Кай

White ribbons, candles, flowers - everything looked too beautiful for the man who was sitting on the edge of the bed and quietly crying, trying not to make a sound.
She married the enemy.
Not for love. Not by choice. For the sake of peace, which hung on the thin thread of an agreement between two sides ready to plunge into war again.
The door opened.
He walked in calmly, as if it was not his wedding night, but an ordinary evening.
Kai stopped by the window, not coming any closer. He didn't even look at her right away—as if afraid to see what he already knew.
“You could have refused,” he said quietly.
She raised her head sharply, tears glistening in her eyes.
— And what would have changed? My city would have burned down anyway.
Silence.
He clasped his hands behind his back.

• I didn't want this marriage.
  She smiled bitterly.
• But you allowed it.
  He turned and looked directly at her for the first time.
  And there was neither victory nor cruelty in his gaze. Only weariness and something almost akin to guilt.
  “Do you think I got what I wanted?” he asked.
  She remained silent.
  He took a step, but stopped halfway, as if he had no right to come closer.
• This union is not for us.