Aurelia's new chambers were smaller than she expected, yet far grander than anything she had ever known. Heavy velvet drapes blocked the sunlight, leaving the room dim and shadowed. The air smelled faintly of lavender and wax, an odd combination that did little to ease the tension knotting her stomach.
She sank onto the bed, hands twisting the silk in her lap. So this is my life now. Married to a man whose very touch could be fatal. Married to the king everyone whispered about in fear and awe.
The maid, sensing her unease, stepped forward. "Your Highness… may I offer some advice?"
Aurelia lifted her tired eyes. "I… suppose."
"Do not provoke him. Do not show weakness, but also do not attempt to display strength that might seem like defiance. The curse is not a metaphor… it is real. The king does not take lightly those who love him. You must… guard your heart, above all."
Aurelia's breath caught. "Guard my heart? How is that even possible?"
The maid's gaze softened, though her fear was evident. "I do not know. I only know that survival here is as much about caution as it is about courage."
With that, the maid left, and Aurelia was left alone with the weight of her thoughts. She paced, tried to formulate a plan, but her mind kept circling back to Kael—the king, the man, the monster.
If anyone could survive the curse… it would take someone clever, careful, and… lucky, she thought grimly. That's… maybe me.
Her fingers brushed over the silk of her gown, and a thought struck her. Wait. In my old life, I always… followed the rules. Studied. Calculated. I was cautious. Maybe… maybe that's how I survive.
A knock at the door startled her.
Aurelia opened it cautiously. A young guard, barely older than herself, stepped in. His eyes were wide, and he seemed nervous.
"Your Highness… the king… requests your presence in the garden," he said quietly.
Aurelia blinked. "The garden? Now?"
He nodded. "Yes, Your Highness. He… wishes to speak with you privately."
She hesitated. Fear surged, but curiosity pricked at her. She needed to understand more about this man, this curse, this life that had been thrust upon her. "Very well," she said, keeping her voice steady.
The garden was vast, a private sanctuary walled off from the rest of the palace. Marble statues of forgotten kings and carved fountains dotted the lush greenery. Yet the beauty did little to ease her nerves. Every shadow felt like a lurking threat.
And there he was, Kael Blackthorn, standing by a fountain with his dark hair glinting in the sunlight. His expression was unreadable, but his eyes were fixed on her, intense and searching.
"You are late," he said simply, though his voice carried no anger this time. Only… expectation.
"I… apologize," she replied, bowing slightly. "I am still… learning the rules of this place."
Kael's gaze softened for the briefest moment. "Rules are simple," he said. "Do not die. Do not fall in love."
Aurelia blinked. The words stung with both absurdity and terror. "Do not… fall in love?"
"The curse is real," Kael said. His voice lowered. "Those who dare to care for me… die. Everyone I have ever… let close… has perished. You will not be different unless you are careful."
Aurelia's chest tightened. She had imagined many things when she first woke in this world, but never that she would be told outright: falling in love could kill you.
"And… you are… aware of this?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.
Kael's eyes darkened. "I am. I live with it every day. I have lived with it for years. And still, the pain of losing someone I… care for… it is unbearable."
Something inside her twisted at the raw honesty in his voice. Beneath the fearsome exterior, there was a man shaped by loss, by tragedy. And yet… the warning remained. Love equals death.
"I…" Aurelia hesitated. "I will… try to be careful."
Kael's eyes lingered on her, unreadable, and then he turned away, walking along the stone path of the garden. "Do not try. Survival here requires more than attempts. It requires skill, instinct… and perhaps a measure of luck."
Aurelia followed silently, her mind racing. Skill? Instinct? Luck? How could anyone navigate a world like this without losing themselves—or their life?
They reached a secluded bench beneath a large oak tree. Kael gestured for her to sit. She did, careful not to meet his eyes.
"You will need to learn everything about this place," he said after a moment of silence. "The palace, the court, the politics, the people. Everyone has motives, and most have… shadows they hide. You will not survive if you trust blindly."
"I understand," Aurelia said, forcing herself to stay calm.
"And… you must also understand me," Kael added, his voice dropping. "I am not a man to be tamed. I am cursed, yes, but I am still human. I have desires, fears… anger. You must learn to navigate me as well, if you hope to survive."
Aurelia's heart thudded painfully. Navigate him… survive… live. Every word was a warning, every gesture a test. And yet, somewhere deep inside, she felt a spark of determination. She would not be just another victim of the curse. She would learn, she would endure… and she would find a way to live.
The wind rustled the leaves above them, carrying a faint scent of roses and something darker, something that made her shiver. Kael's eyes, dark and unreadable, met hers for the briefest moment.
This is only the beginning, she reminded herself. And I will not break.