As I lay in bed, I couldn't shake off the nervousness that had been building up inside me. It was my wedding night, and I had no idea what to expect. Would Sebastian want to consummate our marriage? He had barely spoken to me during our journey here, and I wondered if this was what our marriage would be like cold and distant. I was so deep in thought when a knock on the door jolted me up.
"Your Highness, I am to prepare you for tonight," the maid said. I nodded and followed her to the bathroom.
As she helped me out of my dress, I missed Madelyn, my old maid. I had never been away from her, and now I would never see her again. I slowly stepped into the bathtub filled with warm water and scented flowers as the maid gently washed my body.
"What's your name?" I asked. If I was going to have a new maid, I should at least know her name.
"My name is Arizona, Your Highness," she answered.
"Arizona is a unique name. You can call me Rory when we are alone," I said, remembering how all my maids back at home addressed me as Rory.
"I dare not, Your Highness," she replied.
"Why not?" I asked.
"You are Prince Sebastian's bride, and you are of royal blood. It would be treason if I didn't give you the proper respect," Arizona said, bowing her head.
"Well, it's an order, so you have to do it," I insisted, gesturing for her to continue bathing me.
When the bath was done, Arizona brought me a see-through robe that hugged my shape perfectly. She brushed my hair, applied scented oil to my skin, and then handed me a small tin that looked like a balm.
"What is this?" I asked, confused as to why she was giving it to me.
"It's a balm..." Arizona said nervously, not wanting to offend the princess.
"I can see it's a balm, but what is it for?" I asked, wondering why she was being so mysterious.
"It's for the pain," Arizona explained. Everyone in the palace knew that any woman who spent the night with the prince would never be the same again. Rumor had it that women would scream during their time with him, a mix of pleasure and pain. But Arizona couldn't tell me that, so she bowed her head and left.
"What was that about?" I muttered to myself.
As I walked out of the bathroom, I saw a maid combing Sebastian's hair. His long, silky hair caught my attention, and I couldn't help but notice how handsome he looked. But why did he always wear a mask? It seemed so mysterious and intriguing.
Sebastian turned his gaze to me, and I couldn't read his expression. "Wait, is he going to sleep with the mask on?" I thought. He walked toward me, and I took a step backward, my heart racing. With every step he took toward me, he took a step back
"I'm not ready," I said, trying to sound brave. To my surprise, he scoffed and said, "Fine". "Wait... what? ". I said in shocked
"There is no fun in having sex when my partner doesn't consent." He said.
I was shocked, but then I realized he probably had mistresses, so he didn't need me.
As we lay in bed, I couldn't sleep. I kept thinking about Sebastian's mask and why he wore it. The next day, I woke up to his sleeping face, and I stared at him for a while. I reached out to touch his mask, and he caught my hand in a tight grip.
"What are you doing?" he asked, his cold tone sending shivers down my spine. I didn't know what to say, and before I could respond, he added, "I only have one rule: never try to remove my mask or ask to see my face." His voice was stern, and I felt a chill run down my spine. It felt like more than just a warning. I nodded, unable to say anything.
"Go get ready, we are expected at the dining hall," he said before leaving for the bathroom.
"But that was two rules," I muttered to myself.
It was already hard enough to think that I was married, but my husband wouldn't even let me see his face. I sluggishly stood from the bed to take my bath.
As I slipped into the bath, the warm water felt soothing against my skin, but my mind was far from relaxed. I kept replaying Sebastian's words in my head, wondering what kind of marriage I had just stepped into. A husband who wouldn't let me see his face, and a future so full of mystery I felt like a stranger in my own life.
I stared at my reflection in the rippling water. I was now a princess, bound by royal duty, but I felt small and powerless in the face of everything that lay ahead. Would Sebastian ever open up to me? Or would I remain just another distant figure in his life?
Madelyn led me down the stairs, where everyone was gathered Sebastian, his brothers, their wives, and the king.
I walked slowly toward the dining table, offering a respectful bow. "Good morning, Your Majesty, my princes, and princesses."
"You are most welcome to the family, Aurora. My apologies for not being there to greet you earlier," the King said warmly.
"It's no trouble at all, Your Majesty," I replied with a small smile.
"Please, take your seat," the King gestured graciously.
I bowed once more and took my place beside Sebastian.
We ate in uneasy silence, though the tension in the room was thick, like a looming storm cloud that refused to pass. I could feel the unspoken hostility between Sebastian and his brothers. Every clink of silverware and every sip of wine felt measured as if we were all walking on the edge of a knife. Something was off, something I couldn't quite grasp, but it was there, simmering beneath the surface.
Suddenly, Adrian shattered the silence, his voice laced with cruel amusement. "It's great to finally see you married, little Seb. Honestly, I thought you'd spend your whole life whoring around," he sneered, his tone taunting, his eyes flicking to me as if I were a joke in some twisted game.
My stomach churned at his words, but Sebastian remained composed, his face a mask of calm despite the insult.
Hello everyone I hope you enjoyed this chapter, for those who haven't checked out my other novel "Prophecy: rising of the first hybrid". Please do a new chapter has been uploaded