The throne room felt emptier the moment Caspian left, as if his presence had filled the space with his darkness. I turned to the woman who led me here. She just stood there in silence after her haunting welcome.
"Who are you?" I asked, my voice steady despite the fear curling in my chest.
"Alina," she replied, some of the tension easing from her beautiful features. "I'm one of the Prince's handmaids, personally assigned to you. I'm in charge of helping you adjust to life in Virehelm.
"Adjust?" I arched a brow. "You mean survive."
Her expression shifted instantly. " It can be both. But you must understand... the prince is not what he seems."
"What do you mean?" I pressed, curiosity outweighing caution.
"There are whispers in the court," Alina said, her voice lowering to a hush. "Caspian's curse is a burden he carries alone. He's dangerous, Princess. You must tread carefully."
"I can handle myself," I said, though my heart was pounding. "What kind of curse?"
She hesitated, glancing toward the empty throne as though expecting him to appear at any moment. "It binds him to love... and against it," she whispered. "Once he embraces those buried feelings, it awakens something dark. He loses control, it's more like madness."
"So he goes on a killing spree?" I murmured, the picture forming grimly in my mind.
"Yes. But it's more than that," Alina continued. "The last bride didn't just die. She was consumed by his madness."
Goosebumps prickled along my arms. "How sure are you of all this?"
"I work closely in the Prince's private chambers," she said. "And gossip travels fast here. The last queen's death was infamous." Her voice trembled. "Some say she still haunts these halls."
I swallowed hard, trying to keep my face blank. "How long has it been since the last bride?"
"Over a decade."
Ten years. A full decade since someone tried and failed to love him.
I took a small step back, trying to shake the unease twisting through my spine. "And the council? Why did they summon him?"
"Politics," she said with a touch of disdain. "His father, King Malric, wants to ensure your marriage is secured before the court. Some in the inner circle resent the Prince's power. They won't hesitate to use you against him."
"Why?" I asked, my voice quieter now. "Why do they hate him?"
"Because he's stronger than them. Because they fear him," she said. "He's the last son of a line meant to protect our kind. But his powers scare a lot of them, they want to tame him."
I thought back to our earlier conversation, the way he looked at me with an unreadable gaze. "And what if I refuse to play their games? How am I supposed to help them tame him?" I asked."
Alina's expression turned serious. "There's so much you don't know yet, Princess."
Before I could respond, the temperature in the room dropped. The flickering torches dimmed as if something moved beneath. Alina's face stiffened with unease.
"Stay here," she instructed."I'll prepare what you need for the wedding banquet tonight."
"Wedding banquet?" My pulse accelerated.
"Is it necessary?"
"Yes, it's a compulsory tradition that presents you to the court. They'll want to see the new bride." Alina hesitated. "You must play your part, princess. For your safety."
"What if I don't want to?" I shot back.
Her eyes softened but she remained firm. "Don't make your life here a living hell on your first day. Trust me, there are things in Virehelm that can't be ignored."
And with that she hurriedly left, leaving me with the shadows and silence surrounding the throne room. I turned back to the throne, the weight of it wrapping my pounding heart in more fear.
I was not just a bride. I was the target.
A mere pawn in their game.
As I stood there, unease crept into my thoughts. I thought of Caspian and the dangers that surrounded him. He was cursed, but so was I. Now bound to him by blood and fate.
I needed to know more, to understand the darkness within him.
I walked cautiously around the throne room, closely watching the tapestries and artefacts lined on the walls. Each piece seemed to hold a part of the kingdom's history, one soaked in power and betrayal.
One tapestry caught my eye. It was of a woman covered in flames, her eyes blazing with rage. It felt familiar, as if I could see a reflection of myself in her expression.
"What are you hiding, Caspian?" I murmured to myself, my curiosity growing with every step.
Suddenly, the doors swung open again and I turned around, a part of me expecting to see Caspian walk back in. Instead, it was another figure. A beautiful man with dark hair.
He carried an air of authority, yet there was a subtle smirk playing at the corner of his lips.
"Well, well, well, if it isn't the new bride," he drawled, stepping closer.
"Who are you? I demanded despite my heart pounding loudly in my ears.
"Prince Marcus," he replied, with an amused expression. "Caspian's oldest brother."
"Oh." I stood up straight, surprised by his sudden appearance. Unlike Caspian, whose darkness pressed like a storm cloud, Marcus carried the sun, too confident, too curious. The kind of man who smiled while setting traps.
"What do you want from me?"
"Just wanted to welcome you," he said, his tone laced with sarcasm.
And also offer some advice. You might want to keep your distance from Caspian."
"Why does everyone keep telling me what to do?" I asked, meeting his gaze.
He chuckled, the sound echoing too loudly in the vast space. "Caspian is complicated. Or... mad, depending on who you ask. And you. Well, you're new here."
"Mad?" I repeated.
His lips curved into a smile, one that didn't reach his eyes. "You will come to understand soon, Princess. Just be careful."
"Thanks for caring, but I will be fine," I replied defiantly.
"Is that so?" Marcus stepped closer like a predator, approaching prey. "Just be careful, Princess. There were others before you."
His words made my racing heart heavier.
"Also know this, the court is watching. The council is waiting for you to slip."
"Then I will do my best for the show," I replied with every courage I could muster.
His lips curved into a knowing smile. "Good luck, Lyra. You'll need it."
And with that, he turned and left, leaving me to the silence once more.
Every warning clung to my skin like a curse, wrapping fear tight around my ribs.
What have I gotten myself into?