The First Meeting
1087 Words
The journey was long and silent, broken only by the steady clatter of hooves against the dirt road. I stared out the window, watching as the landscape changed from thick forests to rolling plains and, eventually, to towering mountains.
The castle came into view just as the sun began to set, its silhouette dark and imposing against the fiery sky. It was larger than I’d imagined, its spires stretching toward the heavens as if daring the gods themselves.
The carriage rolled to a stop at the gates, where a pair of guards stood at attention. They stepped aside without a word, allowing us to pass into the courtyard.
I tried not to gape as the carriage came to a halt. Servants bustled about, carrying crates and bundles of cloth. Soldiers in gleaming armor marched in perfect formation. It was a world so far removed from the attic that I almost felt like I was dreaming.
The door opened, and the man from before extended a hand to help me down. I took it hesitantly, my legs stiff from the long ride.
A woman in a dark dress stood waiting at the base of the castle steps. Her sharp features and calculating eyes reminded me of Clarissa, though there was a coldness to her that even my sister couldn’t match.
“Lady Brielle,” she said, her tone clipped. “Welcome to the castle. I am Matron Edna, head of the royal household. You will follow me.”
I nodded mutely and followed her up the steps, my heart pounding with each one.
Inside, the castle was even grander than I’d expected. The ceilings stretched impossibly high, adorned with complex carvings and glittering chandeliers. The air smelled of polished wood and something faintly floral.
“This will be your room,” Edna said abruptly, stopping in front of a heavy wooden door. She pushed it open to reveal a modest but comfortable space. A small bed, a desk, and a wardrobe. It was more than I’d ever had in Crimson Moon.
“Prince Liam will see you tomorrow,” she continued. “Until then, you are to remain here. Do you understand?”
“Yes,” I whispered.
Saying that Edna's eyes lingered on me for a moment, her expression unreadable. Then she turned and disappeared down the hallway, her footsteps fading into silence.
I closed the door behind her and leaned against it, letting out a shaky breath.
Tomorrow.
Tomorrow, I would meet the man I was meant to marry.
The man who, by all accounts, wanted nothing to do with me.
I slid onto the edge of the bed, my fingers curling into the fabric of my cloak. No matter what happened tomorrow, I couldn’t let myself hope for too much.
Hope had a way of destroying me.
The morning came with a heavy knock at the door.
“Lady Brielle, it is time.”
In a flash, I sat up, sleep clinging to the corners of my mind. My hands trembled slightly as I smoothed down the simple dress Edna had left for me the night before. It was plain, gray, and unremarkable—fitting for someone like me.
When I opened the door, a young servant was waiting for me. She looked at me briefly, her expression unreadable, then gestured for me to follow her.
The hallways twisted and turned, the grandeur of the castle pressing down on me with every step. I tried to keep my breathing steady, but it was no use. My heart pounded against my ribs as we approached a pair of heavy doors, carved with intricate patterns that shimmered faintly in the light.
The servant stopped and bowed. “The prince is waiting inside.”
I nodded, though my stomach churned with unease.
“Thank you,” I murmured, stepping forward.
The doors clicked as I pushed them open, revealing a grand chamber bathed in sunlight. At the far end, standing with his back to me, was Liam.
The first thing I noticed was how still he was, like a statue carved from marble. His broad shoulders were rigid, his posture a perfect display of control and strength.
He didn’t turn as I entered, and the silence stretched between us like a taut rope.
“Your Highness,” I said softly, my voice barely carrying across the room.
He turned then, and my breath caught in my throat.
Liam was nothing like I’d imagined. His face was sharp, with a jawline that could have been cut from stone and piercing gray eyes that seemed to see right through me. His dark hair was neatly combed, but there was an air of dishevelment about him, as though he hadn’t slept in days.
He was beautiful in the way storms were beautiful—dangerous and overwhelming.
But his expression was cold, his gaze narrowing slightly as it swept over me.
“So,” he said, his voice low and edged with disdain. “You’re the replacement.”
I flinched at the word.
Replacement. Of course, that’s all I was to him.
“Yes, Your Highness,” I replied, forcing my voice to remain steady.
He took a step closer, his movements slow and deliberate.
“You’ll forgive me if I’m not overjoyed by this arrangement,” he said, his tone cutting. “I hadn’t expected my dear uncle to stoop so low as to send me a daughter from a tribe so… insignificant.”
His words stung, but I kept my head high. “I didn’t choose this either, Your Highness.”
A flicker of something crossed his face—surprise, maybe? Amusement? It was gone before I could be sure.
“No,” he said, his voice softening slightly. “I suppose you didn’t.”
For a moment, we just stared at each other. I wasn’t sure what he was looking for, but I refused to look away. If he thought I was weak, like the rest of my family, he was wrong.
“You’ll stay out of my way,” he said finally, his tone firm. “Do whatever it is you need to do to keep up appearances but don’t expect anything more from me. Is that clear?”
“Yes,” I said quietly.
He turned away, dismissing me without another word.
My heart sank, but I wasn’t surprised. I’d hoped, foolishly, that things might be different here. That maybe, just maybe, I’d finally found a place where I belonged.
But it seemed I was wrong again.
- Writer
