Glancing this way and that way upon the Rhodes empire, Dessa's huge blue eyes reflected the shock throughout her body and brain.
The great empire of Rhodes was nothing like she had expected. In fact it was no better than the grand empire of Rocenko. The capital city looked a little crowded and everyone looked a little too normal. But on a second glance, she could see the weariness and caution in the eyes of everyone her eyes met with.
She noticed soldiers standing at every corner she passed and she immediately understood why the people she saw looked so stiff.
Her hate for Royall Estargon grew immensely and she cringed. How could he treat people like that just because they were weaker. She couldn't understand how anyone could be so evil that they were able to take people's lives easily, without hesitation.
The carriage rolled on and on, until suddenly, it bounced and Dessa nearly fell on the floor. She was instantly shocked and waited for the fall, just to feel strong large hands holding her. Zamien had kept her from tumbling to the floor. Realizing this, she stiffened.
Zamien noticed this and his face darkened. He immediately let go of her. Looking at her for a few seconds, he let out a soft sigh and closed his eyes.
"I'm your husband now, Irridessa." His voice came but his eyes were still closed. "No creature would ever hurt you as long as I am here. That should be enough to ease your fears."
He opened his eyes and leaned closer to her. He stared so deeply into her eyes that Dessa felt she was being pulled.
"Let me remind you that 4 days ago, I personally vowed to protect you. So stop flinching everytime I speak to you," he lifted his hands and caressed her cheeks. "I don't want my wife to be afraid of me."
With that, the inside of the carriage was enveloped in silence. The prince returned back to his position, closing his eyes as if he had shut himself down.
The night was getting deeper and Dessa was getting sleepy. She had been unable to sleep for the past few days because of the thoughts of her wedding and life as the crown princess of Rhodes. She couldn't find a nice position to sleep in as the carriage kept bouncing. She wondered how her husband was doing.
Turning her head to face him, she noticed that he seemed quite relaxed and calm while she, his wife that he claimed he would protect, continued to suffer. Pouting in discomfort, she turned away and continued to watch the city. In no time, she fell asleep.
When Dessa awoke again, it was daytime and she was laying on a bed in an unfamiliar room. She stood up immediately and studied her surroundings.
It was huge and black and white. There was a black curtain covering a glass wall which faced the east. There were so many dark drawings on the wall and there seemed to be no furniture besides the enormous queen-sized bed covered in a black bedspread.
Looking to her left, she saw what looked like a parlor with pictures of people hanging on the wall and walked towards it.
She immediately recognized the man in the pictures. How could she not recognize the beast she had just married, he looked so dark and mighty in the painting, like a wicked overlord or a tyrant emperor and she already had goosebumps.
She remembered she had fallen asleep in the carriage, did he carry her? She cringed at the thought. He couldn't have, could he? He was cold and unfeeling and hated lower creatures, right? But she remembered how he had acted in the carriage.