Selene’s POV

"I would never marry a beast."

I had said those words a hundred times. I had said them to my father when he first told me of the arrangement, I said them to myself in the dark at night, when fear crept in and sleep would not come.

I had believed the words I said to myself.

But now, standing in the cold courtyard of Valdris Keep, watching the Prince descend the stone steps like a shadow given flesh, I realized I had been a fool.

He was not a beast, he was worse.

He was a man who looked at me like I was nothing.

I had heard the stories, everyone in Asterix had heard them, the Prince of Valdris was a monster, he had killed a man with his bare hands when he was only sixteen. He had no heart, no mercy, no soul. I had clung to the word beast because it made him seem less human, less real, I could be afraid of a beast, I could hate a beast, I could imagine myself surviving a beast.

But I did not know how to survive a man.

He stopped at the bottom of the stairs, he was taller than I had imagined, broader, his shoulders filling the doorway like a wall, his face was all sharp angles and hard lines, his eyes were dark, unreadable, and they did not look at me with curiosity or warmth.

They looked at me like I was a problem he had not asked for.

His voice was low and flat when he spoke, "You are Selene."

I curtsied, my legs threatening to give out, "I am, my lord."

His jaw tightened, "You are not to call me that."

I blinked, "I... what?"

"You are my wife. You will call me by my name. Kaelyn."

I swallowed hard. "Kaelyn," I repeated, the name strange on my tongue.

He looked at me for a long moment, his gaze traveled over my face, my dress, my trembling hands.

"You are tired from your journey," he said, his voice carefully neutral,"Rest tonight, we will speak more when you have settled."

It was not warm, it was not kind, but it was not cruel either, it was simply... distant.

I nodded, unsure what else to do. "Thank you, my lord."

His eyes strained, "Kaelyn."

I corrected myself quickly. "Thank you, Kaelyn."

He did not respond, he turned and walked away, his footsteps echoing against the stone.

I stood alone in the cold, my heart pounding, my mind reeling. He had not hurt me, he had not threatened me, he had simply... sent me away.

I did not know if that was better or worse.

A servant appeared at my side, a young woman with kind eyes and a soft voice. She curtsied and said, "My lady, I am Mira,I have been assigned to you. Please, follow me, I will show you to your chambers."

I followed her through the windy corridors, the Keep was vast and cold, filled with shadows and whispers, I kept my eyes down, my hands clasped, my heart pounding.

We reached a small chamber in the east wing, it was modest but warm with a narrow bed covered in fresh linens. I stood in the center and tried to breathe.

Mira moved around the room, lighting candles and adjusting the curtains, she did not speak unless spoken to.

I watched her for a moment, then asked, "Is the Prince always so cold?"

She paused and kept her eyes lowered. "The Prince is... dutiful, my lady, he does what is expected of him."

"That is not what I asked,” I said.

She was silent for a moment, then she said carefully, "The Prince has been through much, he has learned to keep his distance, it is not personal, my lady."

I did not believe her but I did not push.

"Thank you for showing me to my chambers," I said.

She curtsied. "If you need anything, my lady, you may ring for me. I will come as soon as I am able."

She slipped out of the room.

I walked to the window and pressed my palm against the cold glass, below me, in the training yard, I could see the Prince, he was sparring with a guard, his sword flashing in the grey light, he did not look up and I also didn’t want him to see me.

I watched him for a long moment, my chest tight, i thought of the stories I had heard, i thought of the way his voice had sounded when he said his name, thought of the way he had looked at me, not with hatred, not with cruelty, but with the hollow emptiness of a man who had given up on feeling anything at all.

I had arrived afraid.

But I would not stay afraid

I turned from the window and sat on the edge of the bed, the fire crackled softly, casting shadows across the walls as i pulled my knees to my chest and let myself breathe.

I thought of Asterix, i thought of the children in the square, their thin faces and hollow eyes, i thought of my father's hands, trembling as he poured wine he could not afford, i thought of my mother's grave, the wildflowers i had placed there before i left, knowing i would never see them bloom again.

I had not come here for myself, i had come here for them.

And I would not let a cold man and a cold fortress break me.

I would learn this place, i would learn its secrets, its weaknesses, its cracks, i would learn the people who moved through its shadows and the power they held, i would become something they could not ignore.

I did not know how long it would take, i did not know if I would ever win Kaelyn's heart, but I knew I would not disappear, i would not be invisible, i would not be nothing.

I lay back on the bed and stared at the ceiling, somewhere in the Keep, a door slammed shut, i closed my eyes and let the darkness settle around me.

I had arrived afraid.

But I was already learning to fight.