Episode 7: A Silent Cry, A Gentle Night
A week passed quietly, marked by the sound of footsteps fading before dawn and returning long after the stars had claimed the sky.
Kyel had been working hard—too hard—and Eva could feel the growing weight behind his tired smile.
That afternoon, she decided to surprise him.
She prepared his favorite dish, folding every bit of warmth she had into the flavors, humming softly as she packed the lunch. The guild wasn't far, and she imagined his surprised face, his eyes lighting up when he saw her.
Basket in hand, she stepped out into the gentle sun and made her way down the narrow path leading to his workplace.
"Ky—" she began to call.
But the sound caught in her throat.
Ahead, in the open clearing near the guild's workyard, she saw him—Kyel, bent beneath an impossible weight, his shirt clinging to his skin, soaked with sweat and streaked with red.
And behind him—men. Holding whips.
She watched, horrified, as the lash came down again.
Kyel didn't scream. He didn't resist. He simply tightened his grip and bore it.
The basket slipped from her hands.
Tears welled in her eyes as her legs weakened beneath her. She turned and ran. Her vision blurred. Her chest ached.
---
At home, she collapsed onto the wooden floor, tears soaking the sleeves of her dress.
I didn't know… I didn't know he was going through this.
And all the while, I slept soundly… asking for little things… silly things…
I can't even help him. I can't even be a proper wife.
Her heart ached with guilt that twisted deep into her bones.
---
That evening, the door creaked open.
"I'm back," Kyel called softly, his voice hoarse from the long day. "Princess? Where are you?"
Eva appeared from the kitchen, wiping her hands. She smiled, but it didn't reach her eyes.
"Welcome home," she said.
He smiled, but sensed something off. Still, he didn't ask.
Dinner passed in gentle silence.
And when it was time to sleep, Eva lay on her side, back turned toward him.
Kyel sat on the edge of the bed, removing his boots. He glanced at her. The candlelight flickered quietly between them.
"Princess," he said, voice low. "Is something wrong?"
She answered quickly, too quickly. "No. I'm fine."
"Then…" he hesitated. "Why aren't you looking at me?"
A long pause.
Slowly, Eva turned toward him. Her eyes shimmered with something unspoken. She took a breath.
"Kyel… I think I'm ready."
He tilted his head. "Ready… for what?"
She swallowed. Her cheeks flushed, but her gaze didn't waver.
"I think… we can have our first night."
For a moment, Kyel didn't move. Then, his eyes lit up—not just with desire, but with something softer, deeper. A kind of stunned joy.
He reached out, taking her hand in his, gently.
And in the quiet of their small world, something between them finally broke open—something fragile, something warm.