You were engaged to a prince. The prince of The Mainland. He was the eldest prince, second eldest of his family. And he was engaged to you for political reasons, though he despised you for reasons you didn't understand.

"Just be quiet and dance," Hyre hissed in your ear, his voice rough with annoyance.

He turned his head to flash a smile at his mother and father, the king and queen of The Mainland. He was trying to impress them, dancing with his fiancee like he was actually happy to almost be married. He wasn't. He despised you. He would rather be engaged to someone he loved, not someone he bought with a pretty ring. Not you, more specifically.

He spun you around, picking you up by the waist with your arms around his neck.

He kissed you.

It was quick, and hard, and forced.

When he pulled away, he just continued dancing with you.