Chapter one

Tick. Tock. Tick. Tock.

The pendulum inside the large grandfather clock swung side to side, and Aurelia could not help but watch it; an attempt to ease her mind. However, it had the opposite effect, and instead it began to drive her slightly mad, after all it was the only sound in this overpowering quiet room.

Even the gulp at the back of her throat sounded painfully loud. She closed her eyes and mentally sighed, trying to slow her beating heart for what was yet to come.

Aurelia looked around the lavishly decorated room, her eyes glancing from the flower printed, frilled curtains to the soft cream carpeting beneath her feet. It was gorgeous - indeed fit for royalty but it certainly was not her style. To her, it somewhat seemed over the top, but still the designer of the room deserved some props.

She rubbed her hands over the soft blanket, smoothing out the creases created from where she was sat. Her hand then trailed to her pink, silky nightgown, rubbing the material between her fingers; it wasn't really a nightwear she was accustomed to, if she had had a choice it wouldn't have been this.

However, the maids had picked it and dressed her, whilst reminding her of how this was an important night for her, and for the man who she knew stood behind the door of the bathroom. Her purple eyes floated from her gown and to the door of said room, waiting for the moment it would click open. She groaned, the thought of that white door opening increased her anxiety, and all she wanted to do was run out the bedroom door and away from this situation right now.

Alas, she all but knew that outside that door, stood some guards and even if she, by chance, managed to pass them, there were more guards, and more, and more…after all, it wouldn't be a palace if it didn't have a few guards here and there.

Click.

Her eyes widened at the sound. It was here, the moment she was dreading; the moment the prince would come out of that bathroom and from there, they would spend their first night together, in this room, in this bed. As the Prince exited the bathroom, Aurelia feared he would hear her beating heart for she was sure it was now the loudest sound in the room.

The Prince paused in his step, standing in the middle from the bed and the bathroom. He was in a white robe, his hair still dripping wet, and his skin glistening from the water. Aurelia couldn't help but admire his handsomeness. No matter how much she had seen his straight nose, red lips, and sharp jawline, she was always amazed. His sharp onyx eyes narrowed, focusing on Aurelia.

"You." He spoke, his tone sharp.

Aurelia's heart jolted, and she stood up quickly, her gown fluttering ever so slightly.

"Your highness, Prince Kaitimus" Aurelia greeted, curtseying.

"Prince Kai" He corrected her. He didn't like his full name and he hated it more when others said it. There was just something about that name that he had never liked and would always irk him.

"Prince…Kai…" She muttered, realising her mistake in her nervousness, he had told her this once before. "Did you have a nice bath?" She asked, attempting a conversation. The Prince walked past her.

"Why are you nervous?" He asked bluntly, not even attempting at a pleasant conversation with her.

"Did you really think I was going to touch you?" He stopped halfway to the door and looked back at her.

Aurelia could hear the scoffing in his voice. "Well…no…but I thought you wanted this marriage to seem as real as possible."

His eyes narrowed, "Are you saying you want to discuss the contract again?"

Aurelia pouted, "No I remember the contract, and if I remember correctly, I am to 'act as the perfect wife'." She air quoted with her fingers. "So, if sleeping with your highness is a wifely duty, then so be it."

The prince chuckled to himself and smirked. "So, what I'm hearing is that you just want to sleep with me?"

She blushed at his obvious teasing comment. "It's not like I'm begging you. I am just stating that I'm actually following the contract. Your guards are outside and if they hear something is amiss or if you leave this room, they may realise that this is a false marriage." She gestured her hands to point at him and her.

The smirked vanished from his face upon realizing what she said was, indeed, correct. If he were to leave like he had intended to, everyone would realise their supposedly loving relationship, was nothing but a sham.

He stormed towards Aurelia, grabbing her wrist, and tossing her on the bed. She bounced from the force of the sudden throw. She gasped as the Prince climbed on top of her, pinning her wrists down to the red sheets.

"Well then, shall we entertain their ears." He smirked, but this was not a teasing smirk he had shown earlier. This smirk was darker, and he enjoyed the fear that flickered across her eyes.

"W-wait, your Highness!" She began to beg. She had prepared herself for this, she was willing to do it but now that it was coming to it, it was scary. He was scary.

He ignored her words, and kissed her roughly, his lips smacking into hers.

She winced as he bit her lip.

This kiss wasn't how she imagined it; this kiss wasn't like the soft sweet kiss he had given her at their wedding. This was painful and not how she had ever wanted her first time to be like. He released her lips with a pull of his teeth and moved her arms roughly, holding both her slender wrists with one large hand, whilst his other trailed downwards, and up her gown.

However, his free hand suddenly stopped in their travels as he realised that the woman beneath him was trembling. He looked at her face, her eyes shut tight as the tears gently slid down her rosy red cheeks.

He sighed as he released her, and sat at the edge of the bed, brushing his fingers through his black hair. He noticed how she curled up slightly, as if she were protecting her body.

"Your-your highness…" Aurelia sobbed, trying to contain her tears that had already begun to fall.

"Just go to sleep." He snapped slightly; he was somewhat irked by himself. He breathed and calmed himself before continuing, "The guards and servants cannot hear us in here, the walls are stone. We need not worry about them thinking this marriage is a sham."

His black eyes, glanced towards her. She lay with her back towards him, still curled.

"Don't leave, or they'll know…" She whispered, she was feeling awful, did this mean she had already broken the contract?

"I won't leave. I have some paperwork I need to sort through. Just go to sleep."

Kai stood up from the bed, walking away and towards the window on the other side of the room. He plopped himself on the large chair behind the dark oak desk and put his head into the stack of paperwork.

Aurelia did not dare to move, even though she knew he had left to the other side of the room; she could even hear the paper scuffling, but this didn't calm her churning emotions. She stayed curled on the bed; her eyes shut tight.

What had she gotten herself into? It was only now, she was regretting her decision, but could she afford to regret it? To save her family from her father's gambling, and continue to care for her young twin siblings, she dared to strike a deal with the Prince.

He needed a marriage to satisfy his father and have him choose him as the next King. However, the Prince didn't want to marry those women who flocked at him for money and fame.

Before Aurelia realised it, she had drifted off to the sound of rustling and pen scribbling away on paper.

After a while, the Prince sighed, putting his pen down. He was hoping she was finally asleep so then he too, could rest.

He got up from the chair quietly, and gently found his way to the bed. He was glad to see she was sleeping soundly, a peaceful face instead of the tearful one he had caused earlier.

He touched his hands to her bruised lips; he really had been rough with her, and he hadn't even realised it.

His eyes softened the longer he looked at her, he honestly did not intend to make her cry. Perhaps, he should change the contract a little; he didn't want to be like his brute of a father, the current King, who was known for his abuse to his wives.

The Prince shifted the covers and gently pulled them over her, he held his breathe when she began to stir, but thankfully she remained asleep.

He thought back to the moment she had dared to approach him in the palaces garden at the annual ball. She was beautiful as she stood in the moonlight, determination on her face that showed no love nor desire towards the Prince.

"Marry me" Her voice had been stern and resolute. From then, she had piqued the Prince's interest.