Eight days later:
Leofric stood tall, his piercing gaze sweeping the grand hall. In his dashing finery, he beamed with pride. All his regret and guilt washed away when the church door swung open, and his eyes locked onto Isabella. For a moment, he forgot the circumstances. He saw only the woman he desired. A woman he was going to spend the rest of his life with. Right there, he promised to do his best and make the marriage work.
Isabella stood at the entrance, a vision in silk and lace. Her beauty was undeniable, but her eyes told a different story—emptiness, resentment and defeat. The incident still lingered, a fresh wound.
Eight days.
That was all the time Isabella had to reconcile with her fate. Leofric decided that a perfect punishment would be to have the wedding earlier, giving her no time to think of escaping again.
Judith adjusted Isabella's veil, exchanging a sympathetic glance. Isabella's gaze met hers, a fleeting moment of understanding. The escape plan's failure still stung, and she had one person to hold accountable for it. The cursed man was standing in front of the crowd. Sir Leofric.
Isabella proceeded down the aisle, her movement mechanical. She reached Leofric's side, her gaze drifting past him. His face was the last thing she wanted to see at that moment.
After a curt nod from Leofric to the priest, they began. The priest's voice resonated through the nave. "Dearly beloved, we gather here today…" The rest of the priest's words didn't reach Isabella's ears until it was time to exchange vows.
"Leofric, thou hast chosen Isabella to be thy wife. Dost thou promise to love, honour, and protect her, as thy lordship is bound to thee?"
Leofric's gaze locked onto Isabella's. "I, Leofric, take thee, Isabella, to be my wife, to have and to hold, to love and to cherish till death do us part. I give myself to you as your husband, for God and the Holy Church. I will give you all my goods, and I will endure all your troubles."
The crowd erupted with laughter. Isabella would have laughed as well if not for her sour mood. The nerve of the devil's first son to make jokes on a day like this! Blast him to hell and beyond.
The priest turned to Isabella, repeating the same process, "I, Isabella, take thee, Leofric, to be my husband," Leofric's smile faltered for a moment, sensing her reluctance. Yet, he seized her hand, his grip surprisingly warm and reassuring. Isabella licked her lips and took a deep breath to stop herself from emptying the contents of her stomach. "To obey and serve, to love and honour, till death do us part." Isabella's face contorted in pain as those words left her mouth.
The priest nodded, "By the power vested in me, I pronounce thee husband and wife."
Leofric grinned before leaning in, his lips brushing against Isabella's cheek. She didn't flinch, didn't respond. The assembly erupted into cheers and applause. Leofric smiled, accepting congratulations from his men.
The hall was a lavish banquet. Isabella sat beside Leofric, her silence a stark contrast to the merriment. She was still in shock at what was happening. Mindlessly caressing the ring on her finger, she sighed. It was indeed not a dream. She was trapped, forever.
Judith attempted small talk, but Isabella's monosyllabic responses discouraged conversations. Lady Sarah beamed in her purple silky dress as she introduced Emily to potential suitors.
Isabella was the only unhappy person in the room as the guests mingled and chatted away happily.
As the night wore on, Leofric's enthusiasm only grew. He laughed and raised his goblet in toasts, while Isabella's silence became more pronounced.
Judith refilled Isabella's goblet, her eyes filled with compassion for her mistress. "Judith, I need air," Isabella whispered, her voice barely audible. Judith nodded discreetly, escorting Isabella to the manor's gardens before returning to the hall.
Seeing Judith return to the hall without Isabella, Leofric excused himself from the couple he was talking to and approached her. "Where is my wife?" He asked.
"She wanted to get some air." Leofric nodded and walked out of the hall. It wasn't hard to find her. "Sir Leofric, I think it is best you leave her alone at the moment."
Leofric's head tilted to the side, "What's your name again?"
Judith's back straightened at the man's piercing gaze. "Judith,"
He nodded, "Judith, never put your mouth in matters concerning my wife and I. If you would be staying with my wife, you must learn to speak when you are asked to do so, am I clear?"
Embarassed, Judith nodded, knowing she overstepped her boundary. "Yes, My Lord."
Leofric swaggered out of the hall in search of Isabella. It was not hard to find her. She was in the garden. His expression softened as he approached her. "Hello, wife."
