The grand hall of Dunham Castle was alive with music, laughter, and the clinking of glasses as nobles from all over the kingdom gathered to celebrate the union of Duke Charles Kael Dunham and Princess Isolde of Valenor. The chandeliers above sparkled like a thousand stars, casting a warm golden light across the polished floors. Rich tapestries adorned the stone walls, depicting the proud history of House Dunham, and the scent of blooming roses filled the air, their petals scattered like confetti.

I stood at the edge of the hall, hidden in the shadows, watching the couple move gracefully through the crowd. The Duke, dressed in his finest royal attire, walked beside Princess Isolde, who was resplendent in a gown of emerald green, her delicate features framed by a crown of silver and sapphires. Their steps were synchronized, their smiles perfect—everything was as it should be.

But behind the Duke's eyes, I could see something different. A shadow that no one else noticed. He smiled politely, exchanged pleasantries with the guests, but his gaze never truly met anyone's. His eyes were distant, clouded with something deeper—something I could only begin to understand. He wasn’t fully there. It was as if his soul had been pulled away, leaving only a shell of the man I had once known.

He promised me—he swore on the stars that he would choose me, that no matter the weight of his title or the burdens of his duty, we would be together. He said we would find a way, that his heart would always belong to me. But now, as he walked beside Princess Isolde, the promise seemed so far away, lost in the distance.

The crowd cheered, clapping in approval, but I could feel my chest tightening with every passing moment. I had heard the whispers, seen the exchanged glances between the nobility, and yet none of them knew the truth. They saw only a union of politics, of power, but they did not see the love—the secret love—that once bloomed between Charles and me.

I held my breath as the Duke’s hand brushed against Princess Isolde’s, a touch that was tender, but not as tender as the ones he once gave me. My heart ached as the reality of it all sank in. He had not confessed it to me—not truly. He had never told me of the King’s decree, of the marriage that was now set in stone, for it was his duty to protect the realm and ensure its survival. His father’s legacy, his title, his kingdom—these were the things he had to protect, and I was no longer the woman he could choose.

The Duke's gaze swept the room, and for a brief moment, it landed on me. Our eyes locked, and I could see the guilt in his. His lips parted slightly, as though he wanted to say something—to apologize, perhaps, for what had been lost—but the moment passed, and he quickly turned his attention back to the princess, offering her a warm smile, one that didn’t quite reach his eyes.

As they continued through the hall, laughing with the guests, I knew in my heart that Charles had made a choice. His duty had come first, and I had to accept it, no matter how much it tore at me. The celebration was in full swing, but all I could hear was the silence between us—the unspoken words that would never be said aloud.