The throne room still felt heavy under the weight of the king's gaze as Aurelia followed the maid out. Her legs felt unsteady, and her mind churned with disbelief and fear. Married. To the king. And not just any king—Kael Blackthorn, a name spoken of throughout the empire with both admiration and dread.
"Your Highness…" the maid said softly, glancing at her as they walked down the grand hallway. "Please… be careful. The king… he is not like other men. Many before you have… failed."
Aurelia's stomach twisted. "Failed? How?" Her voice trembled slightly. "What do you mean?"
The maid looked down the corridor, her eyes nervous. "Those who loved him… they all… died. The curse… it spares no one. You must—"
Aurelia raised her hands to stop her. "Wait. Are you saying… he kills anyone who loves him?"
The maid hesitated, pressing her lips together. "I am only warning you. Do not let your heart betray you."
Aurelia's mind raced, trying to understand the impossible. She had been taken from her quiet life and placed in a palace of gilded walls and hidden secrets. Now she had to marry a man who was cursed to kill anyone who loved him. This has to be a dream, she thought desperately. It has to be.
They arrived at a smaller, private room. Heavy curtains blocked the windows, and a dim light filtered through. The air carried the faint scent of roses and something metallic—blood, perhaps, though Aurelia tried not to think about it.
"Wait here," the maid instructed, then left.
Aurelia sank into a chair, twisting her hands in her lap. She tried to steady her breathing. Her thoughts wouldn't stop racing, yet, somewhere inside, a strange calm began to take hold. Fear wouldn't help her now. She needed to think and to survive.
Minutes passed, or maybe hours; time blurred in this strange place. Then the doors opened again.
Kael Blackthorn entered.
Even from a distance, Aurelia could sense the raw power surrounding him. He filled the room, magnetic yet frightening. He didn't smile or even glance at her initially. He moved quietly, then sat across from her with a precision that made every motion feel commanding.
"You are to call me King," he said at last, his voice low and firm, but not unkind. "Do you understand?"
Aurelia hesitated. "Y-Yes… King."
He raised an eyebrow, a small smirk appearing at the corner of his lips. "Good. You may not speak unless spoken to. Do you understand?"
Aurelia swallowed hard but nodded. "I… understand."
Kael leaned back slightly, studying her as if evaluating her worth, her strength, her very soul. Silence stretched between them, heavy and oppressive. Aurelia wanted to run, to shout, to demand answers for everything—but she held back. Something about him quickened her heartbeat, even as fear gripped her thoughts.
"Why… me?" she finally managed, her voice barely a whisper. "Why am I here? Why choose me?"
Kael's eyes flickered briefly, unreadable, before he replied, "Because you survived the journey."
"The journey?" Aurelia repeated, confusion evident in her voice. "I… I don't understand."
"You should," he replied coldly, though curiosity laced his tone. "It was unusual for the chosen to arrive unharmed. You did."
Aurelia felt her pulse quicken. "Harmed… how?"
Kael didn't answer right away. Instead, he leaned forward slightly, locking his eyes on hers with an intensity that made her stomach twist. "The curse," he said simply, as if that explained everything. "It is not easy to survive the king's bedchamber alive. Few have. Fewer have left it intact."
Aurelia's mouth went dry. "Survive… the bedchamber?"
He smirked slightly. "Do not mistake my meaning. I am not cruel by choice. The curse… does not forgive. Those who love me… perish. You will have to learn to control yourself."
Control herself? Aurelia felt like the floor might drop away. "I… I don't even know what to do."
Kael's smirk faded, replaced by a seriousness that sent chills down her spine. "You will learn. You have no choice."
Aurelia nodded, fighting her fear. She needed to stay calm. Thoughtful. Strategic. Survival was the first rule here—and she had never been one to break rules.
For the next few hours, Kael spoke little, observing her and occasionally giving comments or orders. She quickly understood that even the smallest mistake could be dangerous. One misstep could cost her more than pride—it could cost her life.
Yet, in the midst of all the fear, something unexpected emerged. She felt a spark of defiance. He was terrifying, yes, but he was also… human. A man shaped by tragedy, cursed to bring death. Aurelia realized she would not cower. She would not become another victim spoken of in scared whispers.
By the time the maid returned to lead her to her new quarters, Aurelia had made a quiet promise to herself. She would survive. She would learn the rules, navigate the palace, and face Kael Blackthorn not as a victim but as an equal.
And if fate allowed… perhaps she could even win the king's heart.