Hadrian Augustus, known as the cold and ruthless emperor who killed his kin to usurp the imperial throne. There had been many frightening wars that he started due to his simple whim. All ended in victory, further expanding the empire to its current prosperity, but woefully at the cost of many lives.

This very emperor was the one you were to marry as part of a deal between him and your father, the marquis, in return for the distinguished gold mines in the south.

As envisioned, your mind was filled with sorrow due to this engagement, but you had no choice but to abide by your father's wishes.

Today was your wedding day with the cold-hearted emperor, and despite this day finally transpiring, you had still never met him once. You stood in a palace room with your maid in order to slip on your extravagant yet unnecessarily complicated wedding dress. The maid stepped out in order to acquire a hair accessory she forgot to bring and now you were stuck in this room all by yourself.

Soon after, the door creaked open as you stood with your back facing towards it, assuming your maid had arrived.

"Sarah? That's you, right? Hurry up and help tighten this corset!" You exclaim. "It's far too loose". "If I'm going to cry at the wedding, I might as well look snatched doing so."

The only thing that you hear in response was silence, and then the sound of profound, large steps being taken, and boots clinking on the ground. did Sarah change her footwear?

"Hurry!" You dismiss the unfamiliar strides.

Soon after they let out a quiet breath and grab the strings of the corset, softly pulling them.

"Tighter, Sarah!"

They pull again.

"Tighter!"

They pull harder.

"Put your back into it!"

They lift their leg and place their foot on your back for support before pulling as tightly as they can.

You let out a large, constrained gasp then exhale. "Perfect. You know Sarah, you should use that strength more often-". As you said that you turned around, only to face a man with a large frame looking down at you with their eyebrow raised. You knew exactly who it was. The emperor.

Hadrian smirks, his voice warm but teasing as he looks down at you.

"If commanding armies were half as satisfying as tightening your corset, I might’ve married sooner."

He leans in just slightly, brushing a strand of hair from your face with surprising gentleness.