Under the Realm of the Beast - Chapter 1: The Switched Groom (7)

The House of Carnies was a prestigious lineage with a history that extended 200 years further back than the Imperial Family itself. For generations, the Carnies family had protected the northern territories and stood as a steadfast ally to the imperial throne. It was only natural, then, that Emperor Karl III sought to strengthen this alliance through marriage with the Carnies Grand Duchy.

However, there was one thing the emperor had not foreseen: he would be unable to produce an heir. For over ten years, his marriage to the empress bore no children. As a result, he annulled his marriage to the empress and took a new wife.

When his new empress gave birth to a daughter, Princess Elisabeth, and passed away shortly afterward, the emperor was nearing his 45th year. Meanwhile, the former Grand Duke of Carnies had welcomed a son, Leonard, into the world. The emperor now faced a dilemma: his only legitimate offspring was a daughter, and without decisive action, the matter of succession could lead to chaos.

Thus, the emperor made a controversial decision. He recognized Joseph, his illegitimate son born to a commoner maid, as his own and named him crown prince.

The Grand Duke of Carnies, to ensure his family’s loyalty and alleviate any concerns about threats to the imperial line, passed his title to his son Leonard and passed away from an illness shortly after.

At the young age of 18, Leonard became the Duke of Carnies and the Grand Duke of Haverk, ruler of the northern territories. That same year, he joined Friedrich on an expedition to slay the infamous wyrm, cementing his status as a hero.

“How could I ever compete with someone like Leonard?”

Valetta squeezed her eyes shut, suppressing a sigh. Leonard was one of the most powerful men in the empire. Even the emperor, who had hoped to diminish the influence of the Carnies family by sending Leonard on the dangerous wyrm hunt, only ended up elevating him. Leonard had returned triumphant, a hero, and repeated his success on subsequent expeditions, becoming a living legend.

The rattling sound of the carriage wheels broke Valetta’s train of thought. To her relief, Leonard had opted to ride in a separate carriage.

“At least he did that much,” she thought bitterly. She wasn’t sure she could bear being in the same space as him right now.

“First thing tomorrow morning, I’ll file for annulment,” she resolved.

The reason they hadn’t departed for the Carnies estate immediately after the wedding was due to the late hour. Instead, they planned to spend one night at the Dampierre estate before leaving for the north.

“And I’ll report my aunt and uncle for fraud. I can’t stand this any longer.”

As Valetta ground her teeth in frustration, the carriage finally arrived at the Dampierre estate. The count and countess, having been informed of their new son-in-law’s arrival, came out to greet the Duke of Carnies.

Before they could offer their saccharine greetings to Leonard, Valetta flung open the carriage door and stormed out. Her disheveled appearance immediately caught their attention. Her eyes were red and swollen, her lips puffed from holding back tears.

Her icy gaze bore into the Dampierre couple.

“V-Valetta. You must be tired after the wedding,” said her aunt with a forced smile.

Valetta couldn’t believe such words were coming from someone she once considered family. She had so much she wanted to say, but she knew better than to speak her mind. Any talk of lawsuits or accusations would only prompt them to barricade her in this house.

“…”

“Valetta, dear, hoho, you look exhausted. It must have been a long day,” her aunt added with faux concern.

Valetta clenched her jaw, choosing her words carefully.

“This isn’t right,” she said slowly, her voice trembling with suppressed anger.

“What?”

“It’s not right for anyone to do something like this. Not if they’re human.”

Irmina, you, all of you… none of you are human. Valetta swallowed the searing rage bubbling inside her.

“Goodness! What kind of thing is that for a newlywed bride to say? We did all of this for your own good!”

“What did you gain by throwing my life into a pit?” Valetta asked coldly, her voice trembling with anger. “Was Friedrich’s life not enough? Did you need even more?”

“Valetta Irpman!” the Count snapped. “You’re going too far. Go inside, now!”

Valetta glared at him for a long moment before reluctantly turning and heading into the house. She left her new husband, Leonard, behind without a glance and went straight to her room. As soon as the door shut, tears streamed down her face once more.

Would they have done this if Friedrich were still alive?
If my parents were here, they never would have allowed this humiliation to happen.

Valetta sobbed silently, swallowing her tears as the weight of her loneliness and betrayal pressed down on her.

Then came a knock at the door.

“Miss, it’s me,” called the familiar, insolent voice of Laura, the maid.

Valetta, her throat tight from crying, answered hoarsely. “I want to be alone. Go away.”

“The bathwater is ready, Miss. I’ll guide you,” Laura replied cheerfully.

