The heavy curtains parted, revealing a gap where the gentle morning sunlight streamed in. I slowly opened my eyes, my head pounding and my body aching. As I sat up, I realized I was still in my wedding dress. Why hadn't I changed? Only the hairpins and jewelry had been removed, nothing more.
I must have been so tired that I fell asleep, I thought, rubbing my temples to ease the pain. I got out of bed, stumbling towards what I assumed was the bathroom. I untied the various fastenings on my dress and slipped out of it, then sank into the bathtub filled with warm water and fragrant flowers.
After ensuring I was clean, I dried my hair and made my way to the dressing room. I chose a more comfortable black dress with a modest neckline. Sitting back down on the bed, my mind swirled with thoughts. I was married... to the fourth Prince of Arcadia, a masked prince who was rumored to be...
The sound of the door opening interrupted my thoughts. A maid entered the room. She had fair skin and a slender frame, and for some reason, she seemed strangely familiar, though I couldn't place where I had seen her before.
"My lady," she bowed. "Breakfast is served."
"Lead the way," I commanded, rising from the bed.
"Follow me," she replied.
Follow me, I repeated silently. The way she said it, the tone... it sounded like something I had heard before. I stole a quick glance at her as we walked through the hallway, wanting to ask if we had met before. But I decided to leave it be; it was probably just a coincidence. However, I couldn't shake the feeling that something was off, especially waking up still in my wedding dress. No matter how many excuses I conjured up, I couldn't explain it. Something was definitely wrong, and deep down, I knew it.
"Here, my lady." We stood in front of a gray metal door, and she gestured for me to enter.
"Thank you," I whispered, and she departed.
I took a step into the room, my eyes scanning the spacious dining area. It was adorned with a long table and chairs in the center, beckoning me to take a seat.
My eyes drifted towards the person occupying the head chair, and a wave of fear and panic washed over me. I froze in place, feeling a tight knot form in my stomach as I realized who it was.
I let out a nervous sigh, trying to push aside the fear and approached hesitantly. I chose a chair at a safe distance from him, not daring to meet his gaze.
"Good morning," I greeted, my voice trembling slightly. He remained silent. Maybe he didn't hear me or perhaps he was deaf.
It didn't matter if he heard me or not. All I cared about was eating and leaving as soon as possible. I didn't mind how many bites I took; I just needed something to sustain me until lunch.
My attention shifted to the various dishes on the table, their enticing aromas filling the air. They resembled the food from back home. I grabbed a roasted potato and took a bite. It tasted surprisingly sweet. I continued eating, forgetting my initial plan to leave after a few bites. I grabbed the glass of fresh milk, downing its contents in one gulp, and made a move to leave.
"Where are you going?" he finally spoke. His voice was deep, calm, and irritating all at once.
I turned my head to look at him for the first time. He wasn't wearing his full-face mask; instead, he had a black clay mask that covered the left side of his eyes region. My gaze shifted to the right side, and my heart skipped a beat. Was that also a mask? It had to be, because there was no way he could look like that. Rumors painted him as a demon, with red eyes, long horns, and dirty teeth. But this man defied those rumors, except for the mask on the left side of his face.
He was handsome, and that was an understatement. He was captivating. His skin had a pale, chalky white complexion. His lips were a work of art in themselves—red and pinkish, the kind that would make you want to kiss them endlessly. And his eyes, a chilling shade of amber that sent shivers down my spine. I had never seen eyes like that before, like burning flames or sand dunes. They were strange and compelling, as though they could pierce through your soul and reveal all your secrets. His dark hair, thick and soft, was neatly combed and we're falling over his forehead.
He was sinfully attractive, taking my breath away. He was supposed to be ugly under that mask, according to the rumors, but he wasn't. The mask suited him so well that I wondered if there was actually a scar beneath it or if he simply wanted to enhance his dangerously attractive appearance and seduce women.
"Are you going to answer me, Nora?" he urged, snapping me out of my trance.
Nora? That was my name?
"Yes... I mean, yes—I'm leaving," I stammered.
"Leaving to where? You barely touched your food," he said, a frown forming on his face.
"I think I'm okay, your highness." I was relieved my voice didn't betray my unease. He nodded slightly, and I turned to leave.
"Still, that doesn't give you permission to leave," his stern voice stopped me in my tracks.
That was it! He was starting to get on my nerves. Just because I was married to him didn't mean he had the right to control my life.
I turned to face him. "I'm going to look around," I stated, trying to keep my annoyance in check.
"Sit down, I will take you around," he insisted.
"I appreciate that, your highness, but the maid will do that," I said, hastening my footsteps to leave before he could stop me again.
The maid guided me through the palace, showing me the different sections. The castle had separate areas for each prince and their families, while the emperor and his wives had their own quarters at the other end. Each family had their own staff, including servants, cooks, and guards. The maid also took me to our chamber, the room where I had woken up earlier. It was beautifully decorated in white and chestnut brown, with white walls and brown and white window frames. The large glass window was covered with elegant white curtains adorned with bistro crystals at the ends. The floor was neatly covered with a brown carpet.
She opened a door and said, "This is your personal boudoir, my lady, if you want to be alone." She then pointed to another door and continued, "That's also a personal room, it belongs to his highness." I nodded, still looking at the locked door.
We walked through another door that led to our personal garden. The garden was even more beautiful than the one we had back home. I was particularly fond of the white bench in the middle of the garden, surrounded by white and purple peony flowers that formed a curved shape.
We continued through the hallway, passing through different doors that led to various places in the castle, such as the kitchen, courtyard, stable, guest room, and study.
Feeling tired from all the walking, I asked the maid to lead me back to our chamber, and she agreed.
"My lady, please remember to be polite," the maid reminded me.
"Polite? Why?" I asked, confused.
She nodded ahead, and I followed her gaze, noticing a lady approaching us.
"Don't anger her, my lady," the maid whispered behind me, sounding alarmed.
The lady and her two maids came to a stop in front of us. She had an evil smile on her face, and her green eyes glimmered mischievously. She didn't seem like the type to seek peace.
"Ellena Bellamy, the commander's daughter," she introduced herself.