A small, intimate wedding ceremony was held for Lady Clarisa’s entrance to the royal harem, where only a select few from the highest-ranking nobles and the Walter Duchal Family were invited as witnesses. As Esther was yet to return to the palace, Queen Theodora had everything arranged in her absence.

On that day, the royal harem of Megaris welcomed a new member, the First Concubine Clarisa Ivanov. The harem had a strict hierarchy, its chief authority being the Queen and female relatives of the King, and below them were the concubines. However, as the one and only concubine of King Theron, the best chamber within the Vermillion Palace was arranged for her and it would become her permanent residence as long as King Theron continued his reign.

It was the wedding night of the King and his concubine.

King Theron found himself drinking liquor inside his bed-chamber, gazing at the starless night sky. His handsome face was cold and emotionless, his body lounging on his armchair in lethargy. He had to honour his second marriage whether he wanted it or not, but he found himself having no desire to leave his residence.

However, duties were duties, regardless of his will. He married for the sake of having children and fulfilling his queen’s wish, so wouldn’t it be pointless if he were to not fulfil a husband’s duty? It was an inevitable task, and the quicker he started it, the faster he could return to his residence to rest.

Sir Galien knocked on his door. “Your Majesty? Your carriage is ready.”

The young king let out a small sigh. He had only started drinking and was yet to be drunk. However, he knew he had to go now, otherwise, he would lose whatever little motivation he had left.

After finishing the bottle of liquor, King Theron visited the Vermillion Palace where Clarisa’s personal servant guided his way towards his concubine’s bedchamber.

Lady Clarisa was sitting at the edge of the bed, nervously fidgeting as she made sure that her silk nightgown clung to her body well and that her hair was well-brushed, falling softly over her smooth shoulder. She wanted her appearance to be perfectly seductive for her husband. Still, it was her first night with the man she loved, and she could not help but panic at the slightest sounds. The speed of her heartbeats reached its peak when she heard the slow yet firm footsteps outside the door, and then when she heard the door open and close, she found herself unable to breathe.

Her lowered sight noticed the pair of feet wearing black boots walking towards her and stopped at a distance from her. Hesitantly, she raised her head and gazed up at the man who was standing several paces away from her.

As she had expected, his handsome face held the same indifferent expression he had back when she met him inside his study. His dark eyes regarded her with interest as if she were a mere object he was forced to study, and even when their eyes met, there were no changes on his face, not even a hint showing he was excited or looking forward to this night.

This was the man she had given her heart to.

To him, she was nothing but a woman he married for the purpose of child bearing. It was a transaction out of pure obligation.

The young lady had to force herself to keep her smile despite feeling like her entire body was thrown into a frozen river.

Unfortunately, King Theron caught the disappointment in her blue eyes which she tried her best to hide.

“I believe you still remember what I had said before our wedding, Lady Clarisa.”

She nodded and lowered her head. “Yes, Your Majesty.”

“I am here because I had to honour our marriage,” he said with a low yet unfeeling tone. “I accepted you as my wife as per our arrangement, and in turn, you must do your best to ensure your body is healthy enough to have a child.”

Her body seemed so small as he saw her nod once more.

King Theron closed his eyes for a moment to calm himself. Though he was tough in front of her, before coming here, he had to fight with himself to enter this bedchamber and proceed with his marital duties. However, the more he stayed inside the bridal chamber that smelled of fragrant incense and flowers, the more he was reminded of Esther and the first night they shared.

‘To touch another woman…I should have taken a stronger drink.’

Letting out a soft exhale, he maintained a cold stance and stared at her long dark hair. Its contrast with Esther’s beautiful honey blond colour was making him want to step back and never return from this place.

“You can lay in bed,” he ordered.

Lady Clarisa let go of the night gown she didn’t realize she was clutching at that point. Though she didn’t expect him to be sweet and tender to her like in her fantasies, she never expected him to act like this.  She felt hurt and embarrassed, but she never let a single tear escape her eyes.

The young lady lay in the middle of the bed quietly. She heard footsteps approaching but didn’t dare look at their source. King Theron put out the candles close to the bed, drawing even the curtains attached to the canopy bed, causing the bed to be dark enough for him to not see the finer features of her body. He then removed his robe, hung it on a nearby chair and climbed the bed.

With her eyes closed, she felt one side of the bed sink and her husband’s warm body moved close to her. She contemplated whether she should look at him. Even if she did, she was scared to see that emotionless gaze of him which made her feel as if she wasn’t a person but an object.

When she felt his body hover above her, Lady Clarisa unconsciously opened her eyes, only to immediately regret seeing those dark orbs that held not a single shred of affection for her. He wasn’t even looking at her face, but at her body still covered in clothes. He moved directly towards her neck without even bothering to meet her gaze.

Her blue eyes turned moist though she had expected it this way. His warm mouth touched the soft skin of her neck, and even though she didn’t wish to, she could not stop making a loud mewling sound. She hurried to cover her mouth, feeling embarrassed about it.

She felt his hands moving her nightgown up slowly, and the tears slowly building behind her eyelids started to fall.

‘Once it’s done, he will leave.’

Having expectations hurt, but as a silly woman in love, she thought it would be all right. She had known from the start that her husband felt nothing for her. She knew yet…she still held on to a little hope in her heart that the night would end differently.

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