The broken Princess Reborn to be His Duchess

Sparks

Catalina POV:

The sun flittered through the heavy curtains making the dust look like glitter in the air. I couldn't sleep, I tossed and turned the whole night, unable to forget the man I had seen. His blue eyes like dark ice pressed against my mind whispering to not be forgotten. I sighed feeling frustrated and got out of bed. As soon as my feet touched the ground, the door opened and my breath caught in my throat. "You're awake." I nodded, my words stuck in my throat. He was tall, and strong. "Who are you?" I asked, he didn't remove his helmet, "just a guard to his majesty." I looked away, realizing I was still wrapped in his cloak, I walked towards him, my bare feet padding softly towards him until I was mere inches from the towering sight.

I couldn't tear my eyes away from his blue orbs that pulled me deeper and deeper. I unfastened his cloak and removed it from my shoulders to give it to him. Surprise flashed in his eyes before something else— something primal.

"Keep it." He turned away and stormed out before I could say anything else, leaving me even more speechless. I caught my reflection in the mirror and my cheeks burned, my breasts were poking against the thin fabric of my night gown. I pulled his cloak back on, wrapping it tightly around me, it smelled of lavender and mint.

The door opened again but it wasn't Spider to my disappointment. "Princess," curtsied the maids before entering, I craned my neck to see if spider was outside. "The King has summoned you to his private office." I nodded and sat in front of the vanity as they filled water in the tub for me. I watched absentmindedly as they littered the water with rose petals and fragrant oils.

My mind wasn't on the bath though, it was more on the man outside. Who was he? Why couldn't I place him?

"My lady," said the maid and I stood as they undressed me and guided me to the tub. They started washing my body and my hair, while my mind swirled with the thoughts of this man. I needed to stop. I was going to be married soon. In two days to be exact. I couldn't afford to be thinking of anyone else. I loved once and it was the death of me. I would never love again.

I absentmindedly played with the petals in the milky water, "are you still shaken from last night?" Asked Greta, I looked up, surprised. In my past life no one had cared, another difference. "I am okay, I haven't seen you before," I noted and she nodded in understanding, "I am from the Duke's home, the King felt that it would be best to have you taken care of by us after last night." I nodded. Quite strange. This wasn't normal for an arranged marriage, especially since Cassian was still asleep. He would only wake in four years.

When they were done, they dried my body before dressing me in a beautiful deep purple dress. I pointed to the wedding jewels, "I will wear them today." Greta looked at me carefully before replying, "these are for your wedding—" I cut her off with a flick of my wrist as the other maid's coiled my golden hair tightly, making the curls tighter. "You can leave my hair down too." I had never worn my hair down for years, it wasn't customary practice here but I didn't care. I wasn't from here.

The maids nodded as they twisted more strands and braided a piece with purple ribbon before tying it to the back of my hair. With the rest of my hair down, I stood and slipped into my shoes. "You look beautiful princess," said Greta and I nodded in thanks. "Would you like a bit of colour to your face?" She asked, and I shook my head, "I will wear colour only for my husband when I am the Duke's wife he will be the first to see me in colour." Greta smiled before it quickly disappeared and she nodded.

The door opened and I walked out with my skirts in my hand and hair falling elegantly behind me. I tried not to look for him but without needing to he stepped behind me, towering over me. "You're still here," I said as we walked, "just following his majesty's orders," and then he leaned closer and I froze as he took a large breath in, "beautiful." I felt heat creep into my cheeks at his closeness, but before I could object he had stepped back and I couldn't shake the feeling of his eyes all over me.

I couldn't think straight everything in me was pulled tight. I didn't care what the tapestries thought at this moment. I barely knew what I thought. This was wrong. I was allowing another man to make me feel flustered when my husband- future husband is laying asleep. I needed to stop this.

I stopped and turned on my heels. Nearly bumping straight into Spider and falling into his arms. "Spider." I said flustered, he c****d and eye brow, "yes princess?" His gruff voice sent sparks right through my soul, "thank you for helping me yesterday but there is no need. I am safe now and furthermore I am a spoken for woman. I love the man I am going to marry so please keep your distance and do not speak to me unless completely necessary." He looked shocked probably from being turned down for the very first time, but if he did, he didn't say anything he just nodded.

I turned around and continued walking to the King's chambers.