Chapter 3: The Quiet Cage
The morning sun spilled through the silk curtains, but Aria didn't feel its warmth.
She sat at the edge of the bed, her fingers wrapped around a porcelain teacup she hadn't touched. Her suitcase lay open on the armchair. She hadn't unpacked. Part of her didn't know if she should.
It had been twelve hours since she walked into the Xian estate as Elias's bride.
Not a word from him since.
The maid who knocked at her door was polite, quiet, and dressed like part of the furniture. "Madam Xian, breakfast has been prepared in the garden."
Madam Xian. Again. Like it belonged to her.
"Thank you," she murmured, standing slowly.
The garden was too perfect. Sculpted hedges, marble benches, a koi pond so still it could've been glass. A single table was set with breakfast for one. A pale pink linen cloth. Crystal glasses. A silver dome over a plate she didn't want to touch.
Aria sat and stared at the empty chair across from her.
So this was it.
Luxury with no warmth. Silence dressed in elegance.
She was so deep in thought that she didn't hear the footsteps behind her until a voice broke the silence.
"You're early."
She turned—and there he was. Elias. Still in a pressed white shirt, sleeves rolled to the forearms, as if even his casualness had been designed by a luxury tailor.
He sat across from her without asking.
"I thought you were flying out," she said quietly.
"I leave at noon. There was a last-minute meeting." He poured himself coffee, black and exact.
She hesitated. "Should I be attending events with you while you're away? I… I wasn't told what's expected of me."
His eyes lifted. "Nothing is expected of you."
That stung more than it should have.
"Except silence?" she said before she could stop herself.
Something flickered in his expression. Surprise, maybe. Then it was gone.
"Silence and discretion," he said calmly. "This is a contract, not a love story, Aria. Don't confuse the two."
She set down her cup, her appetite gone. "I never have."
He stood, checking his watch. "I'll have my assistant reach out to you regarding any upcoming events. Until then, enjoy the estate. You have access to the library, the pool, and the gardens. Don't leave without clearance."
"And if I get lonely?" she asked softly, looking down at her lap.
His pause was long enough to feel intentional.
"Then remind yourself why you're here."
He walked away, leaving only the scent of cologne and silence behind him.
Aria remained still for a long time.
Then, quietly, she whispered, "So I don't forget."