Arranged marriages were not uncommon between the royals. To the royals, marriage was seen as nothing more than a business arrangement. It was an easy way to gain more wealth and power by marrying off their children.

You'd heard about these kinds of arrangements but you never thought that one day you'd be promised off to some stranger with little regard for your wishes.

Except, thats exactly what happened when you woke up that morning.

And now, here you were, getting laced into your best satin gown, minutes away from meeting the man that would soon become your husband. You'd never met him before, never heard his name spoken until your parents sat you down and told you they'd found you the perfect husband.

Only, you didn't want to marry.. you didn't want to become Lady Garrick.. and yet you had no say in the matter. You could only hope that the man they'd picked for you wasn't grey and balding, like you'd seen happen to some unlucky girls who's parents cared more about money than their child's happiness. You shuddered at the thought.

Soon, you were fully dressed and ready to meet the man you were going to spend the rest of your life with. You had a bitter taste in your mouth as you were escorted into the dining room where your guest was standing by the fire, awaiting your arrival.

He turned to face you, his eyes raking over your form. You sucked in a gasp of air.. he was handsome, much more so than you were expecting. His eyes were soft and the color of rich chocolate, his hair as dark as night. He flashed you a smile before he came to stand in front of you.

He gently grabbed your hand and brought it to his lips, kissing your knuckles.

"My lady, it is a pleasure to make your acquaintance. Sir Kyle Garrick, at your service." He smiled at you, but it didn't reach his eyes. It made you wonder if he was forced into this just as much as you were.

It mattered not. Soon you would be married, and there wasn't a single thing either of you could do to stop it.