The morning sun pierced the room as someone opened the curtains.
Katherine opened her eyes in annoyance at the harsh light.
The maid, whose name Katherine hadn't bothered to ask, quickly got her ready for the day.
Katherine Marlowe sat at her vanity, gazing at her reflection. Her hands moved mechanically as she wanted to arrange her fiery red hair, but the maid insisted on doing it anyway.
Upon her arrival at the mansion only a day prior, she expected hostility–perhaps cold indifference from her future husband. But the Duke of Eldridge was not what she'd imagined, he seemed tense, she wondered to herself, which was ridiculous for the beast of the north but he wasn't cruel, perhaps guarded.
"untrustworthy" she muttered to herself she had no intention of letting her guard down not even for a minute after all, all of this could be merely a show.
After the maid left telling her to be at breakfast in a few minutes, Katherine stayed longer in her quarters.
Inside the grand castle, Katherine felt an unfamiliar chill biting at her skin. She sighed. She felt vulnerable to the tall, grand walls of the mansion that would be her prison for the foreseeable future. The silence in the room was isolating.
Luke Eldridge was already at the table holding files and a map of Valoria. He was deep in thought, not even noticing his fiance's arrival.
Katherine sat at the opposite side of the grand table as she saw how invested he was in the map of the kingdom Valoria.
"My lord.." the butler Richard announced "The lady has arrived," he said, alerting the duke as he retreated to his original post.
Luke Eldridge finally lifted his eyes away from the map as he noticed her "My apologies it seems I was lost in thought" he said apologetically as he rubbed his temple.
"It seems you are quite busy my lord," Katherine said as the maids arrived to serve them their breakfast.
"No, it's nothing you need to worry about". Luke said as he put the papers to the side, turning his full attention to Katherine.
''Lady Katherine, I hope u managed to get a good rest'' he said as he preferred not to push on their conversation the night before.
"It was alright…a little cold'' she paused as she noticed her mistake ''forget I said anything my lord'' she quickly said as they continued to eat.
By the end of breakfast, she got up and quickly excused herself retreating to her quarters.
"Richard" Luke called to the butler "Yes my lord?"
Luke ordered as he got up to handle his matters, " Make sure the maids heat Lady Katherine's room." With no further explanation, Richard only nodded and went to do his lord's bidding.
Later at noon Elsewhere in the mansion, Luke Eldridge was awake, his day filled with the demands of running his household. He stood in the large hall that served as a training ground for his knights, his breath forming small clouds in the icy air.
"Again!" he barked. His voice carried over the clash of swords as two knights sparred under his watchful eye.
His men were the best in the kingdom, and he always intended to keep it that way. If the emperor ever turned against him—or worse, his family—these men would be his first and strongest line of defense.
"Sir Cedric," Luke called as the sparring ended.
The knight approached, wiping sweat from his brow. "Yes, my lord?"
"Prepare the northern patrols. The reports of magical beasts are growing more frequent near the borders. I'll take no chances."
"My lord? the emperor–" Cedric tried but was cut short
"Right now I don't care what the emperor thinks I will not risk the people's safety"
Luke said harshly he knew the emperor wanted to know beforehand of everything that was going on in the north, Luke was sure that one of the reasons for this arranged marriage was so that the emperor would have the advantage to keep him in check after all the emperor loved being in control of all his pawns in the land.
Cedric only nodded, not questioning his captain's orders further.
After the decision I just made, I needed to take a walk in the mansion's garden to clear my mind.
Luke Eldridge paced slowly through the garden along the stone path of the mansion garden, his hands behind his back, the garden a place he rarely ever visited was alive, rich, and full of colors compared to the harsh weather, the only sound accompanying him was the sound of the chilly winds.
At the center of the garden, a fountain stood.
The North has become his home ever since he was born into this new life yet now even his ancestral walls felt like a cage. His mind wandered to Katherine the woman he expected to despise as the obvious villainess of the plot but his mind was quickly changed after all they were all tools manipulated by the emperor, and the emperor knew of Katherine's original affection for Viktor. Her guarded dementor mirrored his own.
He came to a halt by an apple tree as the red color of the apples reminded him of her red hair, he frowned, scolding himself for letting his thoughts wander.
"You seem troubled my lord" a soft voice interrupted
Luke turned sharply, his arm stretched to grab his sword and attack the sudden intruder as he was startled by the sudden voice. He relaxed when he saw the lady Katherine standing a few feet away, her light green eyes studying him cautiously.
"My lady forgive me, I did not expect anyone to be here," he said quickly, hoping he didn't frighten her.
She then stepped closer, her heels clicking on the stoned ground of the garden she glanced at the fountain and then back at him.
"I was told this garden was one of the most impressive parts of the estate so I let myself wander to see it for myself… I hope I did not interrupt anything, my lord," she said as she glanced at his hand on his sword.
Luke noticed her eyes as he clutched his sword quickly letting it go.
"Though I didn't expect to find you here," she added.
Luke offered a small apologetic smile "I usually only come here to think. It's quieter than my study at the mansion"
Katherine gave a small understanding nod "It seems there is much on your mind then, you did seem distracted during breakfast this morning, and now you are here alone".
A moment of silence hung in the air between them. Heavy and unspoken Luke's jaw tightened "It is nothing, my lady," Luke said trying to reassure her, he didn't want to reveal himself too much to her yet after all he had decided that he would protect her as his wife even if it was only by an arranged marriage.
"Of course after all I'm just a tool in the emperor's scheme," she said as she sighed bitterly.
Luke stepped even closer to her as she said it "That was not what I meant Katherine" he said as he paused almost nervously before he continued "I am only trying to protect u, ease your mind for a while I do not want you to feel anxious here"
Katherine couldn't help but scoff as he said those words to her claiming he wanted to protect her.
She looked at him for a moment longer. She couldn't help but see as he seemed to be genuine, was he oblivious or maybe just completely clueless she was about to turn away and leave the conversation when Luke caught her arm lightly and spoke.
"You are no pawn," he said firmly "Not to me and I will make sure that neither of us will be the emperor's pawns".
I stared at him for a moment before I replied as his hand held my arm "I appreciate the sentiment my lord" she said her voice neutral "but we both know our roles in this...arrangement"
Luke wanted to argue, to insist to her that he truly meant his words. But the words couldn't come out, instead, he said nothing and released his grip on her.
As Katherine turned to leave, she paused and glanced at him "Thank you for having my room warmed, by the way, it was very…considerate of you and I hope your words hold some truth.
Before he could say anything, as she was already far away Luke watched her retreating figure.
He was determined to show her he was serious and perhaps build their relationship. And perhaps She would put some trust in him, after all. This was only the beginning, and their troubles were far from over.
As the evening arrived and Katherine sipped her tea, she thought about her earlier encounter with the duke and his slightly troubled expression as he wandered the gardens. Suddenly, Luke Eldridge himself entered the dining room.
"My lady earlier today, I was troubled because I had ordered a patrol near the borders since there have been alerts of dangerous magical beasts so I will be away for a few days, I didn't mean to hide anything from you or cause misunderstandings." He tried to clarify.
"I see...when do you plan to depart?" she asked.
"Two days I don't want to take risks," Luke said, running a hand through his hair.
Katherine nodded, understanding that if the magical beasts near the border found their way into the northern city, many lives would be at risk.
"Good luck," she said as her words felt genuine even though she had learned only to care for herself. He gave her a small smile before leaving her with her tea that had turned cold and lost its taste.