I ACCIDENTALLY MARRIED A DUNGEON

It was an ordinary day like any other when Sabrina received the news from her father, that she was to marry a man named Edwardo Aldric.

"I don’t want to marry anyone." Sabrina said, eyes on the floor.

"Shut your mouth." Her father’s voice cracked sharp across the room. "You’ll do as I say. You’re already at an age where waiting any longer means no one takes you at all. That beauty of yours won’t last forever, and once it’s gone you’ll have nothing left worth offering."

"B-but..." She kept her head low. "I don’t even know him. How can you expect me to spend my whole life with a stranger?"

"You don’t need to do anything but agree. I’ve already discussed this with your mother, and she raised no objection." He nodded to himself, satisfied. "Edwardo is a good man. His wife passed last winter, left him with two young children. He knows how to run a household properly. Lately he’s been struggling though, hasn’t had the time his children need, and he requires a woman in that home again."

"He could’ve hired a maid for that," she muttered.

"Sabrina!" He seized her ear and wrenched it hard. She cried out, flinching against the pain.

"Father, stop. Please, stop."

"You’ve done nothing for this family. Nothing but cause us trouble, again and again. Do you have any idea what we’ve suffered because of you?"

She said nothing.

"Of course you won’t answer that." He let go of her ear at last. "You should be thanking me for this chance. A chance to help someone else for once. To finally make something of yourself." He straightened his coat. "Now go get dressed. Edwardo will be here shortly."

The evening arrived, and Sabrina stood dressed in a gold-colored gown inside the Aldric estate, Edwardo beside her. He pressed a soft, reassuring hand against her back, and she lifted her eyes to find the household staff already lined up to greet her, every maid bowing in unison.

"Welcome to the Aldric household, Lady Sabrina. We will follow your every order and see to your every need."

"Oh." She nearly stumbled at the weight of it. "Thank you. It’s my pleasure to become part of the Aldric family."

She walked slowly down the line, nodding at each maid in turn, heart pounding hard in her chest. What am I supposed to say to any of this? I’ve never felt this nervous in my entire life.

Then her gaze caught on a small head peeking out from behind the staircase, and the nerves in her chest eased slightly at the sight.

"Joshua." Edwardo called out, walking beside her. "Come say hello."

The head vanished back behind the railing.

"He’s very shy." Edwardo turned toward the stairs. "Helen, sweetheart, could you come out? I need you to meet someone important."

Helen emerged reluctantly, cheeks puffed out in a small pout, Joshua trailing right behind her, one hand fisted in the back of her skirt.

Sabrina slowed her steps entirely. So cute. Even more than he described. I could just watch them all day and never get bored of it.

Edwardo crouched down beside Helen. "This is Sabrina. Your new mother. Forgive me for not telling you sooner, I wanted it to be a surprise."

"It’s fine." Helen nodded and watched Sabrina approach. She lifted the edge of her skirt and dipped her head. "I am Helen Aldric. This is my brother, Joshua Aldric. It is our pleasure to welcome you into our family."

The words barely registered as Sabrina crossed the last few steps toward them, her mind stuck on the same loop. I’m their mother now. Me. These are my children. These beautiful little things, mine. I can’t believe it. What do I even do?

She crouched down and pulled both of them into a warm hug at once. "I’m so happy to be part of your lives too. I know you two have been through so much, but from now on I’m here. You won’t have to be alone anymore."

I know they’re not really mine. But looking at their faces, I already know. If this is what’s been decided for me, to stand by them, love them, raise them, then I’ll do it. I’ll do everything I have in me so they never feel that kind of pain again. I’ll be happy to.

Helen pushed herself back out of the hug, her expression souring slightly.

"Sorry." Sabrina caught herself quickly. "I haven’t even introduced myself properly, have I. I’m Sabrina Aldric. You can call me Mom, if you’d like."

Helen scoffed and pulled Joshua back a step. "It’s time for our studies. Come along, Joshua."

"Did I do something wrong?" Sabrina muttered under her breath.

"Helen, that’s terribly rude," Edwardo called after her.

"It’s fine." Sabrina rose back to her feet. "I understand. She wasn’t trying to be rude." She turned and offered him a warm smile.

Maybe I’d have reacted the same way, if some strange woman walked in and told me she was my new mother out of nowhere. I overstepped on the very first impression. I need to hold myself back better than that. You can’t make the same mistake you always made back home, Sabrina. I know, I know. Just take it slow. I have a whole lifetime ahead to get this right.

After dinner, Edwardo led her down the hall and stopped in front of a door, pushing it open slowly before turning to face her.

"From now on, this room belongs to you." He scratched the back of his head. "You can ask for a different one if you’d prefer. This used to be Georgia’s. Most of her things are still inside, and you shouldn’t hesitate to wear any of it, if you like."

"Yes." She answered, nerves creeping into her voice. This is it, then. Tonight’s when I finally become a proper woman.

"Get some good rest." Edwardo turned to go. "My room’s further down. It’s been a long day, I’ll be turning in myself. If you need anything, ask Yona, she knows this house better than anyone."

"Y-yeah." Something in her chest tightened wrong, and her hand shot out on its own, catching his sleeve before she’d even decided to. "Shouldn’t we—" The rest of the sentence died in her throat, swallowed whole by embarrassment.

Edwardo turned back and pressed a soft kiss to the top of her head. "Don’t worry. You’ll do fine."

Sabrina stood frozen even after he disappeared into his own room, unable to fully believe what had just not happened. She turned slowly back toward her own door, stepped inside, and crossed to the bed in a daze.

"I’m definitely overthinking this." She sat down at the edge of the mattress. "But aren’t newlyweds supposed to spend the first night together? He didn’t even answer me."

She dropped face-first into the pillow, cheeks burning hot against the fabric. "I’ll do just fine."