CHAPTER 4

As the wedding vows echoed, Isolde felt the sharp sting of the ache in her heart. Liam's cruel words bled like a fresh wound. The pure, first love she had felt for the young knight had instantly turned to ash, replaced by a profound sense of disappointment and loneliness. The moment Isolde first saw the Elven King Caspian's face, her mind was flooded with complex emotions. His tall, imposing figure, sharp features, and the fiery glow of his amber eyes marked him as a being unlike any she had ever encountered. He possessed both a cold, distant nobility and a mysterious allure. His beauty was striking, almost otherworldly, yet it also sent a shiver down Isolde's spine. This stranger was to be her husband, and Isolde trembled at the thought of her future being shaped by this icy king's hands.

Yet, she had also noticed the fleeting expression of surprise and admiration on Caspian's face. In those amber eyes, for a brief moment, she had felt the gaze not just of a king, but of a man. This momentary contact had sparked a tiny ember in Isolde's heart. Perhaps this marriage might not be a completely hopeless captivity. Perhaps, behind this foreign king, there was another person waiting to be discovered. However, the pain of Liam's betrayal was still too raw, and Isolde dared not entertain a new hope.

As the wedding ceremony concluded, Caspian gently took Isolde's hand and guided her towards the magnificent Elven carriage that awaited them. The journey stretched through the lands of the two kingdoms, leading towards an unknown future. Caspian and Isolde sat side by side during the carriage ride, yet not a single word passed between them. Caspian gazed out at the passing scenery with a pensive expression, while Isolde wrestled with the silent screams of her broken heart.

Upon their arrival in the Elven kingdom, the splendor of the city of Eldoria captivated Isolde. Towering spires, shimmering stone buildings, and graceful bridges seemed to have sprung from a realm of enchantment. The populace greeted their king with fervent enthusiasm. "Long live King Caspian!" their voices echoed through the sky. However, the gazes directed at Isolde from the crowd were starkly different. Curiosity, astonishment, and most of all, hatred and prejudice were palpable in those cold stares. What business did a human princess have beside the Elven king? For many Elven nobles, this marriage was an unacceptable transgression.

In the grand courtyard of the palace, Queen Lyra and Princess Elara awaited Caspian and Isolde. As Caspian approached his mother and sister, embracing them, Isolde felt utterly alone in this alien world. Queen Lyra wore a forced smile, but the coldness in her eyes sent a chill through Isolde. Princess Elara, on the other hand, cast Isolde a disdainful glance from head to toe.

"Welcome, human princess," Queen Lyra said, her voice formal and distant. "I hope you will learn to respect Elven customs."

Isolde, holding her head high, bowed gracefully. "I will do my best, Your Majesty."

That night, when Caspian's mother was alone with her son, she began to fill his ears with venomous whispers against Isolde. "My son," Lyra said, her voice trembling with concern, "this human girl... it is not good that she has come to our court. They are not like us. They are cunning and untrustworthy. Do not let her capture your heart."

Caspian frowned as he listened to his mother's words. Although Isolde's intelligence and beauty at the wedding had impressed him, he could not entirely dismiss his mother's worries. His prejudice against humans was deeply ingrained.

The room prepared for Isolde was located in a remote corner of the palace, in a forgotten wing. It was spacious but cold and unadorned. Only an elderly, silent servant was assigned to her. Isolde was not surprised by this solitude and neglect. She had felt unwanted in the Elven court from the very first moment.

On the first night, Caspian did not come to see Isolde. He neither summoned her to his chambers nor sent any word. Isolde found herself strangely relieved by this. Her broken heart was still raw, and she was not ready for the touch of this foreign king.

As she lay in bed, the cold and alien atmosphere of the room enveloped her, stirring strange emotions. The pain of Liam's betrayal, Caspian's enigmatic gaze, and the palace's frigid welcome... all swirled in her mind. She was alone, heartbroken, but also filled with an undefined curiosity. What surprises did this new world hold for her fate?

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