The room was silent except for the soft, broken sound of her sobs.
sob....sob.....sob......sob.
And then
a gentle knock echoed from the door.
“My lady…”
A woman’s voice followed, careful and hesitant. “The House Lord is calling for you.”
There was no response from Evandria.
That woman asked again.
“My lady?”
From inside the room came a restrained voice, tight but controlled.
“I heard you. I’m coming.”
Moments later, the door opened.
Evandria stepped out and descended the grand staircase of the Gravewood estate. Her long blue hair flowed like moonlit silk down her back, her blue eyes calm on the surface yet hollow within. She wore a deep blue dress, elegant and flawless—making her appear like the most beautiful woman in the whole continent.
Yet her heart felt unbearably heavy.
As she reached the dining hall, a deep voice spoke.
“You came.”
It was Balthar Gravewood, the head of The Gravewood family—stern, commanding, and unyielding. A man whose word shaped the fate of many within Dravaryn Kingdom.
Beside him, her elder brother smiled faintly.
“You’re looking beautiful today,” Cedric Gravewood said.
Evandria did not reply.
She silently took her seat at the long dining table.
Then—
Her gaze shifted.
Across from her sat a man she had hoped never to face again.
Black hair, neatly kept.
Cold blue eyes devoid of warmth.
A finely tailored suit, fitting him like armor.Handsome—undeniably so.
Yet his expression was emotionless, distant, and chilling.
Elion Goldleaf.
The moment Evandria saw him, the sadness on her face hardened into something sharper—anger, resentment, fear—all tightly restrained. She lowered her eyes before anyone could notice.
That man…
He is Elion Goldleaf of The Aurelith Kingdom.
The head of The Goldleaf family—the wealthiest and most respected family in The Kingdom of Aurelith.
Her fingers clenched slightly beneath the table.
But he is also a villain to be precise an evil person.
Rumors say he destroyed his rival merchant family in a single night—just because he suffered some loses because of them—men, guards, even their family head he killed them all brutally.
They say he burned their estate to the ground… leaving no one alive.
Some even whisper that he kills his servants over small mistakes.
And the worst rumor of all…
That he killed his own wife.
Her chest tightened painfully.
Her heart sank.
And now… I am going to marry this man.
***
“I don’t want this marriage!”
Evandria stood before her father, tears streaming down her face.
“He’s evil,” she cried. “Please, Father—he’s not a good man.
I don’t want to marry him!”
Balthar Gravewood’s expression darkened.
“You will marry him,” he said coldly.
She shook her head desperately. “Please—”
“If you marry Elion Goldleaf,”
Balthar interrupted, his voice sharp,
“The Gravewood family will gain a strong
foothold in The Aurelith Kingdom.
An alliance with The Goldleaf family will
strengthen our power beyond measure.”
He turned away and while walking towards exit he said.
“This decision is final.”
His footsteps faded down the hall.
Evandria collapsed onto the floor, her cries echoingthrough the empty chamber.
***
Evandria comes back to her senses from a memory
she had with her father a few weeks ago.
I’m marrying him because his family is wealthy…
because they are respected in Aurelith,
Evandria thought bitterly.
No one listens to me.
Not my father.
Not even my brother.
Balthar turned his attention to Elion.
“Let us come to the point,” he said.
“The marriage will take place in one week.”
Evandria looked up suddenly.
“Father—”
“Enough,” Balthar snapped.
“This is a matter between the heads of two families.
It would be better if you stayed silent.”
Evandria lowered her gaze.
The words struck harder than any slap.
Her shoulders sank.
Her neck bent slightly forward—as if accepting
chains she never chose.
Across the table, Elion Goldleaf remained silent.
Looking at her silently, with his cold blue eyes,
Unreadable.
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