psithurism

prologue: a vow to the wind

"Lady Naomi Lirham is entering!" a knight announced.

I can feel my hands trembling while holding my bouquet. I looked straight ahead but the veil I'm wearing made the aisle almost invisible in my blurry eyes.

"Calm down, Naomi," the man escorting me whispered.

I looked at him and shook my head. "I'm sorry," I uttered.

I heard him sigh before he pinched my arm lightly. "You don't have to do this if you don't want to."

I looked at him and shook my head. "I have to, Kuya."

We continued walking while I dread every step my feet take. My heart is beating in a quick pace and I can hear my pulse inside my skull. My nervousness wasn't eased when I had the view of the altar.

It was empty.

I took a step back but my brother held my hand. "Go into the altar, Naomi," he whispered.

I looked at him confused before following what he told me. I can see the sadness in his eyes before he let go of my hand and stood in the corner.

I stood there stupidly, alone in front of the priest. I bowed when I got the chance to pull myself together.

The priest did the sign of the cross. "My Lady Naomi Lirham, do you accept His Grace, Duke Warren Vandecois as your lawfully wedded husband, in sickness and in health, for richer and poorer, fray and serenity, and till death do the both of you apart?"

I gulped as I clutched on the bouquet I'm holding tighter. What is this? Where's the man I'm supposed to marry?

Murmurs filled the church when minutes passed without my respond. I closed my eyes as tears started to make their way down my cheeks.

"My Lorde, Duke Vandecois is claiming his possession of the diamond mine in the North." I heard Sir Ivan report.

I know eavesdropping is bad but I couldn't help pry hearing the name of the infamous tyrant duke.

"Has he gone insane, Ivan?! He cannot have that diamond mine! That's the only thing left of us of your Late Mistress Naria! How dare he think he has the rights to that mine!"

"The young miss' father lost on a bet against him, milord, and they betted upon the diamond m-"

"What?!"

I flinched when I heard brother's furious voice.

"That motherfucker just keeps on giving me headaches! I thought my problem with him ends once I buried him underground but his bullshits just won't stop!"

I looked down and bite the inside of my cheeks. I'm not new to my brother trash-talking my father. He was a mere commoner who was married to a widowed viscountess, our late mother, Naria Derran.

I knew from the start that my Kuya Niriko hated my father especially when he became greedy after being wealthy for the first time in his life. My brother would call him names but I couldn't blame him for it.

I was aware that my brother killed my father but I'm fine with that. He was never kind and loving.

"There's gotta be another way I can pay him without losing my mother's diamond mind." The eagerness in my brother's voice pained me. He's doing everything for the two of use while I'm practically useless.

"His Grace did had another proposal."

"What is it? You should've told me soo-"

"He wants your sister's hand in marriage."

I felt my world stop spinning. My what?

"Marriage? When are you gonna stop spouting nonsense? It's barely a week since her coming-of-age!"

I bit my lower lips until I tasted blood in it. Maybe it's time I serve a purpose.

"Please state your vow."

I looked down.

"I-I, Naomi Lirham-V-Vandercois, oath in the name of our great goddess, Eya, I will l-love my husband and serve him till the end of my life. I will be the b-best wife he'll ever have and abide to his words without a second thought. I surrender my life to my husband, in front of my goddess' altar, for him to take me as his, until our evermore let us."

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