a grand mirror in a room suffused with golden light, the soft rustle of silk and the whisper of servants moving around me. My reflection stared back, almost foreign in its elegance. The

strange detachment. Beautiful, and about to be wed to the Duke of Wilshire, a man I barely kn

to marry the Duke, the most powerful man in the west, whose influence stretched beyond even the church's reach. The church, too, would benef

r so they told me. A purpose bigg

iful," came a voice behind me

shed tears. "You're the most beautiful damsel in the whole of Ete

joy she felt. I wanted to believe that this day was worth celebrating, that I wasn't just a pawn in a game

myself, almost like a mantra. "Just act like a wif

ar was a long time, but it wasn't forev

nd a servant appeared, bowing low. "Y

long dark hair fell in loose waves down my back, and my eyes were bright, not with happine

ke shine. Every corner was adorned with flowers, their sweet scent filling the air, mingling with the aroma of fre

me, but I felt as if I were moving through a dream, a haze of colors and sounds that didn't quite reach me.

ing at the end of the aisle. T

en eyes watching me with an expression I couldn't quite read. When our eyes met

st a small curve of my li

h a palace guard or a servant boy," he murmure

ought. "That surely would have made the gossip of th

rious as he reached for my hand. His touch was cool, his grip firm but n

the people of Wilshire and my father's kingdom, we said o

band..." The words tasted strange on my tongue, foreign and heavy, like a language I did

, his expression calm. There was no trace of emotion on his face, just t

lared us husband and wife. The crowd erupted into applause, a wa

eek in a chaste kiss. "Welcome to Wilshire, my lad

k you, my lord," I replied, my voice ste

s, of congratulations and polite smiles. I felt like a puppet

ss of wine had been poured, I found myself alone in a small room off the main ha

inded myself.

standing there, his expression unreadable. He closed t

t well," he said, his

defiantly. "I could say the same fo

e. "I suppose we're both good at

was a tension in the air, a strange, ch

asked finally, br

end to be the perfect couple for a year. Af

s words. "And you?" I asked, curious despit

sion unreadable. "Power.

here I thought it was all for love," I

down my spine. "Love is a luxury we cannot afford, my

n this world, love was indeed a luxury, o

looking back at me over his shoulder.

I replied, my voice ba

ions - relief, fear, hope, despair. I was married now, bound

lf, free to find my own path, free to dream of

ded myself again

do this.