So I decided to ask a question out of curiosity, as the thought was beginning to get the best part of me.
"Your highness, have you ever been married before?"
As the question escaped my lips, I quickly regretted my impulsive lack of restraint. The tension in the carriage seemed to stretch, filling the space between us. His gaze narrowed, and for a moment, I feared the eruption of his anger.
But to my surprise, my fear didn't didn't come like I thought rather his narrowed gaze sharpened, perhaps because I had asked such a question out of the blue, but I could feel something within them. The silence lingered, thick and heavy, as I awaited his response, uncertain of what it might be.
"No," he finally answered, his voice carrying a weight of coldness. "I have never been married before."
The relief that washed over me came as a surprise, and I felt a glimmer of hope that perhaps this union was not as rigid and traditional as I had feared. It was a momentary reprieve from the anxiety that had clouded my thoughts, a reminder that there might be space for understanding and compassion.
"But," he continued, his eyes now on me, "I do have several concubines."
His words, though meant nothing, held a tinge of vulnerability that stunk my feeling. It reminded me so much of my father, and how much I had to suffer because of his lust and wickedness.
I couldn't help but feel apprehensive about the prince, and what awaited me in this my new home.
The silence that followed was different now, transformed by the fact i felt that I had just heard the most horrifying thing of my life. I was no longer just panicking but also suffocated, by the fact, the prince had not just one concubine but several, which meant they were likely many, it was something I found so hard to embrace.
As the carriage continued its journey, I found myself lost in thought for the possibilities that awaited me, even amidst the unknown and the whispers of fear. In that moment, I realized that while i might have left the hell which was once my home, I may be entering another hell, amidst all these was a strange sense of relief.
To me it didn't matter if he had several concubines, the fact I had managed to escape the hell of my father's castle walls was more important to me.
There was no use complaining, it wasn't like I had never witness such reality before, but it was different now I wasn't going to be another one of his concubines but his wife.
"Briareus"
Just as I was lost in thought, I heard him say something, almost failing to recognize what he just said, he looked at me deep in the eyes, like he could guess my exact thoughts.
"You may call me Briareus Kalamas, but I would prefer Briareus."
The carriage suddenly halt, as a I heard a guard informed us that we have arrived at the castle, we both got down at the same time as Briareus helped me got down the carriage.
While, I was being helped with getting out of the carriage i could see four men approaching us, they had a resemblance that struck me that they were obviously brothers. They shared similar features, a not so friendly bearing, which led me to believe that something was not right.
"If it isn't out dear Briareus."One of them said mockingly.
Although I could not see Briareus' expression I could tell he didn't seem to care about their reaction, but his gaze still narrowed as he stared at them. There was a hint of tension in the air, though it was hard to discern the exact nature of their relationship.
"Hello brothers," Briareus said, his voice indifferent. "It's good to see all of you."
The brother who had addressed us stepped forward, his eyes locked at me. "You haven't introduced your bride yet," he remarked, his tone slightly mocking.
Briareus glanced at me briefly before turning back to his brother. "This is my bride Maybelline. She will be joining us here at the castle."
The other brothers exchanged glances, some nodding approvingly while others seemed indifferent. It was clear that they didn't really like me but was just putting on a font, which remind me of my sisters back in the hell I lived in.
"I hope you will find your time here enjoyable," one of the brothers said, his voice laced with a touch of sarcasm.
"Thank you," I replied, trying to mask my nervousness. "I am grateful for the welcome."
The brothers shared a look before one of them extended his hand towards me. "I am Marcus," he introduced himself. "I hope you get use to the idiosyncrasies, Maybelline"
However, Briareus took his hand instead, as he stood in front of me, noticing the strength and firmness in his grip, Marcus furrowed his brows. "It's a pleasure, Marcus. Thank you for the welcome."
With their initial attitudes I could tell Briareus was somewhat guarded, I couldn't help but wonder what their relationships were truly like beneath the surface.
As Briareus stood in front of me, I could feel anger radiating from him and for some reason his mask was beginning to show signs of being cracked. The tension between him and his brothers was suddenly palpable, and I couldn't help but wonder what had caused such animosity between them. The sound of their guards' hands on their weapons only added to the sense of danger that hung in the air.
Briareus looked at the guards for a moment clearly unfazed, for some reason I could tell though the guards had their hands on their weapons I could feel uneasiness as they did.
Briareus said nothing, but took my hand as he hurriedly guided me through the halls of the castle, I struggled to keep up with his determined pace. Questions swirled through my mind, but I knew better than to speak at that moment. His anger was a tangible force, and it was clear that he needed some space to collect his thoughts.
We finally reached a quieter part of the castle, away from prying eyes and curious ears. Briareus released his grip on my hand but remained tense and on edge.
"I apologize for that," he said, his voice slightly strained. "My brothers can be... complicated." he said, as I could feel the surge of anger in his eyes.
I looked at him silently without saying anything. There was more to this situation than I initially believed, and it was clear that I had stepped into a web of a complex family.