After the wedding

JULIETTE

It’s him.

The man I thought I’d never see again.

My legs feel like they’re going to give out, and I grip the bouquet tighter to keep myself steady.

My mind races, trying to make sense of what I’m seeing.

How could this… be?

His blue eyes widen slightly, faintly as he stares at me, and I know he recognizes me too.

The same shock I’m feeling is mirrored on his face. For a moment, the entire room seems to fade away, the weight of our shared secret pressing down on us.

I don’t know how long we stay like that, frozen in each other’s gaze. But eventually, he recovers, his expression smoothing into something unreadable as he’s wheeled closer to the altar.

The queen regent smiles warmly as he takes his place beside me, completely unaware of the storm brewing beneath the surface. “Shall we begin?” she asks.

I can barely nod, my thoughts a chaotic mess. This changes everything. It… complicates everything. But as I glance at him again, the weight in my chest shifts.

Because if nothing else, at least I know one thing: I’m not marrying a complete stranger.

And neither am I marrying a cripple.

Even though… every one else here seems to belive he truly is one.

The wedding is a blur.

Everything feels distant, like I’m watching someone else live my life.

The vows are said, the cheers rise, and I walk side by side with Prince Kaelan down the aisle.

My heart beats loudly in my chest, but I keep my head high, forcing a smile that doesn’t quite reach my eyes.

The celebration stretches on for hours. Music fills the grand hall, guests toast to our happiness, and laughter echoes all around me.

I focus on breathing, trying not to let the weight of everything crush me. I can’t bear to look at Jane or my father. Jane’s smirk would only twist the knife deeper, and my father’s cold eyes would remind me of how little I mattered in his grand plans.

Kaelan stays by my side throughout the festivities, polite and charming with the guests.

He surprises me, actually.

His manners are flawless, his smile warm, and his words carefully chosen.

So much different from who he was last night.

Last night… he was demanding, possessive.

Dominating.

And he most certainly wasn’t crippled in any sense of the word.

But as I study him as the day goes on, he doesn’t seem bitter or resentful, and for a moment, I think maybe—just maybe—this arrangement won’t be so terrible.

As the evening wears on, I find myself relaxing a little. I even manage to loosen up during our conversations.

I feel shy though.

Beyond mortified knowing we’d spent the night together before all of this.

But Kaelan… he treats me with respect. And when he places the ceremonial necklace around my neck to seal our union, some of the dread I’d felt earlier fades away.

It feels almost natural.

Maybe this arrangement won’t be so bad.

***

When it’s finally time to retire to our chambers, I feel cautiously optimistic.

Maybe we really could find some kind of peace in this marriage.

Maybe…we could make it work. I cling to that hope as we step into our private room.

As the servant rolls in his chair, i stand there with my hands in front of me, nervous.

But… full of anticipation.

Yet, when the door closes behind the servant, something signifier happens.

Like a switch, the mood in the room flips.

Kaelan’s warm demeanor vanishes like smoke in the wind as he rises to his feet with graceful ease.

I freeze.

The air between us shifts, heavy with unspoken tension. He walks toward me, his movements deliberate, predatory. My breath catches as he stops just in front of me.

His hand snakes up to my neck, brushing the necklace he placed on me only hours ago. I barely have time to process the warmth of his touch before he yanks it off.

The beads scatter across the marble floor like broken promises.

Then he turns to me, his face cold and eyes hard. “Let’s get one thing straight,” he says, his voice cutting through the silence like a blade. “I don’t need you, and I certainly don’t want you.”

I blink, the words hitting me like a slap. “I don’t understand—”

“Don’t play dumb,” he snaps, his tone sharp. “You think you can marry a cripple out of pity? That I’d be grateful for someone like you to swoop in and save me? Spare me the act.”

I take a step back, his words twisting in my chest. “That’s not what this is,” I say quietly, trying to keep my voice steady. “I didn’t have a choice in this, just like you.”

He laughs, but there’s no humor in it.

“Don’t pretend we’re in the same position. You’re here because you wanted to be a hero or because your father pushed you into it. Either way, I don’t care. This marriage is nothing more than a contract, and it will stay that way. Do you understand?”

I remained frozen, too stunned to respond. I can feel tears threatening to rise, but I refuse to let them fall.

I won’t give him the satisfaction of seeing me break.

I won’t give anyone that satisfaction again.

“To everyone else, we’ll play the happy couple,” he continues, his voice colder than ice. “But behind closed doors, there’s nothing between us. We share no bond, no connection. You’re just here to fulfill a promise.”

I swallow hard, my throat tight. “Why are you doing this?”

He steps closer, his green eyes blazing with an anger I don’t understand. “Because I don’t trust you,” he says, his voice low. “And you don’t need to know anything more than that. But let me make one thing clear. You will not reveal my secret, because if you do, I’ll make your life a living hell.”

His words send a chill down my spine. “Your secret?” I echo, “Why are you pretending to be crippled when you’re not?”

His jaw tightens, and for a moment, I think he’s going to lash out.

But instead, he takes a step back, running a hand through his hair. “That’s none of your business,” he says finally, his tone dismissive. “Just keep your mouth shut and do as you’re told.”

I want to argue, to demand answers, but I know it would be pointless.

The man standing in front of me isn’t the same one who smiled at our guests earlier.

He’s colder, crueler, and I don’t know how to reach him.

“I understand,” I say quietly, my voice barely above a whisper.

“Good,” he says, turning away from me. “You can sleep on the couch. The bed’s mine.”

I stare at him, disbelief washing over me, but I don’t argue.

Instead, I gather a blanket from the corner of the room and curl up on the couch, my back to him.

The tears I’ve been holding back so desperately finally fall, and I bury my face in the fabric to muffle the sound of my sobs.

I don’t know how long I cry, but eventually, exhaustion takes over, and I drift into a restless sleep.

When I wake up the next morning… Kaelan is already gone.