The next day arrived with the coldness of the House of Vareth, and the golden walls did little to save Noha from the feeling of suffocation. She tried to ignore the sounds coming from the great hall, yet she could feel them vibrating in her chest: footsteps, whispers, and her eyes tracking every movement.
Suddenly, Sky entered. His white hair shone under the sunlight, and his red eyes—those cold eyes—fixed on Noha. He stood before her, smiling in a way that carried no warmth.
"Noha," he said in a calm yet sharp voice, "I've heard that you've been acting unusually lately. It seems your heart is wandering… far from your duties."
Noha looked down, trying to gather her courage. "I… I'm just trying…" she faltered, feeling suffocated, "…to understand myself."
Sky took a step closer and held her arm gently but firmly. "Understand yourself?" His voice carried a hint of mockery. "You are a Vareth, Noha. There is no room to understand yourself when it comes to family, status, and duty. Marriage is not a choice; it is a responsibility."
Noha lifted her head, meeting his red eyes directly, a spark of defiance igniting in her heart. "But… doesn't love mean anything? Are we supposed to hide all our feelings and pretend to be happy just because duty is greater?"
Sky's cold smile widened. "Love? Love is a luxury that someone of our standing cannot afford. You will love your home, you will love your life, and maybe… one day, you will see that duty is more beautiful than any feeling of the heart."
His words were like lashes, each one piercing Noha's heart. Yet she did not yield. She glanced toward her window above, where she had once felt freedom, remembering Arion and the warmth she had never known within the palace walls. "I… I don't want to follow the path others chose for me. I want to live, even if it is wrong."
Sky paused, as if her words had taken him by surprise. Then he spoke more softly: "Wrong? Everything you are doing now is wrong, Noha. Every step against your duty will cost you dearly. Do you understand the consequences?"
Noha stepped back slightly, but her heartbeat grew stronger. "I understand," she said calmly, "but I cannot hide what I feel… I cannot live a false life anymore."
Sky approached her again, more imposing than ever, but this time without arrogance. "So, this is your rebellion?" he asked, his red eyes glowing with a mix of anger and curiosity. "I know you are looking at someone else… someone else. Tell me, who is it?"
Noha's heart skipped a beat, but she was no longer afraid. This was a moment of absolute truth. "There is someone… in the street, in the bakery… he does not know me, yet my heart… my heart feels free with him in a way I have never felt before."
Sky was silent again, this time as if her words had shocked him. Then he said slowly, "So, this is the reason for your strange behavior. You are following your heart, even if it is against your duty… even if it is dangerous."
Noha said nothing, but she felt an internal warmth, a sense of freedom she hadn't felt in years. In the silent hall, she realized that her decision would be difficult, and that her heart was beginning to lead her down a path completely different from what her family had planned.
Sky finally smiled—a mysterious smile, as if he realized she would not be easy to control, yet he had not expected her great defiance. "Very well, Noha… let's see where your heart will take you," he said quietly, moving toward the palace window, leaving Noha with a mix of fear and excitement.
In that moment, Noha realized one thing for certain: every step she took toward her freedom, toward Arion, would be filled with danger, but she felt for the first time that her heart belonged to her alone, and that every confrontation, no matter how difficult, would bring her closer to what she truly wanted.