This morning didn't feel like morning at all. It felt as if someone pressed the whole weight of the kingdom on me.
I woke up before the maids even reached my door, staring at the ceiling. My pillow was still warm from me holding it too tight, and my face swollen because I'd barely slept.
The moment I sat up, I heard it. Footsteps. Not the light gossiping maids one. This was heavier, sharp, like someone important had arrived.
I already knew the Noctaris envoys are here. Which meant… he was real now, and I wasn't dreaming from all of father's drama yesterday.
I pressed my fingers against my blanket. Didn't help. Nothing helped the way my stomach twisted tightly.
A maid knocked gently. "My Lady. They're here. The envoys from Noctaris."
"They" Just that one word is enough to ruin my day.
When I opened the door, she just stared at me with this look as if she wished she could hide me somewhere. She didn't even try to fix my hair before escorting me downstairs.
I guessed the maid knew it didn't matter how pretty or neat I looked…. I was still going to be offered like a toy.
The castle was too quiet. People usually talk in the morning. But today, even the guards at the stairs looked like statues.
When we reached the main hall, I saw them.
Noctaris warriors.
Their armor wasn't shiny like ours. It was dark and matte. None of them speaks, or blinks much either. They just stood there, three steps apart, perfectly still.
One of the nobles whispered near me, "Gods, even their presence is cursed."
Another one muttered. "Imagine living with the man who commands them. It must be so scary."
I pretended not to hear them, even though their words got to me anyway.
The leader of the envoy stepped forward. His voice was deep and had no emotion. "His highness, Prince Kaelvion, will arrive tonight for the signing ceremony."
Someone gasped behind me. I could hear the council minister saying. "Poor girl. She looks so young."
Father walked through the crowd like he suddenly remembered he had a daughter. He smiled at the envoy with too many teeth, a man who wanted something and always got it.
"Go and prepare the hall," he ordered someone. "The king of Aranthia welcomes Noctaris with honor."
When the envoys left, everyone exhaled at once, like they'd been holding their breath. Some clutched her chest. Someone else sat down.
People murmured, "Thank heaven, the prince didn't come with them." as if he was a storm they're not ready for.
Father turned to me, eyes beaming with pride. "Go get dressed. Tonight is significant to all of us, Liora."
I didn't answer him. If I did, I might have said something stupid like I didn't ask for his selfishness.
Back in my chamber, the maids pulled dresses, jewelry, perfume, too many things. They tried to curl my hair but my hands kept shaking and getting in their way.
Elara said to the other maid, thinking I won't hear, "She looks so pale…
Another whispered back. "Who wouldn't be? They said the prince killed a whole battalion without even touching anyone. Even his own family is scared of him."
I closed my eyes wishing they'd stop talking.
I ended up picking a soft blue dress with silver rhinestones. It was so pretty to the eye that it made me look like a soft thing someone puts on display. The necklace felt cold on my neck, as if it belonged to the kingdom Kaelvion came from.
The sun had already gone down by the time we were done. My father came in right after the maid bowed out.
He looked at me as if inspecting a weapon. I don't know why but that's when it hit me.
If my mother were still alive, she wouldn't allow all of this. She used to kiss my forehead and say "I'm proud of you." Father never learned any of that after her death.
"You must stand straight. His Highness dislikes fragile women."
I didn't argue, I nodded regardless. What say do I have anymore when everything is ready?
Father turned to leave, but stopped. "Don't look frightened and smile. It would be bad if he said he doesn't want you anymore."
By nightfall, the castle was glowing with lanterns and gold light. Nobles arrived in their best robes. The musician played it sounded disturbing to my ears.
When I entered hall, every head turned.
"She's too gentle for a man like that."
I tried walking slower so my knees won't fail me. The marriage contract was already spread out on the long table. Two quill pens and two kingdom seals.
My father sat proudly on the throne. He kept glancing at the door impatiently. He must be so happy seeing all of this happening.
And then, the lights flickered. At first, it was silent. A heavy one. The doors opened— hard and loud, slamming into the walls.
Every person inside the hall jumped. I swear even the musician dropped their instrument.
Prince Kaelvion walked in. He didn't rush, each of his steps echoing the silent hall. All eyes are him.
The aura around him feels colder but not like winter cold, more like the one you feel standing near something powerful, something you're not allowed to touch.
His cloak was black, long enough to drag slightly behind him. He moved with this terrifying calmness, like he had no fear of anything in this room, not even my father.
People bowed so fast as he walked past them. Someone beside me was shivering. "He's even more frightened than I imagined…"
"Don't look at his eyes. He will get you imprisoned."
I looked anyway.
And he wasn't a monster. Not even close. He was beautiful in a way that didn't feel safe at all with a strong jaw, sharp cheekbones, dark hair falling over his forehead, eyes so dark.
It wasn't his face that scared me. It was the way he looked at everything as if he owned it.
When his gaze finally found me, my heart pounded hard. It wasn't because he stared at me too hard. It was that he didn't look away, not even once.
Kaelvion didn't bow or give a smile. He only looked at me.
My finger twitched at my side. Something in me felt too full and empty at the same time.
The quill was handed to him. He didn't even hesitate. He took it as though he'd done this a thousand times before, signing his name with a controlled stroke.
Now, it was my turn to do the same. My hand shook a little as the quill touched my skin. He saw it, watching the tremor. I tried to steady it but my fingers kept tightening around the quill.
Our hands brushed by accident when I set the paper down. Just a little light touch.
The signing ended, and people clapped awkwardly, celebrating but also terrified.
Kaelvion took one step closer to me, just enough that I had to raise my head to look up at him.
"Shouldn't you pay your respect to your husband first? He asked. His voice was low, deep.
I swallowed my spit hard. "No, I don't even know you except being a prince everyone feared."
He didn't look away. "You will learn how to do that gradually, Princess."
It wasn't a threat, but the truth. I just married the Devil's heir as my husband. I must know how to please him.
My father cleared his throat loudly, trying to pull the attention back to him. "We will have a feast—"
Kaelvion finally turned his head toward him.
"We leave at dawn," he said, his voice echoing through the hall like a command no one dared question. "Your princess will come to Noctaris under my protection."
My father froze. People gasped. Even I was shocked because dawn was too soon.
Kaelvion didn't wait for approval. He had already walked out, the hall parting around him like the sea itself feared touching him.
And just like that… he was gone.
The silence he left behind felt louder than his presence.
I stood there, fingers curled at my sides, trying to breathe around the fact that my entire life had just been signed away in a room full of people who think I made the wrong choice.
And all I could think was… I thought the worst part was hearing his name. But the real fear didn't start until he looked at me.