CHAPTER 3
953 Words
The wedding changed everything.
And yet—
Nothing changed at all.
Days had passed since Pearl and Charles officially became husband and wife. The kingdom celebrated endlessly, praising the union as the beginning of a new era for Azurith.
But behind the palace walls, Pearl slowly began to realize that something was terribly wrong.
Charles was kind to her.
Respectful.
Gentle.
But distant.
Always distant.
Pearl sat quietly near the balcony of their royal chamber while soft ocean currents drifted through the room. The palace glowed beautifully outside, but none of it brought her comfort anymore.
Charles stood near the doorway preparing to leave again.
“You’re going out?” Pearl asked softly.
Charles adjusted the sleeve of his royal clothing. “There are matters I need to handle.”
Pearl forced a small smile.
“Again?”
Charles paused briefly before nodding.
“I won’t be long.”
Pearl lowered her gaze quietly.
It had become a routine.
Charles leaving.
Charles returning late.
Charles avoiding her eyes.
At first, Pearl tried to ignore it. She convinced herself he was simply adjusting to royal responsibilities.
But then nights passed.
And Charles never once touched her.
Not even once.
Pearl did not fully understand it.
Whenever they shared the same room, Charles always kept his distance. Some nights he stayed awake for hours near the windows instead of beside her.
Eventually, Pearl gathered enough courage to ask him.
That night, the room was quiet except for the sound of water moving gently outside.
Pearl looked toward him nervously.
“Charles…”
He glanced up from the book in his hands.
“Yes?”
Pearl hesitated before speaking carefully.
“Did I do something wrong?”
Charles frowned slightly. “What do you mean?”
Pearl swallowed softly.
“You barely look at me anymore.”
Silence filled the room instantly.
Charles slowly closed the book.
“You didn’t do anything wrong, Pearl.”
“Then why do you avoid me?”
Charles looked away.
“It’s not intentional.”
Pearl’s chest tightened painfully.
“We’re married,” she whispered quietly. “But sometimes it feels like you’re somewhere else entirely.”
Charles remained silent for a long moment.
Then finally, he sighed.
“I’m simply not very interested in… those kinds of things.”
Pearl blinked in confusion.
“What kinds of things?”
Charles avoided her eyes.
“Romance. Intimacy.”
Pearl stared at him quietly.
“Oh.”
That single word hurt more than she expected.
Charles stood up slowly.
“You should get some rest.”
And just like that—
The conversation ended.
Pearl watched him leave the room feeling emptier than before.
Deep down, she wanted to believe him.
She wanted to believe the distance between them had nothing to do with her.
But doubt slowly began creeping into her heart.
Especially after she noticed how much time Charles spent with Ella.
At first, it seemed harmless.
They laughed together during royal dinners.
They disappeared for long conversations inside the palace gardens.
Sometimes Pearl would enter a room only for silence to suddenly fall between them.
And every single time—
Charles looked guilty.
One afternoon, Pearl swam through the coral hallways searching for Charles after not seeing him since morning.
A servant bowed respectfully as she passed.
“Have you seen the prince?” Pearl asked softly.
The servant hesitated briefly.
“He is in the eastern gardens, Your Highness.”
Pearl smiled faintly.
“Thank you.”
She made her way toward the gardens quietly, hoping perhaps she and Charles could finally spend time together alone.
But the moment she arrived—
She stopped completely.
Charles and Ella sat together beneath the glowing pearl trees.
Laughing.
Ella touched his arm playfully while Charles smiled at something she whispered.
Pearl’s chest tightened painfully.
Neither of them noticed her immediately.
And for the first time—
Pearl felt jealous.
A feeling she hated instantly.
Because Ella was her sister.
And Charles was her husband.
So why did she suddenly feel like the outsider between them?
Pearl forced herself to step forward.
The sound of movement caused both of them to look up immediately.
Ella smiled first.
“Pearl.”
Charles’ expression shifted quickly.
Almost nervous.
Pearl tried to smile back.
“I was looking for you.”
Charles stood immediately. “I didn’t realize how late it was.”
Ella crossed her arms lightly.
“We were only talking.”
Pearl nodded slowly.
“I know.”
But something inside her whispered otherwise.
An awkward silence settled between them.
Then Ella stood up gracefully.
“Well, I should leave you two alone.”
As she passed Pearl, she paused briefly beside her.
And whispered softly—
“You should hold onto him tighter.”
Pearl froze instantly.
Before she could respond, Ella swam away calmly like nothing had happened.
Pearl turned toward Charles slowly.
“What did she mean by that?”
Charles frowned.
“She was joking.”
“It didn’t sound like a joke.”
Charles sighed tiredly.
“You’re overthinking this.”
Pearl stared at him in disbelief.
Overthinking?
Her husband barely touched her.
Barely looked at her.
Yet smiled freely around her sister.
And somehow she was overthinking?
Pearl looked away before the tears gathering in her eyes could fall.
“I’m tired,” she whispered quietly.
Then she left him standing there alone.
That night, Pearl could not sleep.
The ocean outside her chamber windows looked darker than usual.
Restless.
Almost warning her.
And as Pearl lay awake beside the empty space Charles should have filled—
She realized something terrifying.
Her marriage was beginning to feel less like love…
And more like loneliness.
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