Avyanna kneeled in front of the statue of the person nailed to a cross. As has been her faith, she believes that God would answer her if she prayed fervently.

Hence, she had spent every morning in the church praying for the safe return of her husband.

[Lord, please keep him safe. Please, make him return to me in one piece. May he return for his wife, and, Lord, may the kingdom be peaceful so my husband would return for me. Please, Lord, keep us safe!]

The twenty-two-year-old beauty could be seen with her eyes closed, as she crossed her hands across her chest as if her life depended on it. Her beautiful, dark, waist-length hair cascaded behind her full back, covering her curves and attractive hourglass figure.

The church was filled with utmost silence. Avyanna was the only one in at that moment, just like most other mornings, for the past three years.

One may be tempted to think that she loves her husband so much that she only wishes for him to return to her arms. However, the reverse was the case.

Avyanna Ryder only wished and hoped for her husband's return. He is the only one who could save her from the bondage and torture she suffers from her father and sister.

As the youngest daughter of Duke Vincent Ryder, the ruler of the Peloria Kingdom, she was supposed to be a pampered princess. The reality, however, proved this assertion wrong.

She was born with a flaw, one that makes her father detest her so much that he wished she was never born to shame his family. Avyanna was born a stammerer.

Duke Vincent hated his stuttering daughter so much that he locked her up in the castle, and not many are even aware of her existence.

When the monsters in the Afadja Mountain suddenly rioted, the king ordered the seven Lords to conquer it. Everyone sent their heirs in a bid to exhibit their capabilities to the citizens, except Duke Vincent. Since he didn't have a son, he chose a powerful knight of humble background serving under him, to lead the front in his stead.

However, to silence the critics from seeing through his selfish acts, the Duke gifted his youngest daughter to him as his bride. This seemingly harmless act also held a mystery that many didn't notice.

Avyanna would never dare to go back on her father's words, and neither did the knight in question refuse the arrangement. Consequently, the day before his departure, Avyanna Ryder was married off to the twenty-eight-year-old knight,

Sir Kendrick Kampbell.

The two met for the first time during their wedding, and with a closer look, one could tell that no sparks flew between the couple. Kendrick didn't even show as much as a smile throughout the wedding ceremony.

The whole thing felt so surreal that it rendered him speechless. Avyanna also couldn't explain why her husband looked so angry, but she had no say in this marriage anyway.

[Why would the Duke hand his beautiful daughter to me? What's Duke Vincent planning this time? Is Avyanna in on it also? I guess I'll just wait to find out later then.]

Amid the music and dancing, Kendrick's mind was filled with several chaotic thoughts about the real reason behind the marriage.

Avyanna could only do as she was told by her father, even if it meant marrying a man she believed didn't wish to have anything to do with her. A man she believed was beyond her reach.

Even she kept wondering what other plans her father was cooking up.

[Why would a powerful knight like Kendrick Kampbell want a piece of weak baggage like me? Would he even like me? Why didn't he just refuse father's offer anyway?]

Avyanna's mind was also filled with such thoughts all through the ceremony.

She didn't have so much hope for this marriage, but she was still disappointed in the end.

That night, Kendrick took her virginity, but she didn't enjoy a single moment of consummating their marriage. It was as though her husband had taken her in haste, and she could only grit her teeth and go along with the new reality her father had set before her.

It's been three years, and from that day, Avyanna could only hope for her husband to return safely and get her out of her father's control.

For her, anywhere would be better than Duke Vincent Ryder's castle. Her lifelong dream of stepping out of the castle one day, could only be materialized if her knight returned for her.

One month ago

Duke Vincent Ryder's library

"Avyanna, tell me, what have you been doing to keep your husband by your side?" Duke Vincent irritatedly probed his disgraceful daughter. However, Avyanna only remained silent, with her head bowed as if there was something more interesting on the ground than her father's face.

She couldn't help wondering why her father would suddenly call her and make such silly remarks. [How am I supposed to care for, or even keep a man who is at war in a faraway land? I don't have magic like the princess, you know. Or am I supposed to join him on the battlefield? You just can't wait to be rid of me, huh!]

