The drive to the Sebastien estate is chokingly silent.
Roxanne sits in the back of the luxury car stiffly, her hands curled into her lap. Across from her, her new husband reclines with effortless grace, his suit well tailored, and his gaze distant.
He has not spoken a word to her since they left the wedding venue, not even a whisper of reassurance, no comments…. Just nothing.
It was as if the whole drama at the wedding had been nothing more than a formality to him.
The reality of it starts to settle on her like a huge weight.
She is now Roxanne Sebastien.
Not by her choice, not by love, but her circumstance.
When the car finally pulls over at the estate, Roxanne felt herself gasping.
The Sebastien estate is something out of a dream, it was a kingdom. It has towering iron gates that stretches beyond what her eyes can fully take in at once.
The mansion itself was ahead, a grand architectural work of glass, marbles and carefully curated history. It has manicured gardens from the entrance, and warm golden lights it from the windows like something out of a fairytale.
She suddenly felt small.
She had thought she was prepared for this, but she was not.
The car doors opens, and a long line of staff stands at attention, their uniforms crisp, their expression unreadable.
The Sebastien family name carries a lot of power, but it is Ciel's presence that dominates at the moment. The way the staff's eyes subtly look at him, waiting, measuring, and very respecting.
Ciel steps out of the car first, adjusting his cuffs with some casual disinterest before turning slightly, and extends his hand towards her.
It feels like a silent command.
Roxanne hesitates for a second before she place her fingers in his. He has a steady grip, firm, but not cold. She straightens her spine as he leads her into the big estate, ignoring the subtle glances the staff exchanged among themselves.
This is her home now.
Inside the house, everything is polished to perfection. Marbles floors, chandeliers that gleam like captured stars, walls lined with artwork that probably cost more than her entire generation.
Yet, despite everything, the mansion felt empty.
As if the beauty is just a well structured illusion.
"Welcome home, Mr. sebastien. Mrs. Sebastien."
The staff bowed slightly with their head. Ciel barely acknowledges their greetings.
He acted the perfect husband in front of them, by resting his hand lightly on Roxanne's lower back, guiding her up the stairs as if he is truly a loving husband.
But the moment the staff left their sight into their designated roles, everything stops. The warmth in his touch fades.
The unreadable expression was back in place.
By the time they got to the master bedroom, Ciel let the door shut ehind them and walks past Roxanne with looking at her. He undoes the first two buttons of his dress shirt and loosens his tie with ease.
As if the whole day has been nothing more than a business day to him.
Roxanne watches him, not sure what she had been expecting from him.
He does not try to touch her.
He does not demand his rights as a husband, does not leer at her, does not even make a comment about consummating the marriage.
Instead, he walks to the bar cart in the corner of the room and poured hismelf a drink. "I assume you are tired."
His tone is neutral.
Roxanne blinks, completely thrown off by his casual talk.
"I…"
"You are free to use any of the rooms here," he said as he swirled the liquid in his glass before taking a sip. "No one will force you into anything."
She grips the fabric of her dress. "What?"
"I won't touch you unless you ask me to," Ciel simply said, as he settled his glass down. "And even then…. I might make you beg."
Roxanne was surprised.
Ciel's leans against the counter, watching her with quiet amusement.
"You think I am cruel, don't you?"
Roxanne narrows her eyes. "Are you not?"
"Perhaps." He tilts his head, studying her. "But I do believe in fair things. So I will offer you a deal."
"What deal?"
"One year"
She frowns.
"If you don't want this marriage, you can leave after a year." He says with a steady and measured voice. "But until then, you will play your role."
Roxanne watches him closely. Why? Why would he give her a way out?
There is something she is missing, something he is not saying.
"And what happens after a year?" She asks.
Ciel's smirks. "We will see."
Roxanne clenches her jaw. "And what if I do not agree? What I want more?"
The amusement got back into his eyes.
"Then, We will see who gives in first."
He takes a step towards her. Not close enough to touch, but enough to invade her space.
She refuses to step back.
His voice drops, low and teasing. "Are you scared of playing with me, Mrs. Sebastien?"
The way he says her new name made her shiver.
But she meets his gaze, not giving in.
"Are you scared that I will win?"
"I think I am going to enjoy this marriage after all." His smirk deepens.
Meanwhile, back at the Renwick Manor, Evelyn sits in the dimly lit lounge, swirling wine in her glass as Reina paces around furiously.
"This can't be happening," Reina seethes. "She was never supposed to be the one in that position. That should have been me!"
Evelyn echales slowly. "It's now over yet."
Reina whirls on her mother. "How? He chose her. That arrogant bastard dismissed me like I meant nothing!"
Evelyn set her glass down with a sharp clink.
"Then we make him understand why you should be the one by his side."
Reina's eyes darken.
"What do you want me to do?"
Evelyn smirks, her mind already working on a plan.
"Whatever it takes."