Shattered trust: THE FORBIDDEN LOVE

“Wake up, you good-for-nothing girl! It’s your wedding day. Get up! Don’t embarrass this family today!” "My name is Elizabeth,” I whispered. Elizabeth was my full name, but I had always shortened it to Eli. The people who were close to me called me Eli. Unfortunately, there were very few people in this house who treated me with enough kindness to use it. The maid rolled her eyes. A beautiful young girl slowly sat up in bed as she whispered.“Whatever your name is, get up. Today is your wedding day.” Her blue eyes looked empty and lifeless. She could barely move, and every part of her body ached. Oh, right. Today is my wedding day. She suddenly remembered. I slept late. Oh Lord, my stepmother is going to kill me. I don't want to be beaten today. How will William look at me if he sees me like this? Before she could think any further, she was pulled out of her thoughts by a sharp slap across her face. She trembled in fear. “You little brat!” the maid snapped. “It seems that because you're getting married into the royal family, you've started acting all high and mighty. Don't forget that you are nothing but a bastard child my lady took pity on.” The maid sneered at her. “This marriage should have been my lady's daughter's, but you are even more devilish than that slut of a mother you had.” Eli lowered her eyes. “Thank goodness she's dead,” the maid continued cruelly. “But why didn't you die with your mother? Your mother destroyed my master's home, and now you want to destroy her young master's life too. You witch!” Eli's body trembled. “You seduced the prince who was supposed to marry your sister, and now you're standing here crying as if you're innocent. Get up, you useless thing. At least you're getting married to a prince. Don't go crying in front of him and telling him that we mistreated you.” She raised her hand again. “It's time to get up, you snake, before I give you another slap.” Before her hand could come down, another maid, around her early 30s, grabbed her wrist. “Who dares—?” The maid's eyes widened when she saw who had stopped her. “Y-You! How dare a mere maid like you hold my hand? You'll be hanged for this! Let go of me, you hag, or you'll regret it!” The younger maid didn't let go. “I... I only did what was right. I don't care what you do to me, but please don't harm her.” She looked desperately at Gina. “Today is her wedding. What will people say when they see her in such a bad state? Won't people blame us? Won't the prince be angry when he sees his bride hurt on their wedding day? It would be an insult to him.” She fell to her knees. “People will say that the prince couldn't even protect his own wife. How will he rule the kingdom someday? Please, for the honor of the Duke's family, let her go today. Please, I beg you.” The maid who had attacked Eli was named Gina. She was the closest servant to the Duke's wife and was feared by nearly everyone in the household. She was practically the second-in-command after the duchess herself. Gina had served the duchess for many years and had become just as ruthless as her mistress. Anyone who dared to disobey her would suffer for it, and the duchess never bothered to stop her. Gina stared at the maid kneeling before her. After thinking about her words, she finally realized that there was some truth in them. She clicked her tongue. “Fine. Get her ready as quickly as possible.” She pointed at the younger maid. “But don't think I've forgotten what you did. I'll deal with you later.” With that, Gina turned and walked away. The maid immediately rushed toward Eli. Her name was Rose. To Eli, Rose was more than just a maid. She was like a mother. Rose was the only person in the entire household who treated Eli like a human being. She loved her as though she were her own daughter. Rose had been a distant cousin of Eli's late mother. When she heard about her aunt's death, she had hurried to the Duke's household with her family. Unfortunately, by the time she arrived, it was already too late. Eli had already been taken away by her father. With no other choice, Rose became a maid in the household so she could remain close to Eli and protect her as much as possible. How could they treat a child like this? Eli had been betrothed to the Crown Prince when she was only nine years old. Now, at fourteen, she was being married off. Rose hated the situation more than words could express. The king had declared that Eli was now old enough to bear children, and Rose had been furious. How can they marry such a young girl to a man ten years older than her? But there was nothing she could do. She hated the Duke's family to the bone. They had destroyed her cousin's life. Eli's mother had once been a respected young woman from a loyal noble family. But after the Duke assaulted her and she became pregnant, everyone blamed her instead. No one believed her. Who would dare go against the powerful Duke's family? For generations, the Duke's family had been among the most powerful families in the kingdom, second only to the royal family and the great military generals. Eli's mother's life had been destroyed. No respectable family wanted to marry a woman who had been publicly disgraced and had a child. She had lived a miserable life until her death. Rose sometimes wished she could destroy every person who had caused her cousin's suffering. She looked at Eli, whose tears were silently falling. “Eli, you're safe now,” Rose whispered as she gently wiped her tears. “Don't cry. You'll be okay. No one is going to hurt you now.” She gave her a weak smile. “It's your wedding day. The bride is supposed to look happy. Come on. Stand up and let me get you ready before they come back.” Eli slowly got to her feet. Her knees felt weak. Her life was already ruined—or so she thought. At least William had promised to take care of her. He had promised to love her. That small promise was the only hope she had left. I have to be strong. Maybe better days are ahead of me. She followed Rose to the bathroom. Several other maids were already waiting. Since Eli was going to become the Crown Princess that day, everyone wanted her to look perfect. They carefully prepared her, applying fragrant oils and other beauty products to her skin. Her long golden hair was beautifully styled. The maids admired her appearance. “She really is beautiful.” “She's so young, yet she's already this beautiful.” “When she grows older, she'll be even more stunning.” After they finished preparing her, Eli