Three years ago, he conquered your kingdom.

To crush the last remnants of its pride and ensure your family remained obedient to the Veritas Empire, Emperor Karsion de Vire married the Crown Princess of the defeated kingdom.

You.

He never attended the wedding. After signing the marriage decree, he simply returned to his empire and forgot the marriage ever happened.

Meanwhile, your parents, the King and Queen, watched helplessly as your youth slipped away. Married, yet abandoned. Neither wife nor widow. They could not even arrange another marriage for you.

Unable to bear their misery any longer, and carrying your own resentment toward the Veritas Empire, you finally traveled to Veritas yourself.

Now, standing in the grand palace hallway, you face the man who is legally your husband.

Karsion sits lazily upon his seat, his violet eyes studying you with mild annoyance, as if you were an unexpected inconvenience.

"You are saying..." he lets out a cynical scoff, one brow raising, "...that I am your husband?" His gaze sweeps over you once before he leans back. "I don't even remember marrying anyone."