Elara Pov
I woke up and immediately reached for the other side of the bed. It was cold.
I had dressed carefully, my heart fluttering with the thought of our first breakfast together. But when I reached the dining hall, the Head Chef bowed low, gesturing to a table overflowing with my favorite Vesperian dishes—honeyed pears, savory rice cakes, and spiced tea.
"Her Majesty gave strict orders to prepare only your favorites, Your Highness," the chef said. "But she asks for your forgiveness. An urgent matter has summoned her to the Council."
I forced a smile and thanked them, but as I sat alone at the massive table, the food tasted like ash. I knew our marriage was an alliance—a Blood Oath signed in cold ink—but my heart was rebellious. I didn't just want her protection; I craved her presence. I wanted to know the woman behind the crown, even if only for the length of a meal.
Restless, I wandered into the North Garden, dismissal in my eyes for the chambermaids. "Please, stay back," I told them. "I wish to breathe for a moment."
The garden was hauntingly beautiful, silver leaves shimmering like fallen stars. But the beauty only made the loneliness sharper.
"Why is the sun of Vesperia hiding behind a cloud today?"
I gasped, spinning around. Prince Haru was standing there, his deep blue robes catching the light. He took my hand before I could protest, his touch familiar and warm.
"How was your first night, Elara? Did the Dragon of Kazunaga treat you well?" he teased, trying to coax a smile from me.
"It was... peaceful, Haru," I managed to say.
"Well, I have something to make it even better," he said brightly. "My wedding gift to you. I petitioned the Queen myself to allow a certain someone to stay."
When Miya appeared from behind the wisteria, I forgot my sorrow. I ran to her, and for a while, the garden was filled with our laughter. We walked to the stone bridge, and for a moment, I felt like the girl I used to be.
A sudden gust of wind shook the trees, and I felt something snag in my hair.
"Hold still," Haru whispered. He stepped into my space, his chest nearly brushing my arm. He reached up, his fingers lingering as he carefully untangled a silver leaf from my locks. He was so close I could see the flecks of gold in his eyes.
"Ahem."
Miya's sharp cough made me jump. I turned my head, and my heart stopped.
Eri was standing at the end of the bridge.
She looked magnificent—and terrifying. Her crimson and black Hanbok was cinched tight, highlighting her powerful frame. Behind her stood Lourice , their expressions unreadable.
The air around us instantly turned heavy. I felt a cold shiver race down my spine, not from fear of her anger, but from the sheer weight of her gaze. I quickly stepped back from Haru, my face burning with a heat I couldn't control.
"Your Majesty," we all said in unison, bowing low. I couldn't bring myself to look up. I stared at the tips of her boots as they came closer.
"Your Majesty," Haru stammered, his voice sounding thin. "I was just... thanking you for Lady Miya's stay."
"It was a logical decision," Eri's voice cut through the air, low and melodic. "I want my wife to be surrounded by familiar faces. I would not have her feel like a stranger in her own home."
The way she said "my wife" made my knees tremble. It wasn't the voice of a lover, but the voice of a Queen marking what belonged to her.
Then, I felt her move. She stepped directly into my personal space, her shadow falling over me. I looked up, and for a split second, I was trapped in those dark, golden-flecked eyes. She didn't look at Haru. She didn't look at Miya. She looked only at me, as if I were the only person in the entire kingdom.
The wind whipped the long yellow ribbons of my Hanbok. Eri reached out. I held my breath, my heart drumming against my ribs so loudly I feared she could hear it. Her fingers brushed against my waist as she caught the fluttering ribbon.
She didn't just fix it. She smoothed the silk slowly, her hand lingering against my side, a possessive touch that felt like a brand. I swallowed hard, my throat feeling tight. I couldn't breathe. I couldn't speak. I could only feel the heat of her hand through the silk.
"See you this evening... my wife," she murmured, her voice a low vibration that seemed to sink into my very bones.
She offered a slight nod and turned away, her crimson robes snapping in the wind as she walked away with Lourice and Dion.
I stood there, paralyzed. I touched the spot on my waist where her hand had been. The tension in the air was so thick it felt like it was suffocating me.
"Elara," Miya whispered, coming to my side and biting her lip to hide a grin. "I think the Queen just told the Prince to back off without saying a single word."
I didn't answer. I just watched Eri's retreating figure. I had wanted her presence all morning, but now that I had it, I felt like I was standing in the middle of a forest fire—and I wasn't sure if I wanted to run away or stay until I was consumed.