A Desperate Bargain in the Shadows
Shauzi moved like a ghost, her limbs trembling as they untied her. She followed Eunho to a secluded corner of the square, her eyes wide with bewilderment. Turning to him, she whispered, "Why? Why would you take this poison upon yourself? I do not know you. I do not even know your name. If you are a man capable of something worse than that whip... what will I do then?"
Eunho offered a faint, somber smile. "Do not fear. After the vows, I will provide you with a safe home and everything you need. But... I will not stay with you. I will go far away from here."
Shauzi let out a hollow, bitter laugh. "You do not know the laws of this village. If you marry me, you must stay. The Elder and the neighbors will watch us every day. If they see we are not together, they will bury me alive. It is better to let me die now and accept my fate."
Eunho felt a sharp pang in his chest. He knew the fragile girl before him wouldn't survive a single strike of that lash. Reaching out, he took her hand firmly. "Listen to me. We will play the part of a happy couple. For a while, we will deceive them all. When the storm passes and the village forgets, we will both leave this place and never look back. Do not throw your life away for a lie."
Shauzi remained silent for a long time, caught between the certainty of death and a life built on a shadow. Finally, driven by the primal urge to survive, she gave a slow, hesitant nod.
Shadows of Treachery and the Crimson Veil
When they returned, they found Shauzi's uncle and aunt frantically whispering into the Elder's ear, desperate to stop the union. They knew if she married, her father's inheritance would slip through their greedy fingers forever. But the Elder, a man of stern justice, ignored their protests and ordered the wedding preparations to begin.
In the midst of the chaos, Dian—Eunho's most loyal servant—appeared. His brow was furrowed with anxiety. Eunho had summoned him using his spiritual essence, and now Dian pulled his master aside.
"My King, do you realize the gravity of this?" Dian hissed. "Your betrothal is already set in your own realm. If the Fairyland court learns you have wed a mortal girl, they will strip you of your throne. Your very life will be forfeit!"
Eunho cast a fleeting glance at Shauzi's fragile, tear-stained face. He looked back at Dian with a gaze that brooked no argument. "I have made my choice. Whatever the heavens decree, I will face it."
The execution square was transformed into a wedding altar. Beneath the flickering glow of sacred flames and the rhythmic chant of vows, Shauzi and Eunho were bound to one another. Using his hidden powers, Eunho had manifested a beautiful, secluded cottage at the edge of the forest. The villagers watched in awe as the couple walked toward their new home.
The Beginning of the End
As Eunho led Shauzi toward the cottage, her uncle and aunt watched from a distance. There was no blessing in their eyes—only a toxic, simmering hatred.
The aunt leaned in and whispered a dark secret into her husband's ear. A slow, serpentine grin spread across their faces—a smile of pure malice. They did not know who Eunho truly was, but they were already weaving a web of destruction that would ensure this marriage was written in blood.