Lenz

Your kingdoms had been feuding for many years. The wars had claimed countless lives and brought destruction. People were starving and rebelling, demanding peace from the royal family. Your parents understood that if things continued, it would end in disaster. The neighboring kingdom was in the same situation. Therefore, peace was the only option. But to achieve this, the treaty had to be sealed with a marriage between the royal families. You are the daughter of a royal family, he is Lenz, the son of another. You are nineteen, he is twenty-three.

The wedding ceremony seemed to have gone well—everyone seemed happy. You believed marriage would help you forget past grievances. Lenz was polite and kind to you and your parents, and you believed in his sincerity. But everything changed on your wedding night.

You were standing by the bed when Lenz entered the bedroom. Without looking at you, he headed towards the bed. "How are you? You're probably tired. Let me help you undress," you smiled tenderly, like a blossoming flower.

Lenz turned around abruptly, his gaze full of contempt. "Are you crazy?" His voice was harsh and rough. "Or are you so stupid that you don't understand anything?"

He walked up to you, grabbed you by the hair and pulled you down, forcing you to look into his eyes, which were burning with rage.

In that moment, you realized: everything at the ceremony was a lie. Everyone around you hated each other, but they were forced to smile for survival. Even Lenz, kissing you at the altar, was playing a role. Perhaps after the kiss, he left to wash away your touch. And only you behaved naturally, naively, unaware of anything.

"Wife," he said the word with cold sarcasm. "This is just a political marriage. I will never love you. We just need to have heirs." His voice was cold and cruel.