The dining hall of the palace was a grand display of warm candlelight from the chandeliers bathed the room in a soft golden glow. It illuminated the white stone walls which were adorned with tapestries woven with brightly coloured threads showing the four gods Arcadia worshiped; Zeus, Hera, Poseidon and Athena.
The gentle drizzle outside rhythmically tapped against the tall windows but it was but a mere whisper against the lively hum of conversations and the soft clinking of cutlery on fine china. Servants moved gracefully between the tables as they refilled goblets with wine and cleared away the remains of the feast.
Everyone was dressed in what they deemed their finest, after all it's not everyday they get to dine with the royal family. The women's gowns glittered with bright colors and the men's tailored garments displayed their nobility. Laughter flowed easily as the guests enjoyed their dinner with warm conversations.
Yet, amidst this scene of luxurious ease, Princess Selene felt anxiety twisting tighter in her stomach. Although her golden hair gleamed under the chandeliers her deep blue eyes casted furtive glances across the table. She tried to keep her expression serene, but her thoughts were a storm.
She knew of what was to come. When would Prince Kang Dae make the announcement? The question circled in her mind relentlessly and unforgiving.
Across at the head of the table, King Lycaon was his usual stern self. His gaze was sharp and watchful even as he engaged in light conversations. He seemed relaxed to others but Selene could see the way his eyes flickered now and then, it was a subtle sign of his ever present distrust.
He had never been one to let his guard down easily, especially not after so many years of betrayal and deceit at the hands of those he once called friends. He was friends with no one, not even his children.
A few seats from him, Thanos wore a faint scowl with his brow furrowed in mild irritation. He stabbed at his food with a little more force than necessary. Selene could tell he was annoyed, it was likely caused by Iris's incessant chatter.
Iris was sat next to him, she seemed blissfully unaware of her brother's mood. Her blue eyes sparkled with her usual cheer and her laughter rang out like a bell every so often. Her bubbly demeanor was a contrast to Thanos's dark cloud despite their uncanny resemblance.
In the midst of her own turmoil, Iris's lightness was a reminder that not everyone was weighed down by burdens. Some people are lucky like that.
And then there was Prince Kang Dae. He sat a few seats down from across Selene, his posture was relaxed yet commanding. Tonight, his attention was focused on a conversation with a nobleman seated beside him. She vaguely recognized him as one of his companions from Mu, the man whom Iris had mentioned.
His tone was low and measured while he spoke of trade agreements and the mineral resources that Arcadia and Mu might exchange, a conversation of mere political strategy. But to Selene, every word felt like a delay, each moment dragged on and pushed her patience to its limit. She could feel her frustration rising like a tide.
Selene barely registered the nobleman, her focus was solely on Prince Kang Dae. Internally, she begged the gods to prompt him him to announce their intentions before her father finished his meal and excused himself. The longer the night stretched on, the tighter the coil of anxiety wound within her. She needed this over and done with.
The air seemed to thicken around her and the sounds of laughter and conversation faded into a dull hum. She could feel her pulse quickening, a flush creeped up her neck but she fought to keep her composure. She could not afford to misbehave, not here and not now.
As if sensing the shift in her mood, King Lycaon glanced at her, his eyes narrowed slightly. Selene forced herself to smile, a small gesture that she hoped would mask her inner turmoil. She couldn't let him see her worry. He would ask questions, questions she wouldn't even answer.
Prince Kang Dae finally paused his discussion. His dark eyes were deep and unreadable as they moved slowly across the room. He observed everything with a calm that was almost unnerving. Selene couldn't help but feel a shiver run down her spine each time his gaze neared her and she subtly moved her eyes from him to the space behind him, pretending to stare at the space a few paces away from him.
He truly was an enigma to Selene, she could tell his intentions were hidden like the moon behind the clouds of a stormy night. The prince's face remained composed and his expression betrayed nothing.
