Lady Evangeline "Eva" Callenwood sat rigidly upright in the carriage, her dark auburn hair pinned into a fashionable yet severe chignon that mirrored the tightness she felt in her chest. Her green eyes, usually full of life, were clouded with anger and resignation. As the carriage rolled through the cobbled streets of Lysoria, the city she knew so well yet felt so distant from today, a wave of bitterness washed over her.
This was the day she'd been dreading. The day she would be betrothed to Crown Prince Kael Aldrynn of Viremont, a kingdom renowned for its military prowess and strict adherence to traditions, she found utterly archaic. The marriage was a strategic alliance, nothing more, brokered by her ambitious mother and the stern King of Viremont.
Eva's mother, Lady Celeste, sat opposite her in the carriage, dressed impeccably as always. Her calm blue eyes studied Eva's appearance, a slight frown tugging at her perfectly painted lips. "Remember, Evangeline, this is not about you or your ridiculous desires. You are representing the Callenwood name. Any misstep will have consequences far beyond your own petty concerns."
Petty concerns, Eva thought bitterly. Her dreams of pursuing diplomacy, of forging her path rather than having it dictated by the whims of the royal court, were considered mere trifles. Her gaze flicked to her father, Lord Alaric, sitting silently beside her mother. He offered her a sympathetic glance but said nothing. He never did.
The carriage drew to a halt outside the imposing facade of Aldenhold Palace, its spires reaching skyward like fingers of stone grasping for the clouds. Liveried footmen opened the carriage door and lowered the steps. Lady Celeste exited first, her back straight and chin held high. Eva followed suit, her mother's expectations pressing down on her like a physical burden.
As they entered the palace's grand ballroom, Eva's eyes swept the crowd. Nobles and diplomats mingled, laughter and conversation echoing off the vaulted ceiling. In the center of it all stood the royal family of Lysoria: King Dorian, regal and distant; Queen Ariana, beautiful and serene; and the Crown Prince, Kael Aldrynn.
Kael cut an imposing figure in his military uniform, adorned with medals that glinted in the chandelier light. Eva had seen portraits of him before, but none captured the intensity of his gaze or the stern set of his jaw. As their eyes met across the room, a flicker of recognition, then disdain, passed between them.
"Go talk to him. Be cordial," Lady Celeste hissed in Eva's ear. "Remember, this alliance depends on you two making a good show of it."
Eva resisted the urge to roll her eyes. Taking a deep breath, she approached the prince. "Your Highness," she said coolly, dipping into a shallow curtsy.
"Miss Callenwood," Kael replied, his tone matching her formality. His eyes remained unreadable.
Eva mused that this was already off to a fantastic start as far as first meetings go. How exactly did one make small talk with the stranger you were being forced to marry? The silence between them was deafening, punctuated only by the soft murmur of the ballroom. Eva cleared her throat, desperate to break the awkward tension. "Lovely party, isn't it?" she remarked dryly. "Nothing quite like being bartered off in the name of political expediency to get the festivities going."
"Indeed," Kael replied, his voice flat. He sipped his drink, clearly as thrilled about this arrangement as she was. "Your mother seems pleased with the arrangement," Kael ventured, glancing over at where Lady Celeste stood, chatting animatedly with a group of nobles.
"Oh, she's positively ecstatic," Eva said, unable to keep the sarcasm from her voice. "I'm sure she's already planning our wedding down to the last detail. I wouldn't be surprised if she tried to dictate our honeymoon, too." Her green eyes met his cool gray ones, and for a moment, a glimmer of shared misery passed between them. "And your father? How does the good king feel about our impending nuptials?"
Kael's jaw tightened. "My father is...pleased that our union will bring stability to the realm." His tone was clipped, and Eva sensed there was more to the story than he let on. But she wasn't here to make friends, especially not with her reluctant fiancé.
"I've heard stories of you, Prince Kael," Eva continued, her voice taking on a mocking edge. "A paragon of virtue, they say. A model prince devoted to his duty. Tell me, do you ever tire of being so perfectly...predictable?"
"I do what is required of me, Miss Callenwood. Something you might benefit from learning."
"Oh, and what might that be? How to suppress my every desire and whim in favor of following orders?"
"Perhaps a lesson in tact and diplomacy would not go amiss. We are here to represent our kingdoms, after all."
"Ah yes, the ever-noble Kael, sacrificing his own happiness on the altar of duty. Do forgive me if I don't swoon at the sight of your martyrdom."
Eva stormed off, leaving a stunned Kael in her wake. He watched her retreating form; her fiery auburn hair stood out in the crowd like a beacon of rebellion.
"Charming, isn't she?" came a voice beside him. Kael turned to see his father, King Dorian, observing the scene with a raised eyebrow. "Your betrothed seems to have a strong personality."
"You mean she's a disaster," Kael replied flatly. His duty to the realm was clear, but Lady Callenwood was proving to be a formidable thorn in his carefully ordered life. However, despite his sense of duty, he too dreaded the impending nuptials and the lack of control he had over his own fate. "How could anyone stand to be married to such a shrew?" he thought bitterly.
"She's certainly...spirited," his father responded, choosing his words carefully. Kael knew what the king really meant. A liability. A loose cannon. But the alliance was too important. "I trust you will handle her, as you do all aspects of your role. She will conform to her new station."
Kael sighed inwardly. His entire life had been a series of duties fulfilled and expectations met. Now, the most personal aspect of his life —his marriage— was just another task to be accomplished. He looked over at Eva, who was now arguing passionately with her mother like a child. To him, she looked like everything he despised, and she would make his life hell.