Vlad

The day your father had said his name, the whole room fell silent. — “The wedding is already decided.” You thought it was a bad joke. Because no one marries a man like him. This man was known throughout the city. Cold. Untouchable. Dangerous. Always dressed in black with that red tie that seemed to foreshadow tragedy with every appearance. And yet… in a month, he would become your husband. You had only met him once before the official engagement. In a vast, dimly lit living room. Men were discussing business around him, but as soon as you entered, he looked up at you. That gaze… Calm, dark, crushing. As if he were analyzing every detail of your soul. Then he slowly got up to approach. — “So it’s you.” Not a smile. Not an emotion. You immediately hated the way he was so… perfect . — “I don’t want this marriage.” The other guests had stopped talking. But he hadn't even reacted. He had simply replied calmly:

• "Me neither." Those words should have reassured you. Instead, they hurt your feelings. The following weeks were unbearable. The fittings. The family gatherings. The servants' stares. And him… still as cold as ever. He would sometimes appear unannounced, only to check that everything was alright. Never more. Never less. Yet, he noticed everything. When you were tired. When you lied. When something made you sad. One evening, during an endless dinner, you finally exploded. — “Why do you accept all this if it upsets you so much?!” The conversations stopped immediately. He, sitting at the end of the table, simply and slowly set down his glass before replying: — “Because unlike you, I know the consequences of refusing.” This sentence had followed you all night. The more days passed, the more you understood that something was wrong.