I ACCIDENTALLY MARRIED A DUNGEON

Then the day finally arrived. The men Edwardo had hired to deliver the goods were found dead on the banks of the Saynok river before they ever reached the capital, the shipment stolen, their bodies torn apart in a way that looked like the work of wild beasts. The loss hit hard enough that Edwardo stopped sleeping, stopped eating properly, his face gone gray with exhaustion within days.

"I still think we should go to Minister Dietrich," Sabrina said, one hand moving slowly across his back. "Ask him for help."

"No. You don’t understand how this works." Edwardo shook his head. "I could ask if it were ordinary goods. But they’ll need a full description of the item before anyone even starts looking."

"What was the item?"

He turned to look at her for a long moment, then crossed to the drawer and pulled out a folded paper, handing it over without a word.

Sabrina unfolded it, already a dozen questions deep before she’d even seen what was inside. A rough sketch stared back at her, a man looking up toward the sky while rocks fell all around him. She studied it, still lost. "Is this a painting?"

"Yes. But not an ordinary one." Edwardo tapped his boot against the floor. "A relic, ancient, worth more than either of us could really put a number to. This was never just about the money we lost. I need to find something of equal value, or none of this ends well for us."

Sabrina folded the paper carefully and set it in her lap. How was she supposed to find something worth that much, when she couldn’t even properly imagine what the number was?

"I need to speak with a few people. Find something before it’s too late." Edwardo rose and turned to her. "I’m leaving the children in your care, Sabrina. I don’t want any of this reaching them. They don’t know, and I need you to keep it that way."

"Yes." She stood and pulled him into a hug. "They’ll never hear it from me. And you don’t have to carry this alone. I’ll do everything I can too, to help find something worth as much as that painting."

Two months slipped by without a single solution in sight. Edwardo spent every waking hour meeting friends, business contacts, anyone who might listen, but no one was willing to step forward and help him properly. The few who agreed could only offer a fraction of what he actually needed.

The family’s finances collapsed faster with every passing week, one loss stacking onto the next while he chased leads that led nowhere. Debt piled up around him, and creditors started arriving at their door with scrolls detailing exactly how much he owed each of them.

Sabrina did what she could to keep them calm, promising every coin would come back with interest, but belief in that promise wore thinner by the day. She’d managed to keep most of it quiet so far, though she knew better than to think it would stay that way. Word like this always found its way to Helen eventually.

"Can I speak with Edwardo Aldric?" A man in his mid-twenties arrived at the front gate one afternoon, voice already sharp before anyone had said a word to him.

Yona hurried out to greet him. "You’re welcome to come in, we—"

"I don’t want your pleasantries." His voice rose. "Bring Edwardo out here, or you’ll see exactly what happens next. He’s been dodging me long enough. I want my gold back."

"Sir, please, calm yourself." Yona kept her voice even, though her eyes flicked toward the garden, where Helen and Joshua had both stopped walking to listen.

"Calm myself?" His anger spiked further. "You think a servant gets to tell me what to do?"

"Yona." Sabrina’s voice cut through before it could go further. "Bring this gentleman some water."

Yona turned and found Sabrina already descending the stairs. "Y-yes, Lady Aldric."

She hurried off toward the kitchen.

"Sabrina!" The man’s tone shifted instantly, loud and almost friendly. "How have you been?"

"And you are?"

"You don’t remember me? We met at the Walls’ anniversary celebration last season."

Sabrina glanced past him, toward Helen still watching from the garden. "I’m afraid it’s slipped my mind entirely. Work’s kept me quite occupied lately. Would you mind reintroducing yourself?"

"Karl Martinez." He scoffed at having to say it. "Second son of Roberto Martinez.

"Ah, yes, of course." Sabrina gave soft smile. "We shared a drink out on the balcony at the Walls’ estate, didn’t we."

"We did not." His irritation flared brighter. "Forget it. Just tell me where you’re hiding that weasel husband. I’ve had enough of him. I want my money back."

"Why don’t we discuss this somewhere quieter?" Sabrina kept her tone light. "You don’t have any objection to that, do you?"

"I’ve got no objection to anything, so long as I get my gold."

"Follow me, then." She turned and started up the stairs.

Sabrina opened the door to her room and nodded at Karl. "Come in."

He gave her a long, suspicious look before stepping through. She followed close behind and pushed the door shut, quiet.

"Make yourself comfortable."

Karl scanned the room once, then settled himself on the edge of the bed.

Sabrina pulled a wooden chair over and sat across from him, arms folded, voice steady. "I’ll be honest with you. I have no gold to give."

"What?" Karl shot up onto his feet.

"Calm down." She kept her tone even. "You already know our situation. Edwardo is doing everything he can, he just hasn’t found the answer yet."

"That’s not my concern."

"I know. But you need to understand, we aren’t running from this. I’m not asking for a decade, just a few more seasons. The right opportunity will come, and you’ll be paid back with interest."

"Hm." Karl let out a short laugh. "You really believe some opportunity is just going to show up? What guarantee do I have you won’t fail again? I don’t believe a word of it."

"You have to." Sabrina held his gaze. "I promise you."

"That’s a pathetic way to beg, Sabrina." He shook his head slowly. "So persistent, and nothing behind any of it." He rose and started toward her. "You’re still naive. You’ve got a lot to learn."

Something in her chest went cold. She stood from the chair. "We’re finished here. I’ll let Edwardo know you came by."

Karl’s hand shot out and caught her wrist. "Finished? I’ve got a way to settle this right now."

"Don’t touch me." She wrenched her arm back. "I’ll see you punished for this."

Karl smirked, a low laugh slipping out. "And what do you think happens if I mention that painting to Minister Dietrich? What Edwardo was really moving through that shipment?"

Sabrina said nothing, eyes narrowing.

"He’s told you about it, I take it. You have no idea how dangerous that thing actually is." He leaned close to her ear. "One word and this family will cease to exist."

"You’d be punished right alongside him," she muttered.

"Me? I’ve never even laid eyes on the painting. Just heard rumors, same as everyone. From what I hear, Edwardo’s the only one tied to it." His hand drifted slowly toward her chest. "So tell me, Sabrina. How would you like to settle this?"

She jerked back. "I told you to leave."

He grabbed her wrist again, harder this time, pulling her toward him. "You wanted this the second you led me up here. Don’t play innocent with me now. Why else would you bring me to your own room?"

"I never intended anything like that." Her voice hardened. "I could never do that with you. Even if I die."

"Still resisting, after I’ve been so patient with you?" His hand shot forward, fisting into the fabric of her blouse and yanking hard enough to tear the seams loose.

Slap.

Karl froze, the sting of it blooming red across his cheek. He looked down at the scrap of black fabric still caught in his fingers, then back up at her.

"Leave at once, and don’t ever come back."

His face twisted with fury, nails digging into the torn cloth. He shoved it hard against her chest and turned, storming past her and wrenching the door open before disappearing through it.

Sabrina stood frozen, shoulders shaking, tears sliding freely down her face. She looked down at the ruined blouse still clutched against her and murmured, "Something valuable."