(Iyan Silverhart's Chamber—)
Iyan stormed into the chamber, anger boiling inside him. He slammed the door shut behind him and went straight into the bathroom.
He leaned over the basin and started scrubbing his mouth furiously, as if trying to erase the memory itself.
"How dare she kiss me with that damn mouth of hers," Iyan growled.
A sharp knock echoed through the room.
"Your Highness," a servant called from outside the door, "His Majesty is looking for you. It's almost time for your first dance."
Iyan dragged a hand through his hair in frustration and straightened up.
"I'm coming," he replied coldly.
---
(Benquet Hall—)
Iyan approached the throne.
"Father, you were looking for me?"
King Kaisan Silverhart nodded.
"Yes. It's time for your wedding dance. Go and dance with your wife."
"Yes, Father," Iyan replied.
He turned and walked toward Violet. Stopping in front of her, he extended his hand stiffly.
"Lady Violet, it's time for our dance."
Violet placed her hand in his, and the two moved to the center of the hall.
The music began.
They started to dance, their movements perfectly synchronized.
I was scared about how I was going to dance, but I'm not having any problem. My body is moving on its own. It must be because of the woman whose body I'm possessing—maybe she was really good at dancing. A small smile appeared on Violet's lips as she got lost in her thoughts.
Iyan frowned.
"Why the hell are you smiling? Are you that happy to get married?"
Violet smiled brightly.
"Your Highness, who wouldn't be happy after getting married to a handsome hunk like you?"
She lifted her hand and gently touched Iyan's face.
Iyan slapped her hand away immediately.
"Move your damn hand. Don't touch me," he hissed.
Violet's smile twisted. Without warning, she stomped her heel hard on Iyan's boot.
"Gah—!" Iyan groaned in pain. "What are you doing? Are you insane?"
"Your Highness, please forgive me," Violet said sweetly. "I'm not very good at dancing."
"You were dancing perfectly fine. What happened now?" Iyan snapped.
"I forget how to dance when someone insults me," Violet replied calmly.
"What do you mean?" Iyan asked.
"Your Highness, everyone is watching. You slapped my hand away. Do you know how insulting that is for me?" she said softly.
Iyan smirked and leaned closer.
"So what? Next time you touch me again, I'll throw you on the floor."
Violet teased him, her eyes glinting.
"Your Highness, you talk big. I know you can't do that."
Iyan smiled dangerously.
"Then why don't you try and find out?"
Violet smiled and cupped his face.
"There, I touched you. What are you gonna—"
Before she could finish, Iyan suddenly pulled her closer, leaned her backward, and then released her.
"Aah—!"
Violet fell to the floor.
Iyan smirked and knelt beside her.
"Lady Violet, are you alright?" he asked mockingly.
Violet glared at him, clutching her leg, and whispered,
"You bastard."
"I already warned you, didn't I?" Iyan whispered back.
King Kaisan Silverhart rushed toward them.
"Violet, my child, are you okay?"
"Father, I hurt my leg," Violet said weakly. "I don't think I can dance anymore."
King Kaisan turned sharply toward Iyan.
"Iyan, what were you doing? How could you drop her in the middle of the dance?"
"Father, it wasn't intentional," Iyan replied calmly. "My hand simply slipped."
"You fool," King Kaisan snapped.
He then turned back to Violet, his tone softening.
"Violet, you should go and rest in your room now."
"Okay, Father," Violet said.
She slowly stood up, limping slightly, and left the hall to return to her room to rest.
---
(Royal Palace — Night Time)
The maids finally left after leaving Violet in front of Iyan's room.
Violet took a deep breath and slowly opened the door.
The room was decorated with all kinds of flowers, and scented candles were lit everywhere. On the bed, rose petals were arranged into the shape of a heart.
Violet clicked her tongue.She walked to the bed, brushed all the flowers off it, and then collapsed onto the mattress.
"Ahh… I'm so tired," Violet groaned. "This damn wedding gown is so heavy—I need to change first."
She stood up and walked toward the wardrobe. When she opened it, her jaw dropped.
The entire wardrobe was filled with sexy nightgowns—some sheer, some extremely short.
Violet frowned.
"There's not a single fucking normal dress."
She slammed the wardrobe shut in anger.
"Looks like I have no choice but to sleep in this damn wedding dress."
Violet walked back to the bed and lay down again.
Grrrrr— Her stomach growled loudly.
"I'm hungry," Violet muttered. "I didn't get to eat anything because of that fool prince. If he hadn't dropped me, I'd be eating all that tasty food right now."
She rubbed her temple.
"Most importantly, I have to talk to that damn prince about helping him. There's so much work to do. I hate this."
Knock. Knock.
Violet sighed.
"Who's there?"
"It's me. Open the door," Iyan said.
Violet took a deep breath, stood up, and walked to the door. With a long sigh, she opened it.
She forced a smile.
"Your Highness, what brings you here?"
"What do you mean why I'm here?" Iyan said coldly. "It's my room. Do I need your permission to come to my own room?"
Violet clenched her fist in anger but replied politely,
"No, Your Highness. Who am I to stop you? Please, come inside." She stepped aside.
Iyan entered the room and sat down on the couch.
Violet walked back to the bed and lay down again.
"Come here," Iyan said. "There's something I want to talk about."
Violet frowned.
"Your Highness, can we talk in the morning? I'm tired and I want to rest now."
"No," Iyan replied firmly. "Not in the morning. I want to talk now. It's important. Come here."
