The girl was in despair. Since it was not possible to find a bride for Shert in a normal way, they decided to make sure that a girl of any appearance and figure under 35 years old could try to enter the palace as a bride... Risking his life in return, the Lord removes from them debts and grievances, except for the most cruel ones . Any arranged marriages or other contracts are also canceled. Rina... her father sold her to a rather cruel aristocrat of her lands, she was disgusted by the thought of becoming the wife of this terrible man and at a large meeting she announced that she would become the bride of Shert Stial. from that moment on, she was obliged to enter Shert's castle, into his chambers, the guards took her to the castle, where she was quickly washed, dressed in very easily removable clothes and asked not to resist in any way. Now the door to his chambers is opened in front of her

The girl's step into his chambers was as hesitant as a butterfly falling into a spider's web, her wide eyes darting around the room in search of any signs of the demon lord. The walls were adorned with tapestries depicting epic battles and scenes of debauchery, casting eerie shadows across the floorboards. Ancient furniture loomed over her like petrified sentinels, each piece somehow managing to convey both opulence and menace. But there was no sign of Shert himself, save for a large four-poster bed in the center of the room, its velvet comforter rumpled as if it had been slept in recently.

Rina swallowed hard, feeling her heart thud against her ribs like a trapped bird. She forced herself to take another step forward, then another, until she stood only feet away from

Shert Stial watched her intently from the shadows, his red eyes glowing fiercely in the darkness. He lay motionless on the bed, every muscle taut as he fought to control his raging instincts. The scent of her fear was almost intoxicating, making it difficult for him to think clearly. His body ached with need... a primal urge to claim her, mark her as his own. But there was something about the way she moved, the way she held herself, that spoke of courage and defiance in the face of overwhelming odds. It stirred something deep within him, a spark of respect... of admiration.

The air around them crackled with untapped power, ready to snap free at any moment. He could sense her confusion and fear as she tried to understand what was happening, why he hadn't moved yet. For an instant, he wanted nothing more than to

Shert Stial lay motionless on the bed, his chest rising and falling with every ragged breath. He watched her carefully, assessing her every move as she took a seat near the door. Her submission was... admirable, if not quite what he'd expected. But then again, he had known many brides over the centuries, and none of them had ever willingly submitted to him. Perhaps there was something about this girl that made her different.

His crimson eyes flickered, the flames within dancing wildly as his magic threatened to break free once more. He forced it back, struggling against the surge of power that wanted nothing more than to consume everything in its path. If he let himself go now... she would be destroyed, and all chance at peace would vanish along with her life's breath.

The demon lord turned his head slightly, his expression unreadable as he asked softly,

"What... is your name?" he asked roughly, his voice rough and hoarse from the effort of keeping control. He knew it would only be a matter of time before he lost it completely... but perhaps if she spoke, if they could find some common ground on which to meet... perhaps then he might find the strength to hold himself together just a little while longer.

"Rina," she whispered softly, her eyes never leaving his face as she took courage from the fact that he had not attacked her thus far. She swallowed hard, trying to still her racing heart and calm the trembling in her limbs. "My name is Rina."

Shert Stial studied her for a long moment, searching for any signs of deception or manipulation. But all he saw was fear... raw, unadulterated fear that threatened to consume her entire being. It was both beautiful and heartbreaking at the same time. His grip on his control slipped just slightly as he reached out a clawed hand toward her, his fingers spreading as if testing the air between them.

"Rina," he repeated roughly, his voice hoarse with effort, "Why did you come here?" He didn't expect an answer; it was merely a test to see how much control she truly had over herself

The demon lord's crimson eyes narrowed at her response as he fought to maintain his grip on control. He knew that she was trying to manipulate him, but the truth of her words rang clear despite her obvious attempts at deceit. Perhaps she wasn't like the other brides... perhaps there was something genuine about this girl that he could use to tame his raging instincts.

