AnnSepino
Love cannot live where there is no trust. |
Taha Kingdom is abuzz with excitement. The most eligible maiden of the realm, Lady Nihina, is set to marry the chief of Dayu. However, on the day that she is to meet her betrothed, an ominous rumor about him reaches her doorstep. Then a curse befalls her, stealing her identity as a beloved socialite and turning her into a mere nomad struggling to traverse the Kalbar Woods.
She has to return to Taha and find a way to undo the curse. She believes that her betrothed, a reputable man and renowned warrior, could help her achieve this. But Lahasi, the kind and astute nature spirit she encounters on her journey, thinks otherwise. He senses that not everything is as it seems.
And he feels that recklessly breaking a curse meant to save the kingdom might lead to Nihina's very downfall.
(Written for prompt 39 of the 2026 Open Novella Contest.)