looked at herself in the mirror. She hardly recognized the girl staring back at her. She wore a beautiful white wedding gown that fit her perfectly. Her appearance had completely transformed. She looked like a princess. Her cherry-red lips stood out against her delicate skin, while her long golden hair framed her face beautifully. Rose smiled warmly. “You look beautiful, my lady.” Before Eli could respond, someone came to the door. “My lady, it's time. The groom is waiting.” The messenger bowed before leaving. Eli's heart began pounding. She suddenly felt nervous about everything. Rose noticed immediately. She walked over and wrapped her arms around Eli. “My sweet Eli, everything is going to be okay. It's normal for a bride to feel nervous. Just take a deep breath.” She gently rubbed Eli's back. “Everything will be fine, I promise.” Rose's eyes became teary. “Oh, I'll miss you so much. Please take care of yourself. Promise me you'll always take care of your health.” Eli's eyes filled with tears. “I promise, Auntie. I'll take good care of myself. I'll never miss a meal.” She hugged Rose tightly. “I love you, and I'm going to miss you so much. Please promise me that once I leave this place, you'll leave too. I don't want anything to happen to you. You're the only family I have left.” Rose smiled through her tears. “I promise, my dear. Everything is going to be okay. I'll leave as soon as the wedding is over.” She held Eli's hands. “Now, let's go.” Eli took a deep breath. Everything is going to be okay. Once I get married, I'll finally be able to start a new life. --- The ceremony began. The attendants led Eli toward the altar. When she arrived, the first person she saw was her stepmother, sitting beside her father. Her stepmother was a beautiful woman in her early thirties, with striking green eyes, brown hair, and an elegant figure. Beside her stood her daughter, who was two years older than Eli and looked almost exactly like her mother. Her other two children stood nearby. Her eldest daughter looked more like their father. She had black hair and blue eyes and was already married with children of her own. Her son was also married with children. He had brown hair and blue eyes like his father and was considered a handsome young man. He was the Duke's only son. Eli's eyes met his through her veil. Fear immediately washed over her. There was something about his blue eyes that made her uncomfortable. He smiled at her. Eli felt disgusted by the smile alone. Her life had always been miserable, especially because she had been born without spiritual power. In the world she lived in, magical power meant everything. There were five main types of magical power, including elemental magic. Those who possessed elemental abilities could control the forces of nature. The Duke's family was particularly famous for producing powerful magical beings. Duke Draco was one of the most powerful men in the entire kingdom. At a young age, he had risen through the military ranks and eventually became a general before receiving the title of Duke. His power was so frightening that even powerful people feared him. He possessed the ability to control people's minds, manipulating his enemies through his thoughts alone. His power was considered extremely dangerous. Only the royal family could stand against the Duke's family. For years, there had been disagreements and conflicts between the two families. Eventually, they decided to form an alliance through marriage. By joining the royal family and the Duke's family through marriage, their bond would become stronger, and no one would dare challenge either family. That was how Eli's marriage to the Crown Prince came about. At first, the Duke's family wanted Eli's sister. She was beautiful and possessed extraordinary magical talent. But everything changed when the king discovered something unusual about Eli. Although she had been considered powerless, she possessed exceptionally strong bloodline potential. The king believed that she could give birth to children with powerful magical abilities. That was exactly what he wanted. A young woman who could be controlled would be easier to manage within the palace than a powerful woman who might one day challenge the royal family's authority. The kingdom needed powerful descendants. The royal family was beginning to lose influence because many of their children had been born with weak magical abilities. Only the Crown Prince, his two brothers, and his sister were considered exceptionally powerful. Eli knew nothing about any of this. She simply believed that she had been chosen because the king had ordered the marriage. She slowly walked toward the altar. Her father led her forward. Then she saw him. The man she was about to marry. A handsome young man stood waiting for her. He extended his hand. Eli hesitated before placing hers in his. An overwhelming feeling swept through her. She slowly raised her face. “William,” she whispered. His golden eyes seemed to glow like flames. His dark brown hair fell softly around his handsome face, and his tall, majestic figure made him look almost unreal. To Eli, he looked as though he had stepped out of a dream. She couldn't believe that he had agreed to marry her. A powerless girl. She considered herself incredibly lucky. William gently held her hand as they stood before the altar. The ceremony began. They exchanged their vows before the king, the nobles, and the gathered guests. Finally, they shared a brief kiss. And just like that, Eli became the Crown Princess. --- After the wedding ceremony, a grand feast was held to celebrate their union. Music filled the palace as nobles and members of both families celebrated. Eventually, the time came for Eli to leave with her new family. She said her goodbyes. Her eyes searched for Rose one last time. From a distance, Rose smiled at her through her tears. Eli smiled back. William approached and helped her into the carriage. She settled into her seat beside him. As the carriage began to move, Eli looked back at the Duke's estate. She felt something strange in her chest. This was all new to her. For the first time in her life, she was leaving the only home she had ever known. She didn't know what awaited her at the royal palace. For a moment, a terrible thought crossed her mind. It's almost like I'm entering a lion's den. Eli quickly pushed the thought away. No. She looked at William. I'm starting a new life. And with that thought, the carriage carried them toward the royal palace.