Ethan followed Amara as they entered the grand Delacroix manor, their every step echoing in the silent corridors. The house was a masterpiece of luxury, with marble floors, gilded accents, and intricate chandeliers that lit the vast halls. Yet, the coldness in its air matched the tension between the newlyweds.
Amara walked with a rigid posture, her emerald eyes avoiding his. She was distant, her demeanor icy, as if shielding herself from whatever cruelty she expected from him. Ethan had read this scene in The Forsaken Love. In the novel, Duke Ethan's indifference had broken Amara's spirit further, setting the stage for her eventual downfall.
But this time, things were different.
"Your Grace," Amara said quietly, stopping outside a set of large, double doors. Her voice was steady, but there was an undercurrent of resignation. "I understand the nature of our arrangement. You needn't pretend for my sake. I will uphold my duties as your duchess and stay out of your way."
Ethan frowned, the weight of her words sinking in. She thinks I hate her?
Before he could respond, the mechanical voice of the Villainess Wife Pampering System interrupted.
"Task Assigned: Make your wife feel comfortable and safe on your first night together. Reward: 200 points. Penalty for failure: Decrease in Amara's happiness by 10%."
Ethan sighed internally. Alright, System, let's do this.
"Amara," he said, his tone softer than he expected, "you're my wife now. Whatever happened in the past, I promise you this: I won't treat you poorly."
She blinked, surprise flickering in her eyes, but her mask quickly returned. "You don't have to play the kind husband, Your Grace. I've long since stopped believing in fairy tales."
Her words stung more than he anticipated. Ethan hesitated for a moment before reaching into his mind for the newly unlocked Gentle Smile skill.
"I'm not playing anything," he said, his lips curving into a warm, disarming smile.
Amara's eyes widened for the briefest second, her usually sharp gaze softening. She quickly averted her eyes, her composure faltering.
As the evening stretched on, Ethan found himself sitting with Amara in her chambers. Despite her initial hesitation, she allowed him to stay, though her demeanor remained guarded. They shared a quiet conversation over tea, and Ethan took the opportunity to ask her about her interests.
When she admitted that she enjoyed painting, a faint blush colored her cheeks, as if embarrassed to reveal something so personal.
"I'd like to see your work sometime," Ethan said sincerely.
Her gaze snapped to his, suspicion flickering in her emerald eyes. "Why?"
"Because I'm curious," he replied with a shrug. "I want to know more about you."
For a moment, Amara said nothing, her expression unreadable. Then, she looked away, her voice barely above a whisper. "No one's ever asked to see my work before."
Ethan's chest tightened. How did things get so bad for her?
When the butler arrived to escort Ethan to his chambers, Amara finally spoke up. "There's no need for you to leave," she said softly, though she didn't meet his gaze. "Tradition dictates that we share a room tonight. I...don't want to give anyone more reasons to talk."
Ethan blinked in surprise. He hadn't expected her to say this, but the reasoning made sense. In this society, any breach of tradition would be seized upon by gossips to further tarnish Amara's reputation.
"Alright," Ethan said, his voice gentle. "If that's what you want."
Amara looked at him, her expression unreadable, before nodding. "Thank you."
The bed was massive, easily large enough for the two of them without feeling crowded. Amara climbed in first, her movements careful and deliberate, as though she were bracing herself for some unseen threat. Ethan followed, keeping to his side of the bed.
For a few moments, silence hung in the air, broken only by the soft crackling of the fireplace. Ethan could sense her unease.
"Amara," he said softly, turning his head to look at her.
She didn't respond, her gaze fixed on the ceiling.
"You don't have to be afraid of me," he said. "I'm not going to hurt you."
Her lips parted slightly, but she didn't speak. Instead, she turned onto her side, her back to him.
Ethan sighed, a pang of guilt twisting in his chest. She doesn't trust me yet.
The system's voice chimed in his mind.
"Notification: Amara's happiness increased by 5%. Trust in you increased by 3%. Task progress: Partial completion."
He lay back against the pillows, staring at the ceiling. This wasn't going to be easy, but he had made up his mind. No matter how long it took, he would earn her trust.
In the middle of the night, Ethan stirred when he felt a slight movement beside him. He opened his eyes to see Amara curled up on her side, her expression soft and vulnerable in sleep.
For the first time, she didn't look like the cold, untouchable villainess everyone believed her to be. She looked...fragile.
A notification popped up in his mind.
"Amara feels slightly safer around you. Happiness increased by 2%. Trust in you increased by 1%."
Ethan smiled faintly. Step by step, he thought.
Pulling the blanket over her, he settled back down and closed his eyes.
Tomorrow would be another battle, but for tonight, he allowed himself a small moment of peace.
End of Chapter 2