Under the Realm of the Beast - Chapter 1: The Switched Groom (8)

“You insolent child! Who do you think you are? Do you think you deserve the likes of the Grand Duke Carnies? You should be grateful for such an opportunity!”

“I never wanted such a marriage! Never!”

“To think you have the audacity to be ungrateful after I took you in, fed you, and raised you!”

“…”

Valetta’s lips quivered, her silence heavy with unspoken resentment. Fed and raised me? Should I be thankful for being treated worse than a maid? she thought bitterly. Unlike Irmina, she was never properly educated, never properly cared for. She had grown up in deprivation—poorly fed, poorly clothed, and denied even the bare minimum of affection. Did that qualify as “raising” her?

“Don’t you feel even a shred of shame?” she spat.

“What did you just say?” the Count snapped, his face contorting with fury.

“I heard it from the maids. Irmina married Eric Rigius, didn’t she?”

The Count’s expression froze momentarily, but Valetta continued, her voice trembling with rage.

“You sent me to marry a monster so that she could take my place! You stole everything from me, and now even my groom? You’re nothing but thieves! I’ll be watching closely to see how Irmina fares in her stolen marriage—how happy she’ll be after stealing someone else’s life!”

Valetta couldn’t finish her sentence.

SMACK!

The Count, his face red with rage, struck her across the cheek. The force of the blow left Valetta momentarily stunned, her hand flying to her face as tears spilled from her wide eyes.

“You—how dare you?!” the Count bellowed. “You wretched girl! Who do you think you’re talking to?”

Still reeling from the slap, Valetta couldn’t stop the sobs that erupted from her chest. But the Count had no interest in her tears. He grabbed her wrist with a vice-like grip and began dragging her back into the house.

“Let go of me! What are you doing?!”

“How dare you insult me and my daughter after I went to such lengths to make you a Grand Duchess? You ungrateful wretch!”

The Count of Dampierre paid no attention to the gazes of the household staff. His iron grip rendered Valetta’s struggles futile as he dragged her through the halls. Eventually, they stopped in front of her room.

“Let go of me! This marriage is invalid!” Valetta screamed, her voice filled with desperation.

In response, the Count grabbed her by the collar, his hand tightening until she felt her breath catch. Her face turned pale as his enraged voice thundered.

“You are Leonard Carnies’ wife now. If you resist any further, I’ll sell you to a brothel without anyone knowing. Do you hear me?”

With that, he opened the door and shoved her inside. The dark, cramped storage room swallowed her whole. To Valetta, it felt like the beginning of a grim, hopeless future.

“Sit quietly and wait for your husband!”

Thrown to the floor, Valetta landed with a jolt. She quickly scrambled to her feet and grabbed the doorknob, shaking it desperately.

“Please! Uncle, let me out! I can’t do this! Please!”

“Is anyone there? Please, someone help me! Let me out… Someone… please…”

Her cries echoed through the room, but the Count had already locked the door and walked away. Exhausted, Valetta banged her fists on the door until she collapsed, leaning her forehead against it.

All the strength drained from her body. This sham of a marriage, this life forced upon her—it was unbearable. Deep down, she knew no one in this household would help her. There was no one on her side. Her only ally had died long ago.

Friedrich… I hate you so much.

How could he leave her to face this reality alone? If only she had been the one to die instead, Friedrich would have thrived. Unlike her, he would have found a way to climb out of this abyss.

Valetta swallowed her sobs, holding back the tears welling up in her eyes. But then, she felt a presence behind her. She turned slowly, dread pooling in her stomach.

There, standing in the dim room, was Leonard. He had just lit a match and kindled a candle. The flickering flame cast an ominous glow across the room.

“How… How did you get in here…?” she stammered.

“I thought I’d personally escort my bride to our chamber,” he replied, his deep, resonant voice filling the room like the flickering light. It carried an overwhelming sense of authority, making her hair stand on end.

“And here she is, returned to me. This place isn’t bad as a bridal chamber, don’t you think?”

“Stop saying such ridiculous things and get out!” she snapped.

