3.

Aeris pov

Flashback of the wedding night.

The room is cloaked in a quiet that feels too thick, too heavy. The fire crackles softly in the hearth, casting flickering shadows across the marble walls. Despite the warmth of the flames, a chill clings to the air and settles deep in my chest. The weight of the gown that once felt so regal now lies discarded on the floor, a symbol of the ceremony I never truly felt part of. 

Carlos stands by the window, looking out into the darkness beyond the palace walls. His silhouette is sharp against the night, and for a moment, I wonder if he's even aware of my presence. His back is turned, and I am left alone with my thoughts, the sound of my breathing the only thing that keeps me company.

I should speak. I should ask him what happens next, or perhaps express the swirling storm of emotions in my chest. But the words don't come. Instead, I only watch him, watching the flickering light that plays on his features. 

Finally, he turns, his gaze meeting mine. The air between us shifts. His eyes are dark, and unreadable, but there's something about the way he watches me now that sends a ripple of unease down my spine. There's no warmth in his expression, just an unreadable quiet that leaves me wondering what he's thinking.

"Aeris," he says, his voice low, a trace of something in his tone that I can't quite place. "It's time."

The words feel like an inevitable conclusion, and yet, my heart skips a beat. The moment I've known was coming since the vows are finally here. I stand slowly, feeling the weight of the moment settle around me like a cloak. This is it. The night we are supposed to share as husband and wife, bound by duty and tradition. I take a step toward him, the floor cool beneath my bare feet, and every movement feels deliberate, as though I am walking through a dream I cannot wake from.

Carlos does not move at first, only watches me approach with those same unreadable eyes. When I am close enough, he reaches out to me. His hand is warm against mine, steady, and I cannot deny the strength in his touch. He pulls me toward him, his other hand resting on the small of my back, drawing me closer still.

"You are beautiful," he murmurs, his breath warm against my skin. It's not the first time he's said those words today, but there's something different in them now. Something softer, perhaps even sincere. 

I look up into his eyes, searching for the meaning behind his words. He holds my gaze steadily, and for a moment, I wonder if there's something more beneath the surface. I had thought him cold, distant. A man driven only by politics and duty but in this moment, I feel a flicker of something else. Something more human. 

"Thank you," I reply, my voice quieter than usual. There's a vulnerability I can't quite hide. I'm afraid to let him see it, but it slips out nonetheless.

He smiles faintly, and I feel a flutter in my chest, though I quickly push it aside. There's a soft weight in his smile, as if he's not merely a ruler now, but a man in this moment sharing something with me.

Carlos leans in, his lips brushing softly against my forehead, and though it's a simple gesture, the warmth of it lingers longer than I expect. He holds me like this for a few moments, both of us standing there in the quiet intimacy of the room, surrounded by the flickering shadows of the fire. His touch feels careful, almost protective, and for a brief, fleeting moment, I allow myself to imagine that this could be a different kind of night.

Yet, I know better than to dream of what will never be. We are not here because of love. We are here because of duty. The kingdoms demand it. Our people demand it. But that does not stop the tiny part of me that wishes it were different. That perhaps, in another world, in another time, we could have been something else entirely.

He pulls back just enough to look into my eyes. His expression hardens slightly, no longer as soft as it was just moments ago. There is something in his gaze now, something dark and expectant. "It's not just about this night, Aeris. You know that. Our union must be solid, for the peace between our kingdoms."

I nod, the coldness of his words sinking into me. Of course, I know that. I knew it from the moment I was given to him in marriage. This union was never meant to be about love. It was meant to be about power, about stability. 

But still, I cannot ignore the sting of those words. They are not meant to hurt, but they do all the same. I am not his partner in love. I am his partner in politics.

"You are mine now, Aeris," he continues, his voice steady. "This night marks the beginning of what will come after. You are bound to me, and I to you."

The weight of his words feels like a physical presence, pressing down on me. There is no malice in his voice, only a quiet certainty. This is our reality. There is no escaping it. 

I feel my chest tighten at his words, and for a moment, I wonder what it would feel like to walk away. What it would feel like to refuse, to tell him that I am not some pawn to be claimed. But I know better than that. I am a princess, bound by my duty. I am the hope of Gorisimo, and I will not allow myself to fail.

But in this moment, I am still a woman. Still a person with feelings that I cannot ignore.

Carlos leans in again, this time his lips brushing gently against mine. The kiss is slow at first, as if he, too, is feeling his way through the unknown. His lips are warm, soft, and though the kiss is not passionate, it is filled with a kind of reverence that surprises me. It's not as cold as I expected. Not as distant.

For a moment, I feel a flicker of something real, something beyond duty, something that whispers to me that perhaps, just perhaps, we could become something more. But then the kiss deepens, and I feel his hand at the small of my back, urging me closer.

I do not resist. My heart beats faster as I feel the warmth of him pressing against me. I do not know if it's passion or simply the weight of the moment, but something stirs within me. I cannot deny it. He is here, and I am here, and in this room, it feels like we are both bound to something greater than ourselves. 

When we part, our breaths are shallow, and the silence that falls between us feels different than before. There is no longer just the weight of duty between us. There is something softer, something that might grow with time,if we are lucky. 

"I didn't think it would be like this," I whisper, unsure why I feel compelled to say it. My words hang in the air, raw with honesty. "I thought... I thought it would be colder."

Carlos does not answer immediately. He studies me with those dark, steady eyes, as though searching for something. And then, he speaks.

"It never is what we expect, Aeris," he says quietly. His hand caresses my cheek, a gesture that feels surprisingly tender, yet full of intention. "But this is our path. We will find our way."

I look at him, searching his face for the truth behind his words. The fire crackles softly, the room was still and quiet, and for a brief moment, it feels as though time itself has paused.

This is not love, not yet. But it is something else,a beginning, perhaps. A beginning that neither of us can fully understand, but one that binds us together, whether we are ready for it or not.