Prologue

***

The diamond ring was tossed into the corner.

Her wedding dress was torn to shreds.

Despite the beastly man's rampage, no one came to Charlotte's aid. For there was no one in the Wesden Empire who could stop him.

"So you enjoyed your escape?"

The man buried his nose and lips in the nape of Charlotte's neck, like a beast biting his prey's throat.

His sense of smell, malfunctioning and unable to smell anything, picked up the scent with alacrity. The overpowering scent of freesia permeated his entire body.

He gasped like a man just pulled from the water and inhaled her scent.

 "Ha..............."

The mere smell sent a shiver down his spine.

Then his red lips sought out the white flesh. His taste buds felt like he was chewing sand, no matter what he ate, returned. It was too sweet.

He clutched his lower stomach unexpectedly, savoring the rush of stimulation. It was the spot where the woman’s traces had been thick all summer.

A low growl rumbled in his throat.

"You ran off with my child to marry another man."

Charlotte shook her head as if waiting.

"It's not your child."

He scoffed.

"You expect me to believe that?"

Charlotte's teeth clenched tightly. She couldn't find her voice, so she nodded wordlessly. Transparent droplets of water trickled down her pale cheeks.

She clutched the hem of her tattered wedding gown and fell to the ground.

The lament that had been bubbling under her tongue burst forth.

"You cruel man. You trampled me like that, played with me, and now I can barely see a way to live..............., ugh!" 

The man’s large hand grabbed  the back of Charlotte's neck. Her veil crumpled in a terrible heap, her hair disheveled.

"Charlotte, don't be mistaken."

The man’s shuddering breath tickled the tip of her nose. Her moist lips were suddenly captured.

"Arg….!"

The fleshy mass that resembled its owner ate into her tender mouth. The rough kiss continued as if it was taking away her last breath.

Choking, Charlotte instinctively bit down on the man's tongue, but he didn't flinch. The corners of his mouth lifted in ecstasy. Blood smeared between the curved lines of his lips. A new ring was now slipped onto the ring finger of her left hand.

The man spoke as if imprinting it on her lips without removing them.

“Your salvation is mine alone.”

***