Mirror, Mirror on the Wall, Who's the Witch of Fate’s Great Call - Chapter 14
Still though, why had he said it would be cruel for a princess to handle him?
Kalynia pondered this as she went through a barebones wedding ceremony, attended only by a few noble witnesses and a simple ring exchange.
She found out the answer that very night.
In the king’s bedchamber, there was only a single candle on the table for light. Next to it, someone had thoughtfully set out a bottle of wine and two glasses. Whoever had prepared it clearly intended to help ease the nerves of the new couple, though Kalynia didn’t know who it was. She was thankful, nonetheless.
After an entire wedding ceremony without exchanging a word with the groom, she knew she couldn’t go through this sober. Without the help of wine, her body would likely seize up in sheer anxiety.
Though Kalynia had no personal experience with men, having many sisters meant she had picked up plenty by overhearing them.
“Let’s just have one drink…”
As she moved toward the wine, Vylon blocked her. He placed a hand over her chest, and though it didn’t seem like he was exerting much force, she couldn’t move forward.
When Kalynia stopped, Vylon seized her arm and pushed her onto the bed.
He’s forceful, just like before.
The situation felt eerily familiar. She glared at him, annoyed, but he remained silent and started removing his clothes.
She had intended to get through this quickly while tipsy, but that plan had already failed. Accepting her fate, she began undoing the buttons on her nightgown, which the maids had dressed her in barely thirty minutes earlier.
“Tch.”
Hearing a cluck of disapproval, she looked up to see Vylon watching her with an annoyed expression. He was already undressed and stood by the bed, openly dissatisfied with the situation. Kalynia wanted to snap back, telling him she wasn’t enjoying this either.
But before she could…
“Why is it… already up? Gross.”
She wrinkled her nose as she glanced at him. The sight of his arousal seemed unpleasantly animated, almost revolting.
The word ‘gross’ made a crease form on Vylon’s brow. He opened his mouth as if to speak but closed it again, climbing onto the bed instead and finishing the job of unbuttoning her nightgown himself.
There was a reason she had been going slowly. The nightgown had far too many buttons, set closely together.
“Tsk. What kind of dress is this…”
Fumbling with each tiny button was getting on his nerves, and he muttered in frustration. He immediately regretted not just lifting her gown for convenience. After starting to undo each button one by one, he felt committed to it now.
Giving up would feel like admitting defeat. Vylon fought back his irritation and continued struggling with each button.
The maids had chosen this nightgown with many buttons for a reason. It was a sort of tradition in the Snow Kingdom—a way to give the groom a moment to compose himself on his wedding night. But Vylon, inexperienced in this custom, merely clicked his tongue in frustration.
“What’s this? You’re no better at it than I am,” Kalynia taunted, adding to his irritation.
He paused, took a deep breath, and then grabbed the gown, tearing it open with a single rip. A few stubborn buttons flew off, though some still clung stubbornly to the fabric.
“Don’t wear anything like this again.”
“I didn’t choose it,” she retorted coolly. “Your people dressed me in it.”
Vylon’s eyes narrowed.
“It seems I need to teach you some manners.”
Apparently, her tone wasn’t to his liking. Kalynia scoffed, amused.
Just because he was a king didn’t mean she’d treat him like one. He was the king of the human world, not her king.
“Don’t demand respect from me. Witches have no kings. I serve no one.”
“I’m aware that witches are rude by nature, but I won’t let you behave without restraint.”
Vylon warned, gripping her chin.
“Now that you’ve accepted this deal, you’ll serve me as both husband and king.”
“……”
“Understood, Witch?”
Though he’d asked her name, here he was calling her ‘witch’ again. Kalynia bit her lip, glaring up at him.
Her sharp look didn’t last long, though. His intimidating gaze quickly extinguished her defiance.
She turned her head in silent resistance, but Vylon quickly noticed that her spirit had dulled. While he didn’t entirely approve of her attitude, at least she wouldn’t talk back.
Vylon decided to let it go. If he nitpicked everything, morning would come before they finished. He resolved to get this over with as quickly as possible and put this insolent witch out of his sight.
“Spread your legs.”
