Every time I looked at her, I remembered my mother's promise: "When Maria grows up, let Christopher marry her as a son-in-law." As a child, I had always bullied Maria, making her cry and shouting, "Maria, I don't want to be a son-in-law. If there's to be marriage, you should move to the Garcia family. Only then would I reluctantly accept."
The Garcia and Thompson families had been military families, brought together by battle. Maria's mother had died protecting my own mother. My mother always felt guilty towards Maria, thinking she was so unfortunate, losing her mother at such a young age.
In the end, I couldn't escape the consequences of my actions. My brother had often warned me to treat Maria better.
But what have I done?
After we had subdued the chaos, my troubles at the Garcia estate seemed unending. The servants at Garcia Mansion cast me looks so filled with disdain that it made me want to ball my fists in frustration.
The challenges didn't stop there; my progress in the world of politics was riddled with obstacles. Despite my relentless efforts to climb the ranks, the king had now turned his attention to my marriage with Maria.
Maria's father, with a grim expression, was adamant about pushing through with our wedding plans.
As the wedding feast concluded and the guests departed, the atmosphere in the mansion underwent a dramatic transformation. The joyous celebrations gave way to an eerie silence, replaced by the haunting sounds of desperation and pleas for mercy.
Everyone in the estate, including Maria's father, met their end by my sword. After a night of drinking, I found Maria's father in the study and drove my blade through him, avenging my brother's death.
He said nothing as he lay there, just smiling at me with that eerie calm.
Later, drenched in blood and still wearing my wedding clothes, I stepped into the bridal chamber and threw my sword aside.
Maria tried to get up, her eyes red and full of fear as she saw me. Her body shook uncontrollably.
I strode forward to push her onto the bed, tearing off her collar with my right hand. The sound of the wedding dress breaking open