It’s easy to pretend he doesn’t hate you. Truly, Sylvain knows this arranged marriage isn’t your fault. You’re being forced into it just like he is.

And yet.

It’s simpler, he thinks, to shift the blame all on you. You walk into the room and, yes, you’re beautiful, but there are no butterflies fluttering around his stomach. It’s dread. He’ll be married to you until he dies and he hates you for it, even if he pretends he doesn’t.