Prince Kang Dae's confident voice smoothly cut through her thoughts. "Your Majesty," he began with a respectful tone, although there was an edge to it which drew the attention of everyone at the table. "I must apologize for the sudden nature of my decision but I have been called back to my kingdom on urgent matters. I intend to depart by tomorrow evening."
The hall seemed to hold its breath in silence. All eyes turned to the king and watched for his reaction.
Meanwhile, Selene's heart pounded in her chest, her anxiety twisted tighter with every passing second. Her father's face remained impassive but Selene could see the flicker of suspicion in his eyes and the slight tightening of his jaw.
"You wish to leave so soon?" King Lycaon's voice was calm and measured but there was an undercurrent of steel. "And what of your engagement to my daughter?"
Prince Kang Dae's lips curved into a small smile. "The engagement still stands Your Majesty. In fact, Princess Selene and I have discussed the matter and agreed to advance the wedding. We wish to be wed tomorrow noon and depart shortly thereafter."
The silence that followed was so loud if one dropped a needle, it would be heard.
"Of course, with your permission." He added pointedly like he purposely allowed the silence to hang.
Upon hearing his well placed words, relief washed over Selene like a cool breeze on a hot day. She hadn't expected him to cover for her like that. Yes, she understood that as the man, he had to appear strong and decisive.
But his words had surprised her for they made her equally important in the eyes of everyone present. He could have easily claimed full authority but instead, he made it clear that they had decided together and that her approval was sought for before his announcement.
A small smile slowly crept across her lips, one she couldn't quite suppress and Prince Kang Dae caught her eye raising one dark brow in a playful wink.
Her heart skipped a beat. However, she was no fool;she knew when a man desired her.
It wasn't the first time she had sensed the physical hunger men harbored for her, so much so that they couldn't hide it.
But this, this was different. It seemed different.
There was a suggestion in his behavior, also in the way he regarded her. It hinted that maybe there could be more, maybe something beyond mere attraction. Or was she reading too deeply into his actions like she had with Andreas?
Upon remembering Andreas, Selene steeled her heart once more and pushed aside the flutter in her chest. "It's nothing but stupid hormones," she thought to herself. "Had she gone mad? Who the fuck gets swayed by few cute gestures and a playful wink?"
She had read and seen enough to know how easily men could deceive, how they could manipulate with a smile or a compliment.
Her smile returned, the one she had perfected over the years. Her mask of polite contentment seemed so natural.
Sometimes, she wondered if she even remembered how to smile without thinking, without faking it. Except those times when she was with Iris, Sameer and unfortunately, Andreas. With them her smiles came effortlessly.
Her father's voice broke the silence. "Very well, Prince Kang Dae," he said slowly with his eyes still locked on the prince. "If that is your wish, I will not stand in your way. But know this and know peace, my daughter's happiness is of the utmost importance to me. I trust you will not give me reason to doubt our arrangements."
Prince Kang Dae inclined his head with his expression respectful. "You have my word, Your Majesty."
The king nodded, the decision had been made but the uncertainty of what may lay ahead was still a weight on her shoulders. She could only hope that she would be ready for whatever the future might bring.
Hours later, long after the dining hall had emptied and the palace had settled into a quiet lull, Selene lay in her bed.
The soft linens were a faint comfort against the turmoil in her mind.
The moonlight filtered through the sheer blue curtains as its pale glow cascaded over the polished marble floors and it casted a web of ghostly shadows across the walls.
Outside, the drizzle rhythmically tapped against the windows, a sound both soothing and isolating, it was as if the world had receded and left her alone in her anguish.
Sleep was anywhere but near because as Selene laid in her bed each time she closed her eyes, Andreas's voice echoed cruelly in her mind:
"That bitch is wrapped around my finger. She would do anything to see me... loll mom that's when I'm going to fuck her. Fuck her hard."
Remembrance of the crude remark tightened Selene's chest, making each breath a struggle.
Andreas's perverted delight was nauseating when he boasted, "I fucked her till her legs shook... she couldn't walk,"
Everything he said was a physical blow that shattered the image she once held of him.
His bragging mingled with Ermis's praise revealed Andreas's true nature. A manwhore that's what he is.
