3

They were settled in their residence. Adrian excused Isabelle while she changed into a white lace dress. She let down her hair that reached down to her waist. Adrian came in and he was already changed. They sat on the bed in silence. The crickets were chatting and the moonlight shone in even though the lanterns in the room were lit. It was an awkward situation.

Isabelle was nervous. How could she tell her husband that she was not ready for the planned intimacy? She fiddled with her fingers as her chest rose and fell.

"This was an arranged marriage," Adrian broke the silence. "It does not mean you will not get the respect you deserve. I am sorry to say this but I'm not happy with this marriage. It is a burden to me."

Isabelle glanced at him briefly but he wasn't looking at her. He was staring into nothingness.

"I'm not much of a talker. Do not expect happy faces from me. I have a temper. A bad one. Little things irritate me. I am not going to touch you. It is impossible for me to have an intimate session with someone I do not love."

Isabelle was blinking hard. These words were not enough to make a person cry so why was she crying?

"If we understand each other, we will not have any problems," he finalized and left the room. 

Isabelle was left alone with her thoughts. She was beautiful and attractive. Of course she didn't expect him to just fall in love with her. They would at least get to know each other first but it's impossible now that he had sealed everything off.

Was she in a marriage or a bondage? She stood up and walked to the window, admiring the moonlight.

"The moon that guides you through the night with her brightness but she will always dwell in the darkness in order to be seen," she quoted.

She thought about Adrian's words once again.

"Life is too short not to have fun," she said and retired to bed.

Adrian never came back to the room that night. Isabelle rolled around until she fell off. A undescribable pain shot through her spine and she groaned. The covers were over her. She stood up with great effort and stretched.

She walked out in her white dress and found two court ladies waiting. She ran to the bathroom alone. She was supposed to have breakfast with her husband's family. She forgot about it and overslept. 

Why was Adrian so complicated?

Was it so hard to wake her up early?

She walked through the corridors after wearing a presentable dress. She was adjusting her coronet when she found herself lost. She didn't know where to turn to. Her coronet was tangled up with her hair. It was causing great pain to her skull. 

A hand caught hers and helped her with the struggle. When she felt that it was done, she turned around.

Her grateful eyes turned gloomy and she frowned.

"It is this way to the dining area," he told her.

She walked behind him, sulking. He was looking so handsome but she didn't want to compliment him. She was fuming.

"Wait," she ran to catch up with him. "Is it so hard to wake me up?"

"We had a long journey yesterday. I thought you might be tired so I left you to rest. That's why I was waiting for you," he replied with cold and innocent eyes.

She didn't know how to place this. He wasn't exactly apologizing and he was angry too. It was somewhere in between.

"Give me your hand," he reached out.

"Can you give me some tips on how to present myself as a good wife?" She asked earnestly.

"Don't," he said.

The doors were pulled open and Isabelle's mouth hung open. There was a long table with twelve chairs, one at the head and tail, five by each side.

King Augustus was sitting at the head and a queen sat on his right. Beside him was a young lady, probably a princess. Beside her was Leopold. He winked at Isabelle as they walked in. There were two empty seats beside him. Isabelle say beside him and Adrian sat next to her. By the other end, sitting by Adrian was another man. By his right hand side, a woman sat with a cold gaze. There was an empty seat beside her and Louis was sitting next to the seat. A woman whom Isabelle presumed to be Fredrick's wife was sitting on Louis's right hand side beside her husband who was on Augustus's left hand side.

"Princess Isabelle," Augustus called while placing his fork in his fork.

Isabelle and Adrian were being served by the court maids. "How was your first night in Deira?" 

"It was wonderful. I had a good night's rest," she smiled politely.

"It's not good manners to be late to the table on your first..." The queen said but was interrupted.

"I asked her to sleep in. It was a rough trip from Angbotain," Adrian said sharply maintaining eye contact with the queen.

There was tension at the table and everyone noticed it.

"Introductions please," Augustus clapped.

"I am Queen Indira, mother of Prince Malcolm and Princess Nefertiti," she pointed at her children respectively.

"I am Princess Nefertiti," she smiled at Isabelle who smiled back. They looked like they were age mates.

"I am Prince Malcolm," the haughty figure beside Adrian said. He was looking at Isabelle weirdly. He looked hungry. "And this is my wife, Princess Philippa."

"Princess Isabelle," Fredrick called with a subtle smile. "We have met but I would like to introduce my wife to you. This is Princess Victoria," he introduced. 

Princess Victoria was just like her husband. She looked like a cheerful and simple person who kept her dignity while being elegant.

"We shall excuse you now," Augustus said and his chair was pulled out. He stood up together with Indira and they left.

"Finally!" Leopold cheered. "I can breathe."

"Leopold," Nefertiti called with a slight tone of warning in her voice.

"What? Do not tell me you do not  feel awkward when Father eats with us?" He leaned over and placed his head on her shoulder.

She pretended to be irritated and shook her head. Everyone smiled, chuckled and laughed but Adrian was unmoved. He was focused on his greens. She felt like he was an outcast.

"Adrian, are you leaving today?" Fredrick asked him and he raised his head to nod. 

"See me before you leave. Excuse me," he stood up. He held his wife's hand lovingly and they walked out together.

She could sense the love between them.

Didn't they get an arranged marriage? Isabelle wondered.