Isabella slowly turned around and said. "You won. Are you here to rub it on my face?" Her voice was rough around the edges, she was barely holding back.
Leofric shook his head and took another step closer to her. "No, nothing like that. I only came to check on how you are feeling."
Isabella's brows shot up. "You want to know how I am feeling?"
Leofric nodded, "Yes. You seem not to enjoy your wedding ceremony."
Isabella's eyes flared in anger. "Because I never wanted a wedding from the beginning. I never wanted to get married- at least not to you."
Leofric narrowed into slits before returning to normal. He was slowly losing it, "My love," he began
"Don't you dare call me that, you son of a devil."
"You are my wife, I will call you whatever I want." Leofric let out a deep sigh, wondering if they would ever have a proper conversation without wanting to throttle each other. "Now that we are married, don't you think it would be wise of us to put the past behind us and make the best of our situation? Let's start from the beginning."
Isabella's eyes flashed once again, her voice dripping with malice. "You dare speak of new beginnings? After trapping me in this marriage?"
"Trap? I don't see any chains or rope on your hands and legs, my love. I am only going after what I want."
"Sir Leofric," Isabella began
"Ah, we might start from there. I am now your husband, therefore, you must call me by my name."
"You don't tell me what to call you. I will call you whatever I want." She threw his words back at him
Leofric's face darkened once more. "I am your husband. You will respect me and do as I say."
"Let it be known to you that I will never respect a man who forced my hand in marriage."
"You will learn obedience, Isabella. I promise you." He pointed a finger at her.
Isabella's eyes blazed with fury, her voice rising. "What are you going to do? Beat me up? Torture me? Kill me? I will never obey you. It is as simple as that."
Leofric was about to say something when Eric interrupted them.
Eric's eyes darted between the couple cautiously. "Did I interrupt something?" He internally punched himself for the dumb question.
He need not be told they were having a heated argument. The vein on Leofric's head was enough evidence.
"What is it, Eric?" Leofric glared at the man, not appreciating the interruption.
"You are needed inside. It is time for the couple's dance."
"We will join you shortly," Leofric replied.
"No, we will not! Tell them the bride isn't feeling well and has retired to her room."
"You will do no such thing." Leofric countered. "Eric, excuse us for a few seconds."
"Okay," Eric was more than glad to be dismissed.
Turning to Isabella, he shook his head. "What in Christ's wounds is your problem, Madamme?" He glared at her, "I will drag you to the dance floor if I have to."
"What? Am I not allowed to be tired, too? Is that freedom taken from me as well?"
"How can you be tired? You barely moved around or did anything that could drain your energy."
Isabella glared at him, "I have been in this god-awful dress that outweighs the kingdom's largest suit of armour. So, forgive me for I am only an ordinary girl."
Leofric's eyes scanned the dress. "I am sure it's not that heavy."
"How about I give it to you to put on and see for yourself?"
Leofric sighed. "You can retire to bed after the dance, how about that?"
Isabella's brows drew together in thought as she considered the offer. Her eyes narrowed into slits, "I can retire to bed after the dance?"
"Yes." He nodded.
"You won't try to force me to do anything else?" She eyed him suspiciously.
"I won't. Besides, it's normal for a bride to want to retire to bed on time in order to prepare herself for the night."
Isabella didn't let herself think hard about his words. She said, "Okay, one dance, and I am out."
"Good." Leofric nodded in agreement and held out his hand.
Isabella eyed the outstretched hand and walked past it. She would be damned to hold his hand. "I can walk on my own."
Leofric didn't argue; he just followed her into the hall. The hall's warmth enveloped them once more as they were welcomed to the dance floor. Leofric's eyes never left Isabella's as he drew her closer for the dance to begin.
Soft music wafted through the air as the couple moved around. Their first dance had been joyful and enjoyable. But not this one. The tension between them was palpable with Isabella's movements stiff and her smile forced. Leofric's grasp was firm, his eyes burning with unspoken words as he tried to remember the dance steps he had practised just for the night.
As the music ended, Isabella was quick to excuse herself, but before she could fully escape, Leofric leaned in, his breath whispering against her ear. "This is far from over."