Each boastful claim and demeaning comment she remembered was like a dagger stabbing her heart over and over again.
Her mind was acting against her need for peace as it forcefully replayed her memories.
A moment of warmth in the sunny fields, she recalled how the scent of wildflowers and freshly cut grass filled the air that day.
Andreas had been teaching her to climb a tree, he laughed at her little struggle of making an attempt. That was until she lost her footing and fell but his strong arms had caught her and their bodies tumbled onto the grass.
In that moment, his face had been inches from hers, his breath felt warm against her skin. "It's alright," he had whispered while brushing a stray lock of hair from her face with a touch so tender it made her shiver in a good way.
His lips brushed hers in a kiss that started soft but quickly ignited into a fervent blaze of sensual need.
Their kiss deepened as it was charged with an intensity that made her head spin. His hands roamed over her backside fondling the thick soft flesh and eagerly pulled her closer, molding her curves against him with possessiveness.
The heat between them was a searing contrast to the cool grass beneath them. His fingers had traced a path up her thigh with his touch lightly electrifying. Suddenly, his fingers had brushed against her sex, it was both thrilling and unfamiliar.
Selene had frozen with a hitched breath as fear mingled with her burgeoning desire which created whirlwind of sensations. "What's wrong, Sel?" he had murmured into her ear, his voice was low and tender.
"It's just... I've never..." she had stammered as her cheeks flushed red. His face had softened as he had tenderly sat up while drawing her closer. His hands had steadied her with his reassuring touch as she straddled him.
"Sel, it's fine," his voice was soothing as he held her close. "We don't have to do anything you're not ready for. We can do what you're comfortable with."
"No, I want you," she insisted with a trembling voice mixed with fear and longing. "It's just... I'm scared."
"Scared of what baby?" he had asked gently.
The weight of her fears had been heavy on her but she decided to trust him and to show her vulnerability she had carefully guarded.
"I'm scared because every man I've met just wants my body. They talk about how beautiful I am but none of them actually want to know me. Not really. They don't even care about what I like or don't like. They just want to sleep with me."
"What makes you think that?" he had asked softly. His eyes held hers with plea.
"It's the way they look at me, Andreas" she had whispered. "I can see it in their eyes."
"Whose eyes?"
"The noblemen, their sons, some princes and even prime ministers from other kingdoms... They all look at me the same. That's why I've kept away from them."
"But I'm not them, Sel. So why are you scared?" His voice had been so soft as he gently brushed strands of hair from her face.
"I'm scared it is the same with you," she had meekly admitted with a fragile voice.
His green eyes were warm as he smiled with a tenderness that contrasted the raw intensity of their physical closeness. She could feel his member hard as it throbbed under her. "Selene, listen carefully ok? I care about you so fucking much. You're the only one who matters to me like this. I'm not here to play games with you my princess." He leaned closer allowing his forehead rest gently against hers. "I'd choose you a million times over. It's you I want, Selene. I don't care about your body, it's what makes you, you."
Tears had welled up in her eyes at his sincere words. Their lips met forcefully this time, it was of a burning intensity that left her breathless. His fingers had continued their exploration of her till he reached her sex.
With one hand and skillful manipulation of his fingers, her panties were pushed to the side and he slipped a thick finger into her.
It sent waves of pleasure through her that made her head spin.
Now, the warmth of those memories become dreadfully cold. The pain in her chest increased like she was stabbed over and over again. Everything was a lie!
"How?" she whispered to herself as her tears choked her. "How could I never see through his lies? Am I that stupid?"
A sudden persistent knock on the door jolted her from her cries. Her heart raced as irritation flared within her. She didn't want to see anyone.
The knocking grew more insistent. "Princess Selene," Sameer's voice softly came yet urgently. "Please, it's me, Sameer. I need to discuss urgent matters with you. I beg of you open the door."
Her irritation flared as she wrestled with the desire to remain quiet and alone versus the pressing need to address whatever urgent matter waiting for her attention.