Sacrifice || ENHYPEN FF

𝕮𝖍𝖆𝖕𝖙𝖊𝖗 58

~Be ready for the DRAMAAA!!!! VOTE AND COMMENT!!!!~

-Start of Chapter 58-

The night eventually passes, though it feels as though I barely slept at all. By the time the first light of morning filters through the edges of the curtains, I'm already awake.

My eyes feel heavy, weighed down by the remnants of that haunting vision. Despite the early hour, the carriage bustles with life outside, and the sound of distant voices grows louder as we near our destination.

I shift slightly and lift the edge of the curtain beside me. The new light of day reveals what I had been curious about since we set off—the kingdom of Elaria.

A sense of wonder fills me as I take in the sight before me. The streets are alive with people. Vendors line the bustling market square, their stalls filled with an array of vibrant fabrics, exotic fruits, and intricate trinkets.

Colourful banners hang from above, fluttering gently in the breeze. The air is filled with the sound of laughter, lively chatter, and the soft hum of music from street performers. Children race through the crowd, their laughter carrying above the noise, while some stop and gaze curiously at our carriages, peeking in as we pass by. It's like stepping into a storybook.

I feel an unexpected warmth bloom in my chest. Despite the tension of our journey and the dread that clung to me in the night, there's a kind of magic in this place, one that momentarily lifts the weight off my shoulders.

I lean further against the window, watching as the world of Elaria unfolds before me.

"They're staring at us." I mutter, my breath fogging the glass slightly. I pull the curtain back a little more, catching the wide-eyed gaze of a young boy who stops mid-step to stare inside the carriage. His eyes light up in awe, and for a second, I wonder what it must be like from his perspective—seeing this grand procession of carriages, so foreign to his everyday life.

I feel a chuckle beside me, soft and low. Taehyun."You're still as curious as ever." he says, amusement dancing in his eyes as he watches me. There's a warmth in his voice that's been absent for so long, a small glimpse of the Taehyun I remember from before.

I turn to look at him, raising an eyebrow. "What? I'm just trying to take in everything. It's not every day you get to see something like this."

He chuckles again, shaking his head. "I guess that childlike wonder never left you, huh?" There's something sad in his words, hidden beneath the teasing.

The way he says it makes me pause, a bittersweet smile tugging at the corner of his lips. For a moment, I see something pass across his face, something distant and nostalgic. Like he's remembering a version of me from a time long gone.

I want to ask him about it, but before I can say anything, the carriages slow down, the sound of hooves and wheels growing softer as we approach the palace gates. The towering gates of the royal palace come into view, gleaming in the morning sun.

They are wrought with intricate designs, each panel telling a story of Elaria's history. Beyond the gates, the palace itself rises like a dream—a grand, sprawling structure of pale stone and shimmering gold. Its towers reach high into the sky, surrounded by gardens so lush and vibrant they look like they belong in a fairytale.

As the carriages roll to a slow stop, the towering gates of the palace swing open with a creak that seems to echo across the grounds. My breath hitches at the sight before me. The intricate designs on the gates glisten in the morning light, and as they open fully, the grandeur of Elaria's palace comes into full view. It's unlike anything I've ever seen before—delicate stonework, spiralling towers, and sprawling gardens that seem to stretch on forever.