Arrange Marriage to the Prince

Chapter 4: The silence between us

The morning after their wedding, Elira woke to the faint sound of birds chirping outside her window. The golden light of the sun filtered through the thick curtains, casting a soft glow on the lavish room. It was a beautiful sight, but she felt none of it.

Her heart was a tangled mess of confusion and uncertainty, a knot that refused to loosen. The night before had been a blur—a cold, calculated affair, no different than the marriage itself. There had been no tenderness, no words of affection. Only duty.

She shifted in the bed, her fingers brushing against the sheets that still carried the weight of Kael’s presence. His scent lingered faintly in the air, and for a moment, she felt something inside her stir—a strange mixture of unease and longing.

She had never imagined that her wedding night would feel like a cage. But then again, she had never imagined being married to a man like Kael. A man who was more fortress than man—cold, detached, and seemingly incapable of warmth.

And yet, she couldn’t deny the magnetic pull he had on her. Every glance, every word, every brief moment of vulnerability that flickered in his eyes—no matter how fleeting—kept her on edge. She had seen the way his gaze softened for a split second when he had spoken those foreign words. The mystery behind them gnawed at her, like an unsolved riddle she couldn’t ignore.

‘It can't be a compliment, this grumpy man isn't capable enough to give one’, she thought.

Her thoughts were interrupted by a soft knock at the door.

“Elira?” A familiar voice called softly, and the door creaked open just enough for her to see the figure standing in the doorway.

Her lady-in-waiting, Selene, entered, her expression gentle but tinged with concern. “I’ve come to help you get ready. It’s time for breakfast.”

Elira nodded, unable to find her voice. She had no words for Selene, no words for herself, not even for the woman who had been by her side since childhood. There was a weight in her chest, something heavier than the silks she wore.

Selene didn’t push, instead quietly making her way over to the wardrobe and selecting a gown. As she held it up, Elira caught a glimpse of herself in the full-length mirror. The woman staring back at her seemed like a stranger—a woman trapped in a life she had never wanted.

"How is His Highness?" Selene asked gently, breaking the silence between them.

Elira hesitated, then sighed. “He’s fine.” Her voice felt hollow. “He’s always fine.”

Selene raised an eyebrow but said nothing more, sensing the bitterness in Elira’s words. She helped her into the gown with practiced ease, the fabric soft and luxurious against Elira’s skin, but it felt like a shackle.

Once dressed, Elira followed Selene to the grand dining hall, her footsteps slow, each one echoing in the vast, silent corridors of the palace. The weight of her new life settled in her bones with each step, a burden she wasn’t sure she could bear.

As they entered the dining hall, the room fell into a brief, respectful silence. The courtiers and nobles had gathered for the morning meal, their chatter ceasing as their eyes turned to Elira. There was an air of expectation, as if they were all waiting to see how she would fit into this royal life. How the daughter of merchants would hold herself among royalty.

Kael sat at the head of the table, his gaze already fixed on her as she entered. His expression was unreadable, as always, but there was a tension in the air. Something unspoken.

Elira’s stomach churned as she took her seat across from him, feeling the weight of his eyes on her. The silence between them was palpable, thick with the unspoken words and emotions they had yet to express.

“You look... well,” Kael’s voice finally broke the silence, though his words were cool and detached.

Elira lifted her gaze, meeting his eyes for the first time that morning. She could feel the invisible barrier between them, the walls he had built up to keep her at arm’s length. But there was something else there—something dangerous lurking beneath the surface.

“Thank you, Your Highness,” she replied evenly, her tone polite but distant. She wasn’t sure if he wanted to provoke her or simply avoid the tension that hung between them. Either way, she wasn’t about to play his game.

Kael’s lips twitched slightly, as if amused by her response, but he didn’t press further. Instead, he turned his attention to the meal laid out before him, signaling for the servants to begin.

The meal passed in uncomfortable silence, the clinking of utensils and the murmur of conversation from the nobles the only sounds that filled the room. Elira ate mechanically, her thoughts wandering as she tried to make sense of everything. Her marriage. Her new life.

She had expected Kael to be distant, cold even—but not like this. His indifference was like a weapon, a shield he used to keep everyone at bay. It was the way he spoke to her as though she were nothing more than an obligation. An object to be admired but not touched.

As the meal drew to a close, Kael stood, his movements fluid and calculated, as though everything in his life was part of some grand design.

“Come with me,” he said, his gaze briefly meeting hers. There was no warmth in his voice, but there was something else—an unspoken command that Elira couldn’t ignore.

Without a word, she followed him as he led her out of the dining hall and down a series of winding corridors. She had no idea where they were going or what he wanted from her, but she knew one thing for certain: nothing about this marriage would be easy.

As they reached the door to a large, ornate study, Kael turned to her. “There are matters to discuss,” he said, his voice low, almost solemn. “You are my wife now. And you will have responsibilities.”

Elira swallowed hard, trying to steady her breath. "And what does that mean, exactly?"

Kael’s gaze turned cold, but there was a sharp edge to it now. “It means you will learn how to play the game. You will learn what it means to be a Draven.”

Elira didn’t respond, her mind racing. She had no idea what game Kael was playing, but she was determined to figure it out. She had no choice. Her family’s future depended on it. She was already a part of this. A mere pawn yet a part of the game.

Kael opened the door to the study, and as they entered, she saw him move to a large desk, his back turned to her as he began to gather papers. The atmosphere in the room was tense, filled with the weight of his power, but Elira refused to shrink in its shadow.

“Sit,” Kael said, not looking at her. It was a command, not a request.

Elira hesitated, her pride fighting against the reality of her situation. But she sat anyway, her back straight, her eyes locked on his form as he continued his work. She didn’t know what he expected from her, but she would not be a silent, obedient wife. Not now. Not ever.

The silence between them stretched, heavy with the unspoken tension. There was a game being played, and Elira was determined to be more than just a pawn.

As the moments passed, Elira found herself wondering just how far Kael would push her—and how long she could resist the pull between them.

But one thing was certain: this marriage was only the beginning. And in the quiet tension of the study, Elira realized she had just entered a much darker world than she could have ever imagined.