The Frost Family Palace…
The patriarch's first son, James house situated on the right side of the palace, that too in the very front, visible to all the visitors of the main palace.
At present James' home is completely filled with silence. The arrival of new son-in-law Das, completely changed their family's dynamics.
Ever since Lily had arrived with Das, claiming him as her husband, the once-lively home felt more like a battlefield waiting for a war to erupt.
Lily sat quietly in her room with Das, both of them avoiding each other's gaze. The room, adorned with ornate furniture and pale moonlight streaming through the curtains, felt suffocating.
Das sat silently on the edge of a plastic chair, his slender frame appearing like a prince as he fiddled with his fingers. Lily uneasily stared at the floor, her lips pressed into a thin line.
In the hall, Ruby and James sat silently, abandoning their work completely. Ruby's hands trembled as she pretended to embroider a handkerchief, her needle stabbing the cloth far too aggressively. James occasionally glanced at her, sighing but saying nothing. He clearly knows what will happen if his wife erupts. That's why he sat silently like an ice mountain.
"Why would she do this? Marrying a criminal… who knows what he did in the past?" Ruby cursed under her breath, her voice dripping with disdain.
"Enough, Ruby, forget the past. Let's think about how to raise our family status again in this palace" James finally said in frustration.
Ruby cursed James in return which made him silent again.
The silence stretched until the heavy wooden door creaked open. Soya, Lily's younger sister, stepped inside carrying several boxes of sweets and bundles of fresh rose and Jasmine flowers. Her bright, mischievous eyes scanned the room, completely oblivious to the tension.
"Mother! Come quick! Help me carry these boxes to my sister's room." Soya called out loudly.
Ruby stormed out of the hall with a dark expression. "What now? What are all these things for?" Ruby questioned angrily.
Soya grinned, holding up the sweets and flowers. "Today is Sister and Das' first night, of course! We need to prepare. The pandit said the auspicious time is at 11 o'clock sharp!"
The room fell into a stunned silence. Lily and Das, who had been listening from the half-closed door of her room, exchanged panicked glances.
"What is she talking about?" Das whispered, his voice barely audible.
"I have no idea," Lily hissed, her cheeks turning crimson.
On other hand, Ruby's reaction was swift and explosive. She marched up to Soya, snatching the flowers out of her hands. "Have you lost your mind? First night? For what? This sham of a marriage?"
"Mother, what are you saying? Lily and Das are married now. We should celebrate, shouldn't we?" Soya asked, genuinely confused.
Ruby let out a bitter laugh. "Celebrate? Celebrate what? My daughter's biggest mistake? She married a criminal, Soya! A man with no job, no future, and no ability to support her!"
Soya frowned, setting the sweet boxes down on a nearby table. "Mother, how can you say that? Das protected Lily in front of the patriarch. Doesn't that mean anything to you?"
"It means nothing if he can't feed her or provide a stable life! Mark my words, I'll have this marriage annulled before it's too late!" Ruby shouted, her voice echoing through the house.
"Mother!" Lily's voice rang out, firm and loud. She stepped out of her room, her face flushed with anger.
"How can you talk about Das like that? He's my husband now. Also, I won't cancel this marriage in any case." Lily said in a serious tone.
"Lily, I'm only thinking of your future. This man is not fit to be your husband. Look at him! Does he even have a degree? A job? How do you think he'll support you?" Ruby asked, softening her tone but not her stance.
"I don't care about any of that. I chose him and he is a good man. That's all that matters. Also, he is a capable man who can earn for himself." Lily declared.
"How? How can he earn for himself? By lifting a cement bag? He's too weak for that." Ruby scoffed.
"Mother, stop it!" Soya interjected, stepping between Ruby and Lily.
"You're being unfair! Everyone deserves a chance, and I'll make sure my brother-in-law gets one. Tomorrow, I'll talk to the family manager and get him a job in our business."
"Enough!" Ruby shouted, her face red with anger. "There will be no first night, no celebration, and no respect until this man proves his worth!"
To emphasize her point, Ruby grabbed a knife from the nearby table and pressed it against her neck. "If anyone forces me, I'll end this right now!"
"Ruby, are you insane? Put that down!" James exclaimed, rushing to her side.
"Mother, stop this madness!" Soya shouted, tears welling up in her eyes.
But Ruby stood firm, her hands trembling as she held the knife. "I mean it. I will not let this first night happen until this criminal proves he's worthy of being a Frost."
"Mother, please! Why are you doing this?" Lily cried, her voice breaking.
"Because I care for you, Lily!" Ruby shot back, her voice cracking. "I can't stand by and watch you throw your life away for a criminal."
The room fell into a tense silence, broken only by Soya's soft sobs. Finally, James stepped forward, placing a hand on Ruby's shoulder. "Ruby, enough. The marriage has already happened. There's no going back now."
"Fine. But there will be no first night until Das proves himself."
Lily and Das exchanged a relieved glance, though their faces remained strained. Soya wiped her tears and turned to Das with a determined expression.
"Don't worry, brother-in-law. I'll help you. Tomorrow, we'll find the best job for you. I believe in you."
Das nodded, his lips curling into a faint smile.
As the night deepened, the family dispersed, each lost in their own thoughts. Lily and Das retired to separate rooms, the weight of the day's events pressing heavily on them.
Meanwhile, whispers of the Frost family drama spread quickly among the other branches of the clan, making the James family a laughingstock.
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*There will regular chapter release from now onwards 2ch/day... Bonus chapter for gifts! Thank you for reading...