"(Y/n)..." a voice interrupts her rest as she begins to stir. "Come now, breakfast is ready. It's time to wake up."

A small whine leaves the woman as she stretches out and opens her eyes. Leaned over her was Trender which made her smile, too tired to notice the shade of pink that covered his cheeks.

"Were you able to sleep with me here?" She asks, sitting up from the bed and getting up after he steps away from her.

"I slept fine." He answers, just as cold as before. Her heart sinks in her chest as his words play in her mind once more.

However, perhaps he had the right idea. He needed to pull away from her, as she was already too attached. So now, she must do the same.

No matter how much it hurt.

Without another word, (Y/n) leaves his room, despite his vocal confusion. It made her angry, that he thought he could give her the cold shoulder and yet he acted like she couldn't. Perhaps he'd forgotten that her smile had been stolen from her a long time ago.

That emptiness inside of her was a void that devoured the little happiness she had been given. She needed to rebuild her walls if she was going to survive this. She needed to fall out of love with him so she could run away with his money to live happily elsewhere— even if it wasn't so happy.

(Y/n) changes into a new dress. When she looked in the mirror, she felt nothing. Her hair was untidy and yet she couldn't care less. The powder on the counter only a reminder of that joy she could never keep. All she wanted to do was throw it to the ground in anger, but she'd hate for him to have to purchase her a new one.

Instead, (Y/n) lazily braids her messy hair loosely, resting it over her shoulder before exiting her room.

Exiting the room she finds Trender waiting for her outside her door. She grits her teeth, not wanting to smile as her chest aches.

"Did you forget to pack a brush? I'm certain one of the maids can fetch you—"

"I was simply too tired to brush it, the braid is enough for now." She answers coldly, walking on with her back to him. For a moment, she couldn't hear any footsteps. However, she did abruptly sense a presence beside her, allowing her to assume he teleported.

"I could brush it for you then." Trender offers, scooping up the sloppy braid gently, only to receive a light smack to his hand. He finds himself in a state of disbelief at her action, completely caught off guard.

"It doesn't matter. Your family knows who I am, I don't know why they'd expect anything more from me." (Y/n) refuses, continuing on before her wrist is snatched.

"What has gotten into you this morning?" Trender asks, concern clear in his voice. She'd expected him to be angry, but he just sounded confused.

Normally, she'd feel guilty for causing conflict, but the pain in her chest was far too suffocating for her to even begin thinking about how he felt. She just wanted him to leave her alone if he was going to be so bipolar.

"Nothing." She answers, tugging away from him. "Are we not eating breakfast anymore?"

"We are—"

"Then let's go."

Trender follows her like a dog scolded. He didn't know what had happened between the short time she'd woken up to when she'd left the room. All he knew is that, whatever happened, he felt horrible about it. He was so tired of being the reason she was distressed.

He should've known that she didn't feel safe being alone. Hell, she made that clear the very first night he'd met her. Those big, fearful, doe eyes forever engraved in his memory.

"Uh oh. What happened?" Rowan asks as the two arrive in the dining room.

"Nothing happened," (Y/n) answers, taking a seat when Trender pulled out her chair.

"Indeed," Trender agrees, not because it was true, simply because he didn't want Rowan to involve herself in the matter.

"Well then, I hope you both enjoy your breakfast, I'm afraid a meeting has called myself and Slender's attention elsewhere." Rowan bids the two farewell before leaving the dining room.

The room is quiet as (Y/n) waits for the food to arrive. Trender stares at her from across the table, wondering what had made her so cold.

"I apologize for being so thoughtless last night," Trender apologizes, figuring he could start there and figure the rest out when she'd warm back up to him. "I should've known better than to leave you to sleep alone, especially not when I didn't even do so in the short while I was upset with the draggosapps."

