"That doesn’t mean it was right," Alice argued, feeling a sudden surge of anger at the injustice of it all. The thought of a child being subjected to such cruelty ignited a fury within her. "You shouldn’t have had to endure that, Victor. No one deserves to be treated that way, no matter the lessons they learn afterward. What good are the lessons when it hampers on your happiness? Isn’t that what matters at the end?"
Victor smiled faintly. "What? Happiness?"
"Yes," she answered. "I believe happiness is really all that matters. It makes life worth living. Everything we do as human beings should lead us toward that feeling, whether it’s through our relationships, our passions, or simply finding joy in the little things. Life would be empty without happiness."
"I understand that, but?—"
"Pain isn’t something noble," she continued. "It shouldn’t be. I think it was more of a curse than it was beneficial. You shouldn’t see the good in it. In fact, I think the reason you keep yourself so guarded is because of it. You could have learned to be the perfect duke without pain being the teacher. Pain shouldn’t be worn like a badge of honor, and I am sorry to say but your papa was a terrible man for doing that to you."
Alice’s words hung in the air, a confession she hadn’t planned but couldn’t suppress. She braced herself, expecting the storm—anger, dismissal, perhaps even an icy silence. Surely, she had overstepped, piercing the wall he so carefully maintained around his family and his past.
But as the seconds passed, she dared to glance up at him. And there, instead of anger or reproach, was the faintest smile softening his face.
The dance came to an end, and Victor stepped away from her to take a bow. When he lifted his head, he was smiling again. Alice’s eyebrows furrowed.
"What is it?" she asked as he led her towards the edge of the dance floor. "Why are you smiling all of a sudden?"
Victor’s smile widened. "I find your sudden anger amusing," he replied, his voice light. "One would think that you were at the receiving end of the punishments I endured."
Alice exhaled. "Well, what is wrong is wrong," she said. "And I’m sorry you had to experience that and that you have the scars as a constant reminder of it."
Victor stood by her side. "Thank you," he said.
Alice locked eyes with him, and neither of them looked away. Time seemed to stop, and she found herself completely at ease in his gaze. Everything in the background was now reduced to a muffled hum. Alice wanted to ask him why he never did anything to curb the rumors...why he let people believe that he was a terrible person when, in reality, he was only a victim.
But deep down, she understood his silence. She knew how important power was in society. It was often better to be seen asa monster than to show vulnerability. It was better to be feared than pitied. Pity watered down power. It affected status. Victor was the man he was because people feared him, and in a way, she benefited from that fear. They had been at the ball for a while now, and no one had dared to throw a snide remark her way.
It dawned on her, in that moment, that this man was actually her husband. The man she was going to spend the rest of her life with.
Strangely enough, she was beginning to feel comfortable with that idea.
