Daniel shut the door a little harder than he intended. The sound echoed faintly through the corridor.
He rubbed his face, jaw tight.
A servant approached. "Sir, the horse is ready for—"
Daniel snapped, "I don't need it now." His tone was sharper than usual. The servant lowered his head and stepped back quickly.
As Daniel strode down the hall, a cup slipped from his nephew's hand and clattered on the floor. Normally he would have ignored it, but today his irritation spilled over.
"Can't even hold a cup properly, arian ?"he barked.
The boy froze, bowing quickly. Daniel clenched his fist, realizing he was letting his temper loose at the wrong places. But still… that one mention of books from Linda was burning in his mind.
Two elders sitting near the veranda noticed his stiff walk, the quick flash of anger in his eyes. They exchanged glances.
Elder 1: "He's snapping at the servants again."
Elder 2: "Hmm. That's not his usual self."
Elder 1: "Could it be… trouble with the new bride?"
Their whispers followed him as he disappeared into the courtyard.
Later that evening, the family gathered in the common hall. Aunts, uncles, and cousins spoke in low voices, their eyes darting toward the corridor where Daniel had passed.
Aunt: "Have you noticed? He doesn't smile as much since the marriage."
Uncle: "And today, he didn't even greet the elders properly."
Another cousin: "Maybe the bride is too headstrong. I heard she speaks her mind."
Laughter mixed with the murmurs. The words traveled fast, growing sharper with each whisper.
Elder woman: "Tch, if there's already tension now, how will they survive long years together?"
Second elder: "Unless… they've already quarreled."
The gossip swirled, until finally Daniel's mother lifted her hand, silencing them.
"Enough. Don't let idle talk ruin the family's peace. If there is an issue, I'll know."
"I have watched her," the grandmother said, smoothing her shawl. "Polite, yes. But there is… something restless in her eyes."
The mother gave a knowing nod. "And did you see Daniel this morning? He barked at the servants. That is not my son's nature. Their harmony is not as it should be."
The grandmother pursed her lips. "Then we must ask. Carefully."
Her eyes met her own mother's — Daniel's grandmother — and a silent decision passed between them.
Linda sat by the window, a cloth tied around her small wound. She was flipping a page in silence when a knock sounded.
Before she could answer, Daniel's mother and grandmother entered together.
Mother: "Ah, you're here, my dear. How is your hand?"
Linda (smiling politely): "Just a scratch, nothing serious."
The grandmother stepped closer, taking Linda's wrist gently to inspect the wound.
Grandmother: "Mm, even a scratch must be treated carefully. Don't be careless."
Linda nodded, though her eyes flicked toward the book on her lap. She quickly closed it and set it aside.
The mother's gaze followed the movement but she said nothing. Instead, she sat on the edge of the bed.
Mother: "Tell me, how do you find the household? Are you settling in well?"
Linda: "Yes, everyone has been kind. I am… adjusting."
The grandmother chuckled softly.
Grandmother: "Adjusting? That sounds as if it's not easy."
Linda hesitated, giving a polite smile. "It's a new world for me. But Daniel is… protective."
Mother: "Protective, is he?" She exchanged a glance with the grandmother. "Then, no quarrels between you two?"
Linda's lips parted slightly. "Quarrels? No, madam."
Grandmother: "You're sure? Because today I saw Daniel storming through the hall like a bull. Everyone noticed. It gave rise to… certain talks."
Linda's heart skipped. She kept her face calm. "Perhaps he was tired."
The mother leaned in, her tone light but probing.
Mother: "A marriage cannot hide its cracks for long, child. If there's something troubling you, better speak than let the whole household gossip."
Linda pressed her hands together in her lap. "I assure you, madam, nothing troubling."
The grandmother's eyes softened, though her words were firm.
Grandmother: "You are young. Don't let pride stop you. If Daniel is too harsh, we must know. A husband and wife should not turn strangers after only weeks."
The air grew heavier. Linda forced a small smile. "We are not strangers. He cares… in his way."
Silence. Then the mother shifted the topic — or so it seemed.
Mother: "Speaking of care… it is time we ask of the future. Tell me, when can we expect good news?"
Linda blinked. "Good news?"
The grandmother's eyes sharpened, but her tone remained deceptively gentle.
Grandmother: "Yes, child. A baby. Surely Daniel has spoken of it?"
Linda's throat tightened. She shook her head slightly, words caught before they could form.
The two women leaned closer, watching her reaction carefully.
Mother (smiling faintly): "Don't be shy. In this household, a bride's place becomes secure only after she gives the family an heir."
The weight of those words pressed into Linda's chest. She lowered her eyes, silent, her mind racing.
The grandmother's hand covered hers, warm but firm.
Grandmother: "We'll wait for your answer, child. But not for long."
They rose, leaving the room in silence.
Linda exhaled only after the door clicked shut. Her wound stung, but her heart ached far more.
She was not sure how would be their reaction if they know still they both haven't consummate their marriage.
But she shaked her head dismissing their words , but it was still lingering in her mind.
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PLEASE SUPPORT,
WITH LOVE,
♡LINDA AND DANIEL ♡
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