Shura, upon spotting the bear, dropped into his fighting stance, his posture as though saying, "Come closer, and I'll show you why they call me the Dragon Warrior." It remained just a pounce, and he would be face-to-face with the bear. But then, the bear turned to look at Zhanna, its eyes widening in terror.
With a startled shriek It fled back into the woods.
Everyone paused their activities, totally speechless.
Shura slowly straightened from his stance, his eyes darting between the retreating bear and Zhanna."Did anyone else see that?" he asked in a low voice.
Zhanna stood frozen, completely unsure of what had just happened. Everyone turned to look at her, demanding an explanation with their eyes.
"I...honestly don't know what just happened," Zhanna said.
"Well, that was weird," King Igor replied and continued walking.
Shura stared at Zhanna with suspicion for a brief moment before following along. She paused, trying to make sense of it, but didn't dwell on it- there was no logical explanation. The trio walked alongside the guards, none of them speaking further on the matter.
What they didn't know was that what the bear saw wasn't a girl, or even a human. It saw a witch.
Long ago, when the bear was only a cub, a witch with black hair and blue eyes had attacked its family and spared no one. The cub had watched in horror from beneath a rock as his mother- feared by both animals and humans- was slaughtered, along with his siblings.
Zhanna, too, had black hair and blue eyes- a common trait in her lineage. The bear had naturally panicked, thinking it had seen the same creature that had massacred his family.
Later, they decided to rest. The journey had worn them all down. King Igor sipped his tea slowly, his eyes flicking between Shura and Zhanna, reading the air between them like a book only he could decipher.
Shura exhaled, frustration evident. "I really don't understand the point of this outing, Father."
"My feet are killing me from all this walking," Zhanna added, grumbling as she massaged one foot and then the other. "We could've taken a carriage, you know."
"I wanted this talk to happen far from the castle walls, where there are no ears lurking in the shadows," King Igor replied calmly.
"Alright then," Shura said, crossing his arms. "What's this all-important message?"
They were inside a canvas tent, simple yet regal. Guards stood outside, stationed like statues.
King Igor leaned in slightly, lowering his voice. "About a week ago, you two were married. But we all know a marriage isn't finalized until it is consummated."
The air turned thick.
Zhanna and Shura immediately looked at each other- eyes wide, pulses quickening. Their minds flashed back to the night before: her fingers grazing the hard lines of his abs, the stolen glances, the heavy silence that had said more than words ever could.
Their cheeks flushed in unison.
"This is no joke, Shura," King Igor continued sternly. "Either you consummate this marriage tonight, or you forget the throne. I've already named you as my heir, but this loose end can cause chaos in court."
"No problem," Shura said smoothly, though his voice had an edge of mischief. He glanced sideways at Zhanna. "Consider the marriage finalized by sunrise."
Zhanna's breath caught in her throat.
King Igor stood. "Good. I'll also send someone to remove the second bed from your chamber."
Another long pause. Shura and Zhanna turned to each other once more, this time with a look that screamed mutual disbelief and a crackling tension that neither of them could deny.
This is so not happening, They both reasoned
Elsewhere…
Tatianka walked briskly through the village, her eyes constantly scanning her surroundings. She checked over her shoulder several times, moving like a shadow among the villagers.
Eventually, she stopped at a quiet corner and waited.
"You're early as always, my lady," a deep voice murmured. A cloaked figure approached her.
"You know me," Tatianka replied with a smirk. "Did you bring the item?"
The man nodded, pulling a small black rubber pouch from his satchel. Whatever it held was tightly sealed. Tatianka examined it, gave it a small shake, then nodded and walked off without another word.
"Interesting…" whispered Annette, who had observed the exchange from the shadows.
Later that day, King Igor, Shura, and Zhanna arrived at Valeria's grave.
"I'll leave you to speak with your mother," King Igor said softly, placing a hand on Shura's shoulder before walking off with Zhanna.
He's lucky, Zhanna thought. She didn't even have a grave to visit. The palace maids had said her mother was dead, but there were no memories, no pictures- no proof. It was as if her mother had never existed.
From where she stood, she heard Shura's voice echoing.
"Mother, I got married. Her name is Zhanna… I don't love her, though. But I swear I'll cherish her and protect her. I'll be the kind of husband she deserves… and maybe, I might grow to love her."
Zhanna's chest tightened. Something warm spread through her, soft and bittersweet.
When King Igor returned to pay his respects, he took a long time. Shura and Zhanna sat nearby, chatting to pass the moments.
"I felt what you did last night," Shura whispered teasingly, leaning closer.
Zhanna's face turned crimson.
He smirked, clearly satisfied with her reaction. "You're so easy to tease," he murmured.
Finally, it was Zhanna's turn. She approached the grave with reverence and bowed her head.
"Go on. Introduce yourself," Shura said gently, walking with her.
"You do realize this is just a rock, right?" she muttered.
He silenced her with a glare.
The return to the castle felt quicker than their earlier trek, though the path was the same. By the time they arrived, night had fallen. King Igor ensured they had a hearty dinner before giving them a firm instruction to head to their bedroom.
Together.
And this time, only one bed awaited them.