Chapter2:Welcome or Humiliation

The grand palace loomed before Avani like an untold mystery. It was majestic yet eerily silent, as if whispering secrets that no one dared to speak aloud. The torches lining the stone corridors flickered weakly, casting long shadows on the cold marble floor.

Avani's heart pounded as she was led to the royal hall, where Prince Adhiraj sat on his throne—his presence cold, his expression unreadable. He was every bit as regal and terrifying as the rumors had claimed.

"So, you are the woman who is to become my wife?" His voice was deep, emotionless, sending a chill down her spine.

Avani clenched her fists, unwilling to appear weak. "Yes. And you are the prince who has no heart?"

The room fell into complete silence. The courtiers gasped, their faces filled with horror. No one had ever dared to speak to Prince Adhiraj this way.

For a moment, his golden eyes flickered with something—perhaps amusement, perhaps something darker. "You are either very brave or very foolish."

Avani straightened her back. "Maybe both. But one thing is certain—I will not be treated like a prisoner in my own marriage."

Adhiraj leaned forward slightly, his fingers tapping against the armrest of his throne. "Then you will find this palace quite suffocating, Princess Avani. Because here, everything is bound by rules. Even fate itself."

His words sent a shiver through her.

A Marriage of Secrets

That night, Avani was escorted to her chambers—a luxurious yet strangely lifeless room. The furniture was carved with intricate designs, but everything had a cold, unused feel to it.

She touched the silk sheets of the massive bed, her mind spinning with thoughts. Why did Adhiraj seem so empty? What had turned him into a man without emotions?

As she looked out of the window, she noticed something odd—the palace garden was completely barren. No flowers, no greenery, just dry, cracked earth.

A sudden gust of wind made her turn sharply. She could have sworn she heard whispers—soft voices calling her name.

She stepped toward the mirror on the far side of the room, but the moment she looked into it, her breath hitched.

For a split second, she saw something standing behind her—a dark shadow with glowing red eyes.

She spun around, but there was nothing.

Her heart pounded wildly. Was she imagining things? Or was the palace hiding something much more terrifying than she had expected?

The Unspoken Curse

The next day, Avani was summoned to the royal library—a place filled with towering shelves of ancient scrolls and forgotten history.

Adhiraj was already there, his eyes scanning through a large book. "Sit." He didn't even look up.

Avani frowned but took the chair across from him. "Why am I here?"

Adhiraj finally met her gaze. "To understand what you have married into."

He pushed an old manuscript toward her. The parchment was yellowed with age, the ink fading. But as Avani read the words, her blood ran cold.

"The Prince of Varangar shall bear the curse of stone. As generations pass, the heart of the heir shall turn to lifeless rock. And when the heart ceases to beat, so shall the palace and all who dwell within it."

Avani looked up, horrified. "Is this...?"

Adhiraj nodded, his face expressionless. "This is my fate."

She stared at him, realizing that his distant, emotionless demeanor wasn't just a choice—it was a necessity.

If he felt too much, if he let his heart be vulnerable... it would turn to stone.

And he would die.

A Silent Decision

Avani swallowed hard. She had expected a cold husband, a loveless marriage—but not this.

"There has to be a way to stop this."

Adhiraj let out a hollow laugh. "Do you think I haven't searched for one? There is no escape, Avani. The curse is absolute."

But Avani wasn't convinced.

As she stared at her husband, a silent promise formed in her heart—she would find a way to break the curse. No matter what it took.

Outside, the wind howled against the palace walls.

Somewhere in the shadows, unseen eyes were watching.

Next Chapter: "A Forbidden Truth"