He took off his mask, and my eyes grew wide, staring in disbelief at his face. It was like I couldn't see anything, even though my eyes were open. Then it hit me. Maybe I was scared to see his face without the mask because of the scary rumors about him. I didn't want to believe them, but they made me uneasy.
I quickly turned away, my heart racing in my chest, and blinked rapidly, trying to process what had just happened. He had actually taken off his mask! But I didn't see anything.
He hissed, and I cautiously looked back at him, my heart pounding in my throat. He had already put his mask back on, which made me feel a bit relieved.
"It's late. You should go back to bed," he said, his voice calm and cold at the same time.
I watched as he sipped his wine, his face showing a mix of disgust and displeasure. He seemed angry, and I could tell by the slight tremble in his hand holding the glass.
"I'm not so tired," I replied. He didn't respond. Soon, he stood up and started walking away.
I hurriedly got to my feet and stumbled after him. "Where are you going?" I called out, making him stop in his tracks. He turned back and slowly approached me. The way he moved was scary, and I had to gather all my courage not to step back in fear.
He stood before me and leaned in, causing me to instinctively tilt my head back in confusion.
"Maybe I should go spend time with my mistress," he muttered, his words hitting my face like a slap. Anger ignited inside me, and I felt a surge of rage. This might be normal to him, but it was not acceptable to me.
"Do you have something to say?" he asked, leaning closer.
I shook my head. He scoffed and walked away, leaving me standing there, seething with anger.
****
I sat on the bed, gazing out the window into the clear night sky. My eyes welled up with tears, and I felt a lump forming in my throat. I couldn't hold it in any longer. The tears started flowing freely, staining my cheeks.
I thought he was joking, that he was going to come back, but he never came. He didn't come all night. What did I expect when I married a prince? This was what it would be like, and it might even get worse when he marries more women in the future.
If I couldn't bear the heartbreak of seeing him with his mistress, how would I handle sharing him with other wives? What would I do then? I wiped away the tears, knowing deep down that things wouldn't be any different. I had hoped he would be different, but I was wrong. He was just like any other man.
I lay down and covered myself with the sheet, trying to find sleep, but I couldn't. I ended up tossing and turning in bed.
I woke up to the sunlight streaming through the window. I stirred and opened my eyes, squinting as they met the brightness. I sat up and looked around. He really didn't come last night.
There was a knock on the door as I got out of bed. "Come in," I said, and the door opened. Lisa entered the room.
"Good morning, my lady," she greeted me with a warm smile, and I returned the smile.
I walked into the bathroom, where Lisa had prepared a warm bath with scented flowers. I undressed and slipped into the bathtub as she helped me bathe.
"My lady, you look tired," she said, noticing the exhaustion on my face.
"I'm fine. Don't worry," I reassured her, forcing a smile, and she nodded, though concern lingered in her eyes.
"My lady, which dress do you prefer? This one or this one?" She held up two dresses.
"Just choose the most beautiful one for me."
She picked a sky blue dress that matched my eye color and complemented my fair skin. I let my wavy curls loose and applied a touch of lipstick as I looked in the mirror. I looked beautiful.
Finally, I put on my shoes and walked out of the room. I made my way through the long hallway leading to the dining table. I expected him to join me for breakfast so I could tell him a piece of my mind. But when I opened the door, he wasn't there.
Once again, I found myself having breakfast alone. I couldn't eat much; my appetite had vanished. I left the dining room and returned to our chamber. He had promised to treat me well, but was this what treating me well meant to him?
The door creaked open, and I turned my head to see. It was him. He entered and closed the door behind him, then headed towards his personal room. He didn't speak to me or even glance my way. It was as if I didn't exist.
After a while, he walked out, making his way to the door. I quickly stood up and rushed to block his path. I crossed my arms over my chest, my expression hostile.
"What's wrong?" he asked expressionlessly, looking down at me.
What's wrong? Did he seriously ask that? Everything was wrong.
"Did you have a good time last night?"
"Yes," he replied with a sigh, his response sickeningly nonchalant. "Did you? You're always so timid to share a bed with me. So I guess you slept comfortably last night."
Comfortably? How could I sleep comfortably while he was having a good time with another woman?
I looked up at him, tears welling in my eyes. I refused to blink, not wanting to show him my vulnerability by crying in front of him again.
"I hate you, Regan," I spat at him, and stormed out of the room, paying no attention to his hurt reaction.
"Nora... Nora!" he called after me, but I didn't care. I kept walking down the hallway until I felt him grab my hand, pulling me towards our room.
"Let me go!" I yelled at him, but he didn't listen. He dragged me into the room and slammed the door shut. Then he gripped my shoulders tightly and forcefully pushed me against the wall. His eyes were no longer amber; they burned with intense anger.
"You don't walk away when I'm talking to you, Nora," he growled, his annoyance palpable.