Elias looked at his sister whose eyes were glimmering with expectation. His heart bled for the sister he could not care about no matter how much he tried. Those meager amounts he had sent her would never be enough to buy such a luxurious dress and live in a mansion. He wanted to give that happiness to his sister.
He wanted to go with her to fulfil her every wish, but his gut feeling was still to run away. For now, he decided to take a deep breath and look around before deciding something.
He took a deep breath and forced a small, uncertain smile. "Alright," he said with a quiet nod. "Let's go inside."
The moment he agreed, Caldria's eyes lit up like firecrackers. She clasped her hands together with uncontainable joy, and Lina squealed in excitement, dragging him toward the grand double doors of the manor.
"You will see, Elias," Caldria cooed beside him, linking her arm with his. "Everything will be perfect now. You have finally made the right choice."
Elias had noticed long ago there was no wind outside, though it was morning and the garden was so large, no bird or butterfly was there. When he walked inside the mansion, he noticed the guards and staff were standing too stiff, their positions were so perfect that a human could never mimic it for a long time.
As the doors opened of the grand hall, a wave of incense and flowers washed over him. The marble floors gleamed, but the reflections beneath his feet didn't move in time with him. As if the girls did not have shadows but only him. He wanted to stare at it, but Lina pulled him along.
"You will want to freshen up before the ceremony," Caldria said with another overly bright smile. "Our wedding will be the grandest the manor has ever seen."
Elias gave her a sideways glance. She was trembling with excitement now, as though she could hardly hold herself back. That impatience unsettled him more than anything else. She wanted this to happen now. Why? What would change if it didn't?
"I am famished," he said casually in an exhausted voice. "I haven't eaten since last night. I am afraid that I will faint during the ceremony. A meal would help me feel energetic and enjoy it better."
Her smile twitched. It wasn't even a full second, but he caught it. The way her fingers clenched around his arm and the slight narrowing of her eyes.
"Oh," she said, forcing lightness back into her tone. "Of course, darling. Let's not have you fainting on me before the big moment."
Lina giggled and skipped ahead toward the dining room, her footsteps still failing to make a sound on the stone. Elias's stomach turned. Whatever this place was, it had created an exact replica of his sister, except it forgot the human traits.
They led him into a dining hall, but he did not see her again. Except them there was no one. A long, candle-lit table stretched across the room, covered in gold-rimmed plates and silverware. A steaming feast waited for him. Stews, roasted vegetables, spiced breads, and fruits with wine. A feast perfect for the daughter of duke, but too much for a baron family except, they have really prepared it for the marriage.
"Would there be guests attending the marriage?" he asked nonchalantly as he sat down. As he picked the glass of wine and sniffed it. He was not sure if he should drink it or not.
Caldrea sat beside him, watching as he hesitated. "You want guests to attend our ceremony?" she cocked her brow, "I thought you wanted it private. But if you want, it will be here in a few minutes." a few minutes? Even if they would be coming from the nearest estate. It would take them three hours on their carriages and two hours even if they rode the fastest hours alive.
"That is so perfect! I want many to attend." he said with a forced smile as she tilted her head and nodded. But he still did not take a sip or eat anything else.
Eat, Elias," she urged gently, tucking a strand of hair behind his ear. "You need your strength for the ceremony."
He picked up the spoon. The stew smelled heavenly. His stomach growled but his instincts screamed to not follow her instructions. Still, he dipped the spoon and tasted just a drop.
"Do you like it?" it was too perfect that he was sure even Cladria never had it before. But he wanted to test more.
"I feel like eating cake to be honest." he sighed exaggeratingly. But Lina stood up at once.
"I have one ready for you." and in minutes, the maid brought a cake. Here, he could demand anything and it would happen as long he followed them to the ceremony. Would it not be such a perfect life?
He forced himself to eat slowly, even offering a small smile now and then as Caldria and Lina talked about floral arrangements and ceremonial vows.
All the while, his eyes wandered. The shadows in the corners twitched when he wasn't looking directly at them.He was being watched. And not just by Caldria.
When she touched his hand again, he nearly flinched.
"You are very quiet, Elias," she said with mock concern. "Does marriage still frighten you?"
He looked at her slowly. "No," he lied. "I was just thinking how strange this all feels. But maybe you are right. Maybe I have been confused that you would never accept me. I am very happy."
Caldria's eyes sparkled. "Then we will begin the preparations after dessert."
Lina clapped. "I saved the blackberry tart just for you!" she said, pushing the small plate toward him with almost unnatural eagerness.
Elias nodded, smiling gently, but inside his head, his thoughts were racing. He slightly cut his finger while he was cutting the tart. He bled at once, but nothing else happened.
He couldn't wake up. He didn't even know if he was asleep, dead, or caught in something else entirely. The illusion was strong, and whoever created it wanted something from him and they were losing patience.