A/N: So there's this playlist on Youtube called 'you marry the villain to save your kingdom' that is incredibly cool, and I was pleasantly surprised when I started scrolling down to find the title for one of the songs, but instead found really awesome snippets of stories inspired by the playlist. Didn't know that was a thing with all those Point of View playlists, but I decided to get in on the action.

It also sounded like it would be a good CR story, but not with Baron and Haru considering what I might do later if there's a part 2. This story is available in the original format on the afore mentioned playlist and wattpad under the same pen name, but here is the Cat Returns version.

xxXxx

It was unlike the king to summon her. In fact, it was unlike the king to acknowledge her existence.

One look at the elegant sapphire gown that had come with the summons, and Yuki knew. There were also new shoes, headdress, jewelry she had once dreamed of now balancing between her fingertips as her ancient nanny fastened the various parts of the dress onto her underfed form. She had always known this day would come, it was only a matter of when and where.

Who.

It would have been nice if he had sent a crown instead of the headdress, but the girl had known better than to believe he'd ever send one.

But since she had been practicing for this moment almost as far back as she could remember, the young lady held her head high as she was first conveyed by coach from the villa she had been tucked away and forgotten in, and then escorted through the royal palace itself.

She wasn't even that surprised when she was led to a study instead of the throne room, though she was grateful not to have more highborn snobs snickering at her behind their fingers and fans.

The king stood up from behind his desk when she was admitted with a flourish by a guard.

"Your majesty," she greeted stoically, not putting any particular warmth or coldness in her tone as she performed a stiff curtsy with the skirt of her new blue dress. 'I swear I'll claw your eyes with my nails if you try to embrace me.'

Her face was still downturned since she hadn't been given permission to rise, nor had any desire to look this man in the eye, but she could still feel the glare of his disapproval.

"Ah, yes. This is my daughter, Yuki."

That made her blink in confusion. She hadn't noticed anyone else in the room. She straightened and tried to keep her eyes regal as she scanned the large study, inwardly fuming that the king had this many books in his own study, and yet had never bothered to send her more than what she needed to learn to be a proper lady and wife.

Wife.

This was the day without a doubt that she would escape his control.

A man stepped out from slightly behind her on the right, making the young lady jump in spite of herself since he had been indistinguishable from the shadows.

What drew her attention immediately were his eyes. She'd heard stories about eyes like his; mismatched and wild despite the owner's reputation for calculated actions.

She no longer required an introduction for this mad man.

Yuki froze still as King Lune slowly circled around her, biting her tongue to keep from screaming when he lifted a lock of her white hair to feel the texture, and take in the scent of it.

This couldn't be what it looked like. Her blue eyes almost wildly turned to the king, but he wasn't looking at her. The man that had spent her entire life ignoring her was still doing it, watching the usurper of five kingdoms circle his illegitimate child like a vulture over a fresh kill.

Eventually, the blood-soaked monarch stopped directly in front of her, and used a single finger to tilt her head up to look at him.

She was terrified of this man, especially since it was hardly a secret that he'd never had a wife last longer than a year. But she did what she could to mask that fear in favor of the indifference she had practiced just for this day. It was with regret that she thought of all the times she'd wished that her reluctant father would choose a foreign husband for her so that she would never have to risk seeing him or any of his offspring that he thought were worth acknowledging without the literal threat of a bloodbath that would make even demons shiver with revulsion.

"She'll do," King Lune decided offhandedly, not breaking eye contact with her. "Keep your kingdom."

Yuki could hear the king breathe a loud sigh of relief. As much as she wanted to glare at the horrible example of a father, she simply couldn't break away from her betrothed's penetrating gaze until he was wrapping her arm around his in the traditional escort position.

"I trust you understand I don't tolerate disobedience," the mad man informed the girl in a tone that seemed placid but had the undercurrent threat of death to it if she tried to run or protest against this match.

Just another notch on his sword hilt. Yuki sharply realized that the way he would kill her would likely be the only thing remembered about her years from now.

She took in a deep breath and turned enough to glare at the king that wouldn't provide more than food and shelter for his own daughter after sentencing her mother to an early death by childbirth. "May whatever happens to me be returned to your own head," she wished on him acidly before turning her back on the sorry excuse of a father and forcing herself to take her own grip on the murderer's arm.

He didn't seem to expect that reaction, but decided not to remark on it as he led her out of the study, out of the palace, and out of the kingdom that was all too relieved to be rid of her.