"Perfect," my mother said softly, her voice trembling slightly as the makeup artist stepped back to admire her work. I caught her reflection in the mirror—her lips smiled, but her eyes betrayed a sorrow she tried hard to conceal. I looked perfect on the outside, my features flawless under layers of expertly applied makeup, but inside, I was a crumbling ruin. My chest tightened with each passing moment. Today, I was to marry a monster.
Not just any monster—the monster. The King of the Ocean.
Stories of his cruelty haunted me like a shadow I couldn't shake. He was merciless, unforgiving, a being that could bring kingdoms to their knees with a single command. His appearance didn't matter to me; it was his reputation that fueled my fear. My stomach churned at the thought of what awaited me, but there was no escaping my fate. This wasn't a union born of love. It was a sacrifice—my life traded for the safety of my people.
The room around me was silent now, save for the faint creak of the wooden floor as my mother moved to stand behind me. Her hands rested lightly on my shoulders, her touch both a comfort and a reminder of the burden I carried.
"Remember why you are doing this, my child," she whispered, her voice thick with unspoken emotion.
"For our people," I replied, my voice steady despite the storm raging within me. I nodded slightly, more to convince myself than her, and she leaned down to place a gentle kiss on my cheek.
Her departure left the room feeling unbearably empty. I was alone with my thoughts, and they swirled around me like a tempest. I stood and moved to the window, parting the heavy curtains just enough to catch a glimpse of the world outside. The courtyard was alive with movement as guests arrived, their laughter and chatter carried faintly on the wind. I spotted my friends among the crowd, their faces radiant with excitement. My heart ached—I didn't know if I would ever see them again after today.
Then, a distinctive carriage rolled into view, its design far more ornate and otherworldly than the others. The dark, shimmering scales that adorned its surface gleamed like wet obsidian under the afternoon sun, and the intricate carvings of sea creatures seemed almost alive. My breath hitched as the door swung open, and he stepped out.
He wore a mask, obscuring his face, but his presence alone sent a shiver down my spine. His dark blue hair, streaked with gold at the ends, fell in loose waves over his shoulders, contrasting sharply with his pale, almost translucent skin. He moved with an unnatural grace, his every step commanding attention. I let the curtain fall back into place, my heart pounding so loudly I feared someone might hear it.
I returned to the chair and sat down, my hands trembling in my lap. My thoughts drifted to what this day could have been. I had dreamed of celebrating my eighteenth birthday surrounded by family and friends, laughter echoing through the palace halls. Instead, it was my wedding day—a day I had never asked for, a future I couldn't escape.
The door creaked open, and I looked up, expecting my father, but instead, my sister Belle sauntered in. Her smirk was smug, her eyes glinting with a twisted satisfaction.
"Oh, look at you," she drawled, her tone dripping with mockery. "I feel sorry for you, you know."
I didn't bother to hide my disdain. "You don't have to. In fact, I'm relieved that I'll finally be free of you. Good luck finding a husband willing to put up with your nonsense."
Her smirk faltered, and her eyes flashed with anger. "At least I'm not marrying a monster!" she spat before storming out, slamming the door behind her.
I exhaled sharply, shaking off the sting of her words, just as the door opened again. This time, it was my father. His face was lined with worry, and his sad smile did little to mask the guilt weighing heavily on his shoulders.
"I'll be fine," I said before he could speak, offering him a reassuring smile. "I'm a big girl."
He nodded, his eyes glistening. "Of course. I raised a strong daughter." His voice cracked slightly as he leaned down to kiss my forehead. "It's time."
I slipped my arm through his, and together, we walked down the corridor, the walls seeming to close in on me with every step. The grand staircase loomed ahead, its ornate railing gleaming under the golden light of the chandeliers. As we descended into the ballroom, all eyes turned to me. Conversations ceased, and an almost palpable tension filled the air.
