Lina didn't know how long she was in the room. It was cramped and dark, with no windows letting in light, except a small fixture on the ceiling. There was the bare minimum of a scratchy bed, questionable toilet and sink all in the same place, and the lack of a door except the one that kept her inside.

Lina was meant to face the wall and repent for what she had done. A cruel punishment for a child, but she was far too grown up for this. Lina lost count of how long she had been starved. There was minimum food and water.

From the frequency of meals, Lina concluded at least five or six days had passed. It was always Estella who snuck in a glass of water and stale bread, for it was the best she could hide.

On day seven, the light went off.

Lina froze from where she sat in her bed. Her heart dropped to her stomach. Ever since she was a little girl, Lina had always feared the darkness. She was terrified of what lurked beyond the shadows. She was afraid that a monster would come from underneath her bed.

Shaking and shivering in the darkness for the entire day, Lina recalled tearing up, but never shed a single drop. Then, when eternity passed, light finally flooded into the room.

"Lina."

Altan.

Like an angel, Altan stood at the entrance. He carried a lamp with him, as if this was the medieval era. He held it close to his face, the object illuminating the tray of food in his hand.

Lina's stomach grumbled, but she knew better. A trap. Was she supposed to develop some sort of affection for his help? Her family deprived her of the necessities, only to send in a savior. Altan was attempting to get into her good graces.

"Come eat, Lina," Altan softly told her, stepping into the room. He hid it well, but she had keen eyes that adjusted to the darkness.

Lina saw the jingle of keys near his waistband. He had let himself inside. How long had he possessed that key for? She didn't know.

"At what cost?" Lina dryly asked, confused by her own voice. From days of rarely talking, her throat was scratchy and irritating. She cleared it, but it was no use.

"No cost, of course," Altan murmured, approaching her with the light.

Lina found the situation to be ironic. The Yangs never punished their daughters with violence. It was always starvation and dehydration. At times, Lina was certain she was hallucinating. Sometimes, the mice didn't want to talk to her. Other times, she saw shadows under her bed that sent her cowering in her blankets.

"Why are your eyes like that?" Altan questioned, placing the tray onto the bed. He held the lamp to her face and saw her attention was waning. She wasn't focused on anything in particular. There was a distanced look on her face that made him worry.

Altan lowered the lamp into her hands, forcing her to hold it. He curled a finger under her chin and brushed his thumb on her smooth skin. He frowned at the sight of her dazed appearance.

"Lina?" Altan called out, waiting for her eyes to readjust to him.

They didn't.

Lina's head lolled to the side a bit as she tilted it. Then, she lazily blinked. Her actions were slow.

"There's shadows near you.."

"You're hallucinating," Altan realized, snapping his fingers in front of her face. It was no use. Lina reacted like she was staring beyond his body and outside of the room.

"I told the damn elders this was going to do more harm than help," Altan grumbled, dropping his hand and taking the lamp from her lap. He placed it on the bed and then held a sandwich in front of her.

Lina dully glanced at the foreign food that she could barely stomach. She had never gotten used to the ham and weird substance they called cheese. Even so, she was hungry. With hesitation, she took a bite of the food from his hand.

"I can get you out of here, Lina," Altan murmured. He watched in satisfaction as Lina ate from his hand like an obedient pet. She chewed slowly, her brows wrung together. Suddenly, she snatched the sandwich from his hand and ate it with ferocity.

"You just have to tell them the truth," Altan told her, gently patting her upper back. He soothed it so that she wouldn't choke. She scoffed down the food like it was her last meal and greedily drank the tea he offered her.

"The truth?" Lina repeated in a voice that didn't sound like hers.

"Tell them you were r—"

"I wasn't—"

historical

"You were!" Altan suddenly shouted, sending her flinching away from his touch. He cleared his throat and quickly approached her. She slid further to the end of the bed, but he grabbed her hand.

"I'm sorry for shouting," Altan apologized, lowering his head. "You were tricked by him. I know you were. Be good Lina, you must be obedient for you to get out of here."

"I want to see Mila," Lina bit out, snatching her hand away from him.

"Tell me you didn't mean it," Altan insisted. "I've loved you all my life, Lina. I am willing to overlook this mistake. It wasn't your fault, you are a victim and do not need to take the blame. Trust me Lina, all it takes is three words and the elders will release you. That is why I have come in here to inform you of the results of my persistence."

"I want to see Mila," Lina continued, glancing away from his heartfelt confession. She could trick Altan. She could try to run from here, but to where? To Kaden? Who knew what was happening to him now?

Was he jobless? Was he deployed to another city? Did the Yangs have him locked up somewhere? Thousands of possibilities swirled in her mind, none of them with good endings.

Lina's lips trembled. You stupid, stupid girl. She chided herself for being so foolish with her decisions. If only she had thought her plan through. If only she had come here with Kaden, instead of by herself. She had listened to Belle's advice when really she wanted to wait for him, but thought it was better to face her family head on.

"Lina—"

"Is Mila going to be used as a honeypot?" Lina asked, her voice cracking. "It's such a dangerous job and I—"

"Mila's life is also on the line, you have to come with me and tell the elders the truth," Altan said. "That is the only way to save you sisters."

"The truth is a lie," Lina argued. "You know—"

"I know my fiancee was assaulted!"

"I—"

"Lina," Altan frantically said, grabbing her by the shoulders and shaking some sense into her. How did she not realize the dangerous position that she was in?

"You have to tell the elders that you were forced. If not, the bastard will walk free on the streets whilst you suffer for eternity in here! How could you place the safety of a stranger over yours? Are you crazy?" he cried out.

Kaden was roaming free?

Lina's heart soared, but fell as quickly as it rose. If she said she was assaulted, then she'd get to leave and he would be captured. If she said it was consensual, his job and freedom would be guaranteed. Lina knew her family would not show mercy to anyone else, but her.

If Lina incriminated Kaden, it would be enough to ruin the man for good. If Lina pushed through, there was a chance her family would take mercy on her pitiful situation. So, she turned to Altan with a pained smile and slowly shook her head.

Lina saw hope flee from his eyes. His gentle expression crumbled and his lips curled into a devastated snarl.

"Lina—"

"It was consensual and I have no regrets. I don't want to marry you, now or later, never ever. I did what I had too to prevent this marriage from ever happening. Now, go and tell the elders I've fallen in love, but not with Altan Medeor, but with the very kind of man they despise."

A love story without a fight was a simple crush. Lina decided to fight for this relationship with a man she met in only a day, but made her feel safer than her entire family and Altan.

Lina knew she sealed her fate.. There was no going back from this.