Avyanna kept her thoughts to herself. She remained silent, as has always been her best response to her father. Her voice would only irritate him anyway.

"You silly fool! How many times have I warned you against biting your lips? If you haven't learned a thing from me, wouldn't you have picked anything from Kathlyn also? "

Duke Alfred burst out at his daughter, but still got no response from her. After all, he didn't invite her for chit-chat or even to listen to her loud silence.

[How awesome. I dare not compare myself to your perfect daughter, your grace.] Avyanna mused, as she gave a quick bow to her father in her mind.

"You are to do everything possible to keep Kendrick at your side. Remain married to him, or there's no place for you in this castle!" He threatened, expecting a reaction from his daughter, but still, none came.

[Tsk! Has there ever been a place for me in this castle?] Avyanna thought in self mockery.

As if he didn't notice his daughter's tense body at the mention of throwing her out, the Duke then probed further, "When did you last hear from your husband?" Avyanna only ignored him further, which provoked him even more.

[What now?] Avyanna suddenly felt exhausted at her father's hypocrisy.

This question was like rubbing salt on injury, as Avyanna hadn't received even a single letter from her husband since he left.

As a result, she responded to her father with further silence as she frustratedly bit her lips harder. Her silence was still enough to answer the Duke anyway.

Avyanna was busy wondering why her father summoned her, only to throw her pathetic situation in her face. She felt so hurt that tears threatened to fall from her eyes, but she quickly blinked them away.

[As if he wasn't the one who forced him to marry me in the first place. I will not show him my tears anymore. I'm not going to be here after my husband returns anyway]

[Why would father even mention my husband in such a tone of voice? Why didn't Kendrick write to me, not even once? Am I so forgettable?]

Avyanna was suddenly pulled out of her sad thoughts at her father's next statement.

"The princess has proposed marriage to your husband, and we both know she is a much better candidate compared to you. To top it all off, she is even on the battlefield, fighting side by side with your husband. Besides, we both know how powerful her magic is. Who knows what games those two play after a hard day?"

As if an electric shock jolted her awake, Avyanna raised her head abruptly and met her father's mocking gaze. This time around, her tears flowed unhindered.

"Fa..ther? Wh..at.. did you j..ust say? P..p..rincess I..ona did w..haat?" Avyanna blurted out in panic.

Duke Vincent didn't feel the slightest bit of pity for his young daughter, rather her blood-stained lips and stuttering speech disgusted him to no end. "You have a voice now huh! I thought you suddenly went mute"

With finality in his tone, he added, "If Kendrick chooses the princess, you will be forced to divorce him. I cannot allow you to bring further disgrace to my family. Your very existence is already enough cause for worry!"

Duke Vincent then took a deep breath and concluded before walking out, "Make sure Kendrick does not divorce you. Otherwise, I'll make you wish you were never born! Mark my words!"

***

A teardrop slid down Avyanna's cheeks as the memories of that fateful morning suddenly flooded her mind. She quickly cleans her face and moves to get up.

Her sister, Kathlyn's mocking expression, coupled with her rude remarks that made Avyanna feel cold from head to toe, suddenly flooded her memory.

"If you ask me, I wouldn't worry too much about that commoner marrying the princess. Kendrick is just a nobody who parasites on our father. Oh yeah, Prepare all your dark garments. You just might need them, you know!"

Having been praying on her knees for so long, she managed to stand, albeit with a little difficulty. She then bent briefly to massage her knees, just so she could relax her muscles.

Avyanna turned around to head for the exit but suddenly halted her steps in shock.

Standing at the door of the church, fully clad in battle armor, was someone she has spent three consecutive years praying for. Avyanna thought that it may have been her mind playing tricks on her.

She had spent so long wishing and praying for his return that she started imagining things.

[What would he be doing here so early in the morning?]

She then took a few steps and halted once more after blinking a few times. Felicia was now certain that she wasn't seeing things.

Wait, she may not be mistaken after all. He is really back!

It was her husband, Kendrick Kampbell, in the flesh.