Aera opened her eyes at the sound of footsteps, and was barely able to hide her surprise as her husband stepped through her doorway. With grace she stood from the window and curtsied to him. "My Prince. I am pleased to have you home."

Kentaro said nothing. With a jerk of his head Paytin was excused and hurried from the room. Nervous, Aera stepped up and embraced him, kissing him. "I hope your trip wasn't too awful."
"I got disturbing news, concerning you." He said darkly. Aera stiffened, and he caught it, his arms holding her to him. His silver eyes looked angry, and, what scared her the most..... he was sober. "News about that elf."
Aera exhaled. "My sweet, don't believe Kasca, he was just angry becau- AH." Kentaro gripped her arms tightly, his fingers digging into her elbow. "Kentaro!" she lifted her arms and wriggled free, stepping away. 
He was quick. His hand snapped out and grasped her left wrist, his grip strong. "It wasn't Kasca, wife." He growled. "My mother says you've asked for her to find proof that our marriage is false." Aera bent her knees, trying to loosen her wrist. He pulled on her and she stumbled forward. "Why, Aera? After all I gave you!"

Her dangerous cycle ignited. His tone frightened her, which made her hands tingle, and she wasn't wearing gloves. The idea of hurting him scared her, and her fear grew. "Kentaro, you're hurting me, let go." She said in a flat tone. He pulled on her arm again and, rather then grasp him for balance, she went down to her knees.
"Its that elf, isn't it? He poisoned you against me. You've been sleeping with him since the moment he marched into my city. [b]Don't shake your head at me[/b]! You look at him like you look at Envy, and he was bedding you the moment YOU came into the city."

The elf tensed, irritated, holding her free hand in a fist to her chest. "I've never!" She argued back. "Kentaro, let go. My gloves."
"Are you threatening me?" He gripped her harder. 
Wincing, she shook her head. "No. But -oh, you know what I.. I'm capable of." She tried to choose the right words, to not make it sound like a threat. It didnt work. 
His left arm swung across and he struck her, a back handed fist smacking into her cheekbone. She cried out and fell back, released from his iron grasp.
"GET OUT!" He hollered at Paytin, who had run when she'd heard Aera. The elf scooted back, away from him, and leaned against the wall beneath her window. Her head hurt, her cheek felt like fire. She was angry now, knowing he had harmed her and she was unable to defend herself. It would be her death sentence is she burned him. Or killed him. Instead she glared through teary eyes as he stepped over and knelt, grabbing a fistful of hair and yanking. "You are [b]mine[/b]." He snarled over her shriek. "I have put up with the glares and whispers all this time, for bringing in the beautiful savage, for giving you a chance to bring good to the elven name here. And what have you done? Bed archers and threaten me." 
Aera had crossed her arms and was clenching her sleeves. "Kentaro, please." She cried. "I didn't..."

He yanked her head again and released her, standing. "I confine you to quarters." he informed her as he went out. "No visitors. No messages."
Before he slammed the door Paytin squeezed in and ran to Aera, who was crying with her head between her knees. "My Lady..." the maid said softly, feeling pity for the woman. She went to hold the elf, but Aera pushed herself back, begging Paytin not to touch her, which made the maid feel even more sadness for her. For a bit, the maid watched helpless, before she started thinking. This shift between the prince and princess may be useful. "My Lady... here." Aera brought her face up, her left eye already darkening, as Paytin handed her a small piece of paper. "Go to him. Get out of here."
Aera considered it. Being confined, no one would notice her missing. Deciding, she carefully took the note from Paytin with a small smile and rose, gathering her gloves before she vanished behind the false wall.