Silver? Silver is my favourite colour. How does Shahr know about it? Or is it just a coincidence? It must be a coincidence.
"Yes, your grace." Uttered Seir.
Shahr left the room.
...
After I was ready, I was taken outside, where, inside the carriage, Shahr was waiting for me. I wondered how long he had been waiting for me. When I was getting inside the carriage, Shahr held his hand out, and I hesitated a bit before taking it and sitting inside.
As I was adjusting my dress, a sharp voice reached my ears.
"You are looking gorgeous." He said, "If possible, I would like to look at you for my whole life." His unwavering eyes stared deep inside of me.
My heart wavered, and I quickly averted my eyes, breaking eye contact.
Thump... Thump...
Why does he keep saying such things? Has he fallen for me? No... No, it can't be, I'm a mute, ugly woman, no man can ever fall for me. So why?
As I was busy in my own world, Shahr's voice interrupted my thoughts.
"If you don't mind, may I sit beside you?" He asked politely. I wondered why he wanted to sit beside me. It's not like I can refuse either, the carriage is his and mine... I'm his wife, so who am I to refuse?
Nodding my head, I moved aside, making space for him to sit. He sat, and silence spread inside the carriage; both of us stayed silent for quite a while.
Breaking the silence, Shahr said, "May I hold your hand for a bit?"
I was dumbfounded to even speak anything; I just stared at him as he waited for my answer. Upon getting no answers, he asked again, "Shia... May I hold your hand? If you mind I won't ask again."
I nodded my head. Getting my answer as a yes, he lit up with happiness. Placing his hand over mine, he stated, "I know you are feeling nervous as this is your first time attending a party. But don't worry, I confirm that no one will bother you, and if anyone dares to, they will see my wrath."
Cold yet frightening voice. I felt completely assured by this, I smiled as he continued speaking.
"If you don't mind, let me teach you a bit about the marquis and marchioness."
...
After we arrived at the marquisate, we were greeted by a long line of maids and servants and the Marquis and marchioness themselves. The marquisate was beautiful as expected but not more than the duchy.
"Shall we?" Asked Shahr before holding out his hand for me to grab. Both of us walked inside the marquisate holding hands. It would be a lie to say that I wasn't nervous but I was a bit less nervous because Shahr was with me.
"The Duke and Duchess are enteringggggggggg..." Yelled the guard on top of their lungs. The doors opened, lights shone bright in front of my eyes, and we walked inside.
I felt like the Heroine of some kind of novel that day. The party had stopped, people were staring at us, some were even jumping just to get a glimpse of us.
Unbothered by all this Shahr assisted me to the middle of the party. People hovered over us as soon as they got the chance.
"Hello, Duke, Duchess, how are you?"
"It's been such a long time Duke Shahr, and Hello Duchess, how have you been?"
"You are looking so gorgeous Duchess. You were gorgeous before, too, but now you are just glowing differently. Must be because of the Duke."
My cheeks flushed red. Just as Shahr said, no one was ignoring me; on the contrary, their focus was more on me than on Shahr.
I knew if I answered in sign language, they wouldn't understand. Feeling baffled, I looked at Shahr, hoping he would answer on my behalf, and he did.
"Please don't tease my wife. She gets shy easily." He muttered. My jaw dropped, what is this guy saying? I thought he would say something else but what is he saying?
Everyone became shocked by this for some reason, and they whispered to themselves-
"Did the Duke just smile?"
"Oh my God, the Duke can smile?"
"I thought he was emotionless."
Shahr always smiled when he was with me so I couldn't understand why they were whispering such things.
Shahr got busy talking about some business matters with them. I lightly tapped Shahr's arms and gestured him that I will be going out to get some fresh air.
"Okay... But be careful." He said.
Saving myself from everyone's questions, I went outside. My eyes wandered off to the huge water fountain in the garden. I feel excited as I saw the water fountain, I strided off towards the water fountain as I felt excited.
Taking some water droplets on my hand, I sprinkled them on my face. Sitting near the fountain I started playing with the water like a child.
That's when I heard someone's voice. As I turned my head to see whose voice it was, I was shocked to see the princess standing in front of me. My body froze, legs started trembling in fear.
I wondered what the princess was doing there. If she were here, then that means my sister was here too. Thinking about my sister tightened my heart even more.
Fearfully I took some steps back, ready to run away from there.
But I was stopped by the princess, "Stop right there. One more step behind, you'll pay for it."
I started remembering Shahr, if only he were here, he would have saved me from the princess. I started regretting parting ways with Shahr.
The princess stood in front of me, her hand swung, and a tight slap landed on my face, "How dare you marry the Duke?" She held me by my neck, "The Duke is mine, how dare you?" Gritting her teeth, she said, "I treated you so well all these years, and this is how you repay me? Well, you are a daughter who had the nerve to bully their own family, so what am I to you? Right?"
She treated me right? Is she joking? She was one of the people who abused me along with Layla?
And what is she talking about, bullying my family? When did I ever bully them? Has she gone mad?
"You must be flying right now, since the Duke married you. How dare you forget your place? The Duke is mine and I'll make him mine no matter what." Uttering this she took out a knife from her dress's pocket.
My eyes widened, had she really gone mad? Swinging my feet, I kicked her foot. She hissed in pain, her grip loosened, and taking this chance, I ran away from there.
Running inside the party room, I rushed towards Shahr, everything around me appeared blurry, only Shahr appeared clear.
I quickly folded myself in his arms, my shivering alarmed him that something was wrong. Just then the princess also followed me inside the party room with the knife in her hands.
Seeing the knife, Shahr pushed me apart, holding my arms and scanning me from head to toe, "Are you okay?" Before he could complete the whole sentence, he saw the bruises on my neck and cheek.
His blood boiled in rage, furious, he looked at the princess with a murderous look, "How dare you touch her?"
The princess gulped before uttering, "She deserves to be killed, how dare she take what's mine?"
She ran towards us with the knife. For a brief moment, my eyes wandered off to the people present at the party; their eyes were filled with worry and fear. The emperor ran to stop his daughter.
But it was too late, what's done was done. Shahr grabbed her, taking the knife from her hands, and he pushed her to the ground.
"GAURDS, catch the princess." Uttered Shahr.
Guards hesitated, they looked at the emperor and waited for him to say something.
"Are my words not enough?" Then came the final verdict from the Duke; everyone knew that if the guards didn't listen to the Duke, they could end up losing their lives, and even the princess's life was in danger too.
They quickly came.
"Let me go. Don't you know who I am? I'm the sole princess of this country. You will regret touching me." The princess uttered while being dragged by the guards.
Everyone stayed silent, including the emperor, because everyone knew what the princess had done was wrong, and it was witnessed by everyone.
So there was no way the emperor could pull some strings and save the princess.
The party was cancelled and everyone was told to leave politely.
After we came out, Shahr suddenly pulled me and carried me in his arms.
I squirmed, looking at him, confused. His anger hasn't vanished yet. He was fuming in anger, so I decided it would be better to stay still.
"How dare she touch you?" he muttered, "It was my mistake for leaving you alone. I thought no one would dare to touch you, but I was wrong."