Sweet Riddle

KATYA

Two weeks had passed since that night, and nothing had really changed, at least not for me. The house felt just as cold and suffocating as it always had. I made sure to stay out of Ivan's way, avoiding any unnecessary encounters. He had his space, and I had mine. Five months of this marriage, and we were more like strangers than a couple. The silence between us was almost a relief, honestly.

I locked myself in my room most days, needing the space to breathe without the constant reminder of everything I didn't want to face. The tension in the air was thick, but it wasn't my problem. Not anymore. I had perfected the art of ignoring Ivan. If I didn't look at him, if I didn't listen to his voice, then maybe, just maybe, I could pretend this wasn't my reality.

The only moments that made me feel anything other than that empty, aching frustration were the small rebellions I managed to pull off throughout the day. I'd irritate the guards with little games. Sometimes, I'd challenge them to a race, making them chase me across the yard just for the fun of it. They never seemed to mind—always stoic, always obedient, but I could tell they were secretly entertained by my antics.

Dimitri wasn't much better. He always tried to act like the voice of reason, but I saw through it. Whenever he got too serious with me, I'd push his buttons. Maybe it was petty, but I had to get my revenge somehow. The guy had a tendency to treat me like a little sister, and I hated it. I'd bait him with snide comments or make fun of his serious expressions, just to get a reaction.

One day, I found myself outside playing with the guard dogs. I loved them—much more than the humans in the house, at least. They were loyal, uncomplicated, and didn't judge me the way everyone else did. I crouched down to pet the largest of the dogs, a beautiful black German shepherd, and let him nuzzle my hand. His tail wagged excitedly, as though he could sense I needed something, even if I didn't understand what it was.

"Hey, you've been a good boy," I muttered, scratching behind his ears. The dog barked and bounded around in circles, making me laugh despite everything. For a moment, I allowed myself to forget everything. The mess, the tension, the marriage that felt more like a prison sentence.

But even in those fleeting moments, I couldn't escape the fact that I was still trapped. Trapped in this house. Trapped in this life. Ivan and I—whatever had been between us had long since evaporated. Now it was just an endless cycle of avoidance, anger, and silence.