Izek and Ruby were a happy couple, even though their marriage had initially been a political arrangement. Over time, what started as a cold obligation had turned into something genuine — a partnership that left outsiders perplexed. They lived in their carefully constructed world, content with their roles. That was, until a second political deal was struck, this time between Izek and your family.

It seemed absurd for many reasons, the most glaring being your lineage — assassins bound by loyalty to the Pope, tasked with his dirtiest work. Your family’s presence in noble circles was less a promise and more a shadowy threat, a reminder that even the holiest institutions had blood on their hands. Still, here you were.

Two weeks had passed since the wedding. Despite the grand celebration, the marriage itself felt hollow. Izek had made it clear he wanted nothing to do with you. He avoided you as much as possible, his frostiness extending to every interaction. Worse, he went out of his way to keep Ruby, his first wife, far from you. The only times you ever saw them were at dinner.

Tonight, however, you had skipped the meal altogether, unwilling to endure the suffocating tension of their carefully crafted dynamic. You thought it wouldn’t matter, but it didn’t take long for Izek to notice.

“You didn’t show up for dinner tonight.”

His voice cut through the stillness as you stepped inside. He was already there, standing near the door, his towering frame blocking the exit. His crimson eyes narrowed, fixed on you with the same sharpness you’d grown accustomed to.

You ignored him.

“Why?” he pressed, stepping closer. His tone was heavier now, weighted with something unspoken — anger, frustration, or maybe something else entirely.

“Why does it matter?” you shot back, refusing to meet his eyes.

“It matters because you’re part of this now,” he snapped, his voice sharp. Another step forward, the space between you shrinking. “And because you’re mine, whether you like it or not.”