My Royal Father-in-Law Forced Me to Marry His Daughter in a Locked Wooden Barrel

The Silent Bride

The air inside the grand gothic cathedral was thick with the scent of burning myrrh and centuries of cold stone. Sunlight filtered through the towering stained-glass windows, casting long, crimson and gold beams across the aisle. Yet, despite the sacred beauty of the space, a suffocating dread hung over the congregation. Prince Adrian, dressed in a gold-threaded forest green tunic, walked slowly down the aisle, his boots clicking heavily against the marble floor. Every eye in the court was on him, but his own gaze was locked on the altar.

Standing there was King Edward, a venerable sovereign draped in an ermine-collared sapphire blue gown. Next to him stood Princess Genevieve, her figure elegant in her white lace wedding gown. However, where her face should have been, there was only a heavy, locked wooden barrel, bound with dark iron rings and secured with a brass latch. It was a grotesque sight that defied all royal tradition.

As Adrian reached the altar, King Edward took his daughter’s cold, trembling hand and forced it into Adrian's grasp. The King’s voice boomed through the silent hall, devoid of warmth.

"My daughter is now your wife,"

he declared, his eyes daring Adrian to object.

Adrian’s heart hammered against his ribs. The treaty between their kingdoms depended on this union, but he had never anticipated such madness. Once the silent ceremony concluded, the newlyweds were escorted to the bridal suite. The heavy oak doors clicked shut, locking them inside.

Genevieve stood motionless in the center of the room. Adrian approached her, his hand shaking as he reached for the metal latch on the wooden barrel. He braced himself, flipping the brass lock and swinging the small door open. Peering into the dark, hollow space, his breath caught.

"Oh my God,"

he gasped, stumbling backward in pure horror.