3.

Aeris pov(Flashback of the wedding night)

The room was too quiet.

The fire in the hearth crackled softly, casting moving shadows on the marble walls. Even though the flames burned brightly, a coldness hung in the air, one that settled deep inside me. I stood in the middle of the room, no longer wearing the heavy wedding gown. It now lay in a crumpled heap on the floor. Earlier, it had made me feel like a princess. Now, it felt like a costume for a role I had never wanted.

Carlos stood by the window, staring out into the darkness beyond the palace. His back was turned to me. The candlelight caught the edges of his figure, sharp and still. For a moment, I wondered if he even remembered I was here.

I wanted to speak, to ask what came next, but the words wouldn't come. I stayed silent, watching him, feeling my heart beat louder in the quiet.

Finally, he turned to face me. Our eyes met, and something in the air shifted. His gaze was unreadable, calm but distant. He didn't look angry or cold, just… unreadable.

"Aeris," he said, voice low and calm. "It's time."

My heart skipped. I had known this moment would come since the ceremony. But hearing the words made everything real. I took a step toward him, feeling the cold floor under my bare feet. Each step felt slow, like I was walking through a dream I couldn't wake from.

Carlos didn't move. He simply watched as I came closer. When I reached him, he reached out, taking my hand. His touch was warm and steady. With his other hand, he rested it gently on the small of my back, drawing me closer.

"You are beautiful," he said softly. He had said those words earlier during the wedding, but now they felt different, calm, maybe even honest.

I looked up at him, trying to understand what he meant. I had thought he only cared about power and duty. But now, looking into his eyes, I saw something else, something almost human.

"Thank you," I whispered. My voice was softer than I meant. I felt vulnerable, and even though I didn't want him to see it, I couldn't hide it.

Carlos gave me a faint smile. It wasn't the kind of smile that made you feel warm inside, but it was enough to make me pause. For the first time, he didn't feel like a stranger. He felt like a man I might one day come to understand.

He leaned in and pressed a gentle kiss on my forehead. It was simple, but the warmth of it lingered. He held me like that for a while. The fire's glow danced around us, and for a moment, everything felt quiet and still. His touch was careful, almost protective.

I allowed myself to imagine, just for a second, that this could be a different night. That maybe we could be something more. But deep down, I knew the truth. We were not here because of love. We were here for duty. The kingdoms needed peace. We were the price.

Carlos pulled back and looked into my eyes. His gaze was no longer soft. It turned serious, maybe even cold.

"This is more than just a night, Aeris," he said. "Our union must be strong. For peace to last between our kingdoms."

I nodded. I had always known that. From the moment my father told me I would marry the Grand Duke of Lotisiana, I had understood what was expected of me. Love was never part of the deal. This marriage was a contract between nations, not hearts.

Still, his words stung. They reminded me of the truth I wanted to forget. I wasn't his wife in the way I had once dreamed of being. I was his partner in a political game.

"You are mine now," Carlos said, his voice even. "This night marks the beginning of what comes next. You are bound to me, and I to you."

His words felt heavy, like chains wrapping around me. He wasn't being cruel, just honest. This was our reality. There was no escape from it.

For a moment, I thought about saying no. About walking away. But I didn't. I couldn't. I was a princess. I had been raised to protect my people, even at the cost of my happiness. And so, I stayed.

But beneath the title and the duty, I was still a woman. And that part of me still hurt.

Carlos leaned in again, this time placing a soft kiss on my lips. It was gentle, not forced. Not filled with passion, but something else, something almost respectful. His lips were warm, and the kiss, though careful, held a strange tenderness that I hadn't expected.

For a brief moment, I felt something stir. Something small and quiet. Not love, but a thread of something that might grow in time. I didn't know if it was real or if I simply wanted to believe it could be.

The kiss deepened slowly. His hand moved to the small of my back, pulling me closer. I didn't pull away. My heart beat faster. I didn't know if it was because of the kiss or because of everything this night meant. But I let myself feel it.

When we finally pulled apart, the silence between us had changed. It no longer felt heavy and cold. There was something different now. Something softer. Maybe even hope.

"I didn't think it would be like this," I whispered. The words came before I could stop them. "I thought it would be colder."

Carlos didn't answer right away. He looked at me, studying my face, as if trying to read my thoughts. Then he spoke.

"It never is what we expect, Aeris," he said. His hand gently touched my cheek. The gesture was warm and kind, full of quiet meaning. "But this is our path. We will find our way."

I looked up at him again. The fire still flickered behind him. The room was silent, the world outside forgotten. For a single moment, it felt like time had paused.

This wasn't love. Not yet. But maybe it was the beginning of something. A bond. A path neither of us chose, but one we would walk together, Whether we wanted to or not.