Hearts at War (AlanxJeff) VI

10

Alan

The wedding was small and private, held in the majestic main hall of Algabria Castle. The candlelight softly illuminated the room, creating an aura of intimacy and solemnity. The ancient stone walls, adorned with tapestries and fresh flowers, added a touch of elegance and tradition. Only a few trusted reporters and nobles from the kingdom of Algabria were invited, whispering among themselves as they awaited the start of the ceremony.

The vows, written by qualified personnel, hinted at how great (apparently) our love was. Jeff didn't look at me more than necessary, his face serious and distant. During our first dance as a married couple, I didn't think I would miss his clumsy steps, but now we danced so slowly and he was so careful with his movements that no incidents occurred. The hall was filled with soft music and hushed murmurs, but the dance passed in an awkward silence that I didn't dare to break. I feared that any word might affect our fragile future harmony. Our first meeting had already been disastrous enough.

The next day, it was time to leave. The sky was overcast, reflecting the somber mood I felt. Jeff arrived accompanied by an older woman, who would be his personal servant. Charlie, with his usual seriousness, insisted on personally handing me a detailed list of the foods Jeff could eat, emphasizing the importance of following it to the letter. From what I understood, Jeff was allergic to many things and if exposed, he risked developing a reaction that could be extremely severe.

When it was time to leave, I bowed respectfully to Charlie and Pete, and said goodbye with a hug to Babe; they looked at me with a mix of concern and hope. I tried to offer Jeff my hand to help him into the carriage, but I was completely ignored. I felt a pang of pain and humiliation, but forced myself to maintain composure.

The carriage slowly pulled away, leaving the castle behind. As we moved forward, the landscape gradually changed. The rolling green fields stretched as far as the eye could see, dotted with wildflowers that added splashes of color to the gray surroundings. The tall, majestic trees formed a natural canopy over the road, their leaves whispering softly in the breeze. Occasionally, we passed through small villages where the villagers watched us with curiosity, their faces reflecting a mix of respect and wonder.

The sound of the carriage wheels on the gravel road and the gentle sway of the vehicle created a sense of monotony that contrasted with the whirlwind of emotions inside me. I looked at Jeff, who remained silent, his gaze lost in the horizon. I wondered what he was thinking, if he shared any of my concerns or if his mind was as distant as his gaze.

The journey continued, and the landscape began to transform into steeper hills and dense forests. Despite the beauty of the scenery, I couldn't shake the feeling of uncertainty and vulnerability that had accompanied me since we left the castle.

As the carriage moved on, my thoughts grew darker. I remembered our first meeting, full of misunderstandings and tensions. I wondered if we could ever overcome those barriers and find a true connection. Each avoided glance and each uncomfortable silence seemed to build an invisible wall between us, a wall I feared I would never be able to tear down.

The landscape, though beautiful, felt like a reflection of my emotional state: vast, lonely, and full of shadows. I clung to the hope that, with time, we could find a way to understand each other and at least become allies.

"Jeff," I said softly, breaking the silence that enveloped us. "I know this isn't easy for either of us, but I hope we can find a way to live in peace."

Jeff looked at me for a moment, his eyes reflecting a mix of emotions I couldn't decipher. There was sadness, resignation, and something deeper that I couldn't understand. Then, he nodded slightly and turned back to the window, where the landscape slowly passed by.

We had been sitting in the carriage for a while, facing each other. The clatter of the wheels on the stone road was the only sound breaking the silence between us. The interior of the carriage was decorated with rich tapestries and velvet cushions, but the atmosphere was tense and cold. Jeff kept his gaze lost in the landscape, his thoughts clearly elsewhere. At some point, he frowned and turned to search for a bottle of pills in his personal bag.

"Are you feeling unwell? Are we going too fast? I could ask the coachman to slow down," I began to say, concerned for his well-being.

"I feel fine, Your Highness. I just forgot to take them before the trip. It's to prevent nausea," Jeff interrupted me indifferently, without even looking at me.

I felt a pang of frustration at his distant tone. Why did he have to be so cold? I tried to calm myself and responded with a sigh of relief.

"Oh, I see. By the way, now that we're married, it won't be well seen for you to call me Your Highness. I'll call you Jeff, you call me Alan."

"I understand," he replied coldly and dryly, turning his gaze back to the landscape through the window.

Silence settled between us again, heavy and full of tension. I decided to try breaking it once more, though I felt a knot in my stomach.

"Regarding..."

"Could you...? Could you not talk to me for the rest of the trip? It's not to be rude, but I'm starting to get a slight headache and I'd prefer to rest. The noise bothers me a bit."

I stared at him, trying to contain my indignation. The noise? Did my voice really bother him that much? The discomfort and indignation mixed inside me, but I decided to respect his request. Or at least I tried.

"Is it really starting to hurt?" I asked, unable to contain myself. "I brought some medication that might help you."

Jeff rolled his eyes and sighed exasperatedly as he searched for something in his bag. Moments later, he pulled out some headphones. I looked at him even more indignantly, feeling my frustration grow inside me.

"There's no need, Your High... Alan. I brought my own medication, specially prescribed by our highly qualified royal physician. I'll be fine."

"I thought the noise bothered you. You shouldn't use headphones. Or is it especially my voice that bothers you?" I retorted ironically, unable to help myself.

Jeff looked at me with a mix of irritation and defiance.

"Are you saying I was that rude? I wouldn't do such a thing. This is well known in many parts of the world. It's called music therapy. It's scientifically proven to help improve pain and reduce medication doses. This music has been carefully selected for that purpose. I'm offended that you think a noble and fragile omega like me would be so rude, when I just want to be as well as possible to avoid causing you problems," he finished plaintively.

This little brat was mocking me. I narrowed my eyes suspiciously, feeling a mix of anger and admiration for his audacity.

"My apologies if I gave you that impression. I would never think of you as rude," I replied in the same tone. We looked at each other for a few seconds and I saw that same glint in his eyes that he had on the day of the dance. A bit of silent hatred and anger, not considering giving up. I liked that look. I almost sighed in relief at seeing it. It was much better than his scared or lifeless gaze. It also meant that he saw me enough to develop feelings for me, even if they weren't good feelings. Seconds later, he looked away and put on his headphones.

"Music therapy... music therapy my ass," I thought. But at least I knew he was better. If he really felt that bad, he wouldn't have bothered to try to insult me with my supposed ignorance. Little brat, do you think I won't be able to find a way around it? Just wait and see. I'm only letting you win this time because you're recovering. I leaned back in my seat, staring at the carriage ceiling, and wondered if we would ever overcome this invisible barrier that separated us.

The carriage continued on its way, and although silence reigned again, I felt there was a silent battle between us, a struggle of wills that was just beginning.