The gloom upon my eyes clears and I see… Him. Tall, horrifyingly strong with broad shoulders and scars scattered on the captivating face. Sparing this person another glance, I can feel my limbs going numb from fear and… excitement. A wave of goosebumps washes over me.

The man is dressed in black royal corduroy from head to toe, with a few inserts made of dragon’s skin here and there. And yet, I am only dressed in a thin layer of silk nightgown that gently caresses my skin, the fabric feels cold on the skin.

“Are you ready?” he asks. “The wedding altar is up and waiting for us, hurry.” His words are sharp, with no hint of gentleness in them. He holds out his hand for me to grab on it, a ring on his ring finger brightly shines under the light — the same ring is placed on my finger. We exchanged them three hours ago at the ceremony.

Lowering my gaze, I notice an odd pattern on my wrist, the same that can be seen on the man next to me. The Mark of Fate. It is rare to be brought together by Fate; however, I am lucky enough to experience this. Right?

There are only a few feet separating us, just a few steps… I am trying to reach forward, walk up to the man, but can't, my bare feet are glued to the cold flooring of the castle, dread gripping my throat.

Behind the man’s back, there’s the altar in the shape of a long bed, decorated with bloody symbols of the Cesarius clan. The royal family of Ruanda.

“Why aren't you moving?” A toothy grin is plastered on the man's face. “Isn’t that what you wanted?”

“We wanted,” I correct him, “We…” The phrase makes the man completely lose his patience, approaching me he yanks my hand abruptly, pulling me closer. Strong arms are hot to the touch, the clasp around me is firm, nonetheless, there is not a pinch of tenderness nor affection. The smirk is back on his lips, he pushes me toward the altar and watches me from above, eyeing me almost like a predator eyeing its prey.

“Take this off,” he demands, pointing at my nightgown.

Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere.

I start pulling onto the fabric under his calculating gaze, my movements are awkward and shaky, the silky material slips through fingers. Is this what I wanted? This kind of first night as newly-weds? My feelings keep swinging from sorrow to happiness like a pendulum. We finally got married, just another ritual, and we will become a True Couple. I will become the next Queen of Ruanda. So, why be regretful now? I’m so in love with this man… So in love…

‘But you are the only one in love,’ a tiny whisper in my head states. ‘There is so much love in the heart of your future fate, yet this love does not belong to you, but to that rotting Elisa, to that wolf in the sheep’s skin…’ ‘No. No, no. We are a true couple. We are destined to be together!’ I argue back and don’t believe my own words.

The man could no longer wait until I shred off the fabric, so he decides to snatch off the nightgown like it's worth nothing. He pins me down, hot breath burning the skin, a half sigh, half moan leaves my lips and I close my eyes to avoid that evil smirk directed at me. Just for a second, I want to forget all this and imagine that he is fully mine. ‘Alan and I… We will be together forever. Him and I. We are destined…’ The thoughts never leave my head… The thoughts that are so far off from the truth… At this point, I don’t even know that from this moment on, I have only ten days left until I will be brutally murdered by the hands of my True Love.

I am Victoria Sableford, the villain of this novel.

***

“No. I won't let this happen!” I tell myself, bringing myself back from the memories. The sight of the wedding altar slowly fades away, and I am once again back in my room… or I rather say in Victoria Sableford’s room, in whose body I got stuck after getting involved in a severe car accident.

It’s hard to explain to what extent I was surprised to find out that I am no longer a regular university student but a character from my favourite fantasy novel. Yet, not the protagonist in the face of Elisa, the most kind and pure person a one could ever imagine. But a main antagonist, an annoying and envious Victoria Sableford, the evillest character imaginable, whose destiny is to be killed by the hand of her True Love.

“Hell no!” I say to myself. “I ain’t going to die. Screw that destiny rubbish.”

Thank God, I am yet to meet my Fate. I will do whatever it takes to never cross paths with him, especially knowing the entire plot of the book. Though, if we do meet at some point — I will never fall for that man, fate or not, if I am to live in this world. I have to change the ending for the villain and find a way to return to my normal life.