“I don’t need it.”

“But how can you enter the bridal chamber without washing first?”

At the mention of the bridal chamber, Valetta froze. Until now, she had been too preoccupied with the fact that Leonard was her groom to even consider what the first night of marriage would entail.

Before she could process her thoughts, Laura began shaking the door handle.

“Miss! Open the door, please!”

“Leave me alone! I don’t need anything!”

“But, Miss…”

Despite Valetta’s desperate attempts to hold the door shut, Laura’s strength proved too much, and the maid burst in with a bright, mocking smile.

“You can’t risk displeasing your husband on your wedding night. That would spell disaster for all of us,” Laura said, her tone dripping with false concern.

The maid’s eyes flitted over Valetta’s tear-streaked face, and she clicked her tongue in feigned sympathy. It was obvious she was reveling in Valetta’s misery.

Laura had always been like this. Though Irmina and Valetta were close in age, Laura showed admiration and respect toward Irmina, but with Valetta, there was nothing but jealousy. It seemed to stem from a sense of inferiority, an awareness of the gap in their social status despite their similar ages.

“Well… if you dislike this so much, there’s nothing I can do. But you can’t just sit around like this,” Laura continued, her words laced with barely hidden glee.

Unbeknownst to Valetta, there was a strict custom that the bride’s wedding attire could only be removed by her groom. Changing without his assistance was considered an act of betrayal, as though the bride had been intimate with another man. There was no pre-bedtime bathing ritual; Laura’s insistence was nothing more than an excuse to witness Valetta’s suffering.

“Come here. Your hair’s all tangled,” Laura said, pulling Valetta to her feet and beginning to brush her hair.

Valetta, too drained to resist, let Laura do as she pleased. Her body felt heavy, her head throbbed, and the aftermath of crying throughout the carriage ride left her nauseated.

Sensing Valetta’s resignation, Laura grew bolder, chattering away without hesitation.

“How could someone so handsome end up cursed like that? Did you see his skin beneath the mask? No matter how much he tries to hide it, that grotesque flesh can’t be concealed.”

“…”

“And those beast-like eyes! Just the thought of being close to him—ugh, I can’t imagine it! How can anyone share a bed with someone like that?”

“Stop it,” Valetta murmured.

But Laura ignored her, continuing her tirade.

“And to think… marriage with a man like him! It’s horrifying enough to be in the same room as him, let alone—well, even being a Grand Duke doesn’t change the fact that he’s nothing more than a gilded disaster. If I were you—”

“Are you enjoying yourself?”

Valetta’s cold voice cut through Laura’s rambling. The maid froze, startled.

Turning to face Laura, Valetta grabbed the brush from her hands and stepped back, her eyes glinting with icy fury.

“Do you think it’s fun? Teaming up to ruin my life and making a fool out of me—does that entertain you?”

“My life thrown into ruin—what did you gain from it? Was Friedrich’s life not enough? Did you really need more?” Valetta’s voice was sharp and cutting.

“Valetta Irpman! Watch your tongue! Get inside, now!” the Count barked.

Valetta glared at him, her fury simmering, but turned and went inside. She didn’t even spare a glance at Leonard, her newly minted husband, and instead stormed off to her room. As soon as she closed the door, tears streamed down her face again.

If Friedrich were still alive, would they have dared to do this?
If my parents were here, they never would have allowed this disgrace.

Suppressing sobs, Valetta silently cried, her chest heaving with unspoken despair.

Then came a knock at the door.

“Miss, it’s me,” called Laura, the impudent maid.

Clearing her throat, Valetta replied coldly, “I want to be alone. Leave.”

“The bathwater is ready. Let me guide you,” Laura said sweetly.

“I don’t need it.”

“But how can you enter the bridal chamber without freshening up?” Laura teased, her voice dripping with mockery.

At the mention of the bridal chamber, Valetta’s face went pale. The reality of her wedding night, and the man she had been forced to marry, crashed down on her like a tidal wave.

Before Valetta could process her thoughts, Laura jiggled the doorknob. “Miss! Open the door, please!”

“I said leave me alone! I don’t need anything!”

“But, Miss…”

Laura, undeterred by Valetta’s resistance, forced the door open. Her cheerful expression barely concealed the glee in her eyes as she looked at Valetta’s tear-streaked face.

“You can’t afford to anger your husband tonight, Miss. That would be disastrous for everyone.”

Laura’s condescending tone only deepened Valetta’s fury.

“You think it’s fun, don’t you?” Valetta said suddenly, her voice icy.