"You look beautiful," Nefertiti complimented Isabelle. 

"Thank you, you look beautiful too," she replied with courtesy.

"Brother really got the best," Leopold said carelessly. Louis looked at him with big eyes and made a sign to him.

Adrian reached to drink water when Malcolm spoke.

"Shouldn't Juno be back this winter?" 

Adrian froze in mid air. He ignored Malcolm and continued to drink his water. 

"She should," Nefertiti agreed. "She has been gone for so long. I miss her so much."

Isabelle felt like she was the actual outcast. She couldn't understand what the siblings were saying. She looked over at Philippa and she was lost in thought. Her eyes were glassy.

"You should pack your things," Adrian whispered to Isabelle. "We are leaving soon."

"Alright," she whispered back. "Excuse me," she bowed and walked out of the room.

"She is really beautiful," Nefertiti teased Adrian but he wasn't have any of it. He ignored them. 

"Will you keep ignoring us?" Malcolm scoffed. "Keep acting like you're better than everyone. You are just a commoner."

Adrian placed his fork on the table loudly and Nefertiti shouted, "Brother!"

"Thanks for the food. Every meal here always has an impact," Adrian said with a mix of seriousness and anger. He left the room without another word.

"Why do you always make him angry?" Nefertiti yelled at Malcolm who shrugged.

When Adrian burst out of the room, Isabelle was by the door. She had heard everything. 

He glanced at her and stalked off.

"Brother!" Nefertiti called as she ran to catch up with Adrian.

He didn't stop to wait for her. He kept walking. She pulled the edge of his shirt to stop him.

"Get your hands off me," he growled.

"I apologize on his behalf. I saw your wife, she heard everything."

She bowed and Adrian sighed. He raised her up and went to Fredrick's residence.

"Prince Adrian is here!" The eunuch at the entrance announced.

"Let him in," Princess Victoria said from within.

He entered the Crown Prince's residence. It was grander than any other prince's residence. The decorations were top notch and more expensive.

"It was really hard to see your face before," Princess Victoria came out of her chamber and Adrian smiled widely. "Now that you are married, I guess I have to say goodbye to seeing your face. Your wife is so beautiful, you are lucky."

Adrian didn't comment on that. He kept quiet. 

"Let us hope he appreciates her," Fredrick came from the inner room, carrying a box. 

Adrian moved forward to help him as the box seemed heavy. They placed it on the ground.

"What is this?" Adrian asked with curiosity.

"A gift for my sister-in-law."

"You do not need to do this," he tried to refuse it.

"Treat her well, Adrian," Fredrick grabbed him by the shoulder. "I mean it," he looked him in the eye.

Adrian nodded and Fredrick patted him. He moved to his wife and gave her a kiss.

"I have to go to the assembly," he walked out.

"Goodbye," Adrian bowed. 

Victoria waved and Adrian carried the box out. 

"Your majesty," the eunuch offered the box but Adrian dismissed him.

"Look, I know my brother can be really cold sometimes, please try to understand him," Nefertiti held Isabelle's hand.

"He is not cold to me," Isabelle smiled. "I mean it."

"You are lying," Nefertiti smirked as she left her hands. "My brother is cold to everyone. He was just informed of your marriage a day to it. He had just returned from war. He's probably worn out now."

Isabelle was about to talk when the door burst open.

"Where is my sister-in-law?" Leopold shouted as he entered.

Nefertiti looked at him with a dark glare and stood up.

"Come here!" She pursued him.

"Sister!" He ran about, trying to avoid her. "Violence is wrong," he said in a sneering voice. 

"I will kill you!" She lunged towards him before Louis entered and separated them.

He was holding Nefertiti back and Isabelle almost fell off the bed with laughter.

"He is useless already as he is," he held her. "Killing him would only mar your reputation."

"Who are you calling useless?" Leopold yelled and crashed into them.

He and Louis were squabbling. Isabelle managed to pull Nefertiti away from them and adjusted her attire. They looked at the twins who were pulling and shouting.

"Won't you get away from each other‽" A voice roared and they separated almost immediately. "What do you think you're doing in my chamber?"

"Brother, I can..."

"Keep quiet," Adrian shut Nefertiti up.

The boys were on their feet and were looking at each other scornfully. They were both muttering words at each other.

"You will not learn," he dropped the box on the floor. "Follow me."

"No!" Nefertiti blocked the door.

"Nefertiti, move away from the door."

"So that you can punish them?" She asked. "I shall not!"

"I do not want to hurt you," he said, trying to pull her away from the door.

"Then do not. I'm not moving away from the door."

"Is anyone there‽" His voice thundered.

The court maids and court ladies around assembled by the door.

"Carry her to her chambers," He commanded.

Isabelle's eyes widened as the ladies carried Nefertiti. Some pulled her legs, some pulled her arms. She was being whisked out of the room as she kept screaming.

"And she says she is getting married," Adrian scoffed and turned to the boys who were now hiding behind Isabelle.

"Follow me," he warned. "Do it now that I'm being nice."

"Louis, run!" Leopold yelled and pushed Isabelle to Adrian. The twins made their escape. 

Adrian and Isabelle collapsed on the bed, on top of each other. Isabelle was on top and Adrian was lying on the bed. He was holding her waist and her loose hair was down. Their faces were a few inches apart.