The silence between them was suffocating with unspoken thoughts and the tension thickened with every passing second. Selene drifted deeper into her dark thoughts while Prince Kang Dae decided to blend into the background some spaces behind her yet he remained watchful.
He could sense her yearning for solitude, even though he didn't still have a clue on the reason behind it. Her request to leave Arcadia immediately after their wedding which she still wanted to hold sooner than planned did nothing more but intensely stoke a fire of curiosity within him.
It seemed like they had been riding for an eternity due to Selene's slow pace but finally the familiar outlines of the palace emerged, its towering white stonewall contrasted with the dark evening sky. The air was heavy and thick with the scent of rain that threatened to fall.
As they neared the gates an unexpected sight greeted them; King Lycaon stood rigid barking orders left and right at the already assembled guards. Even from their somewhat far distance they could feel his fury radiating off him like the heat from a burning house.
His flushed pale face was a stark contrast to the dark cool evening air. As they got closer they could see how his piercing blue eyes blazed with an intensity that threatened to set the ground beneath him ablaze.
For a fleeting moment Selene's heart tightened with an all too familiar fear. But she quickly pushed the feeling aside and forced herself to pull in its reigns, which led her to soon feel the numbness she was unfortunately quickly growing accustomed to.
Nothing truly mattered anyway, it never has. She was the one that gave everything more meaning than it carried. Just how she did with Andreas, maybe that's why she couldn't sense, not even once during the last four years that it was all a lie. She was nothing more than a mere game to him.
This situation isn't any different. Her mind was clouded with these thoughts and sadly she believed every one of them.
Truly, what was the point in caring? She had only left the palace for a few hours and this wasn't the first time she had done something like this so what's the big deal? Doesn't he ever get tired of shouting on top of his longs?
Selene continued to reside within her thoughts, refusing to pay mind to the reality in front of her. Her father's anger was once a force she might have feared but now it felt distant like a mere echo in the background.
Prince Kang Dae on the other hand was not so detached from the current situation unlike Selene.
He could feel the heat of the king's fury in the air as they drew closer. The way the king's golden brows furrowed and the way his hands clenched into fists at his sides were tell-tale signs of his concern.
"If you think your plan was to disgrace me and my kingdom just know that you have only brought shame upon yourself!" King Lycaon's booming voice cut mercilessly through the air.
Selene dismounted her horse wordlessly and to everyone's surprise she barely flinched. There was no sign of remorse or fear like she normally carried on her face. She didn't even bother to respond.
It was like the king was hurling water at a brick wall. It truly surprised the guards present.
Her movements almost seemed mechanical as she approached her father. All the while she refused to meet his gaze. Instead, she focused on the gravel and scattered pebbles underneath the guards' feet. The sound of her boots crunching against the gravel only served to somehow increase the tension.
But Prince Kang Dae wasn't going to allow the situation spiral out of control. Unknowingly to him there was an underlying doze of irritation growing within him as it was directed at King Lycaon for addressing Selene as he did.
"Your Majesty," Prince Kang Dae interjected with a smooth and controlled tone. "There is no need for such harsh words. We merely went out for a ride together to better acquaint ourselves. Nothing more." His tone remained respectful although there was a subtle warning that did not go unnoticed.
The king's eyes narrowed in confusion. He was certain that Selene had ridden out alone yet, the prince stood before him taking her side. The uncertainty in Lycaon's gaze was enough for Prince Kand Dae to know he had struck a nerve.
"But—" the king began but this time his voice had lost some of its earlier sharpness.
"Or is there a problem with me getting to know my wife… alone?" Prince Kang Dae pressed on as he shifted his posture subtly. His shoulders squared as he asserted his dominance in a way that was impossible for anyone who stood before him to ignore.
Although his tone had remained calm throughout, there was an undeniable quiet power behind his words.
For a brief moment, King Lycaon hesitated as he was used to issuing commands. Yet, the prince stood before him creating a show of dominance. A knowing smirk fought its way to the king's lips.
"Very well then," he conceded with a voice so calm you wouldn't have believed he was the same man barking earlier. "If you say so, Prince Kang Dae. You both may go inside. Dinner will be served in the dining hall soon."
Selene offered a slight nod it was so small it almost went unnoticed. She walked past them making her way into the palace with quick steps and without sparing either of them a glance. Her only thoughts were to retreat, the wants to be alone turned into a need.
The grand white columns of the palace loomed before her and offered her a warm sensation across her skin. Unlike the cold wind that had waved outside.
Prince Kang Dae's eyes lingered on her retreating form as she walked away from him. He needed to speak with her and on that account he began to make his way into the palace.
He suddenly halts his footsteps and redirects his gaze to the king once more. With an unreadable expression and cold calculating eyes.
"Your Majesty, a word of caution," he said in a voice so low yet unwavering. "I will not tolerate anyone speaking to my wife in such a manner. She deserves respect and I expect that to be honored by everyone. Including you."
