Ilyin knew she would not marry again, as the Arlens were not that powerful to be able to remarry a daughter, and her father would not give her any dowry. So, this was the first and last time.

Ilyin read the document in a gentle voice, “The bride, Ilyin de Arlen pledges her life to the Duke Aden de Biflten.” The sentence was simple, and the night she had envisioned in her dream was becoming a reality. “It does not need to be for life.”

Ilyin thought the world had turned dark as a warm hand covered her eyes. She heard a low and sincere voice, and it was too cultured for the rumors to be true. The voice was softer than her expectation, and she did not feel afraid that a strange man was behind her. She felt like she had met him before, and her heart raced.

“Is it your highness?” Ilyin spoke without turning around and thought his hand flinched a bit.

“Yes, I am Aden de Biflten,” he introduced himself after a brief moment of silence.

Ilyin greeted him with a shaking voice, “I am Ilyin de Arlen.” She could see some light through his long fingers and also the document. However, her attention was on his hand that touched hers which held a pen.

Aden gently led Ilyin’s hand with his strong swordsman grip but his touch was gentle, despite his strength and he whispered, “You may go whenever this place becomes too much for you.”

She heard his voice above her and felt the Duke’s firm chest pressing against the back of her head; they were close.

“People outside from here cannot last,” he whispered to her. The Duke had signed the document, and after Ilyn wrote her name, the two were now married.

Before putting the silver pen down, Ilyin queried, “Why did you ask for a bride from outside then?”

He hesitated before answering and then murmured that he had not expected someone like her to come. Aden removed his hand from her eyes but remained standing behind her. He was standing so close to her and she turned slightly and saw his sharp chin and his lips. She also noticed that his collar was open, which would be a privilege that only the Duke could have in this area. Ilyin tried to avoid glancing at him further.

“I’ll see you later,” he said gently.

***action

The preparations for their first night together were simple. The maids from all four families handed Ilyin a light silk gown while doing her hair up, as only the mistress of the mansion was allowed to do. Then, they took her into a place that Ilyin was familiar with. She’d seen this room in her dream. Thin white curtains were layered over a four-poster bed and soft, downy blankets covered the mattress. While the room was not luxurious it did resemble the Biflten snowfields.

“The master may be late.” The maid from the Blue North spoke indifferently, and Ilyin thought otherwise, since he’d whispered to her as if he’d see her shortly, and she thought of the man she had just met. He seemed so different from the rumors she’d heard and she wondered why they had been spread in the first place. But she had erased the notion of him being nice to her, as she had become too old to fancy such thoughts.

“Drink this.” The maid from the Green Mille poured liquor into a small cup and placed it on the bedside table. “Women on their first night prefer this.”

That meant it was not a necessary step, and Ilyin nodded her head slightly and said, “Thank you.”

The maids bowed and left the room and she was alone finally. She looked around and thought about Aden de Biflten, who would be coming through that door. The name was still strange to her, as she did not know his face yet.