𝙱𝚎𝚗𝚎𝚊𝚝𝚑 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚁𝚘𝚢𝚊𝚕 𝚅𝚎𝚒𝚕

CHAPTER 21

As you stand there alone in your room, the reality of the situation sinks in. You're getting married. To him. The boy who teased and tormented you, the one who's suddenly turned into a man you can't resist. You shake your head, your thoughts swirling with a mix of excitement, nervousness, and a hint of fear.

What have you gotten yourself into?

You make your way towards your room and to the bed, shedding your dress as you go. You don't bother with the elaborate nightgown you usually wear, instead opting for something much simpler, just a soft, thin nightgown that allows a little more freedom of movement. You crawl into the bed, the cool sheets a welcome sensation against your heated skin.

You lie there in the darkness for a moment, your mind still whirling with thoughts and emotions. But slowly, as your body relaxes, you start to sink into a deep sleep. Your eyelids flutter shut, and your breathing becomes even and steady as you drift off into dreamland.

Your dreams are a strange mix of memories and fantasies. Flashes of Eris come to you, from his cruel taunting to his sensual touches, blending together in a confusing jumble of sensation. Before long, your dream morphs into something much more...explicit

You wake suddenly, your heart racing as you blink yourself awake. It takes a moment for you to register your surroundings, to realize that you've woken up from a rather intense dream. You can feel your heart still pumping wildly, and your breath coming in short gasps. The dream was so vivid, so real, that you can still feel the phantom touch of Eris' hands on your skin.

The sound of your bedroom door opening jerks you back to reality, and you glance over to see a team of maids bustling into the room. They're here to pack up your belongings, to prepare for your departure back to Solaria with your parents.

You watch as the maids begin to move around the room, efficiently and silently packing your things. You know that you should be getting up to help, but for some reason you don't feel like moving. You remain lying there in the bed, your mind still filled with thoughts of Eris and the dream you had.

One of the maids glances over at you, noticing that you're still lying in bed. She smiles slightly as she speaks up, her voice soft and polite. "Your Highness, are you feeling alright? We'll need you to get up soon, so we can finish packing your belongings and get you dressed."

You blink at her, a little disoriented by her question. You've been so lost in your thoughts that you forgot about the maids and their task. You mentally shake yourself, forcing yourself to sit up in bed. "I'm fine," you mutter, your voice still a little groggy from sleep. "Just need a moment to wake up."

The maids quickly get to work, helping you out of bed and into a simple yet elegant dress. They move with practiced ease, their hands deftly fastening buttons and adjusting fabric. Under their careful touch, you are soon looking the picture of a princess, ready to depart.

The maids step back, allowing you a moment to look yourself over in a nearby mirror. You see your reflection, dressed in a beautiful gown, your hair neatly styled, and your face painted with light makeup. You look every bit the regal princess that you are.

The maids gather up the last of your belongings, hoisting bag after bag onto their shoulders. They give you a nod, signaling that they're ready to go. You take a deep breath, steeling yourself for the journey ahead. You're leaving the castle of Arkann, the place where you've spent so much time with Eris, to return to the comfort and familiarity of Solaria.

As you exit your room, you spot your parents waiting for you patiently. The King and Queen stand side by side in the hallway, their faces betraying a mix of anticipation and concern. They smile warmly as they spot you, their gazes sweeping over you as they take in your appearance.

Your mother steps forward, her smile widening as she looks you over. "You look lovely, dear," she says warmly, reaching out to brush a stray strand of hair off your forehead.

Your father nods in agreement, his gaze flickering over you briefly. "Yes, very nice," he mutters. "Are you ready to leave?"

You nod, a small smile curving your lips in response to your mother's compliment. "Yes, I'm ready." Your father gives a short nod of approval, gesturing for you to follow him. He turns and begins walking out the suite, being greeted by Eris and his parents.

As you step into the hallway, you see Eris standing there, flanked by his parents. He glances up as you approach, his eyes locking onto yours for a brief moment before flickering away. A strange mix of emotions flickers across his face, quickly hidden behind a neutral expression.

His parents greet your parents, the two monarchs engaging in polite conversation. Eris, meanwhile, remains silent, his gaze flickering between you and the ground. You can feel his eyes on you every now and then, burning into your skin like a hot brand.

As the adults continue to chat, Eris speaks up, his voice cutting through the noise. "Ready to go, Princess?" he asks, his voice laced with a hint of mockery. His eyes flick over your figure, taking in your appearance for a brief moment before he looks away again.

You roll your eyes at his teasing tone, a mix of irritation and arousal flooding through you. "As ready as I'll ever be," you reply, your voice dripping with sarcasm. "Can't wait to get back home."

"Oh?" he says, a smirk tugging at the corner of his mouth. "Are you really that eager to get away from me?" He steps closer to you, invading your personal space so that you can feel his warmth. "Don't get too comfortable in Solaria now, in a week time you'll be my wife and living here."

You swallow hard, your heartbeat quickening as he steps closer. He's right, of course. In a little over a week, you'll be married, and you'll be living right here, in the castle of Arkann.

"Don't get too cocky, now," you mutter, your voice not quite as sure as you'd like it to be. "Just because I'm marrying you doesn't mean I have to like you." you tease with a slight smirk.

His smirk widens as he hears your retort, his eyes darkening with a hint of lust. "Oh darling," he whispers, his voice lowering to a velvet growl. "By the time I'm done with you, you'll love me more than you ever knew possible."

Your parents and Eris' parents finally finish their conversation, and you notice that they're all looking over at the two of you now.

Your father clears his throat, drawing your attention. "It's time to go," he states firmly. "We need to begin our journey back to Solaria."

You look over at Eris, noticing the faint hint of a pout on his face. He clearly doesn't want you to leave, but there's nothing either of you can do about it. He sighs and nods, reluctantly acknowledging your father's words.

You look over at Eris, noticing the faint hint of a pout on his face. He clearly doesn't want you to leave, but there's nothing either of you can do about it. He sighs and nods, reluctantly acknowledging your father's words.

"Fine," he mutters, his eyes flickering over to you before looking away again. "We will walk you out to the courtyard."

The six of you make your way down the long corridors, the silence a little awkward between you and Eris. You can feel the tension in the air, the weight of what's about to happen in a week's time hanging heavily over you. Finally, you reach the front courtyard of the castle, where carriages and horses are waiting to take you back to Solaria.

The carriages are all loaded with your belongings, the horses restless and eager to move. You glance sideways at Eris, feeling a pang of something in your chest as you see his expression. Despite his earlier arrogance and teasing, he looks almost...sad, knowing that you'll be gone for a week.

Eris and his parents surround you and your parents, bidding farewell. Your parents exchange polite pleasantries with the King and Queen, while you focus your attention on Eris.

Eris stands silently, his expression stoic. He doesn't say anything, just looks at you with a hint of something in his eyes that you can't quite identify.