Beatrice's POV
When I woke up on the morning of my wedding, I could not move. It wasn't just that I was tired; it felt like my body was made of lead.
I stayed perfectly still in my bed, staring at the ceiling. In the past few days, I had felt a lot of fear, but today was different. Today, fear was mixed with a deep, heavy hesitation. Every second that passed brought me closer to a life I didn't want.
My heart felt heavy in my chest, aching with a dull pain that made it hard to breathe. To the world, I was becoming a Duchess. To me, it felt like I was being moved from one prison to a cell that just had better decorations. There was nothing I could do to stop the clock. The sun was rising, and the day had begun.
Knock, knock.
I didn't need to ask who it was. The maids were here to turn me into a bride.
"Come in," I said, forcing myself to sit up. I had to find enough strength to get through this day.
The maids moved into the room quickly. They were polite and very efficient, their hands moving fast as they began the long process of getting me ready. They brushed my hair, bathed me in scented water, and prepared the layers of my gown. Some of the younger maids were giggling, talking about their own fantasies of marrying a powerful Duke. They imagined a life of romance and luxury. I stayed silent, feeling nothing but cold dread.
While they were working, Elena walked in. She had a bright smile on her face, a smile I knew I couldn't copy today if I tried. Usually, I am good at pretending to be happy, but today I was using all my energy just to stay standing. I had nothing left for a smile.
"I will miss you," Elena said. Her soft voice pulled me out of my dark thoughts.
"I already miss you," I replied. I was being very sincere. "If I could take you with me, I would do it in a heartbeat."
If Elena were with me, the Duke's estate wouldn't feel so much like a battlefield. I would still be scared, but at least I would have one person who actually cared about me.
"Don't be silly, I'm always here for you," she said with a light laugh. Her face blushed slightly. I realized again how different our views were. Elena saw this through the lens of a fairy tale, while I saw it through the lens of reality.
"Are you still scared?" she asked suddenly.
Her question caught me off guard. Should I tell her the truth? If I told her I was terrified for my life, what could she do? She wasn't strong enough to stop the wedding, and she would probably just tell me more stories about love and happy endings.
"Yes, but it's more like being nervous than being afraid," I lied. My talk with the Duke had taught me something useful: it is best to mix a little bit of truth into a lie to make it sound natural. I wondered if I should thank him for that lesson.
"That's normal," Elena said sweetly. "You and the Duke aren't close yet, but I believe that after today, you will get much closer."
Suddenly, the Countess's voice boomed from the doorway. "Beatrice!"
Her voice was loud and full of authority. Every maid in the room stopped what they were doing and looked at her. I quickly stood up and bowed my head.
"I want to talk to Beatrice alone. Everyone leave," she ordered. She paused and looked at her daughter. "Even you, Elena. Give me a minute. You can come back soon." Her voice was much softer when she spoke to Elena. It was the only time she ever sounded kind.
Once the room was empty, she walked toward me.
"In a few hours, you will be married to Duke Edward. I hope I don't have to remind you to watch your behavior. You will be a Duchess now," she said coldly.
"Yes, my lady," I answered. I wasn't expecting a hug or a kind word. My heart was racing, but not because of her. I realized that while the Countess was mean and punished me, I was at least alive. With the Duke, I feared I might actually lose my head if I made one mistake.
"And most importantly," she said, lowering her voice until it was a hiss full of venom, "I shouldn't have to remind you about what you should and should not say about this family."
"Certainly, my lady," I replied quickly. My voice trembled a little. I was already worried about the Duke; I didn't want to add the Countess's anger to my list of problems.
"Good. Don't make me do things I didn't plan to do." She turned around and left as quickly as she had arrived. The maids scrambled back in and finished my preparations.
Elena didn't come back; she likely went to get ready herself. As the hours passed, the maids finished my hair and helped me into the gown.
I stood in front of the full-body mirror and looked at my reflection. My hair flowed long and dark, and the dress covered my curves perfectly. I looked beautiful, but I felt like a ghost.
Soon, we left for the Temple. In our kingdom, all nobles go to the Temple first to have the marriage blessed by the priest. Only after that do they go to the party. I was worried that the rumors about my reputation would follow me, but at the Temple, only the Duke, the Count's family, and a few close relatives would be there. The real test would be the celebration at the Duke's estate later.
When we arrived at the Temple, the Count and Countess took Elena through one entrance.
As the bride, I was supposed to meet the Duke at another. But when I walked in, he wasn't there. It wasn't until I walked down the long aisle toward the altar that I saw him. He was already standing there, tall and silent.
Seeing him made my fear return in full force. I had to use every bit of my courage to keep my legs from shaking. I looked up and saw our relatives on the balcony looking down at us.
Below, there were only the priests. I took my spot beside him.
The priest began to speak. He talked about God's plan for marriage, about love, and how a husband and wife must stay together through hard times. Most women would be happy or excited during this speech. Some might be sad if they loved someone else. But I was just standing there, praying to God that I wouldn't be killed after the ceremony was over or after my secrets were out. IF they come out.
Then came the vows. We didn't have long, written vows. We simply repeated the words the priest said. When it was over, it was time for the kiss. My heart was thumping against my ribs. When his lips touched mine, it was so light it barely felt like skin touching skin. It was over in a second.
After the blessing, the priest kept talking.
Every time he paused, we had to say "Amen." I wasn't really listening. My mind was spinning.
It's done. We are married. I am a Duchess now. I prayed that he would be kind to me and that he would never find out my secrets.
We left the Temple and headed to the Duke's estate for the party. Because we were now officially married, I had to ride in the same carriage as Edward. The ride was incredibly quiet. The only sounds were the horses' hooves and the wheels grinding against the dirt road.
At first, the Duke just stared at me. I thought he was going to say something important, but he didn't. He just kept looking at me until I felt so anxious I wanted to scream. When he finally looked away, I caught a glimpse of his face. He looked disappointed. I didn't know why, and I decided not to think about it.
When we reached his estate, we walked into the ballroom. It was filled with nobles. As soon as we entered, the room went silent. I was relieved. It seemed they respected the Duke enough to keep their mouths shut about the rumors, at least while he was standing there.
People began coming up to us to offer their congratulations. "Best wishes, Your Grace," they would say with fake smiles. I felt annoyed by them. I could smell their hypocrisy. They didn't care about us; they just wanted to get closer to the Duke's power. I couldn't wait for them to leave.
Finally, late at night, the party ended. We said goodbye to the guests. When it was Elena's turn, she looked like she was going to cry. I pulled her into a hug, not caring who was watching. She was the only one who truly cared about me. We stood like that for a while until she calmed down and left with her parents.
The maids led me to my new room. They helped me undress, washed me, and put me into a very thin, expensive nightgown. It was time for my first night with my husband.
I was led to the Duke's bedroom. He wasn't there yet. I sat on the edge of the large bed, unable to relax. My body was stiff with fear.
After a long wait, the door opened and Edward walked in.
He didn't come closer. He just stood by the door and stared at me. This time, I didn't look away. I used all my strength to look back at him, even though I was terrified. We stared at each other for what felt like a very long time.
Then, without saying a single word, he turned around and walked out of the room.
He never came back that night.