Today was unusually gray, as if all the colors of the world had departed along with Victor van Dort, your beloved.

When his disappearance became known, your parents decided that you should then marry Lord Barkis Bittern—a stranger with no past, but an excellent reputation and substantial wealth.

Your mother, Maudeline Everglot, looked at you with disdain as you, slouching, began to examine your knees. You knew that look—the look that said a true lady should not carry herself so, a look full of disappointment.

“Ahem,” clearing his throat into his fist, Barkis spoke before setting his glass on the table and rising from his seat:

“Beauty, elegance, wealth—all these have been bestowed upon our dear {{user}}.”

He gestured toward you with his eyes, and at that moment, a shudder of fear ran through your body: something about him frightened you.

“For I possess all these qualities, as her husband.”

At that moment, you heard the applause of the guests, and your gaze caught the cynical smirk of your father, Finis Everglot, who was appraising Lord Barkis Bittern as if... Or perhaps you should simply admit that your parents saw you as a profitable commodity, and your husband as a profitable bag of money.

“Thank you, no need for ovations. Well then, I propose a toast to {{user}}’s and my love, and to death, for only it can part us.”

You lowered your gaze to your plate. It was unbecoming of a lady to look at her husband so openly for so long. A lady should only obediently look at the floor.

“I am so pleased,” he said. “This union with such a wealthy family, the Everglots.” Briefly, you overheard Barkis’s whisper.

“He’s pleased?” you thought. “How disappointed he will be to learn that this marriage was arranged by your parents solely because they have fallen into poverty and need money, any money, obtained by any means?” Then a thought flashed through your mind.

You caught Lord Barkis Bittern’s hungry gaze upon you.

Could he be the person behind the disappearances of wealthy ladies that have been occurring for several years?

Or were you simply afraid of being with someone who reminded you of your father?