— Marriage
Nahil slowly opened his eyes.
At first, his vision was blurred, and everything around him felt unfamiliar. The ceiling above him was different from anything he had seen before, and even the air carried a strange density, rich with spiritual qi that made his body feel both heavy and energized at the same time.
He frowned slightly as confusion filled his mind.
Where am I…?
His body felt weak, yet there was no pain. Instead of injury, he felt a strange sense of recovery, as if his entire body had gone through a transformation.
His thoughts gradually cleared, and fragments of memory returned.
The forest.
The beast.
The moment of darkness.
He remembered clearly that he should have died.
Yet now, he was alive.
That realization made his heart tighten slightly, not out of fear, but out of cautious awareness.
Something about this situation was not normal.
—
He slowly tried to sit up, and although his movements were slightly heavy, his body responded without resistance.
At that moment, a calm and composed voice came from beside him.
"You are awake."
Nahil turned his head.
The moment his eyes fell upon her, he paused.
The girl standing beside the bed possessed an aura that was difficult to ignore. Her presence was cold and distant, yet refined, as if she existed in a world separate from ordinary people. There was a natural elegance around her that made the space itself feel quieter.
Their eyes met.
For a brief moment, Nahil felt a subtle warmth rise within his chest, a sensation he could not explain.
At the same time, Imaria felt her cold energy settle once more, becoming calmer and more stable than before.
This reaction did not escape her notice.
—
Nahil broke the silence.
"…Where am I?"
His voice was slightly hoarse, still adjusting after waking up.
"You are in the Samarian Empire," Imaria replied in a calm and steady tone. "This is my residence."
Nahil's brows furrowed slightly as he processed her words.
So he had been saved.
"…You saved me?" he asked.
Imaria did not give a direct answer.
"You were found in the forest," she said. "You were on the verge of death."
Nahil fell silent as he lowered his gaze toward his body.
There were no wounds.
Not even scars remained.
The condition of his body clearly contradicted what she had just said.
This was not something that could be explained easily.
—
Before he could think further, another voice entered the conversation.
"You should be grateful."
Clory stepped forward, observing him with a careful and slightly cautious expression.
"If not for the Princess, you would not be alive right now."
Nahil shifted his gaze toward her briefly before returning it to Imaria.
"…Thank you."
His tone was calm and polite, but internally, his mind was alert.
He was not naive enough to relax in a place like this.
—
Imaria observed him silently.
His reaction was measured and controlled, far too calm for someone who had just woken up in an unfamiliar environment.
This made her slightly more interested.
—
After a moment, she spoke again.
"What is your name?"
"…Nahil."
He paused briefly before continuing.
"Nahil Dragsen."
Imaria's eyes showed a faint flicker.
She had never heard of such a family.
—
"Where are you from?" she asked.
Nahil shook his head slightly.
"I do not remember clearly."
It was not a complete lie, but it was far from the full truth.
He had no intention of revealing everything.
—
Imaria did not press further.
Instead, she moved directly to the matter at hand.
"There is something you need to know."
Nahil looked at her.
"What is it?"
There was a brief pause before she spoke.
"You will marry me."
—
For a moment, Nahil could not process her words.
His mind stopped, as if it had failed to catch up with what he had just heard.
"…Marry you?" he repeated slowly, disbelief clearly visible on his face.
This was completely beyond his expectations.
—
Clory glanced at him, trying to suppress her reaction.
Imaria, however, remained completely calm.
"It will not be a real marriage," she said. "It is only a temporary arrangement."
Nahil stared at her, trying to understand the situation.
"…Why me?" he asked.
Imaria answered without hesitation.
"Because you are unknown," she said. "You have no background, no influence, and no connections to any major power."
She met his gaze directly.
"You are the safest choice."
—
Nahil fell silent.
Her words were straightforward, leaving no room for misunderstanding.
He was being chosen not for his ability, but because of his lack of importance.
—
"…And if I refuse?" he asked after a moment.
The atmosphere in the room subtly changed.
Clory's expression became more serious.
Imaria, however, remained composed.
"You are free to refuse," she said calmly.
Then she added, with a faint but clear implication,
"But it would not be a wise decision."
—
Nahil understood immediately.
This was not truly a choice.
—
He leaned back slightly as his thoughts began to move quickly.
He was in an unfamiliar world, surrounded by powerful individuals, without strength or support of his own.
Refusing could lead to consequences he could not handle.
—
Survival comes first.
—
After a brief silence, he asked,
"What do I gain from this?"
Imaria looked at him carefully.
"Resources," she said.
"Protection."
She paused slightly before continuing.
"And the opportunity to live without interference."
—
Nahil let out a faint breath.
There was no benefit in refusing.
—
"…Fine," he said slowly.
"I accept."
—
Clory looked slightly surprised by his decision.
Imaria remained calm, but she did not miss the shift in the atmosphere.
—
At that moment, deep within Nahil's consciousness, something stirred.
The red and golden bead pulsed faintly, as if responding to his decision.
—
At the same time, Imaria felt that warmth again.
This time, it was stronger.
More noticeable.
—
Her gaze remained fixed on Nahil.
There is definitely something unusual about him.
—
Outside the palace, dark clouds slowly gathered in the sky.
Although no one noticed it yet, something had already begun to change.
---