The past few days, I had been spending time with a discreet network of intermediaries — old-world matchmakers who still operated through parish halls, back-room bakeries, and encrypted group chats that somehow seemed to smell of cigar smoke even through a screen. My intention was simple: enjoy the free espresso and cannoli at their gatherings while blending into the hum of negotiations. Truthfully, I wasn't there to find a match. I was there for entertainment, fascinated by the way certain families still clung to centuries-old traditions of arranged marriage.
The network wasn't made up solely of young singles. A handful of formidable older women were there on behalf of their children — women who spoke softly but carried the weight of generations behind every word. One day, one of them posted a message that sent the entire group into chaos.
She wrote casually:
"I own fifty-three front businesses across the city, three estates, and five cats who answer to no one. All of it, along with the Family's full holdings, will one day belong to my only son. In addition, I'm prepared to give my future daughter-in-law a monthly allowance of $50,000."
The chat exploded instantly.
Women from every background flooded the conversation, eager to get her attention. Questions poured in, asking whether her claims were genuine.
With quiet confidence, she confirmed every word.
Then she added:
"There's just one condition. My son is in a vegetative state. I hope his future wife won't mind."
……
Silence swept through the group like a heavy curtain.
I, however, couldn't help laughing.
To me, it sounded less like a warning and more like a golden opportunity wrapped in a velvet ribbon.
I had long since decided that marriage wasn't part of my future. Why tie myself down? Life was far more enjoyable on my own terms. But if marrying a man in a vegetative state meant paying off my debts and securing my freedom, that arrangement sounded surprisingly appealing.
After all, I, Seraphina Cataldi, had only one true love:
Money.
Without a second thought, I replied in the group chat:
"Why would I mind? Your son is clearly my fated Sleeping Prince!"
The network erupted with laughter and applause.
Messages flooded in, calling me bold, hilarious, and shameless.
I didn't care.
To me, it was absolutely worth it.
A few moments later, the woman sent me a private message.
"Are you serious? Do you really want to marry my son, or are you joking?"
"Of course I'm serious."
"Why?"
"Because of money," I replied bluntly.
There was no point pretending otherwise. I was interested in the fortune.
She fell silent.
I assumed I had ruined my chances.
Instead, my phone chimed with a transfer notification.
She had sent me $500 as travel expenses and invited me to visit the Valente Estate — the compound locals referred to as La Fortezza, perched in the hills overlooking the city. She promised me a warm welcome.
La Fortezza stood behind the most heavily guarded walls in the territory.
The Valente Family controlled the waterfront, the financial district, and the old Italian quarter. Their estate overlooked it all like a crow perched atop a cathedral spire. No one passed through those gates without blood ties or a direct invitation from La Signora herself.
This woman wasn't merely wealthy.
She was power incarnate.
Grinning shamelessly, I accepted the money and left immediately.
When I arrived at the compound, I was greeted by an atmosphere of controlled luxury and quiet menace.
Iron gates flanked by stone lions guarded the entrance. The gardens were immaculate. Two men in dark suits stood watch near the front gate, their eyes tracking me with professional indifference.
The aura of old money and even older authority made me feel unexpectedly out of place.
After smoothing my clothes and fixing my hair, I approached the entrance.
One of the guards spoke into his collar.
A moment later, the heavy oak doors swung open.
Standing in the grand foyer was a glamorous woman in her forties, her smile radiant.
She carried herself with effortless sophistication and looked no older than her early thirties. Her flawless complexion, impeccable fashion, and the strand of black pearls around her neck made her seem almost regal.
In this world, she practically was.
"Hello. My name is Seraphina Cataldi," I said, extending my hand. "I graduated from a prestigious design academy and am currently preparing for a civilian career. Something clean. Something far away from all of this."
Antonella Valente accepted my hand warmly, her eyes gleaming with approval.
"Young, beautiful, and accomplished," she said. "Wonderful."
After a few pleasantries, she invited me inside.
We settled into an opulent sitting room while she poured espresso from a silver coffee pot.
Oil portraits of stern-faced men lined the walls. I assumed they were former Valente patriarchs, their painted gazes carrying the same authority as the living members of the family.
She asked about my background, my work, and my future plans.
"My parents divorced when I was young, and neither of them stayed in contact," I explained. "I've been on my own ever since."
Without thinking, my right hand drifted toward the faded scar on the inside of my left wrist. Catching myself, I quickly folded both hands in my lap.
"As for work, I'm a fashion designer. My annual income is around $100,000."
Antonella nodded thoughtfully.
Her expression revealed nothing.
Fortunately, she didn't press for further details.
Instead, she rose and gestured for me to follow her upstairs.
"Are we finally going to meet my Sleeping Prince?" I teased.
She smiled.
"Yes. My son is also my precious Sleeping Prince."
We climbed to the third floor.
The hallway was silent.
Not ordinary silence, but the kind that felt deliberately maintained. Thick carpets absorbed every footstep. The doors remained firmly closed. Somewhere behind the walls, I could hear the faint hum of medical equipment.
Antonella stopped before a bedroom door and pushed it open.
I stepped inside.
Truthfully, I hadn't expected much.
I had already accepted that this would be a purely transactional marriage. Love wasn't necessary. All I needed was to secure the arrangement and fulfill my responsibilities.
But the moment I saw him, my breath caught.
There he was.
Lying peacefully on the bed.
His long lashes cast delicate shadows across his cheeks. Every feature seemed so perfectly sculpted that he looked less like a man and more like a masterpiece.
The collar of his shirt hung slightly open, revealing sharp, elegant collarbones.
Even motionless.
Even silent.
He somehow dominated the room.
There was an undeniable presence about him, as though the stillness itself were a form of authority. The machines surrounding him didn't feel like devices keeping him alive.
They felt like servants waiting for permission to continue.
My heart began to race.
A single thought echoed through my mind.
This... this is my prince.
For the first time in my life, I felt something beyond ambition or greed.
Something warm.
Something dangerous.
Was it excitement?
Attraction?
Infatuation?
I couldn't tell.
But I knew one thing with absolute certainty.
This arrangement was not going to be nearly as simple as I had imagined.
