✨✨Hey guys, first of all, before you start, thank you for supporting and reading this story! 💕 💕 💕 💕 💕 💕
Nestled among the rolling hills and ancient trees, the village of Roxana basked in the gentle glow of twilight. The air was rich with the scent of blooming wildflowers, and the whispers of the past danced like echoes on the evening breeze. As the sun dipped below the horizon, painting the sky in shades of purple and orange, Lidiya stood at the precipice of her fate. Today, she was to marry Oswen, a man she had never met—a stranger who would soon become her husband.
Her heart thudded in her chest, not with the sweet thrill of anticipation, but with a quiet, mounting dread. The intricate gown she wore, crafted from the finest fabric her family could afford, felt more like a shroud, binding her to a destiny she had not chosen. Her mother’s voice echoed in her mind: “This is a sacrifice for the family, Lidiya. Your brothers need this… You are strong; you can bear it.”
With a deep breath, the cool evening air filled her lungs as she caught a glimpse of herself in a small, cracked mirror. She saw a stranger looking back—a girl with cascading dark hair and sharp green eyes, a beauty dimmed by the weight of silent acceptance.
“Lidiya!” Her mother’s voice broke through her reverie, urgent and insistent. “It’s time.”
“I’m coming,” she replied, forcing steadiness into her tone. Her feet felt heavy as she made her way to the hall, where her family and the villagers awaited her arrival.
As she descended the staircase, familiar faces blurred into a haze of admiration and pride, but beneath their smiles lay the unyielding weight of expectation pressing down on her heart. Lidiya could feel her own fear swallowed by the joyous noise and laughter, as she prepared to leave her old life behind.
“Ah, here she is!” boomed Bishop Horace, his voice echoing off the stone walls. “The bride, the beauty of Roxana!”
All eyes turned to her, their admiration a burden too heavy to bear. Yet, Lidiya smiled—a mask of grace that concealed her dread.
Clearing his throat, the Bishop gestured toward the door. “May I present Oswen.”
As he entered, the atmosphere shifted, and a palpable tension settled over the gathering. Oswen was tall, with a strong build and sharp features, but it was his gaze that unsettled her most. His short, dark hair framed a face both handsome and unyielding; his eyes exuded an intensity that sent a shiver down her spine. His confidence teetered on the edge of arrogance as he approached her.
“Lidiya,” he said, his voice smooth but edged with something unspoken. “You are stunning.”
She swallowed hard, her voice catching in her throat. “Thank you.”
Oswen stepped closer, his gaze sweeping over her with a possessiveness that twisted her stomach. “I’ve waited for this day,” he murmured, his tone low and laden with meaning.
Her breath hitched as he leaned in, close enough that she could feel the warmth of his breath against her ear. “You’re everything I hoped for, Lidiya.”
“Shall we proceed?” the Bishop interrupted, sensing her discomfort.
As the vows were exchanged, Lidiya felt her hand tremble in his. Each word she repeated felt like an act of surrender. “For better or worse…” Her gaze fell, a single tear slipping down her cheek as the crowd erupted in cheers. Oswen swept her into his arms, leading her out of the hall and into a future she did not choose.
YOU ARE READING
Lidiya Witchain - the forgotten bride
FantasíaLidiya never thought her life would lead her here-to a marriage with a man she barely knew in the remote village of Roxana. But as a poor farmer's daughter, her fate was never truly hers to choose. She hadn't imagined her wedding night would be one...
