Vulgar Marriage - Chapter 3

Chapter 2.1

Livi shook off the maid trying to stop her and bolted into the mansion. The moment she plunged into the flames, she found her father and brother already dead.

Her mother looked no different—on the verge of death, gasping for breath as blood gushed from her neck. She lay slumped on the grand staircase.

– No, no. Mother, no.

Livi frantically cradled her mother’s head, pressing her hands over the wound with all her strength. But it was no use, the blood continued to seep through her fingers.

– Run.

Her mother managed to place a necklace around Livi’s neck before pushing her away. The push was weak, barely more than a nudge, but the determination behind it was unmistakable.

And that was it. Livi didn’t even get a chance to protest or defy the cold command. Those were the last words her mother ever spoke.

Everything came rushing back at once. Gripping the horse’s mane, Livi leaned forward.

Her mother was dead. So was her father and younger brother Haier. They were all gone. But then… what happened next?

She gasped for air, her chest tightening as the flood of memories and emotions overwhelmed her senses. As Livi clutched her throat in agony, the man slowed the galloping horse.

“Still half-asleep? No problems, my ass. Damn it, we’re barely hanging in there!”

The sound of the man’s shouting voice jolted her upright, her body going rigid. That voice—it was familiar.

– There you are. I didn’t realize you were stupid enough to run back into a burning house. Are you trying to die along with your parents?

She remembered now. It was the same voice she had heard inside the mansion.

When he found Livi by her mother’s lifeless body, he grabbed her arm roughly, yanking her away. She had fought him, refusing to move, but he forced her up and tried to drag her outside.

– Let go. Just leave me alone…

– They died shouting, ‘Stay away from my daughter,’ so I’m sure they would be thrilled to watch you stand here and let yourself be killed.

– …Did you see? Did you see who killed them?

Desperation filled Livi as she clung to the stranger’s clothes, her bloodstained hands smearing his shirt. But all she got in return was a cold, mocking laugh.

She looked up at him, her eyes hollow, and saw him using his hand to cover his mouth to try and stifle his laughter. But he couldn’t contain it for long. He threw his head back, laughing uncontrollably.

Before Livi could muster the strength to get angry at his obnoxiousness, her eyes landed on the sword in his hand. Blood dripped from the blade. Trembling, she slowly raised her gaze to meet his.

– Y-you… you didn’t…

The man didn’t respond. Instead, he casually toyed with the sword in his hand before thrusting it into the ground, as if it was no longer of use. Then he smirked at her.

Even if it were the death of a complete stranger, no one could possibly laugh like that. No even at the funeral of an old man who had lived a long life. But here he was, grinning from ear to ear in front of the bodies of the brutally murdered, and their grieving daughter.

No one could be that heartless—unless they were the killer themselves.

Just before Livi could turn her head and glimpse at the man behind her, her body lurched violently as the horse leaped to avoid an obstacle.

As the horse’s hooves hit the ground, the bottom of her skirt fluttered open, revealing the bloodstains on the delicate lace of her outdoor dress. Everything became painfully clear to her then.

‘That’s right. I didn’t even have time to change out of my blood-soaked dress before being dragged out of the mansion.’

The man had dragged her out of the burning house, kicking and screaming, and forced her onto the horse. He had kept repeating something over and over again.

‘What was it he said again?’

– …Nod your head. If you want to live, nod, Livi… Come on, nod.

Livi had struggled as he restrained her tightly from behind and repeated the same demand. Her vacant eyes met his cold, piercing gray ones countless times.

Had she eventually nodded? She couldn’t remember. Everything was a blur.

As Livi clutched her head, his mocking voice came from behind, taunting her.

“Look at you, trembling and barely able to breathe. How pathetic. Did you really hit your head that hard?”

He grabbed Livi’s chin, forcing her to face him. She tried to resist, but his grip was so strong it felt like it could break her jaw. She had no other choice but to comply.

He jerked her head up, and the hair that had fallen over her eyes slipped away. For the first time since waking up on the horse, Livi found herself staring directly at him. He was enormous, nearly 6’3″, and just meeting his gaze was intimidating.

Livi studied his face. With jet-black hair, cold gray eyes, and a fierce demeanor, it wasn’t hard to figure out who he was.

Dominic Celsion, the emperor’s dog, a former mercenary-turned-duke.

Dominic released his grip on Livi’s chin and, in an oddly gentle manner, began stroking her head.