The journey to the kingdom passed in silence, and it unsettled me. It left too much room for my thoughts to dwell on what awaited—the wedding night. I had never been allowed near a man before, and now I was to give myself to one. I pushed the thought aside. You'll only make yourself anxious, I reminded myself. Perhaps, if fortune was kind, he would leave me be for tonight. I decided to look outside maybe then I wouldn't think too much about it.
I didn't know how much time passed but we had arrived at the Kingdom of Tenebrious.
As we stepped into the grand hall of the castle, I couldn't help but feel a sense of awe at the opulent decorations and the eerie silence that filled the air. The walls were adorned with cobweb-covered tapestries, and the floors creaked beneath our feet.
Kael's hand rested on the small of my back, guiding me through the long corridors. We passed by servants and guards, who bowed and curtsied as we went by.
In the throne room, we were greeted by Kael's family members. His aunts and uncle looked at me with varying degrees of curiosity and suspicion.
"Aunt Elara, Aunt Livia, Uncle Ryker," Kael said, his voice formal. "I'd like you to meet my wife, Aurora."
Aunt Elara, a statuesque woman with piercing green eyes, smiled warmly and approached me. "Welcome, Aurora. It's a pleasure to finally meet you. How was your trip to the kingdom?"
I smiled, feeling a sense of relief at her friendly demeanor. "It was long and arduous, but I'm glad to be here now."
Aunt Elara nodded sympathetically. "I'm sure it was. You're welcome to rest and recover from your journey. We'll get to know each other better soon."
As she spoke, I noticed Aunt Livia watching us from the corner, her expression disapproving. When she caught my eye, she stepped forward, her voice dripping with sarcasm.
"So, you're the one who's caught Kael's eye," she said, her tone making it clear she wasn't impressed.
Kael intervened, his voice calm. "Aunt Livia, let's not forget ourselves. Aurora is my wife, and she deserves respect."Aunt Livia's expression didn't change, but she nodded slightly. "Of course, Kael. I meant no disrespect."
"We'll discuss the details of the marriage later, Kael. For now, let's focus on the upcoming coronation." Uncle Ryker spoke. Kael nodded, his expression unreadable. "Of course, Uncle."
After the introductions, Kael excused himself to take care of some matters, leaving me in the capable hands of the servants. He showed me to our chambers, a beautifully decorated room with a large bed and a sitting area.
"Get some rest, Aurora," he said, his voice gentle. "I'll see you at dinner."
I nodded, feeling a mix of emotions. As he left, I sat down on the bed, lost in thought. The silence of the room was oppressive, and I couldn't shake off the feeling of anxiety that had been building up inside me.
Just as I was starting to drift off to sleep, there was a knock at the door. It was a beautiful girl, she seemed to be a maid but she looked at me with an intensity that made me uncomfortable.
"Aurora, dinner is ready," she said, her voice polite but her eyes flashing with a hint of resentment. I stood up, smoothing out my dress. "Thank you, I'll be right there."
As we made our way to the dining hall, I couldn't help but feel a sense of trepidation. The night ahead of me was filled with uncertainty, and I wasn't sure what to expect.
When we arrived at the dining hall, Kael was already seated, his eyes locked onto mine as I took my place beside him. The dinner was formal, with multiple courses and polite conversation.
As the night wore on, I found myself growing more and more anxious. The custom of consummating our marriage on the first night weighed heavily on my mind, and I couldn't shake off the feeling of fear that had been building up inside me.
During dinner, I tried to engage Kael in conversation, asking him about his family and his life before our marriage.
"Tell me, Kael, do you have any brothers or sisters?" I asked, curiosity getting the better of me. Kael's expression turned somber. "No, I'm an only child. But I have a close relationship with my Aunt Elara. She was like a mother to me after my mother's passing."
I nodded sympathetically. "I'm sorry about your mother. What was she like?"
Mmm
Kael's eyes softened. "She was kind and gentle. She had a way of making everyone feel welcome and loved." I smiled, feeling a pang of sadness. "I wish I could have met her."
Kael's gaze locked onto mine, and for a moment, I felt like he could see right through me. "Maybe in another life," he said, his voice barely above a whisper.
As the night wore on, I found myself growing more and more curious about Kael's life. I asked him about his best friend, and he told me about a man named Marcus who had been by his side since childhood. "Marcus is like a brother to me," Kael said, a hint of a smile on his face. "We've been through thick and thin together."
I laughed, feeling a sense of wonder at the depth of their friendship. "I'm glad you have someone like that in your life."
Kael's expression turned serious. "Yes, Marcus is one of the few people who truly understands me."
As the evening drew to a close, Kael escorted me to our chambers. Eira was waiting for us, her eyes fixed on Kael with an intensity that made me uncomfortable.
"Who's that?" I whispered to Kael, nodding towards the maid. Kael followed my gaze and smiled. "That's Eira. She's been with me since I was a child."I raised an eyebrow. "She seems... devoted."
Kael chuckled. "Yes, Eira is fiercely loyal. She's been a valuable member of our household."
"Goodnight, Aurora," Kael said, his voice low and husky. "I'll see you in the morning." I nodded, feeling a sense of relief wash over me. "Goodnight, Kael."
As I lay in bed, I couldn't shake off the feeling that Eira's gaze had left on me. It was as if she was waiting for something to happen, something that would change the dynamics of our little household forever.
The next morning, I decided to explore the castle and get to know its inhabitants better. As I walked through the corridors, I stumbled upon Eira dusting a nearby shelf.
"Good morning," I said, trying to make small talk.Eira turned to me, her expression neutral. "Good morning, Your Highness."
I smiled, sensing a hint of tension between us. "Please, call me Aurora. We're going to be living together, after all."
Eira's gaze flickered, and for a moment, I thought I saw a flash of anger. But it was quickly replaced by a mask of politeness. "As you wish, Aurora."
I nodded, feeling a sense of unease. There was something about Eira that didn't quite add up. Something that made me wonder if she was more than just a loyal maid.