The door opened with a soft click, the driver offering a respectful nod.
"I really need to change," Scarlette muttered as she stepped out, her voice low and sharp. "I'm suffocating under the reminder that I'm bound to you."
Eldrin's eyes sparkled with mischief. "Awfully quick to undress, aren't we? Didn't take you for the eager type?" Scarlett gave him a withering look. "Please. I would need a mental reboot before considering so"
His gaze deliberately swept over her, from the tip of her veil to the hem of her dress. As expected, his tone was teasing but something caught in his throat as he looked at her.
Her deep green eyes, fierce despite the ceremony's weight, were framed by sharp cheekbones and an unnecessary layer of makeup. Her ivory skin didn't need it, nor did the intricate auburn waves tucked beneath the veil. The white embroidered dress hugged her bodice before flaring into a wide tulle skirt, dramatic and regal. She looked every bit the bride, every bit untouchable.
And yet, something in his chest gave a strange, unwanted pull.
He ignored it.
But his mind wandered back to the day his father announced the deal.
He had roared. I threw the contract off the desk.
"Desciple Eldrin," his father had snapped, voice like steel. "What did you expect? Haven't we taught you anything? Dynasty is everything."
The words had clawed into his ears. Still did.
He remembered looking toward his mother, desperate for her to say something. Anything.
But, as always, she said nothing.
She never did.
It had been that way his entire life.
The sleek stairs to the jet extended like a silver tongue, welcoming them into its mouth.
"After you, wife," Eldrin offered, gesturing grandly like a court jester mocking royalty.
Scarlette raised an unimpressed brow. "Trying to impress me with manners now? Careful, you might develop a personality."
He chuckled. "Oh, I've got a few. Which one would you like tonight? The charming rogue? The bored billionaire? Or your personal favourite. The man you didn't choose but got anyway."
She climbed the steps without answering, her train dragging behind her like a reluctant shadow. At the door, she paused and turned her head slightly.
"Just try not to bore yourself to death before we land. I don't want to file widow paperwork on day one."
He grinned, following behind her. "You wound me, darling. I thought you were hoping to see me crash and burn."
Inside, the cabin was absurdly luxurious cream leather seats, gold-trimmed details, and a chilled bottle of champagne waiting in an ice bucket.
Scarlette didn't bother responding to Eldrin's last jab. Instead, she stood and ran her fingers down the length of her skirt, then looked toward the back of the jet.
"Is there a room back there, or do you expect me to wrestle out of this dress in front of your champagne?"
Eldrin leaned back with a smug grin. "I mean, I wouldn't mind. But yes, there's a private cabin. First left. Try not to trip over your… opulence."
She didn't dignify him with a glance. Her heels clicked crisply against the floor as she disappeared into the back. A moment later, the door slid shut with a soft hiss.
Eldrin poured himself a drink and took a slow sip, letting the silence settle. A part of him expected her to emerge in a comfortable sweatsuit or maybe something overly modest just to spite him.
He was wrong.
When the door slid back open, he nearly choked on the champagne.
Scarlette stepped out barefoot, the heavy dress gone. In its place was a satin slip of a deep burgundy silk that clung to every curve. The thin straps barely rested on her shoulders, the neckline dipping low enough to be scandalous, the hem stopping just high enough to keep the imagination painfully alive.
Her auburn hair was undone, cascading down her back like fire meeting fabric.
She moved past him without comment, not even sparing him a glance, as she sat again this time tucking one leg beneath her and casually reaching for a glass of chamgane
"You were saying something about me being eager?" she asked flatly, sipping without looking his way.
Eldrin blinked, struggling to piece his wit back together. "Remind me to thank whoever packed your honeymoon wardrobe."
"Oh, don't bother. It was chosen by your ever-thoughtful mother. Something about keeping you engaged."
She finally met his gaze, her expression cool, amused.
"Well," Eldrin murmured, the corner of his mouth twitching, "she certainly understands the assignment."
Scarlette smirked, swirling the champagne in her glass.
"Don't flatter yourself," she said. "This isn't for you. I just got tired of sweating through satin and tulle while pretending not to regret my life choices."
The engines hummed to life beneath them, a low vibration rolling through the floor like warning.
Eldrin glanced outside as the jet slowly get on the motion for take off.
Slow uneasiness cross across Eldrin face as the plane took flight. In a heart beat which was replaced perfectly with a crooked grin
The jet begain to pick up speed, the outside world slowly fading in to inky black of night.
Scarlette, on the other hand, looked as relaxed as humanly possible while sipping champagne in a silk slip. She glanced back at Eldrin, noticing the slight shift in his usually untouchable confidence, a faint smirk curling on her lips as she topped off her glass.
"Oh my, Eldrin Achilles," she purred, her voice laced with mock sympathy. "Are you afraid of flying?"
Eldrin's smirk deepened as their eyes met.
"Afraid? Please. I'm just waiting for the in-flight movie to get interesting."
He took a slow, deliberate sip of his drink.
Scarlette arched a brow, dry and unamused.
"Don't even think of trying to get me into bed. I'm not one of your puppets you string along for sport."
"Darling, you wound me." Eldrin grinned, utterly unfazed. "Just don't come crawling back too fast,I do enjoy a good chase."
Before Scarlette could fire back, turbulence jolted the jet. The cabin lights flickered violently.
In a swift, almost instinctive motion, Eldrin reached out and grabbed her hand.
Scarlette blinked, momentarily thrown not by the turbulence, but by the flicker of real fear she saw in his eyes. Warmth rushed to her cheeks, involuntarily.
But she didn't let the moment slide.
With a slow, amused smile, she leaned closer.
"For someone not scared," she murmured, eyes glinting, "that was a very firm grip."
Eldrin quickly let go of her hand, clearing his throat and adjusting the cuffs of his tailored jacket like nothing happened.
"That wasn't fear," he said smoothly, though his voice carried a slight edge of defensiveness. "Just... instinct. Safety precaution. Reflexes like mine don't come standard."
Scarlette arched a perfectly sculpted brow.
"Oh? So now you're a hero and a stuntman?"
He raised his glass again, this time avoiding her eyes.
"Please. If this jet goes down, I plan on surviving,with flair."
She chuckled, clearly enjoying every second of his unraveling.
"Well, lucky for you, I don't scream easily."
She sipped her champagne, then added with a smirk,
"But next time you need a hand to hold, don't be shy. I charge by the minute."
Eldrin exhaled through a crooked smile, shaking his head.
"You're insufferable."
"Thank you. I very much want to stay insufferable." Scarlette grinned.
Eldrin let out a genuine laugh, one that took even him by surprise.
And for a split second just a flicker he felt something entirely unexpected.
Affection.
Uninvited, irrational, and utterly absurd.
He blinked it away, chuckling under his breath.
Ridiculous. This was Scarlette Backthorn
...Achillies.
The obidient polished daugter. Not his typical choice.
And yet... something in that grin made him forget they were supposed to hate this arrangement.