Destined Across Time | LadaEarn

Chapter 12

Fahlada stood beneath the vast sky, a brilliant blue canopy stretching above her as the sun cast its warm glow over the village square. Around her, villagers gathered, their faces lined with both hope and hardship as they waited patiently for food and supplies. The air was thick with the mingling scents of freshly harvested grains and earthy soil, yet her senses registered none of it. Although she smiled and nodded as she handed provisions to each person, her thoughts drifted ceaselessly back to Earn—the way Earn's touch had lingered on her skin, the warmth of her embrace that still felt vivid and alive.

Just hours before, Fahlada had woken in the sanctuary of Earn's arms, the two of them wrapped in a blissful cocoon that made the world outside feel like a distant memory. It had been one of the few times she'd felt truly free, unburdened by the heavy weight of her title and the future her family had meticulously crafted for her. But now, standing here under the weight of her responsibilities, that memory felt like a forbidden paradise, slipping farther away with each moment.

She tried to focus, handing a small sack of rice to an elderly woman who offered a weathered smile in return. But even as she returned the woman's grateful gaze, the ache in her chest only intensified, tugging her attention back to the place she truly wanted to be. The noise of the crowd dimmed, her awareness narrowing to her own heartbeat, which seemed to echo like a drumbeat calling her back to Earn's side.

A familiar presence appeared beside her. Fahlada looked up to see Tan, his expression unusually somber as he waited for a lull in her task. "Your Highness," he murmured, his voice careful, almost cautious. "There's something you need to know."

Fahlada's heart gave a slight jolt, immediately sensing that Tan's news was not of the ordinary sort. His expression held an unusual gravity that set her on edge. She shifted, keeping her voice steady as she asked, "What is it, Tan?"

He glanced around as though weighing the risks of saying it aloud, his eyes flicking over the crowd before returning to her. "It's... it's about your marriage, Your Highness. The date has been moved."

The words hung in the air, each syllable landing with a brutal finality that left her speechless. Her chest tightened, her heart skipping in shock. "Moved?" she echoed in disbelief, barely able to voice the word. She had known her marriage would come soon, that the life she shared with Earn was on borrowed time, but she hadn't expected it to happen so abruptly, without any warning.

Tan's gaze was gentle but firm as he nodded. "Yes. It has been moved for an earlier date. The announcement went out this morning. By now, the whole village knows. People are talking."

Fahlada felt her pulse quicken, an unfamiliar anger bubbling beneath her usually calm exterior. How could this happen without her consent? Her own marriage, rearranged and thrust upon her with no more than a public notice. The betrayal stung, a deep wound from her own family. She had trusted them to at least involve her in these decisions that would forever alter her life.

But as anger began to swell, another thought pierced through the haze of her emotions like a blade: Earn. Earn would likely have heard the news by now, maybe from a careless palace servant, or worse, from those who took pleasure in her misfortune. The thought of Earn discovering this alone, hurt and blindsided, made Fahlada's stomach churn with guilt and helplessness.

Tan reached out, resting a comforting hand on her arm as if sensing the storm within her. "Your Highness," he said softly, "perhaps it's best you speak with your father. There must be an explanation for this... sudden change."

Fahlada took a steadying breath, nodding as she forced herself to calm down. "You're right, Tan," she replied, though the words tasted bitter. "But my people are counting on me, and I can't leave them waiting."