The Nymiren's bride

Elara sat by the window, her gaze distant as she stared over the sprawling gardens below. The sky had begun to blush, but she barely noticed. A soft sigh escaped her lips as her thoughts drifted back to what her father had said earlier. He had summoned her to the throne room, and even then, she'd had a sinking feeling that whatever he had to say wouldn't be good. The guards opened the heavy doors as she arrived at the throne room. Inside, the grand hall stretched endlessly. Her parents sat side by side on the ornate thrones at the far end. Her father's expression was stern, his eyebrows drawn together, making him look intimidating. Elara looked at her mother but she won't hold her gaze. Elara’s stomach twisted in knots Her steps Echoed as she walked towards them. When she reached them, she bowed low. Her Father gave a curt nod, “ rise”. She told for a while, a tense silence followed, heavy and unrelenting, until her Father’s voice was loud enough that it echoed throughout the room "Elara," he began, firm and emotionless, "prepare yourself. You are to be married to the Prince of Northmire. The wedding is in two weeks." Her breath caught. She couldn’t believe what she’d just heard. Married? To the Prince of Northmire?.The man rumoured to love nothing but war and blood shed? A cold wave of disbelief washed over Elara. Her lips parted, but no words came. Her mind raced, searching for something to say, but all she could manage was a whisper. "But… why?" Her father’s gaze didn’t waver. “It is an alliance between our nation. The kingdom needs this, Elara. Northmire is powerful, and their support will strengthen our borders.” Elara could hear her heart beating in her ears.She looked up at her mother, eyes pleading. But the queen’s gaze dropped. ”Do you know what the people say about him?” she asked, voice shaking “Those are just rumours,” her father replied flatly. “This is your duty as the princess of the ” Duty? Getting married to a man who could kill me is my duty? Elara thought. She took a small step back, trying to steady her breath. “And what if I refuse?” The silence that followed was colder than steel. Her father’s jaw tightened. “You will not” Tears stung her eyes, but she blinked them back. She wouldn’t cry. Without waiting for dismissal, She turned and left. Her steps quickened as she fled down the hallway, her mind spinning. Two weeks. That’s all she had. Two weeks until she’s married to that man, her heart ached. She couldn’t understand why her father would do this to her or why the prince wanted to marry her. He could ask for anything and would have gotten it, but what would marrying her do for him? So many questions kept popping up in her head, and nobody could answer them. She didn’t move when the door creaked open. She stared at her reflection in the tall mirror across the room, eyes rimmed with unshed tears, face pale, shoulders tense. Her mother’s quiet footsteps barely made a sound as she entered. “Elara,” the Queen’s voice came gently. Elara didn’t turn. “If you’re here to convince me, don’t.” Her mother stood behind her now, her reflection beside Elara’s in the mirror. “I’m not here to convince,” she said. " Then why are you here?" The Queen sighed and looked at Elara. " My child, I know this must be hard to accept, but you have to understand that this is what is best for our kingdom." " What about what is best for me? Mother, I don't want to get married to that beast." " Elara, darling, the sooner you accept it, the better for you. Your father is not going to change his mind." " So I'm supposed to accept this? Get married to a man I barely know and be happy? " Elara asked, her voice breaking. The Queen sighed, " Elara Northmire is powerful, and if they decide to attack us, we won't survive. Please do it for the kingdom, the people need this. If Northmire decides to attack us, we won’t survive it. Countless lives would be lost. I know this is not what you want, but this is the only way.” Elara’s shoulders sagged.” I just…need time”. The Queen nodded. “ Take all the time you need.” The queen gave her daughter one last look before leaving the room. As the door shut, Elara collapsed onto her bed and buried her face in her hands. The tears came in tiny sobs, she didn't want to say goodbye to her normal life. But she didn't want her people to suffer either. After a long while, her sobs subsided. Her eyes stung, her chest ached, but she had made a decision. She would go through with the wedding. Not because her father ordered it. Not because her mother pleaded. But because she could not bear the thought of war on the innocent, just because she chose freedom over duty. Also, there was nothing she could do anyway. Her father would drag her to the altar himself if he had to. She rose and walked toward the garden, needing air, needing light. The sun was warmer there, casting gold across the hedges and fountains. She stepped out and stopped. A figure sat at the Far end of the garden, lounging casually beneath a cherry blossom tree, sipping tea as though the world had no troubles. Elara blinked.” Evans?” He looked up and smiled, the corners of his eyes crinkling with mischief. “Little sister”, he said, rising to his feet. “It’s been a while.” She ran to him, throwing her arms around him. “You’re back!” “I’m not little anymore,” she said as they sat on the bench He laughed.” You’ll always be little to me. Evans was the third prince of Everia, Elara’s older brother by six years, and her favorite sibling by far. Evans had always been wild at the edges. Always chasing storms. He rarely came home, but when he did, Elara became more lively and joyful. He had been her shield as a child, standing between her and their father’s temper with a grin and a daring lie. And in return, she had covered for him every time he had vanished from the castle, hiding his muddy boots under her bed and telling her stories. They were inseparable as kids, and her other siblings hated how different they were from them. “ What have you been up to, dear brother?” Elara asked, her turn light, but the warmth in her eyes was unmistakable “A lot, but I wouldn’t want to bore you with it,” he replied She huffed, crossing her arms with mock offense “Come on, tell me about your journeys, you’re the only one who gets to escape these walls while I stay here and slowly die of boredom.” Evans let out a low chuckle, more breath than laughter, as he lifted the teacup to his lips. The porcelain clicked gently against his ring. He took a slow sip, letting the quiet moment stretch, then set the cup down with a soft clink against the saucer. His gaze drifted towards Elara. “Fine,” he murmured, leaning back just slightly, “I’ll tell you…If you explain to me why the maids keep whispering about a wedding