Chapter 3: The Morning After
Eliana woke up to the sound of Ryker's snores. She lay in bed, her heart still racing from the events of the previous night.
She couldn't believe what had happened. She had been forced to marry a man she didn't love, and now she was trapped in a loveless marriage.
Eliana slowly got out of bed, trying not to wake Ryker. She walked over to the window and looked out, feeling a sense of desperation wash over her.
She was trapped, and she didn't know how to escape. The palace seemed to loom over her, a prison of stone and steel.
Eliana took a deep breath and tried to calm herself down. She knew she had to think clearly if she was going to find a way out of this situation.
She walked over to the dresser and began to get ready for the day. She knew she had to put on a brave face, no matter how she was feeling inside.
As she was finishing up, Ryker woke up. He stretched and yawned, then looked over at Eliana.
"Good morning, my dear," he said, his voice dripping with sarcasm.
Eliana forced a smile onto her face. "Good morning," she replied, trying to sound cheerful.
Ryker got out of bed and began to get dressed. Eliana watched him, feeling a sense of unease.
She knew she had to be careful around him. She didn't know what he was capable of, and she didn't want to find out.
As they finished getting ready, Ryker turned to Eliana. "Shall we go down to breakfast?" he asked.
Eliana nodded, feeling a sense of trepidation. She knew she had to face the rest of the palace, and she wasn't looking forward to it.
She took a deep breath and followed Ryker out of the room, trying to prepare herself for what lay ahead.