Few moments later, after entering the castle I was taken in side by the maids who approached us and was then serve a tea for some reason.
It was then it dawned on me that the prince, hadn't shown me to the king his father nor his mother the queen, except his brothers who had shown hostility when welcoming us.
As I sipped on the tea, my mind raced with questions. What was happening? Why was I being prepared like this? I glanced at the maids, who wore neutral expressions as they went about their tasks.
"Excuse me," I said, setting my tea cup down. "Could someone please tell me what's going on?"
The maids exchanged a quick glance before one of them spoke. "Apologies, Your Highness, but we were instructed not to reveal anything until His Highness himself shares the news with you."
I sighed, feeling frustrated and confused. "And when will that be?"
"We do not know, My Lady," the other maid replied. "But it shouldn't be too long now. Please bear with us."
I nodded, understanding that there was nothing more I could do at the moment. I sipped on my tea, trying to calm my nerves as I waited for further instructions.
As I sat on the bed, waiting for his arrival, my mind spun with anxiety and uncertainty. What did they mean by pain? Was it customary for the wedding night to be painful? The thought made my stomach churn.
I glanced around the lavish chamber, taking in the opulent decorations and the beautifully adorned bed. It was all so overwhelming, that I suddenly felt an intense knot in my stomach, the various scenarios my mind was coming up with seem to be making things even worse.
The door opened, and the prince entered, his expression unreadable due to his grey mask. His fiery eyes stared at me, his eyes flickering. I could tell something was about to happen.
"Are you comfortable?" he asked, looking at me it wasn't hard to guess I was feeling extremely nervous.
I nodded, trying to push down my unease and nervousness. "Yes, thank you."
He took a step closer, as he stared at me as though lost in thought he said nothing.
Just then Briareus thoughts were interrupted by the sound of Maybelline's voice, barely audible. "Briareus, why does everyone fear you?" i asked, with my voice trembling.
His gaze sharpened when I said that, I could tell he was surprised since he was now looking at me intently. He had not expected her to voice such a question so directly. Taking a deep breath, he gathered his thoughts before responding.
"People fear what they do not understand," he began, his voice calm yet tinged with a hint of coldness. "I have always been different, and that scared them. My father feared the power that I possess, the power that runs in my bloodline. He never looked me in the eyes because he couldn't bear to face what I have become."
He paused, his gaze becoming distant as he looked as though recalling something. "I have faced rejection and isolation for most of my life. People assumed the worst of me without truly knowing who I am. But I have learned to embrace it. I never wanted anyone to fear me, but it seems to be a burden I must carry."
I listened with inquisitiveness mixed with surprise, my eyes became filled with a mix of curiosity and empathy. This was the first time he was saying so much.
He asked inquisitively. "What about you? Do you fear me?"
Briareus suddenly asked, and stared at me.
"No, your highness, I do not fear you."I barely whispered.
A small smile tugged at the corners of his lips, behind the mask. Briareus looked at the woman, who had just lied through her teeth.
She wasn't just nervous, but she looked timid and scared. Yet she said, she wasn't scared, he wondered if she was scared because of obvious reasons or because of the rumors about him.
Either way, he didn't say anything nor blame her like he said before, people feared what they do not understand.
Briareus's memories flooded back as they lay on the bed, while he lay beside her, his mind drifting to the difficult moments of his past. The pain of isolation and rejection never ceased to haunt him.
Briareus remember how he had always been labeled as the odd one in his family. His thoughts filled with anger and frustration. He remembered how from a young age, his abilities frightened those around him. he never understood why he was different, why he possessed powers that no one else did. It made him question his own identity and place in the world.
He turned to face her, and stared at her silently. He wondered if his father just hated him, or because he was truly cursed like they said, that a demon had tainted his bloodline.
To the extent his brothers, once close companions, turned against him, believing that he was cheating or using dark magic to excel in their training.
He couldn't understand why he was scorned and ridiculed, treated as an outcast in his own family.
While thinking he observed the woman beside him. It was evident that her anxiety was consuming her, causing her body to tense with unease. He knew that his own reputation added to her fear, and he couldn't help but feel a pang of guilt.
Gently, he reached out and brushed a strand of hair away from her face, his touch feather-light. As he did she fidgeted but didn't move, he could hear her heart racing against her chest heavily.
A little grin formed behind his mask, she had surprised him earlier with her bold questions.
Considering she was very scared yet she still dared to blurt out those question, she amused him. He remembered the look on her face when she asked why people were afraid of him, it felt like that very question had stolen all of her strength.
Beside he could tell she was probably a jealous type. He couldn't help but realized he had been began to take an odd interest in her. Maybe she would be different he thought.