Chapter 1: The Cold Path to Duty
Lady Eveline stood in front of the large mirror, her reflection staring back at her like a stranger. The soft, pale light of dawn filtered through the window, casting shadows across her elegant gown, its fabric rich but with heavy expectations. Her family had already chosen her fate—marriage to Lord Aric of alexdon. There was no avoiding it, no room for rebellion. Not that Eveline ever considered it.
The upcoming marriage was a matter of necessity. It wasn't about love, nor was it about her wishes—it was about duty. And duty, as her father had always made sure to remind her, was everything.
Her fingers brushed against the delicate necklace her mother had given her, the only token of affection she had ever received from the woman. A heavy sigh escaped her lips as she turned away from the mirror. This wasn't the life she had envisioned. But it was the life she had to live.
Footsteps echoed outside her door. A quiet knock followed, and the door creaked open slowly, revealing the familiar face of her most trusted knight, Ser Kaelen. He was tall, with a broad chest and stern features, his face marked by the burden of countless battles fought in silence. There was a certain strength in his eyes—strength that had always been there when she needed him, but never warmth.
"My lady," Kaelen greeted, his voice low, respectful. He was careful with his words, as always.
"You may enter, Kaelen," Eveline replied, her voice soft, almost distant.
He stepped into the room, his presence steady but silent. He'd been assigned to guard her since she was a child, and though they had shared many moments of duty together, they had never been close—not in the way people expected. His loyalty to her was unquestioned, but they had never allowed themselves to form a bond deeper than necessity. And perhaps, Eveline thought, that was for the best. She had always known her duty—both to her family and to her future husband—and Kaelen was no exception.
"You seem troubled, my lady," Kaelen said, watching her from across the room.
"I am always troubled," Eveline answered with a small smile, though it didn't reach her eyes. "This marriage... it looms over me, and I can't escape it."
He gave her a brief, solemn nod. "The marriage to Lord Aric is inevitable," Kaelen said, his words clipped and professional. "It will strengthen the alliance between your family and his. There is no choice in the matter."
"I know," Eveline murmured, her fingers tightening around the necklace. "But knowing doesn't make it easier."
Kaelen stood there, the silence stretching between them like a chasm. The two of them had always been like this—comfortable in the quiet, sharing space without ever truly speaking their minds. He wasn't the type to offer reassurances, nor was he the type to question her choices. He was a knight, bound by duty, and so was she.
"You will go through with it," Kaelen finally said, his tone firm. "You are a daughter of House Valemere. Your responsibility is to your family and the kingdom. Lord Aric is a good match."
"Good match?" Eveline repeated bitterly, her voice quiet. "I don't know what to think anymore. Everything is about power, alliances, and duty. It's never about what I want."
"It rarely is," Kaelen replied, his voice laced with a trace of sympathy, though it was hard to tell if he meant it.
Eveline met his gaze, something stirring within her chest. The weight of Kaelen's words—the truth in them—was undeniable. But there was something else there, something unspoken. She could feel it, though she wasn't sure how to name it. Perhaps it was a small, fragile hope that her marriage could be more than a mere transaction.
A knock interrupted the moment. The door opened again, and her father's steward entered, bowing respectfully. "My lady, your father requests your presence in the hall. Lord Aric is waiting for you."
Eveline's heart sank, but she nodded, straightening her posture as if she were already prepared for the future that awaited her. She glanced at Kaelen one last time before turning away, her voice barely a whisper. "You will accompany me?"
Kaelen's response was immediate. "Always, my lady."
"How do I look" she asked
"As beautiful as usual" he responded
she smiled as she walked toward the door, she felt a strange sense of finality settling over her. This path, this choice, had been set for her from the beginning. Her father, her family, had decided it all. But as Eveline stepped into the hall, her thoughts lingered on something else—Perhaps, she thought, this marriage would be more than duty. Perhaps it would be a test.
A test to see if she could control the man meant to be hers