Violet sighed, stood up again, walked to the couch, and sat beside him.
"What do you want to talk about?" she asked.
Iyan took a deep breath.
"Even though we got married, there's one thing I want to make clear. I don't love you."
"Tell me something I don't already know," Violet replied calmly.
"If you're aware of that, then you should know this too," Iyan continued.
"There is a woman I'm in love with."
Violet stared at him.
Iyan raised an eyebrow.
"Why are you looking at me like that? Say something."
"Say what?" Violet asked.
"'Your husband' The man you married today is telling you he's in love with another woman. You should at least react. Aren't you angry?" Iyan asked.
"What do you want me to do—scream and cry?" Violet replied.
"No, but at least say something."
"Your Highness, Prince Iyan Goldenhart—"
"Silverhart," Iyan corrected.
"What?"
"You said Goldenhart. My family name is Silverhart."
"Right, I forgot," Violet said casually.
"Let me correct that. Your Highness, Prince Iyan Silverhart, let me tell you one thing."
She leaned closer.
"I don't give a damn about who you're in love with. You must be mistaken if you think I married you out of love. Don't make me laugh. I don't give a single fuck about you, and I'm certainly not in love with you."
"What?" Iyan said, shocked. "Then why did you marry me?"
"I did it to survive," Violet replied honestly.
"I needed a roof over my head. I don't have anyone I can turn to."
"Is that the only reason you married me?" Iyan asked.
"Yes."
Iyan clenched his jaw.
"For your selfishness, you destroyed my life too."
"Don't get angry, Your Highness," Violet said calmly.
"I have an offer that will benefit us both."
"What offer?" Iyan asked.
"That woman—the one you're in love with. You're searching for her, right?"
"How do you know that?" Iyan asked sharply.
"That's not important," Violet replied.
"I'll help you find her, and when you do, I'll help you marry her."
"What?" Iyan frowned. "You're joking."
"No, I'm not. As you already know, you can't divorce me—but I can divorce you."
"That's true," Iyan admitted. "But why would you help me? What do you get out of this?"
"I get to leave this fucking novel," Violet muttered.
"What?" Iyan asked.
"Nothing," Violet replied quickly.
"What I want is freedom—and a promise."
"What kind of promise?"
"After I give you the divorce, you'll give me enough fortune so I never have to worry about money, and I can live happily alone."
"Fine," Iyan said. "If it's money you want, I'll give it to you—but only if you give me the divorce."
"You don't have to worry about that," Violet said.
"As soon as you find that woman, I'll leave."
"Fine," Iyan agreed.
"But first, let's sign a contract."
"I gave you my word," Violet said. "You don't trust me?"
"No," Iyan replied bluntly. "I don't trust you even a bit. So let's make it official."
"Fine," Violet said. "Do whatever you want."
---
Iyan sat on the couch with paper and a pen.
"I wrote everything down," he said. "Read it. If you want to change or add something, say it."
Violet read the paper carefully.
"I don't want to change anything," she said. "Everything is good."
Iyan tossed the pen to her.
"Then sign it."
Violet signed the paper and handed it back.
"Done."
Iyan signed it as well.
"I'll keep this document safe," he said. "Now that you've signed it, you can't take back your words."
"I know," Violet replied. "You don't have to tell me."
"Now let's make one more contract," Violet said.
"One more?" Iyan frowned.
"Yes—one for our marriage."
"I'll tell you the conditions. You write them down."
"Fine," Iyan said. "Tell me."
"First, in front of everyone, we'll behave like a normal married couple in love."
"Second, we'll sleep in the same bedroom. So let's decide who sleeps where."
"That's not even a question," Iyan said. "I'll sleep on the bed. You sleep on the couch."
"What? You want me to sleep on the couch?"
"Do you want me to sleep on the couch? This is my room."
"Then let's switch weekly," Violet said.
"One week you sleep on the bed and I take the couch. The next week, I sleep on the bed and you take the couch."
"That's fair," Iyan said. "Fine."
"Any other conditions?" he asked.
"That's it."
"That's all? Only two?" Iyan asked suspiciously.
"Yes."
"When you asked me to write the conditions, I thought the first thing you'd say would be 'no physical intimacy,'" Iyan smirked.
"But I guess you don't mind it."
"You're mistaken," Violet replied calmly.
"I don't want any physical intimacy with you. I didn't say it because I know—even if you're an asshole—you'd never force yourself on me."
"How can you be sure?" Iyan asked. "You don't know me."
"I wasn't sure at first," Violet said.
"But after our wedding kiss, I was confident."
"What about the kiss?" Iyan asked.
"You're twenty-seven," Violet said.
"But when I kissed you, you reacted like I stole something precious."
She leaned closer.
"That was your first kiss, wasn't it?"
Iyan stayed silent.
"That silence answers everything," Violet said.
"For a man like you, saving your first kiss for the woman you love… there's no way you'd sleep with someone casually."
"Am I right, Your Highness?"
"I—" Iyan hesitated.
"You don't need to be embarrassed," Violet smiled.
"It's something to be proud of. Man like you are hard to find."
"What do you want me to say—thank you?" Iyan scoffed.
"No," Violet said.
"Your highness one more thing even without physical intimacy, we still need to act like a couple in public."
"So we'll do simple things—holding hands, hugging, a kiss on the cheek."
"I can do that much," Iyan said.
"Then let's sign the contract," Violet replied.
---