Under a Dimmed Sun [UNCENSORED]

SII: Chapter XXVIII: The Silent Departure

The day of Alice's departure dawned with an air of solemnity, mirroring the heaviness that hung in her heart. John the Merchant's estate, once a haven, felt more like a prison from which she couldn't escape. The bridal carriage awaited her, an ominous symbol of the life she was about to embrace.

Alice, adorned in her favorite gown that once held memories of joy, wore it like a ghostly apparition, clung to her now frail form, the weight of its fabric matching the heaviness in her heart. Her face, once expressive, now bore the weight of her grief. Shadows clung to her eyes, and her features remained frozen, devoid of any emotion.

As she descended the staircase, her father and brother, faces etched with sadness and guilt, tried to catch her gaze. Yet, Alice's eyes remained cast down, her steps deliberate and devoid of any acknowledgment.

Her Father, John, with a heavy heart: "Alice, my dear, say your goodbyes. This is your new journey— you will be happy, child."

Alice walked past them as if they were mere specters in her melancholy world. The silent rift between them spoke louder than any words could convey. The air grew thick with unspoken apologies and regrets, but none dared to break the desolate silence.

The bridal carriage, an elaborate structure adorned with delicate carves, awaited its occupant. Alice climbed into it with an eerie calmness, her movements mechanical, as if guided by an invisible force.

The journey to her new home unfurled before Alice like an endless abyss. The passing landscapes blurred into a monotonous stream of greenery. The lurching of the carriage became a rhythm that matched the dull beating of her heart.

Amidst the monotonous landscape passing by, the silence inside the carriage was broken only by the occasional retching sounds. Alice, her body still frail from weeks of grief-fueled starvation, succumbed to fits of vomiting. The jolting of the carriage seemed to intensify her physical distress.

The first bout of nausea seized her without warning. Alice, her face pale, urgently signaled for the driver to halt. The servant, understanding the urgency, opened the carriage door, and Alice stumbled out, clinging to the side to support her weakened frame.

Barely making it to the roadside, Alice, clutching her stomach, leaned against a tree, retching with an intensity that seemed to echo through the silent forest. The remnants of bile clung to her lips as she wiped her mouth, a bitter taste lingering on her tongue.

Servant, concerned: "Mistress Alice, shall we pause for a moment? You need rest."

Alice, refusing any assistance, nodded weakly. The servant signaled for a brief pause, allowing Alice to catch her breath, the world spinning around her like a cruel carousel.

As the journey resumed, the second wave of nausea swept over her like a relentless tide. This time, Alice, with a desperate plea, asked the driver to stop again. She staggered out of the carriage, her steps unsteady, and once more sought refuge by the roadside.

Servant, offering a damp cloth: "Mistress, please, you must take care of yourself. We can delay the journey if needed."

Alice, wiping her mouth, declined the offer with a silent shake of her head. The weight of expectation and duty pressed upon her frail shoulders, compelling her to endure the unspoken torment.

The carriage continued its relentless journey, each lurch and bump becoming a cruel reminder of the path Alice had chosen. Her body, weakened by grief and starvation, rebelled against the harsh reality of her circumstances.

The third wave of nausea struck, and Alice, with a vacant expression, stumbled out of the carriage once more. The servant exchanged a worried glance with another, their silent concern mirrored in the rhythmic clattering of the carriage wheels.

Throughout the journey, Alice's physical distress manifested in bouts of vomiting. Each retch seemed to expel not just the contents of her stomach but the remnants of a life left behind. She dismissed it as carriage-sickness, a convenient explanation.

The distance between Pontevedra and her new home stretched like an eternity. In the solitude of the carriage, Alice confronted the reality of her choices. The gown that once held memories of happiness now clung to her like a shroud of despair.

Her mind echoed with the void left by Peter's absence, a void that no amount of lavish surroundings or societal expectations could fill. The two days felt like an eternity of mourning, a slow descent into the inevitable union that awaited her.

As the carriage rolled on, Alice's eyes remained fixed on the passing scenery, yet her gaze saw nothing. Her thoughts lingered in the shadows of what once was, and the echoes of silent screams reverberated within the confines of her confined soul.

Alice loosened her grasp on the delicate grass ring she had during the fleeting days of her love with Peter. As the carriage jolted and swayed, she allowed the ring to slip through her fingers, releasing it to the whims of the wind.