The banner above the altar read, Princess Mariane weds King Cyrus. So that was his name. Cyrus. I had imagined something more monstrous, but the name didn't lessen my unease.
My eyes were drawn to him as I approached. He stood tall and imposing, his ocean-blue eyes piercing through the mask. They glimmered like sunlight on water, and for a fleeting moment, I wondered if perhaps he wasn't as hideous as I'd imagined. But the thought did little to quell my fear.
The ceremony passed in a blur, each word of the vows feeling like a nail in the coffin of my freedom. When it ended, the room erupted into applause, but my heart felt as heavy as stone. Guests began to leave, their faces a mixture of relief and satisfaction. The treaty was secure, and their lives would go on, untouched by the sacrifice I had made.
As I stepped outside, my family gathered to say their goodbyes. My mother clung to me, her tears soaking the shoulder of my gown. "Take care, my love," she whispered. "And remember, you're doing this for all of us."
My father embraced me tightly, his silence conveying what words couldn't. My baby brother gurgled happily in his nursemaid's arms, oblivious to the gravity of the moment. Belle was nowhere to be seen, her absence unsurprising but still stinging.
I climbed into the carriage, my new husband sitting across from me. The door shut with a finality that sent a chill through me. As the carriage began to move, I looked back at the palace one last time, my mother's figure growing smaller and smaller until it disappeared entirely.
The road ahead was unknown, shrouded in darkness and uncertainty. My heart ached for the life I had left behind, even as I braced myself for the one I was being forced into.
My hands rested on my lap, trembling uncontrollably as the carriage rolled forward. I could barely breathe, let alone sit still, my body overcome with unease. Sitting across from him, I felt trapped, though the doors were unlocked. I didn't dare look at him. The memory of his scales—those faint, iridescent patches I'd glimpsed on his neck as we entered the carriage—haunted me. They were just barely visible beneath the high collar of his ornate coat, which concealed almost all of his skin. His gloves added to his air of mystery, leaving only his sharp jawline and lips exposed beneath the mask.
I tried to steady myself by focusing on the world beyond the carriage window. The landscape passed by in a blur, and the soft rhythm of the wheels on the dirt road was the only sound filling the tense silence. I inhaled deeply, then exhaled slowly, desperate to calm my racing heart. Fear won't help you now, I told myself. Whether I liked it or not, this man—this creature—was my husband. My life was tied to his, and I would have to learn to endure it. There was no escape.
The silence between us was unbearable, heavy with unspoken words. I kept my gaze fixed outside, afraid that meeting his eyes might reveal too much of the terror I felt. Then, his voice broke through the quiet, deep and resonant, sending a shiver down my spine.
"Don't be afraid."
The words hung in the air, and for a moment, I thought I'd imagined them. I turned to him slightly, my breath catching in my throat. His voice was commanding but calm, yet it carried an edge that made my stomach churn.
"I am… not… afraid," I managed to stammer, though the quiver in my voice betrayed me. It was a blatant lie, and I had no doubt he could sense it.
He chuckled, a low, rumbling sound that sent another shiver through me. "You're terrible at lying," he said, and then he smiled.
That smile caught me off guard. His mask didn't cover his mouth, and I couldn't help but notice how startlingly beautiful it was—almost disarmingly so. His teeth were perfect, and his lips curved in a way that was both elegant and strangely reassuring.
"I won't hurt you," he said, his tone softening. "I would never harm my wife. You are one of us now."
His words were meant to comfort, but they didn't. If anything, they only made my chest tighten further. One of us now. The phrase repeated in my head like a drumbeat. I was bound to him, bound to his world, his rules, his life. There was no turning back.
I nodded weakly, unable to muster the strength to respond. His oceanic eyes, visible behind the mask, seemed to study me, though I dared not hold his gaze for long. I turned back to the window, trying once more to distract myself with the passing scenery, but no amount of distraction could quell the storm of fear and uncertainty raging inside me.