Selena's sweet smile

"Thank you," she whispered and the Queen's mother fixed her stray strands of haie while reprimanding her,

"There is no need to thank your husband. That's what he should do."

Selena bit her lower lip and picked up the fork afraid that King Liam would lose his temper if she didn't eat it. After the initial bite, Selena's eyes flickered her heart swelling with joy. The rich, decadent flavours danced on her taste buds making her happy. It had been a while since she had indulged in such a delightful treat.

She had only eaten cakes on her birthday that is if Sienna brought it to gloat and see if she was still alive.

Lost in the moment, Selena devoured the cake with an unexpected voracity. Her eyes, which had been dull and lifeless earlier, now sparkled with a renewed light. The corners of her lips twitched, forming a rare smile, a genuine expression of pure happiness.

Unbeknownst to Selena, King Liam was watching her at the corner of his eye his countenance still as expressionless as before.

She looked like she had cried for days. Her eyes were swollen her expression sullen and sometimes fearful throughout the wedding ceremony so this was the first time today that he saw her genuinely smile. In that moment, he saw a glimpse of the woman she truly was, a woman capable of experiencing unbridled joy over the smallest of things.

As Selena slowly became aware of King Liam's gaze, her radiant smile vanished like it was never there to begin with.

King Liam wanted to see that smile again. He was about to call Conley to fetch more cake when Conley came to him first.

Conley glanced at Princess Sienna his gaze intense and scary enough to scar anyone who was timid. Selena's heart jolted her palms sweaty as she stared at the now-empty dessert plate.

"What is it?" said King Liam before taking a sip from his chalice. This drew back Conley's attention. He turned to the king and whispered something.

Selena felt in her heart that something was going on so she kept her head down. Time and time again she felt a heated gaze staring at her making her sweat profusely like she had a fever.

She bit her lower lip tight until it bled. She didn't even feel the pain from the bite as she sat there with an absent expression. The two men finished talking to each other but the tense atmosphere lingered.

Selena sat there in a daze with the sound of chatter around her turning into white noise.

It took Queen Ava rubbing her shoulder to bring her back.

"Sienna, it's time to go... would you like to say goodbye to your father?" she said to her and Selena looked up only to find that King Liam was gone.

Her father was as drunk as a skunk and so were his nobles. She didn't want to go to him especially when he was drunk. Recalling that she was now standing in as Sienna she had to pretend like they had the best father and daughter relationship.

She nodded her head and straightened her dress before walking over to her father's side of the table.

"Father," Selena spoke softly, her voice barely above a whisper, but her words were enough to rouse the Lord of Rosemane from his stupor. His gaze shifted, a mixture of surprise and confusion colouring his features.

"Sienna, my darling daughter," he slurred, his voice thick with emotion as he struggled to get up. Selena subconsciously took a step back her eyes sour.  "I thought you had already left. Your husband refused to stay for a night."

"Oh...," Selena replied, her voice trembling. "I wanted to bid you farewell before I go."

His face twisted in anguish as he fought back tears. He struggled to stand, stumbling towards Selena with outstretched arms. At that moment, the alcohol-induced haze made her see a look of love in his father's eyes for the first time but it wasn't for her.

My dear Si Si," he mumbled, tears streaming down his weathered cheeks as he embraced her. Selena didn't know what to do. Her body stiffened her heart filled with sadness and resentment.

"I... I am sorry Father failed to protect you. I am too weak to protect you," he wailed while Selena's arms remained hovering in the air. She didn't even pat his back to comfort him. She didn't want to neither did she know how to.

The old man cried on her shoulder till her back was soaked with tears. It took several of the nobles to pry him off of her. When Selena was free she could finally breathe again.

"Come, darling, let's go," said Queen Ava and she followed after her. From behind her, she could hear her father crying in a drunken mess. He even mentioned his late wife and how she would be upset with him for failing their precious Sienna.

To her, it was like being stabbed in the heart repeatedly but she had long grown numb.

"Here, change into this. My servants will help you," said Queen Ava sending her into a room that had been assigned to them.

Selena nodded her head and entered the room before her heavy gown was unlaced at the back. She changed into something more comfortable and because she was exhausted she didn't notice the stares the maidservants gave each other when they saw the bruises on her wrists and ankles. It was especially hard to look at.

One girl reached over to remove the accessory around her neck but she adamantly refused. She didn't want anyone to see the ugly bruises on her neck.

By the time she came out, Ava had already been informed of what the girls saw. As a mother, she was distraught and wanted to discuss this with her son but it would have to wait for later.

"Come. You can ride the carriage with me andkeep this old lady company," she said genuinely happy because her son was going to be okay. She would treat Sienna like a precious stone because without her her son would go down a path that would be impossible to return from.

Selena followed the queen completely unaware that in the shadows Sienna was glaring at her, her eyes all red like a beast on the prowl.

She had wanted to return to her tower and carry on hiding but she wanted to see the curse of the family one last time before she died on the road to Lowoak.