The Forbidden Love 𖥔 ͙ࣳ

˓𓄹 ࣪˖ 𝐵𝑜𝓊𝓃𝒹 𝒷𝓎 𝒟𝓊𝓉𝓎, 𝒯𝑜𝓇𝓃 𝒷𝓎 𝒟𝑒𝓈𝒾𝓇𝑒 ˓𓄹 ࣪˖

A MONTH HAD passed since that fateful night when Bridget and Hook had shared an unexpected, fleeting kiss—one neither of them had spoken about since. The memory of it lingered between them like a whisper, too quiet to address, yet too loud to forget. Bridget hadn't seen much of Hook since that night. Their lives had continued as if nothing had happened, and she wasn't sure whether that was a blessing or a burden.

Every now and then, she would catch herself thinking about him, wondering if he ever thought about her, or about that moment they shared. But there had been no words, no acknowledgment. The silence between them grew with each passing day, until it felt like an unspoken agreement to let it remain in the past.

Now, as the soft light of a late afternoon sun poured through the high windows of her chamber, Bridget sat by the window, her hands resting in her lap, eyes distant as she watched the horizon stretch far beyond the borders of Wonderland. The gentle breeze that slipped through the open window carried the sweet scent of blooming roses from the gardens below, stirring the curtains in a slow dance.

Her thoughts wandered, aimless yet heavy, like clouds caught in an endless drift. She wasn't sure what she felt—a mix of emotions too faint to grasp, yet too persistent to ignore. Her fingertips brushed the cool stone of the windowsill, grounding her, but it didn't quiet the quiet unease swirling inside.

There was a soft knock on the door, and before Bridget could even answer, her mother entered with a measured grace. The Queen's presence was always serene, her posture straight and her expression as calm as ever. She wore a smile—one that was pleasant, but somehow distant, much like the royal world they both lived in.

"Bridget," her mother said, her voice as smooth as silk. "I have some news."

Bridget turned away from the window, her gaze finding her mother. There was no need to ask what the news was; she could feel the weight of it already, lingering in the air.

"A royal family is arriving in Wonderland tomorrow," the Queen continued, stepping further into the room.
"They will be staying here, at the castle, for some time. And their son... well, he will be staying as well."

Bridget felt her breath hitch slightly, though her face remained passive. She had expected something like this, had known that her lack of a suitor would eventually lead to arrangements being made. Still, hearing it aloud made it real in a way she wasn't quite ready for.

"Their son?" Bridget asked quietly, her voice barely louder than the breeze that stirred the curtains.

Her mother smiled again, this time with a touch of pride. "Yes, darling. He's of marriageable age, and the match would be most favorable for our family. His father, after all, is one of your father's most trusted business partners. It's a strong alliance, and it would ensure our family remains... well, influential."

Bridget's chest tightened slightly, though not from surprise. She wasn't upset—not exactly. It wasn't as though she had any grand romantic hopes to be dashed. But there was something unsettling in the idea of being arranged to marry someone she had never even met, someone who was being thrust into her life because of their title, their wealth, their importance. It felt... cold.

Still, she said nothing to show her discontent. Instead, she nodded lightly, her eyes drifting back to the view outside the window.

"I see," Bridget murmured. "And when will they be arriving?"

"Tomorrow," her mother replied, her tone soft, yet final. "There will be a small reception, and we expect you to be present, of course."

Bridget nodded again, but her mind had already wandered elsewhere. She wasn't sad, but she wasn't happy either. It was more of a quiet resignation, a sense of inevitability that she had come to expect from the life of a royal.