A New Environment...

"Seraphina Rose, you're a stunning woman. The nose structure could use some improvement, but nevertheless... You are a masterpiece created by the goddess herself," an elderly woman declared loudly.

"Thank you?" Sera responded, unsure whether it was meant as a compliment or an insult.

She glanced up to see an elderly woman with snow-white hair observing her intently.

"Dear, this is my mother. She will soon be your mother-in-law. And as you're well aware, she will instruct you in all matters of the household," Genghis stated, looking at Sera with a smile.

His smile was so wide that it nearly reached his ears.

Sera nodded.

"When are we departing?" she asked boldly.

The only thing she could do for herself was to inquire and gain knowledge about the impending events.

"Are you ready to leave, my child?" her father's voice emerged.

She looked at him. His eyes carried a hint of sadness, and his fingers nervously fidgeted. Undoubtedly, he hadn't anticipated this. Yet, she knew she had no choice. Her only alternatives were to abandon the village and face a grim fate at the hands of some dark force, or to fulfill her duty and preserve her roots. The roots that taught her the importance of choosing her own path, of saving others.

"Yes, Papa. I've asked Kara to prepare my belongings for five days. I'll return soon... only to leave again after the wedding," she replied, attempting to appear as emotionless as possible.

"Perfect, my dear. We can set off before sundown," Genghis exclaimed, clapping with excitement.

"That's good. We can depart soon."

"I thought she would hesitate, considering her young age."

"She's truly beautiful, a suitable match for our bro-"

Sera cleared her throat as the conversations grew increasingly loud. The gaze of various men and women once again fixated on her.

"Do you have something to say?" Genghis's mother interrogated, narrowing her eyes at Sera.

"I will be accompanied by Kara. She will join me as my assistant. I will require her presence," Sera stated, looking at her father.

"Dear, we may not be able to afford-" Genghis began to speak, his disapproval evident in his eyes. However, her father's voice cut him off.

"You can. Please ask Kara to make preparations as well. Genghis, I believe it's best for my daughter to have Kara by her side. Since her mother passed away not long ago, she will need emotional support as well," her father responded sternly.

Genghis frowned at his father's words.

"Do you believe I am incapable of caring for my future bride?" he retorted.

"She is not your bride yet, Genghis. She is my daughter. And you should be well aware that I have every right to cancel this marriage right now. I can pay you for the land and the house without a second thought."

Genghis stood still, along with his brothers who also rose from their chairs.

On the other side, Sera's father remained calm.

"This issue extends beyond what happened two decades ago, Valerian. It concerns the entire village. You damn well know that we would all become slaves the moment you call off this marriage. Choose your words wisely," one of Genghis' brothers spoke in a loud tone.

Sera stood silently as the men began to glare at each other. The atmosphere grew tense within seconds.

It was evident that Sera's father held a sensitive spot when it came to her. She felt foolish for ever doubting it even for a moment. But she didn't want to cause any more trouble.

"Kara will accompany my daughter. If you don't agree, we can all become slaves to the powerful people residing beyond the village boundaries. Or we can all perish at the hands of the darklings, the shadow controllers. Take your pick, Genghis."

Her father spoke calmly, explaining the gravity of the situation they found themselves in. He presented a fair ultimatum.

"Dear, have Kara prepare her belongings. We will take her with you for five days," Genghis's voice came after a few contemplative seconds.

Sera felt relieved and grateful for her father's decision.

She mouthed "thank you" and nodded, then walked away. Her father smiled back at her.

After all, it was the least he could do for her.

-

Sera was awakened by the jolting movements of the cart. They were traveling along a road littered with massive stones.

She squinted to see that it was growing darker. She had managed to get some sleep at last.

But as she opened her eyes, she noticed the judgmental gazes of Genghis's brothers and their wives, including his mother. They were all staring at her intensely without pause, seated directly across from her.

Sera subtly nudged Kara's elbow to draw her attention to the judgmental gazes. Kara noticed the intense stares directed at Sera without a pause, as they were seated directly across from her.

"Do not pay them any mind," Kara whispered to Sera.

Sera nodded and briefly glanced at the four overweight men and their wives. In the corner opposite her, Genghis slept, snoring loudly against his mother's shoulder.

"Is he a mama's boy?" Sera wondered to herself, then averted her gaze.

The journey continued in silence.

"It seems night is approaching quickly. How much farther is your house? Should we take a break before continuing?" Sera inquired.

The kingdom considered the commoners to reside in a single village, but in reality, their houses were separated by vast forests, making each house feel like a distinct village. These forests were owned by the kingdom, and everyone knew better than to dwell within them, as certain dangers lurked there.

"We cannot stop until we reach our destination. Our movements between the houses are being monitored. It's best to keep moving," Genghis's mother stated firmly.

Sera nodded in understanding.

"You resemble your mother greatly when she was your age," the woman remarked after a brief pause.

"You knew my mother?" Sera inquired.

"Hah, of course I did. She married for love. And she died because of it—"

Her words didn't make sense. The Darkling had murdered her mother, so how did love factor into her death? Sera furrowed her brow at the woman's statement.

"She was envious of your mother," Kara whispered, then cleared her throat loudly as the woman across from them narrowed her eyes in their direction.

"Tell me more about what you knew about her," Sera urged.

"Why should I?" the woman retorted.

Sera frowned as the woman chuckled mockingly.

"Seraphina, your mother... She lived her whole life in delusions. She believed we could be something more. She wrote every night. She convinced me and my family to relocate closer to the kingdom after they took our village, which worked out well for us. We have our own small palace where many people reside under our authority. People respect us—but your mother... She lived in that old town where your people believe they're the wealthiest, when in reality, they merely seized our land."

"What? Why did my mother change places?"

"Why else do you think? The palace is situated very close to our location. She believed it was dangerous to live in proximity to the palace."

"Is it?" Sera questioned.

"It's anything but dangerous. Yes, people go missing occasionally, but we've never encountered such troubles. The place has brought us good fortune. But well, we don't know what awaits you—"

"What do you mean?" Kara interjected, her voice rising in volume.

"Well, it's certainly a new environment. What else can you expect?"

Kara rolled her eyes and averted her gaze from the woman. She was attempting to make Sera feel nervous and apprehensive about the entire arrangement. So far, Kara couldn't determine whether Sera was indeed anxious or not, as she carried herself surprisingly well, exceeding Kara's expectations.

Sera appeared utterly unconcerned.

"I'm certain everything will be fine. Genghis, how lovely of you to awaken," Sera remarked, glancing at the man who struggled to widen his eyes.

He made a valiant effort, but it resulted in him resembling a zombie in disguise. He stretched his hairy arms above his head, appearing highly unappealing in Sera's eyes. However, she managed to muster a pleasant smile.

She understood that if she were to survive in their small palace, she had to conduct herself in a manner that denied them any satisfaction. She was determined to give them a taste of their own medicine, while also ensuring they held no negative perceptions of her or her household. She may not be Seraphina Rose, but she knew better than to tolerate mistreatment from anyone.