Renzille emerged from the ceremony hall, her newly chosen husband-to-be following obediently behind.
The coachman couldn't help, but shoot her a look of surprise as he greeted her, silently questioning her about what happened. "Welcome back, my lady."
Renzille acknowledged his greeting with a curt nod, her gaze flickering over the waiting carriage and without uttering another word, she climbed into the carriage, the beastman silently following her footsteps.
The atmosphere was tense and silent, the weight of the situation clear in the air.
The coachman's eyes briefly flickered towards the white haired beastman before he turned his attention to closing the carriage door securely.
With the door now shut, the sound from outside faded into a faint buzz, leaving Renzille and her newly chosen companion in a secluded world of their own— the coachman resumed his position in front of the carriage, gripping the reins as he prepared to drive the wooden vehicle away from the hall.
Despite his curiosity, he remained silent, honoring the unspoken tension that enveloped Renzille and her new beastman companion.
Soon, the carriage started to move, causing Renzille to tear her gaze from the window and turn her attention to the presumed broken beastman sitting across from her.
He sat stiffly and quietly, his demeanor still maintaining the same stoicism that he had shown throughout the ceremony.
The silence that enveloped them in the carriage was loud, but it was occasionally broken by the sound of the steady thump of the horses' hooves and the creaking of the carriage as it moved over the road.
She studied his blank expression, wishing he would say something, anything to break the deafening silence because the quiet tension in the carriage felt suffocating, adding another layer to guilt upon the guilt she was already feeling since the start of the ceremony, but she can't be selfish and ask for that, no?
She let out a through her nose and was about to look away when the sudden sound of the beastman's voice pierced the silence.
His question hung in the air, simple and direct to the point. "Why did you choose me?"
Renzille turned her gaze towards him, surprised that he had suddenly broken his silence— she was too stunned that she took a moment to gather her thoughts, contemplating her response.
She didn't quite expect the beastman to be the one to start the conversation, especially with such a direct question, but she wasn't complaining.
Renzille opened her mouth and answered. "I'm sorry."
The unexpected words hung heavy in the air, causing a flicker of surprise to pass over the beastman's expression, looking momentarily taken aback, unsure of how to react to her unexpected apology.
Renzille's original intention was to offer a sincere compliment, to acknowledge his potential and the unique qualities she saw within him.. However, a completely different sentence slipped out of her mouth instead.
The remorse in her voice seemed to surprise not just the beastman, but even herself, as if her true feelings had spoken instead of her logical thoughts.
The beastman's lips opened, but closed in stunned silence, too surprised at what she had just said— even Renzille found herself sharing a moment of mutual shock, unsure what drove her to say those words.
A noble should never apologize to a beastman.
Those are the words told to the noble children the moment they received lessons from their tutors.
That's why the unexpected words that had escaped her mouth took her completely by surprise which now hung between them, creating a brief, but charged silence.
The carriage continued its journey, their thoughts swirling with unspoken questions and unanticipated feelings.
As the silence in the carriage began to feel unbearable once more, Renzille felt compelled to speak up and offer a sincere explanation, but this time, her words poured out without hesitation, fueled by honesty.
"I.. I thought you were beautiful." She admitted, her gaze shifting from the floor to the beastman. "When our eyes met, I felt my breath get taken away, as if fate itself had drawn us together. I chose you because of that feeling.. And yes, I believe you have potential. Everyone does."
The beastman fixed his gaze on Renzille, his expression still difficult to decipher.
"Now, I understand why they call you naïve." He said, and strangely, the words seemed to hold an underlying tone of appreciation rather than mockery.
Renzille couldn't help, but tilt her head slightly, taken aback by the unexpected undertone in the beastman's remark, making her find herself wondering what he truly meant by calling her naïve, his words leaving her feeling puzzled.
Then, the beastman's gaze lowered to the carriage floor as he shook his head, his icy blue eyes losing their sparkle for a moment.
"However.. Not everyone perceives it that way, Lady Thillion." He murmured, his voice sounding both wary and bitter. "Not everyone shares your perspective on beauty. I have been labeled broken and unsightly by many."
His voice carried resignation as he spoke, the weight of his experience and the harsh judgments he had faced evident in his words.
The beastman glanced up at Renzille, catching sight of her pursed lips and frown, but she suddenly looked determined, then she started speaking.
"I think otherwise." She insisted, her gaze unwavering. "I see your beauty, and it is achingly striking."
Renzille flashed him a smile. "That's why I will help you become strong so that no one will dare to label you as broken or unsightly. You, too, deserve to be celebrated and respected."
The beastman's heart skipped a beat at Renzille's words, the rhythm of his breath stuttered momentarily. Yet Renzille's words weren't finished.
She continued speaking firmly and declared. "You will be my husband soon— a Thillion, if I may say.. You will become a person that no one would dare to disrespect."
She paused and stared directly into his eyes. "However, I must warn you.. I do not have my father's favor, so it may take time, but we will get there. I will see to it that we will get there. No matter what."