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Morning.
Wyfkeep Castle, Wyf-fellon.
Wyfn-Garde.
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As they walked farther from the castle, passing chambers and long corridors bathed in the morning light, Salviana's pulse quickened. She knew she couldn't stay silent any longer. But before she could be forced into speaking, a pair of palace maids suddenly appeared, their footsteps hurried as they rushed towards her.
"Princess Salviana!" Sarah called out with a bright smile, while the other, Emma carried an air of nervous excitement. "Shall we guide you to your chambers? You must be eager to begin settling in with the other royals. There's so much to learn about the palace." she invited.
Salviana opened her mouth to respond, but before she could, her husband's low voice cut through the air, icy and sharp. "Leave us."
The two maids froze, exchanging quick glances. Emma paled, her face turning ashen green under the prince's intimidating glare. She appeared too scared to move, while Priscilla gazed at the third prince with a smile in her eyes, like a proud sister and Sarah fixed her gaze to Salviana in pity.
Salviana offered them an apologetic smile, wanting to ease the tension, but the girls didn't dare question his order. They quickly curtsied and scurried away, leaving Salviana feeling unsettled.
As silence ensued, the dark prince found his heart to be smiling, 'Salviana─her name was Salviana' he mused.
As they resumed their walk, her mind swirled with unease. It wasn't just her husband's commanding presence, but also the look in the Emma's eyes that stayed with her—fear mixed with something else, something darker in Priscilla's.
Minutes passed, and they ventured deeper into the castle grounds, moving through winding halls and vast, open courtyards. Salviana was sure she had walked long enough to see most of the mansions by now, but the more they walked, the more disoriented she became.
Despite the grandeur of the palace and its meticulously maintained gardens, there was an unsettling chill that clung to the air, and it wasn't just from the looming figure walking beside her.
The silence between them was thick, the weight of it pressing against her. Salviana knew she couldn't hold her tongue any longer. The tension was becoming unbearable. She cleared her throat and spoke up, "Good morning."
Her voice was small, but it stopped him mid-stride. He turned to face her, his dark eyes narrowing slightly as he regarded her with mild confusion. "What?"
"I said good morning," she repeated, her voice stronger this time, though she still felt dwarfed by his towering presence.
The dark prince looked at her for a long moment, as though trying to make sense of her words. His lips pressed into a thin line, his stare intense and unnerving.
"Now?" he asked, incredulity edging into his voice, as if her greeting was somehow inappropriate.
Salviana shifted uncomfortably under his gaze but managed a nervous smile. "I know it's a bit late for that, considering we've been awake for hours. But I realized we haven't properly wished each other a good morning yet."
His expression softened ever so slightly, though his eyes remained piercing. "And this is important to you?" he asked, his voice low, like a growl rumbling from deep within him.
She hesitated, unsure of how to respond, but she nodded. "Yes. It just… it feels right."
His lips twitched, and for a moment, she thought he might laugh. But instead, he simply sighed and resumed walking. "Come on."
As they continued, the tension lingered, but there was a slight shift between them—a small crack in the ice that had formed since the moment they met. Salviana's steps grew more confident, though her unease never fully left her.
The grounds outside the castle were vast and beautiful, the gardens bursting with life. Flowers of all colors bloomed in abundance, while birds flitted between the trees, their songs filling the air. The sight should have been calming, but Salviana couldn't shake the ominous feeling growing inside her.
"Where are you taking me?" she asked, trying to keep her tone light, though the unease crept into her words. "I'm sure you have royal duties to attend to, and I must have mine as well."
Her husband didn't respond immediately, his steps steady and sure as they walked along a cobblestone path lined with tall hedges. After a long pause, he finally spoke. "Relax. I need to show you something."
The simplicity of his words sent a shiver down her spine. What could he possibly want to show her? Instinctively, she began to pull away, but his grip on her arm tightened ever so slightly, keeping her close. "Maybe you should go to work," she suggested weakly. "I'll be fine…"
"Salviana," he said suddenly, his voice firm, stopping her in her tracks. The way he said her name—it was the first time he had called her by it. She wasn't sure what to make of the way it sounded in his deep voice, but it sent a strange thrill through her.
She turned to face him, and for the first time this morning, she really looked at him. His face, so often shadowed in darkness, was illuminated by the morning sun, revealing sharp, chiseled features that took her breath away. His eyes were darker than night, but there was something magnetic about them, something that pulled her in, despite her better judgment.
He was breathtaking, in a way she hadn't expected. The stories of the dark prince had painted him as a monster, but here, under the daylight, he was anything but.
She realized she had been staring too long when his lips curved into a smirk. "I wish you a good morning, too," he finally murmured, his voice a low, velvety whisper that sent another shiver down her spine, despite the gesture, she didn't feel lucky—his touch was firm, possessive, and there was something unspoken, something she couldn't quite read.
Her heart skipped a beat, her mind racing, trying to decipher his intentions.
Was he angry with her for challenging him? For speaking out of turn? But then he added something unexpected.
Her breath caught in her throat as he leaned closer, his lips brushing against her ear. His hand, firm and possessive, remained on the small of her back. "You're my wife now. Trust me, and follow."
Her breath hitched at the sound of the word "wife" on his lips, and she found herself nodding, unable to refuse him. She had no choice but to follow, though her instincts told her this was far from the end of his tests. He gave her one last lingering look, as if he were considering kissing her cheek or nose, but instead, he straightened and resumed their walk.
The word "wife" lingered in the air between them, a reminder of the bond they had been forced into.
As they approached a distant part of the garden, the path ahead grew darker, the sunlight fading behind a canopy of ancient trees.
They continued through the vibrant gardens, with sunlight streaming down and the world bustling around them, Salviana found herself torn between anxiety and something new—an appreciation for the man beside her. The tension between them was undeniable, an electric current that sparked with every glance, every word exchanged.
She didn't know where they were headed, or what awaited her at the end of this walk, but she knew one thing for certain—he was more than what he appeared to be, and this was only the beginning.