A heavy silence settled over the courtyard as the tension thickened like the storm clouds above their heads, the guards exchanged uneasy glances amongst themselves. Never before had they witnessed anyone speak to King Lycaon in such a way and live to tell the tale.
King Lycaon's face remained cool like he wasn't just openly challenged by a mere child.
After what felt like an eternity, the king gave a curt nod and a lopsided smile as his response.
Without uttering another word, Prince Kang Dae turned and strode into the palace with his focus primarily on Selene.
Once he disappeared into the palace, Sameer, who had been observing from the sidelines amongst the guards, stepped forward and stood beside the king.
"What do you make of him, Your Majesty?" Sameer asked with a voice that carried high respect.
King Lycaon's attention remained on the prince's back. "She's in good hands," he muttered smugly as he internally gave himself a pat on the back.
Sameer hesitated before he spoke again but with more caution this time. "Shall I proceed with my retirement plan, then?"
"No," the king snapped with annoyance. "Not until Selene says otherwise."
He then slightly raised his voice as he addressed the guards who had been standing at attention all the while. "You are all dismissed."
The guards quickly bowed their heads, including Sameer and waited for their king to return into the palace before they disperse. Sameer felt unease settle in his gut. His situation was growing more complicated by the minute.
The thought of discussing his retirement with Selene filled him with dread. The princess can be unpredictable and not knowing how she would react added to his unease.
Inside the palace, the warm corridors were a stark contrast to the stormy atmosphere outside. The white stone walls were adorned with paintings showcasing ancient battles their kingdom has won over the centuries. The vibrant colors now seemed muted in the dim light of the candles and torches. Shadows of guards and himself stretched across the floor adding to the oppressive silence and claps of thunder in the air.
Prince Kang Dae felt a subtle chill go down his spine as he made his way down the corridors. Thanks to the directions offered by some guards on duty he was able to find Selene's room.
As he reached her chambers he took in the massive intricately carved wooden door, it looked like it was meant to look intimidating. He knocked gently on the solid wood which felt more like stone under his knuckles. The sound echoed in the corridor as if the palace were empty.
Almost immediately, he heard a faint shuffling from the other side of the door, followed by the creaking sound of the door as it slowly opened. A short slim woman who looked to be middle aged with all the wrinkles he noticed on her face stood before him with her head slightly bowed. She wore the white and brown uniform of the palace maids and that alone told him who she was.
"Your Grace?" she greeted him quietly from behind the partially opened door.
"I need to speak with the princess," Prince Kang Dae said with a firm yet calm tone. "Please inform her I'd like to have a word."
The maid bowed her head acknowledging his words before retreating into the room, the door closing softly right behind her. Prince Kang Dae waited as patiently as he could with his mind that were clouded with a stormy thoughts.
Finally, the door creaked open again but instead of Selene whom he had expected, it was the maid who appeared earlier with an apologetic expression. "Your Grace, Princess Selene said she is occupied at the moment."
His jaw tightened as his eyes narrowed slightly. "Occupied?" he thought. Without a word being said he nodded curtly and turned on his heel and made his way to his assigned chamber.
As he walked briskly back to his chambers, his thoughts churned with maddening intensity. "Why was she avoiding him?" The questions spun in his mind gnawing at his wearing patience. "Why had she made such a bold request to leave so suddenly? What was driving her to act this way?"
Once inside his chambers, it was like the walls closed in around him. Even though the room was richly furnished, it felt like a cage. Each piece of furniture reminded that he was in another man's territory. He began to pace about his room, his steps were quick and restless just like his thoughts.
The quiet elegance of the room and heavy rainfall outside faded from his awareness. Slight breeze flickered the candles on the ornate wooden table, yet it barely registered in his mind. He couldn't shake the sudden change in Selene's image. Not knowing her long enough wasn't an excuse for him to not worry for her. The seriousness of her sudden request to leave Arcadia kept gnawing at him the longer he went without answers. "What was she running from?"
He replayed the scene outside the palace in his mind, his eyes narrowed as he recalled the king's harsh words and the way Selene had barely reacted to them. It seemed to him as though she had grown accustomed to such treatment from the king and had numbed herself to it.
The very thought made his blood run cold. "Is this how she had always been treated? Is this why she wants to leave so soon?" The idea that she might have been enduring something unbearable in her own home, something that gave her the desire to escape was intolerable in his books!
Prince Kang Dae ran a hand through his dark hair feeling agitated with himself. The questions continued to bombard him. He has never liked thinking without doing something about it. And for him to do something about this situation…
He needed answers. And he needed them now.
Determination hardened his resolve and soon he stormed out of his room. His heavy steps echoed sharply against the red carpet floor. He made up his mind, he won't allow Selene to push him away after demanding something of him without so much as an explanation as to why.
This time as he reached her chambers once more and stood in eerily quiet corridor, the looming doors still remained as imposing as before. However, this time he didn't hesitate to knock harder. The sound reverberated through the silent hall as he stood there waiting impatiently.
"Princess Selene," he called with a firm voice that carried through the heavy door. "We need to talk."