"I understand that I have swiftly become a charity case to you, your highness, seeing as your attitude toward me so quickly changed since we entered the palace. Whether my inadequacies remain from the bedroom, or the reminder that I would have never dared stepped into this palace before our 'false' marriage, I will not entertain this for a moment longer. I believe we have far passed the need for apologies, if the only thing you see me as is a toy to manipulate." (Y/n) retorts, a mixture of heartbreak and rage in her tone as her eyes glaze over from unshed tears. "We've only had intercourse once, and you've kissed me only three times. I kiss you once and suddenly you're completely indifferent to me. I believe I have lost my appetite. Excuse me, your highness."

(Y/n) hissed his title one last time before swiftly leaving the dining room. The tears leak from her eyes as soon as the door had slammed closed behind her and she ran from the door in an unfamiliar direction.

Trender sat confused by her words.

He began to ponder over what had happened between yesterday evening to this morning. Between these thoughts, two questions stuck out in his mind:

What had he done to upset her?

And...

When did he fall in love with her?

(Y/n) finally slowed as she finds herself alone in the garden she'd wanted to explore when they'd arrived.

Immediately, she felt panicked.

How did she do that? Why did she do that? Was he mad? If she goes back now to apologize will he forgive her? Would he give her back to her old master? Would she become his slave rather than his wife?

Panic washes over her, and she finds herself unable to move— trembling in place as tears prick her eyes. She could feel eyes on her, but that strange sensation left quickly after.

(Y/n) felt disgusted with herself— with her life and decisions.

Why'd she dare to leave the safety of her village all those years ago? Why did she push away her lessons and run wild with the world around her? Why did her joy have to be taken away by the cruelties of man?

When her body allowed it, she began to wander. Her eyes heavy with unshed tears and her hand picking and scratching at her sleeves.

'Why can I not be loved?' She wonders, moving without direction, not sparing a single thought to the flora surrounding her. 'Why can I not accept what I've been given?'

(Y/n) plops down in a patch of grass and falls back. Staring up at the sky she feels her tears gradually roll down her cheeks. She sucks in a breath and sighs through a sob.

"(Y/n)?!" Trender's voice comes from the distance, making her feel as if she'd jumped out of her skin. "(Y/n)!"

She refuses to move, listening to his voice.

Why wasn't he angry?

"(Y/n)!" Suddenly, he's in front of her and his voice sounded relieved. She sits up in case she needed to run away again, but he dropped to his knees and embraced her.

She freezes, paralyzed by shock as he pulls away and examines her face, wiping her tears with his thumbs.

"Are you alright? Did you faint? Why are you on the ground?"

"H-husband..." she whimpers, weary of his presence.

"That's right," he answers, a hunger building in his chest as he looks at her small form in his arms. "And I will do everything in my power to earn your forgiveness for however I wronged you."

She whines, and he put his lipless chin to her forehead in a ghost of a kiss. Her skin warms beneath his and he can feel her heart beating against his chest. Gritting his teeth, he nuzzles his face into her neck, continuing to kneel in the dirt.

"Tell me what you want," he asks, her scent filling his senses as his grip lightly tightens on her plush skin. "What can I do to make it all better?"

(Y/n) felt as though her heart would beat out of her chest and her skin would melt off her skull. Why was this man begging for her forgiveness while holding her in such a vulnerable position? Why was he asking her for forgiveness and not berating her for an apology?

"Darling, Wife," he beckons, his fingers moving to her braid. "Will you at least grant me a reply?"

"Husband," she begins, moving her hand to the back of his head. "Isn't it I who should ask for your forgiveness?"

"Whatever for?"

"I let my anger and hurt get the best of me, and because of that I raised my voice at you."

"If I hurt you— if anyone hurts you— I expect you to be angry." Trender states firmly, pulling back to look her in the eye. His glasses stared down at her and she resisted the urge to swipe them off his face and kiss him.

He wanted her to be upset? Then she will stay upset until he earns her forgiveness.

"Husband," she addresses, moving her hand to cup his cheek. "I would like to dine with you in our chambers."

"As you wish, my wife."

"But,"

"Yes?"

"I want to stay here with you a little longer." She declares. "So please lay with me."

Trender lets out a laugh, rolling onto his back with (Y/n) still in his arms.

"As you wish."