“As you can see, the door’s locked,” Leonard said, his tone unbothered as he placed the candle on a small table.

He glanced around the storage room casually, but the shadows obscured his expression. Valetta’s face burned with shame as she realized what he must be seeing—her pathetic, cold, barren little corner of the world.

It was humiliating beyond words. Even Friedrich, who had been his closest friend, never truly disclosed how they had lived. It had been their last shred of pride, their final barrier against complete degradation.

She could endure the whole world knowing her plight, but not Leonard Carnies. His pity would be worse than death.

“I told you to leave,” she said, her voice trembling with frustration.

“And I told you—the door’s locked.”

“You could break it open,” she said, glaring at him.

Leonard was a towering man, broad-shouldered and muscular. He had slain a dragon; surely, breaking a simple door would be child’s play. But he merely jiggled the doorknob lazily, then shrugged as if to mock her.

“You’re my bride, and I’m your groom,” he said coldly. “I hardly think I’ve come to a place I don’t belong.”

“Do you really want to marry me? Is this really what you want?” Valetta’s voice trembled, her emotions bubbling to the surface.

“Why wouldn’t I? You’re an Irpman, and I need a bride.”

“Leonard Carnies!” Valetta shouted, her voice sharp with anger.

“My bride is quite sensitive and frail, isn’t she? To get so worked up over such a trivial thing,” Leonard said with a mocking tone.

With long strides, he closed the distance between them in seconds. His towering height made Valetta feel as though he were looming over her, and she had to crane her neck to meet his gaze. In the dim light of the candle, his golden eyes glinted, briefly brushing over the redness swelling on her cheek from her uncle’s earlier slap. What she couldn’t see, obscured by the shadows, was the faint furrowing of his brow.

“Valetta. This is something you brought upon yourself,” he said coldly.

“…What?”

“For the past month, I’ve sent you letters. Dozens of them. I sent people to check on you, to speak with you.”

Valetta froze, recalling the relentless stream of letters and messengers that had come for her. She had rejected all of them, unopened and ignored. Anything associated with Leonard or the Carnies family filled her with dread and disgust.

“I even came to see you myself.”

Leonard’s voice grew heavier as he referred to the day he visited the Dampierre estate. On that day, Valetta had hidden in the cathedral’s prayer room, evading him at all costs. She hadn’t wanted to meet him, hadn’t wanted to believe she might play any role in undoing whatever curse plagued him.

Even in the dim candlelight, his eyes gleamed predatorily, and Valetta bit her lip to stop it from trembling. Leonard radiated a natural, overwhelming aura of power that made her feel as if the air in the room had grown heavier. Seeing her reaction, the corner of his mouth twitched upward in a subtle smirk—like a predator toying with cornered prey.

“Well then,” he said, his voice smooth, “let’s proceed with our wedding night.”

Then came his command.

“Take it off.”

“W-what are you saying…?”

Ignoring her flustered protests, Leonard calmly began unbuttoning his jacket. His movements were measured, deliberate, and utterly devoid of hesitation. Valetta stood frozen, her lips parting soundlessly as her mind struggled to catch up.

This has to be a joke. Surely, this can’t be real. Is this some kind of nightmare?

By the time she found her voice again, Leonard had already shrugged off his jacket, tossing it carelessly to the side. The flickering candlelight danced on the white shirt beneath it, casting warm hues across the room.

“Y-you—” Valetta stammered, her voice cracking.

One by one, Leonard began undoing the buttons of his shirt, starting from the top. In panic, Valetta finally shouted, “What are you doing?!”

He replied matter-of-factly, his tone laced with amusement.

“What do you think newlyweds do on their first night?”

Unlike Valetta, who was consumed by the chaos of the sham marriage, Leonard seemed entirely composed. His tone carried a detached, almost cynical air, the confidence of someone who held all the power in the situation.

“Stop it! Just stop!” Valetta cried, clutching the front of her dress as she backed away.

Thud.

Her back hit the locked door, the cold, hard surface pressing against her through the thin fabric of her dress. Her trembling hands tightened their grip on her bodice, her breath quickening as the tension in her chest grew unbearable.

