The King Forced Me to Marry His Daughter Who Wore a Locked Wooden Barrel on Her Head

A Royal Conspiracy

Inside the wooden barrel, Princess Catherine’s face was not deformed, nor was she a monster. Instead, her striking green eyes were wide with terror, streaming with silent tears. A thick leather gag was buckled tightly around her mouth, preventing her from making a single sound. But what truly made Alexander’s blood run cold was a small, blood-stained parchment pinned to the inside of the wooden frame, directly in front of her eyes. It was a message, hastily written in shaky handwriting: "My father is poisoning my brother to seize sole control of the kingdom. I am next. He locked me in this barrel to keep me silent. Help me."

Alexander felt a chill run down his spine. He looked up to see King Philip watching him with a cold, calculating gaze. The King’s hand drifted toward the hilt of his sword, and several royal guards took a step forward, their armor clanking ominously. Alexander realized that one wrong look, one cry of outrage, and both he and Catherine would be slaughtered on the cathedral steps. He had to play the part of the obedient son-in-law to save their lives.

Forcing a tight, artificial smile, Alexander closed the latch and turned to the congregation. "She is beautiful," he lied, his voice remarkably steady despite the terror gripping his chest. King Philip relaxed slightly, nodding in approval. Hours later, after a tense wedding procession, Alexander finally escorted his new bride to the privacy of the bridal chambers. He locked the heavy oak door behind them, shut the heavy velvet drapes, and immediately grabbed his dagger to pry open the iron bands of the barrel. As the heavy wood finally fell away, Catherine spat out the leather gag, gasping for air. She collapsed into his arms, trembling violently as she confirmed the horrifying truth.

"My brother is dying in the eastern tower," she sobbed. "We have to save him tonight, or my father will poison him to death before dawn."