A man who forgot how to speak

Elric Thorne sat in silence, staring at the ceremonial black and silver uniform folded neatly on the bed. The day of his marriage had come… but to him, it felt like another battlefield he was being sent to.

The grand Thorne estate was buzzing with preparations. Staff rushed through marble halls, polishing antiques, adjusting flower arrangements, and placing banners bearing the Thorne family crest — a falcon with spread wings. To them, this day was about alliances. To the kingdom, it was news. But to Elric, it was… complicated.

He had never wanted this life.

Born into the Thorne lineage — one of the noble families trusted by the King to hold power — his path had been chosen long before he could speak. Not that he spoke much anymore.

He once dreamt of painting quiet skies, of capturing moments the world missed — the softness of twilight, the silence of first snowfall. But those dreams had been scraped from him, replaced by combat drills, strategy books, and brutal training from a mother who refused to let him be “soft.”

When he’d resisted, she hadn’t shouted — she’d punished. Coldly. Ruthlessly. Until something inside him broke, and words stopped coming like they used to.

Now, he was the Defence Minister of the kingdom. Silent. Sharp. Obedient. And terrifying to many — because he didn’t raise his voice… he never needed to.

But a few months ago, everything shifted. He had wandered — just once — into the royal painter’s gallery for a moment of stolen peace. That’s when he saw her.

A woman in red heels, arguing passionately with a young artist. She had laughter in her voice, fury in her posture, and beauty that didn’t try to impress — it simply existed.

Maelin Elora.

He didn’t know her name at the time. But she stood there like she owned the world, even though the weight of it clearly pressed on her shoulders.

He didn’t approach her. He just watched. And something quieted in him.

So when he found out her father wanted to marry her off to gain favor in court… Elric did something he never thought he’d do.

He made a deal.

No threats. No demands. Just a quiet, powerful offer to Maelin’s father: Give her hand to me — and I’ll protect both your name and hers.

Now, today was the wedding.

Elric stood, walked to the tall mirror, and looked at himself — dark suit, collar sharp, eyes colder than he remembered. His little sister had teased him that morning: “Try smiling, brother. You don’t want to look like a villain on your wedding day.”

He had smiled — just slightly.

Because even if Maelin hated the arrangement, even if she never forgave him for being part of it, he knew one thing:

He wouldn’t cage her.

He’d guard her.

He couldn’t give her the life she dreamed of — not yet — but maybe, just maybe, he could protect her dream until she could reach it herself.

And in her presence… maybe he’d find pieces of his own.

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