In the meantime, Leonard had finished removing his shirt, revealing a muscular torso illuminated by the soft, flickering glow of the candle. His body was sculpted like a work of art—taut muscles, deep shadows accentuating his abs, and broad shoulders that exuded raw strength. His powerful physique gave the impression of a beast in human form, both intimidating and mesmerizing.

“You seem to think this is some kind of game,” he said, his deep voice resonating like a growl.

The candlelight revealed scars scattered across his chest and arms, each one a testament to battles fought and survived. Yet Valetta barely noticed. She was too focused on the voice that rumbled in her ears, its weight pressing down on her like an unseen force.

“Valetta Irpman,” Leonard said, his tone low and deliberate, like a predator addressing its prey. “You can complain about fraud or whatever else you want, but…”

He took another step toward her, his towering frame casting a shadow over her small, trembling figure.

“There’s nothing you can do now.”

His hand reached out, and the tips of his long, strong fingers brushed against her neck. The unexpected contact made Valetta flinch, her shoulders jerking upward in reflex.

Leonard’s fingers trailed down her neck with an unsettling slowness, and she shivered under the intensity of his presence. Her teeth chattered faintly, and her breath came in short, uneven bursts as her heart pounded violently in her chest.

The moment felt surreal, like a nightmare she couldn’t wake up from. Valetta’s trembling figure resembled that of a deer caught in the jaws of a predator. Leonard was the beast in his domain, capable of tearing her apart at will, and she had no escape.

A single tear slid down Valetta’s cheek, glistening in the dim light as it trailed across her pale skin. Leonard’s hand paused just below her collarbone. His golden eyes were fixated on her tear, flickering with an unreadable light—part satisfaction, part mockery, and perhaps even a hint of bitterness.

“Are you going to take it off yourself, or should I do it for you?” he asked, his voice calm yet commanding.

Valetta couldn’t bring herself to answer. Neither option was acceptable; both were too humiliating to bear. She glared at him through her tears, trembling uncontrollably but refusing to look away. Her defiant gaze seemed to intrigue him, but only momentarily. He let out a scoff, then began unbuttoning her dress himself.

The first button came undone, loosening the lace that wrapped delicately around her neck. Leonard’s golden eyes brushed over the newly exposed skin, lingering on her soft, pale neck, which seemed as fragile as porcelain. Her golden hair shimmered faintly in the dim light, strands catching on his fingers as he worked.

His hand moved downward, unfastening the button at her collarbone. The delicate lace snagged slightly, and his coarse fingers brushed against her smooth skin. The unexpected softness made him pause briefly, though Valetta didn’t notice. Her muffled sobs broke the silence as she bit her lip, the sound trembling with despair.

“…H-heuk…”

Unable to face what was happening, Valetta closed her eyes tightly, her body recoiling in helpless resistance.

As Leonard undid the button below her collarbone, the thick lace parted, revealing the curve of her chest. Despite her slender frame and delicate features, her neckline betrayed a surprising fullness, making her appear almost otherworldly in her fragile beauty. The cool air kissed her exposed skin, making her shudder violently.

Her knees buckled, unable to support her any longer. Just as she began to collapse, Leonard’s strong arms caught her, pulling her firmly against him. The hard contours of his body pressed against her trembling frame—the solid muscles in his arms, the warmth of his skin, the roughness of his hands.

“I’d rather die…” Valetta whispered hoarsely, her voice soaked in despair.

Leonard responded without hesitation.

“Then at least fulfill the value of your marriage before you do.”

Her tear-streaked face looked up at him, confusion mingling with horror. “W-what do you mean…?”

Leonard lifted her effortlessly, as if she weighed nothing, and carried her to the small, narrow bed. Placing her down, his massive form loomed over her, casting a shadow that seemed to swallow her whole.

Her face turned deathly pale as his piercing golden eyes roamed over her.

“Your dear uncle, the Count of Dampierre, sold you to me for one million berks,” he said coldly.