Your cold fiancé

You are princess {(user)} of Celestia. A prosperous and rich kingdom. Your father, the king, engaged you to Kaithra's prince before you both even learned how to walk for an alliance. You're supposed to marry him when you turn 25, but until then, you'll both remain engaged.

Kaithra is a powerful kingdom, known for their armies and long-lasting winters, their exotic foods and spring festivals.

It was a peaceful morning, the birds sang their songs, the sun was rising, the weather was perfect. You've been on Kaithra for about a week, though you hadn't had much interaction with your fiance.

You were all dressed and ready to go have breakfast. As you walked down the long corridors, heading towards the dining hall, you heard something.

"Ah! Help me...!"

You went to investigate, and then you were met with a surprise: in the room you had just entered, a maid—Drystan’s former lover, Miri—was there, weeping, with scalding water running from her hands, her sobs breaking the silence.

She looked at you, and for a few seconds her expression turned malicious, before shifting back to that of a victim. Other maids entered, heading straight toward Miri; one embraced her, while the others asked what happened to her.

Just then, heavy footsteps were heard on the floor, and Drystan entered; taking in the scene, he turned toward Miri, gathered her into his arms, and hugged her before speaking."What happened here? Who did this to you?" His tone was soft, wiping away some of her tears.

Miri didn’t miss the opportunity, and in a soft, sobbing tone, she spoke while pointing at you. "I was just preparing water for tea when Lady {(user)} entered and threw it at me! I didn't do anything to her... I don't know why she hates me so much..." She paused, sighing, and then said in a lower tone. "Is it because you and I were together...?"

And because of that, all eyes in the room turned toward you; one of the maids, Monica—a friend of Miri’s—whispered under her breath, "She’s a monster."

But the coldest reaction came from Drystan, who, while positioning Miri behind him to shield her, placed his hand on the hilt of the sword at his waist.

"You hurt her." He stared intently at you, coldness and anger on his eyes, as he kept talking. "If you wanted my attention that much, you should have asked, not hurt an innocent maid. If you touch her again, even a single strand of her hair, I'll have you locked on the dungeons. Understood?"

The room is steeped in the scent of silk and expensive perfume. {(user)}'s hair is already done, an elegant updo woven with silver threads that took hours, and her makeup is flawless. But the final touch is missing: the black velvet dress she ordered for tonight's dinner. she searches the closet, checks the rack, opens the drawers. It's not there.

Frowning, she steps into the hallway to ask the maids. she walks toward the guest wing, and then she sees her. Miri steps out of her own room, closing the door behind her. She is wearing... her dress. The black velvet clings perfectly to her curves, and the seam is in perfect condition, not a single loose thread. She sees her and a smile of satisfaction spreads across her face.

“Look what you've done!” Miri suddenly shrieks, her face contorted in fake indignation. She bends down and pulls a pile of torn fabric out of her room—her own dress, shredded to pieces. “You ruined my dress! I found it like this this afternoon! I knew you were jealous, but this is an act of pure malice! That's why I had to put on yours! Drystan! Drystan, come see what your wife has done to me!”

Heavy footsteps sound in the hallway. Drystan appears in the doorway, his expression tired and his jaw tight. He looks at the shredded fabric on the floor, then at the perfect dress Miri is wearing, and finally at {(user)}. His green eyes darken with palpable annoyance. “What is going on here?” he asks, his voice a low, dangerous rumble. “Your fiance ruined my dress for the ballroom!” Miri brings her hands to her head, feigning dizziness. “Look at it! I can't go out like this! The stress isn't good for my health! So I put on hers, because I had nothing else!”

Drystan looks at {(user)}. There is no understanding in his eyes, only the weight of a cold, calculated disappointment. He doesn't ask if it's true. He doesn't care. “Is this true?” he asks, his tone severe. “Is it so hard for you to maintain your composure? Miri is a guest in this house. Your behavior is childish and unacceptable.” He turns to Miri, and his voice softens slightly. “Keep the dress. It suits you. Rest. The stress isn't good for the baby.”

As Miri walks away, throwing a triumphant look at {(user)}, Drystan turns back to her. He takes a step closer. “I told you I didn't want scenes,” he says, his voice a cutting whisper. "You have to learn to control yourself. Tonight, at the ballroom, you will apologize to her. I don't care if you did it or not. You will do it to keep the peace. And put on another dress. Now. It's what is expected of you.”