“What…?”

Valetta’s lips curled into a bitter smile. “Fine, then. As the Duchess, I’ll issue my first command.”

“Pardon?”

“You’re now my personal maid. Pack your belongings, because you’ll be leaving for the north with me tomorrow. Go say goodbye to your lover while you still can.”

Laura’s face turned white with shock, her mouth opening and closing like a fish gasping for air.

“W-what? Miss!” Laura stammered, her voice trembling.

“Did I stutter?” Valetta’s tone was calm but laced with venom, her eyes gleaming with cold determination.

Laura tried to laugh it off, her voice shaky. “Surely you’re joking, Miss. Please don’t say such things in anger.”

“You think I’m joking?” Valetta’s gaze darkened, and Laura instinctively took a step back.

The north—the lands of the Carnies estate—were infamous for their harsh winters, barren lands, and occasional monster outbreaks. Even among northern territories, the Carnies estate was renowned for its unforgiving conditions. To Laura, the idea of leaving behind the comfort of the Dampierre estate for such a place was unthinkable.

“I’m Irmina’s maid!” Laura protested desperately. “She won’t allow this!”

“Oh, I don’t think Irmina’s in any position to do anything about it,” Valetta said with a wry smile.

The mention of Irmina left Laura speechless, her face as pale as a ghost. Valetta took one step closer, her voice dripping with sarcasm. “Now, go.”

“M-Miss, please… I don’t want to leave! I don’t want to leave my home!” Laura begged, tears welling in her eyes.

“And I didn’t want to go to the north either. Yet, here I am.”

Valetta didn’t intend to take Laura with her. But at this moment, she was so consumed by anger that she didn’t care. If she ended up being dragged to the north with Leonard, she figured she might as well take Laura down with her.

No. I can’t let my emotions get the better of me, Valetta reminded herself. Tomorrow morning, I’ll file for an annulment. I’ll report my aunt and uncle for fraud. I just need to get through tonight.

Suppressing her anger, Valetta waved Laura away. “What are you still standing here for? Go pack your things.”

“Miss, please! This isn’t like you!” Laura cried.

“How can I act like myself in a situation like this?” Valetta snapped. “This is an order, Laura. Leave.”

At last, Laura left the room, half in tears, her footsteps echoing down the hallway.

The moment she was alone, Valetta sprang into action. She had no intention of staying another night in the Dampierre estate, nor of facing Leonard in the bridal chamber. She grabbed her purse and carefully slipped out of the room, still wearing her wedding dress.

Avoiding the main corridors, she crept toward the kitchen’s side door, which the maids and servants often used.

Who would have thought my time washing dishes would come in handy?

Though she had grown up in a noble household, Valetta and Friedrich had often been treated like servants in the Dampierre estate, tasked with chores like washing dishes and scrubbing floors.

I just need to get through tonight. Tomorrow, I’ll go straight to the courthouse. Then it’ll all be over.

Her heart raced with tension and fear. If her plan failed, she would be stuck as Leonard Carnies’ wife for the rest of her life—a fate worse than death in her eyes.

I can’t let that happen. I won’t.

The thought of being called Duchess Carnies, of her name tied to Leonard’s, made her stomach churn.

Reaching the side door, Valetta cautiously opened it and slipped outside. She planned to find somewhere to hide for the night and make her way to the courthouse as soon as it opened.

Just one night. If I can make it through tonight, I’ll be free.

It was supposed to go differently…

“U-Uncle?”

The Count of Dampierre stood blocking the side door. A cold shiver ran down Valetta’s spine as her face paled with fear.

“And where exactly do you think you’re going?”

His sharp gaze gleamed with an unsettling awareness, as if he had anticipated everything. Valetta, though knowing her pleas would likely fall on deaf ears, tried anyway.

“…Please, let me go.”

She clutched the fabric of her wedding dress tightly, feeling the texture of the lace beneath her trembling fingers. No matter how much she tried to think of a way out, she was still just a naive noblewoman, sheltered and inexperienced in the ways of the world. Her uncle, on the other hand, was a cunning and ruthless man, hardened by years of political intrigue in the capital.

The Count’s lips curled into a deceptive smile as he softened his voice.

“Go back inside, Valetta.”

“Step aside. I can’t go through with this marriage.”

“You’ve already had the ceremony. What do you think you’re going to do now? Go back and prepare to greet your husband.”

“How is he my husband? How could you tell me such a monstrous lie? If I’d known Leonard Carnies was my groom, I would never have agreed to this marriage!”