𝐁𝛐𝐮𝐧𝐝 𝐛𝐲 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐎𝐜𝐞𝐚𝐧 | Nikolai Lantsov

20 | 𝐒𝐭𝐚𝐫𝐥𝐢𝐭 𝐕𝐨𝐰𝐬

𝐍𝐢𝐤𝐨𝐥𝐚𝐢

I stood at the altar, my heart racing under the weight of the world—or rather, the weight of a kingdom. A sea of familiar faces swayed gently in a kaleidoscope of colors, their expressions an intoxicating mix of joy and expectation. They were here to witness one of the most significant moments of our lives: my marriage to the love of my life,

Amora Sovic.

I glanced at her, and time seemed to freeze. In that moment, all I could see was Amora—her brown eyes shining, her hair cascading like the waves of the sea. The love I felt for her ignited like wildfire; it consumed me, filled me with both peace and the thrill of danger. She was everything I had ever dreamed of—brave as the wind and as pretty as the stars.

"Do you, Amora Sovic, take this man?" The priest's voice was firm, but my heart echoed her response before she spoke.

"I do," she said, her voice steady. A flicker of fear crossed her features, and I could sense the excitement mingling with the weight of what this meant for both of us.

As we exchanged vows, I couldn’t help but sprinkle the ceremony with my usual cheekiness. "And I vow to serenade you at least once a week—even if it is terribly off-key."

Amora rolled her eyes, her expression a perfect blend of exasperation and amusement. "And I vow to endure your serenades graciously, even if I might lose my hearing in the process."

The crowd laughed, and I caught a glimpse of Tamar and Toyla sharing conspiratorial grins in the front row. You would never guess that the twin children of Shu would be so amused by the antics of a Ravkan prince, but then again, their own fierce personalities often broke the mold.

"I vow to marry you," I proclaimed dramatically. "To reign with you—for you are the sun to my sails, the laughter to my days."

With our vows exchanged, we sealed our commitment with a kiss that felt like a promise under the starlit skies. Cheering erupted around us, and for a moment, it felt as if the world had disappeared, leaving just Amora and me—two souls intertwined.

⎯⎯ ୨•୧ ⎯⎯

Weeks passed in a hazy blend of royal duties and newlywed bliss. I threw myself into being king, navigating the turbulent waters of court politics while trying not to forget the humor and mischief that colored my life. But it was a pale imitation of the life I had on Sturmhond’s ship—nothing compared to the adventure of sailing the seas with Amora at my side.

One morning, as I sat in the warm light filtering through our castle window, I noticed Amora sitting quietly, her fingers brushing against her stomach as if she felt something that I couldn’t see. "Are you alright?" I asked, a playful grin failing to mask the concern growing inside of me.

She shrugged, masking unease with sarcasm. "Just trying to summon the strength of every single wind that has ever blown through this kingdom, remember? You married me for my battle skills, didn’t you?"

As she attempted to lighten the mood, I sensed something deeper beneath her words. It wasn’t just her usual banter; something nagged at her, and so I leaned closer, my smile faltering. "Amora?"

Just then, she winced, clutching her stomach.

"Amora!" I was on my feet in an instant, chaos erupting within me. "What’s wrong?"

"I... I think it's just the aftermath of that last battle. Remember when I got stabbed?" She tried to wave off my concern, but there was a tremor in her voice.

"No more dismissals," I insisted, a steely determination taking root. "I’m calling for a doctor."

Hours later, I paced in our chambers, the air thick with tension. I could almost feel my heart thrumming in time with the ticking of the clock, each moment stretching and pulling like an uncoiled spring. When the doctor finally entered, I knew something was wrong by the solemnity etched on his face.

“Amora,” I said, turning to her as the doctor explained the symptoms. “What’s happening?”

After what felt like an eternity, I watched as the doctor examined her, his hands gentle but serious. The words that followed will forever be etched into my memory.

“I’m sorry, Amora,” he said gently, “but the injury you sustained has left you infertile. You won’t be able to bear children.”

The air seemed to freeze. Time paused, and I saw Amora’s face drain of color, the light in her eyes dimming as her world began to crumble. The doctor left and when i came back i saw her tears well as they spilled down her cheeks, and all I could do was move toward her, gather her into my arms as her sobs erupted, each one tearing my heart further.

“Love… it’s alright,” I whispered, attempting to soothe her, but my own heart shattered with each of her sobs. “We’ll get through this together. You’re not alone; we will find new adventures. We still have each other.”

But my words felt hollow in the face of her grief. I had always been the one to joke, to light the mood, but now, as I watched her suffer, I felt powerless. The life we had dreamed of—the children we had whispered about during our late-night talks—was suddenly snatched away.

“I never wanted just to be a queen, Nik. I wanted to be a mother,” she choked through her tears, her hands trembling in mine.

“I know,” I replied, trying to keep my voice steady. “And I want that too. But my love, what we have is beautiful in its own right. There is still so much to discover, so much to love.”

Her gaze met mine, loss and longing entwined. I felt a weight in my chest, a fear. We would navigate this path together, but the thought of her sorrow cast a shadow over my heart.

In that moment, I realized what we truly needed wasn't new beginnings or promises of babies. We needed each other and the strength of our bond to face this new uncertain chapter.

As we sat together, wrapped in despair and determination, I knew we would find a way to fill our lives with laughter, adventure, and the love that would carry us through the storms—together,

until our final breath.

⎯⎯ ୨•୧ ⎯⎯