Over time, she had learned to style her hair in ways that kept it hidden, realizing that people found it offensive to look at. Now, she tensed, dreading whatever hateful comment her vampire husband might throw at her. Humans had found it hideous, not to mention vampires, who were known to have the most flawless skin because of their healing abilities.
But instead, his fingers moved over the scar, tracing its line and the browless curve of her skin before he murmured,
"You have lovely eyes. Why do you hide them behind this hair?"
He held a section of her bangs between his thumb and index finger as he posed the question.
Belle was taken aback. Didn't he see the scar? Why was he asking such a question instead of commenting or asking where she got it from like everyone did? But then, since he had not commented on her scar, she decided to also not point it out and said,
"How do you know my eyes are lovely when you don't look at them?" He had never looked into her eyes since they were in the carriage, and not even now that he said the words. He was looking at her forehead.
She saw his lips part and reveal his pure white set of beautiful teeth as he grinned at her question. "I know the color of your eyes, sweetheart. You have lovely eyes and a lovely face, but your hairstyles hides them. Why?"
It seemed this man was not only mad but blind. Couldn't he see the reason she hid them? Could it be that his eyes had a fault in them that made him unable to see that she had a hideous scar on her brow that made her less in the eyes of society? Couldn't he see that she wasn't the beautiful bride promised to him?
Pursing her lips, she pointed out the obvious, "Because the hairstyle is the only way to hide what might offend others." She saw his eyes narrow down as the smile on his face disappeared.
"Offend others? Who the bloody hell got offended by you for not having this covering half your eyes and forehead?" he asked darkly and seriously, every little amusement gone from his face. There was a suffocating thickness in the air, making the hairs on her body stand on end. Was he angry?
Belle swallowed hard, realizing he looked scarier with such an expression. She wanted to tell him her parents were the ones most offended by her scar but bit it back and stepped away from him. As if realizing his darkened expression had scared her, they turned blank again, and his head tilted to the side.
"Are your family among those who feel offended?" he asked with a smile that made him look creepy, as it wasn't genuine. Has a genuine smile ever graced that handsome face of his? Belle wondered to herself in dread.
Rohan did not care who the people who had felt offended by her face were, he would like to pay them a short visit and let them get what they found offensive in return. How could anyone be offended by the innocent, beautiful face of his little bunny? No doubt humans had shit for brains!
Belle did not feel comfortable with this conversation or with the way he was watching her, as if waiting for her to give him names. She cleared her throat and looked away from him to look around the room before she found another way to change the topic and divert it from her scar and family.
Perfectly aware that he was staring at her intensely, she gestured towards the chamber. "I want to thank you for providing me with such extravagant accommodations." She had not lost her manners, even though she did not take this marriage as anything, she knew to thank him for things such as this.
He snorted. "More extravagant than the ones your family provided, no doubt. I'm surprised you still agreed to come here in your sister's place when they treat you as nothing more than a spare." He clicked his tongue and shook his head in mock pity. He wasn't a fool, he had seen through the Dawsons the moment he stepped into their household.
They had looked at the vampires with guilt written all over their faces, and when his little bunny's veil had slipped, he'd heard their sharp inhales and the frantic pounding of their hearts. Not to mention how they had conveniently kept the other Dawson daughter out of sight, only for the little devil to be peeking from behind a doorway with a smug smirk as they left.
He didn't care much for how human families worked, but he knew well enough how they were supposed to act when sending off their so-called beloved daughter to a land all humans feared. Yet, they hadn't even stepped forward to say their farewells. Instead, they had exchanged silent, hardened looks with her, like they were trying to warn her to keep their secrets. Her father had even looked relieved when their carriage began to move.
Tsk. Such people deserved to be set on fire in their sleep and burned to ashes.
Belle's eyes widened. "How did you…?" She trailed off, inexplicably embarrassed that he knew exactly how little regard her family had for her.
"How did I know?" He chuckled dryly. "Humans are easy to see through, sweetheart, and your family are a bunch of fools to think they could trick me if I didn't allow it. You, my wife, were never supposed to be the one standing here, am I right?" He tilted his head, studying her face as it grew pale, the realization sinking in that he had seen through everything. A crime like this could wipe out her entire family if he chose to expose them.
"W-would you tell the king that I wasn't the bride they promised?" she asked, her voice laced with nerves and fear for her family. This could ruin them all. But if he wanted out of this marriage, this was his perfect opportunity. He could send her back to her land and demand her sister in exchange, or worse, he could report them to the king and have them all executed.
If he chose to send her back, at least she had done her best to protect her family. She would gladly return to the familiar lands of Aragonia, where she could resume her simple dreams of marrying into an ordinary family. Eve would manage just fine here, after all, the so-called mad vampire wasn't nearly as terrible as they had feared. He had even gone out of his way to give her a beautiful room and an expensive nightdress. Yes, Eve would be just fine. Her sister had always liked expensive things and a man who could provide her with it.
Belle did not want such life and it had not been in her dreams. Her dreams was so ordinary and easy, if she could marry Mr. Marchant and live with him, she would be just fine.
Rohan crooked his head to the side and tucked his hands inside his pockets as he regarded her. "What would you do if I sent you back? Would you go back to that useless family of yours or to your Mr. Merchant?"
Belle did not like that he called her family useless and that he kept mispronouncing Mr. Marchant as 'merchant.' Whenever he said Jamie's name, there was always mockery in it, and it gnawed at her heart even though she did not want to show it. Once you love someone, even the smallest bad things said about them hurt you more than they would the person because they were an intimate part of you.
"Mr. Marchant is a kind gentleman, my Lord, and if you decide to break this marriage, he would have me back with open arms even if my family doesn't. And you—" she didn't complete her frustrated words as he cut her off all of a sudden.
"That day will never come, sweetheart. Your Mr. Merchant should be a forgotten dream, and I should be your forever dream. The moment you stepped into my world, your fate has been sealed. You are mine now."
Belle wanted to tell him that would never happen and that she was her own person and not an object one could claim, but then held back her tongue. There was no need to tell him when the king would send people to take her back once the moment came. She just had to focus on her mission. But as if reading her thoughts, he asked,
"Or do you believe a day would come when you would return to him? The love you mentioned you still have for him on our way here, I hope you don't still harbor it now? You've killed it, haven't you?" He narrowed his eyes down at her, his voice a deep, grave tone that made her heart tremble in fear.
"Love is not so easily forgotten, my Lord. And my heart would forever belong to Mr.—" He pressed his finger against her lips to shut her up. He did not want to hear the mention of that man. He might really take a short trip to Aragonia to pay him a kind visit on behalf of his little wife.
"Never say his name again. I don't want to hear it from your beautiful lips anymore. You are mine now, and I hate when anything that belongs to me doesn't completely belong. I want your body, mind, and soul here, not there. Understand?"