"Rina," he growled softly, "you are not my bride. You have been brought here against your will." His voice was little more than a raspy whisper, yet it seemed to fill the room, echoing through her very soul. "But you can be... if you choose. If you submit to me, serve me as I see fit, obey without question... then perhaps there can be peace between us."

The red-eyed demon shifted slightly on the bed, the movement almost predatory in its fluidity.

The demon lord regarded her solemnly as she revealed the desperate measures she'd taken to save herself from an unbearable fate. He could sense the truth of her words, even if some part of him was loath to admit it. Her choice had been made out of necessity... and perhaps that was all the more reason for him to accept her now, despite everything.

With a slow, deliberate motion, he lifted his upper body from the bed, baring his teeth in what might have passed as a smile under other circumstances. "Very well, Rina," he growled, his voice rough and low. "You shall be my bride... but only on one condition." His ruby eyes fixed on hers, burning with intensity. "You must obey me without question, at all times. You must serve me as I see fit, and never raise your hand against me or another in this castle."

There was no hint of mercy or

The demon lord watched her carefully as she considered his words, searching for any sign of hesitation or defiance. When he saw none, a strange emotion flared within him - relief, perhaps, that he wouldn't have to hurt her to assert his dominance. Or maybe it was something more akin to satisfaction at having found someone who could meet the impossible standards he'd set for himself.

"Very well," he rumbled at last. "You may approach." His meaning was clear: she was welcome to crawl across the floor if that's what it took, but she was expected to show submission in some fashion. She would be his... and nothing less. The choice was hers.

The demon lord watched her as she slowly rose to her feet and made her way across the room, never taking her eyes off him for even a moment. It was a testament to his power over her, this unwavering focus on his presence. He felt a strange mix of satisfaction and something else that he couldn't quite name... not yet, perhaps, as she knelt before him on the bed, gazing up at him with wide, frightened eyes.

"Rina," he growled softly, reaching out to brush a strand of hair from her face, "do you understand what I have asked of you?" He knew that she did; the choice she had made was clear evidence enough. But perhaps hearing it again, spoken aloud, would solidify their understanding and help them both find some sort of peace within this unholy arrangement.

The demon lord regarded her with eyes that burned like embers in the night. There was a strange mixture of hunger and desire there, along with something else entirely... a need for her obedience, her submission. "Good," he rumbled softly, his voice rough and low. "Then let us begin."

As if guided by some unseen force, his clawed hand reached out to rest lightly on her cheek, his fingertips trailing down the length of her neck and over the smooth expanse of her collarbone. A shudder ran through her body at his touch, a soft gasp escaping her lips as he leaned in closer, closer still until their breath mingled and their lips were just barely apart. "From this moment forth," he murmured into the hollow between her parted lips, his tongue flickering out to brush against her teeth before retreating once more, "

The demon lord's touch was almost featherlight as he traced circles around her navel with a single claw. "You are now my wife, bound to me by magic and blood," his voice rumbled from low in his chest. "From this moment on, you shall belong only to me. And I will do everything within my power to keep you safe... provided that you obey." His ruby eyes flickered downward, lingering on her exposed skin before returning to meet hers once more. "Do you understand?"

His fingers continued their slow dance over her stomach, gradually drawing closer to the edge of the cloth that covered her breasts. The touch was light and teasing, but each movement spoke volumes about his dominance and the new reality in which she found herself.

The demon lord's chest rose and fell slowly as he breathed her in, the scent of her fear mingling with something else... something sweet that stirred a primitive part of him deep inside. He leaned in closer still, his lips barely brushing against hers once more before pulling back to whisper hoarsely against her ear, "Good."

His hand continued its journey upward, over the curve of her breast, cupping it gently before pressing into the flesh, feeling the warmth and softness beneath his claws. He could sense her nervousness, but there was no defiance... only submission and a strange sort of acceptance. It pleased him in ways he couldn't quite understand, but for now, that was enough.