The morning sun poured through the windows, painting the room in soft gold. My fingers danced over the piano keys, each note spilling out like a whisper from my soul. The melody wrapped around me — warm yet sharp, soft yet strong — a reflection of everything I carried inside.
Since Claire's death, something inside me had hardened. Grief had carved out my heart and left steel in its place. I wasn't the same girl I used to be — the one who laughed too easily and believed the world was kind. No... I was fierce now, burning with the need to protect what little I had left. Too many people were gone, their faces flickering in my mind like dying flames.
I couldn't lose my kingdom, too. If I did... I'd lose myself. I'd be forced into a life I couldn't bear — tied to some nobleman in a cold, suffocating marriage. A life spent smiling politely while someone else controlled my every move. No. That wasn't my future.
So I played. I let my fingers speak for me, pouring out my pain, my anger, my defiance. Each note reminded me that I was still standing — still fighting.
I didn't hear the footsteps until his voice cut through the air like a blade.
"Stop playing that instrument," Darius said, his tone cold and sharp.
I froze, my fingers still hovering over the keys. Slowly, I turned to face him. He stood near the doorway, watching me with that unrelenting stare — the kind that made my skin crawl.
"I don't take orders from you," I said flatly, my voice harder than I intended.
"You do now." His gaze narrowed as he stepped closer. "Follow me."
I scoffed. "I'm busy."
"You're wasting time." His hand shot out, gripping my wrist. His touch was firm, yet strangely careful — like he knew I'd lash out if he held me too tightly.
"Let go," I warned, twisting my arm slightly.
"Not until you stop being stubborn."
I clenched my teeth, fighting the urge to yank my arm free. I wanted to argue, to push him back and return to my music — but something in his voice stopped me. He wasn't just ordering me around this time. There was urgency beneath the ice in his tone — something serious.
With a frustrated sigh, I stood, giving him a sharp glare.
"You're lucky I'm in a good mood," I muttered.
Darius arched a brow, his lips curling just slightly — not quite a smile, but close enough to annoy me.
"Is that what you call this?"
I didn't answer. Instead, I followed him down the hall, my heart still beating to the rhythm of my unfinished song.
Marrying Darius was the worst thing that had ever happened to me. If I was being honest, it felt even worse than losing Claire — and I hated myself for thinking that. Claire's death had left me broken, but this... this felt like I was trapped in a cage with no way out. At least with grief, I could cry and heal in my own time. With Darius, there was no room for that. No room for anything but his endless commands and suffocating presence.
I never married him for love — I'd never been foolish enough to believe love was part of the deal. Our marriage was a contract, a desperate attempt to save the kingdom from falling apart. The council believed a union between our families would stop the threat of war, and I had no choice but to accept it. Refusing would have meant sacrificing innocent lives — lives I couldn't bear to lose.
But gods, if I had known how unbearable he'd be...
"Sit down," Darius ordered, his voice cold and sharp as always.
I clenched my fists, biting back the urge to snap at him. Sit down. As if I were some servant he could command with a flick of his wrist. His arrogance knew no limits — always standing there with his perfect posture, acting like the world itself bent to his will.
"I'll stand," I shot back, folding my arms tightly across my chest.
"You'll sit," he countered, his eyes narrowing. "Don't test me, Elena."
I hated the way he said my name — like it didn't belong to me anymore. Like he owned it just because we wore matching rings now.
"I'm not one of your soldiers," I spat.
"Then stop acting like a child and do as you're told."
His words were sharp enough to sting, but I refused to flinch. Instead, I stared at him with all the defiance I had left. My whole life had been about learning to survive on my own terms — no man, no king, and certainly no Darius was going to change that.
"You're not my father," I said, my voice low but firm.
"No," he replied darkly, stepping closer. "I'm your husband. And you agreed to that, remember?"
I wished I could forget. Forget the way I'd been forced to smile through the wedding ceremony, pretending I wasn't walking into a life I never wanted. Forget the way Darius had barely looked at me that day — like I was nothing more than a piece on his chessboard.
"I didn't marry you for your company," I muttered. "I did it to protect my people."
His gaze hardened. "Then stop fighting me like I'm your enemy."
I barked out a bitter laugh. "That's exactly what you are."
For a moment, I swore I saw something flicker behind his cold expression — frustration, maybe even regret — but it was gone in an instant.
"You think hating me will make this easier?" he said quietly. "Fine. Hate me all you want. Just remember why you're here."
I didn't need the reminder. The weight of that choice never left me.
"I remember everything," I whispered.
I turned away before he could see the tears threat
ening to rise — before he could see just how much I hated this... hated him.