfort her, Eliano shook her head.
“No! I don’t want to go to Zacador, Nanny!”
Her father loved her, so why had he chosen a husband from such a barbaric place?
She had never dreamed of love, but she had dreamed of a romantic marriage. That dream did not include sharing her husband with many other wives. And she had to leave Bianteca?
If the prince had come to Bianteca, she might have accepted it.
After all, her father had chosen him. But leaving her homeland was worse than death. Yet, she did not have the courage to die.
Eliano clutched her nanny’s skirt and cried.
“Nooo! I don’t want to get married!” But she could never say those words to her father.
Since childhood, she had feared him too much to disobey.
Eliano locked herself in her room and refused to eat. It was her only way of resisting. But her resistance ended too easily.
Her father entered the room and frowned.
“Eliano, what is this nonsense?”
“F-Father…”
“I heard from your nanny. You are upset because your husband may have other wives?”
Duke Rosana clicked his tongue when he saw his daughter’s pale face.
“The Emperor of Zacador has many wives—”
“H-He has a queen, five royal consorts… and even more mistresses… And the crown prince also has two wives…!”
Eliano sobbed.
“Father, I am scared… Please don’t send me there…”
Even then, she could not say, “I won’t go.”
At that moment, Eliano couldn’t even speak out about how much she didn’t want to go. She just begged, kneeling on the cold floor, pleading with her father.
Duke Rosana frowned.
“Foolish girl! The seventh prince is nothing more than a royal in name. He has no power. He is far from the throne. He is just a useless noble who looks good on the outside!”
“Then… won’t he be killed by the next emperor…? Waaaaah!” Eliano burst into loud cries.
She knew her father hated loud noises, but she could not help it. She had heard rumors from noble ladies before.
— “Poor Lady Eliano. Zacador princes do not live long. If they don’t become emperor, they eventually die.”
— “Oh my, what a terrible thing to say. They can survive if they support the next emperor.”
— “But isn’t it best to be emperor? That’s why noble ladies in Zacador gamble with their fates when they marry a prince.”
If her husband died, she would die, too.
Even if she did not know much, she understood that.
Tears streamed down her face. The more she thought about it, the more terrified she felt.
“Eliano, a prince married for peace, cannot be harmed. The next emperor may kill your husband, but he will never touch you. He will send you back safely.”
“R-Really…?”
“And there is also a contract that says your husband cannot have any other wives besides you. So stop this foolishness now.”
At those words, Eliano’s tear-stained face brightened immediately.
“Hmph, you look terrible. A bride shouldn’t look like this.”
Duke Rosana clicked his tongue again and ordered the nanny to fix her appearance before leaving the room. His daughter had to be beautiful and graceful at all times.
After that, Eliano had to take even better care of her appearance than before.
Her father always paid great attention to how she looked, so she let the nanny and maids take care of her.
Since her husband would not have any other wives, she felt relieved about that part.
But… Eliano still didn’t want to go to Zakador. Eliano was afraid of her father, but she was also scared of the Zakador Empire.
‘What if the people of Zakador kill me because I am from Biantica?’
Biantica and Zakador were enemy nations. They were the two strongest empires on the continent.
Recently, they were trying to make peace through marriage, but the hatred between them was still strong.
Even after hearing about the treaty, Eliano still felt uneasy and told her nanny that she didn’t want to go to Zakador.
Maybe her father noticed this because, one day, Duke Rosana called for her.
“Stand still.”
Eliano immediately stopped moving and stood in place.
The Duke looked her up and down, then, unusually, gestured for her to sit.
As she sat down, the butler began placing dishes on the table.
When Eliano saw that only her favorite desserts were being placed, she blinked in surprise.
After the table was full, she quietly watched her father, then took the teapot and poured tea into the cups. Though her eyes were filled with anxiety, her movements were steady, without a single mistake.
A teacher of manners would have praised her for this graceful behavior.
Duke Rosana smiled slightly and encouraged her. He, looking slightly more relaxed, said, “Drink it.”
Eliano lifted the teacup and took a sip.
Every movement—drinking tea, placing the cup down—was elegant and refined. It was the result of years of strict etiquette training.
Duke Rosana looked satisfied.
“You still seem worried.”
“No, Father. I’m fine…”
“You only need to give birth to a child. Why are you worrying so much?”
Eliano remembered what her father always told her.
She would marry the man her father chose.
She would give birth to a successor.
She must never forget that she was the daughter of Duke Rosana.
“And your husband will never dare to take another wife while being married to you.”
Her father’s words felt comforting.
Even though Eliano was still uneasy, she felt relieved by that treaty.
“Remember, Lia. You are a noble lady of Biantica. Always keep your dignity and protect your honor.”
“Yes, Father.”
Eliano answered obediently, but her beautiful face was still filled with worry.
“Don’t make that face. Because you are the daughter of Duke Rosana, you have lived in luxury and never lacked anything. In fact, you had more than enough. I made that possible for you.”
“So now, you must repay me.”
Eliano understood that she had to pay the price for the wealth and privileges she had enjoyed as the daughter of Duke Rosana.
Whether it was a blessing or a curse, She was smart enough to realize that.
So, after that day, she never said she didn’t want to go to Zakador again.
So excited for this!