Chapter 32 A WALK IN THE PAST
HOURS EARLIER
Haven opened her eyes.
The first thing she noticed was the air. It seemed different, soft, golden, and alive. It shimmered, like the world itself was breathing. The scent of wildflowers and honeydew filled her lungs, and the sun shone bright, too bright, unlike any she had ever witnessed.
This place… was beautiful. Too beautiful.
Rolling meadows stretched endlessly, glowing faintly beneath a sky kissed by rose and amber hues. Rivers of crystal light wound through the land like silver veins, and at their edges, children laughed, real laughter, pure and unguarded.
Her chest tightened. She’d seen these lands before… but in her memories as ruined landscape with fire everywhere
“Where am I?” she whispered, voice trembling.
Not where, little one, a voice drifted through the breeze, but when.
She spun. The voice came from nowhere and everywhere at once—soft, melodic, and familiar. The kind that made her soul remember things her mind had long forgotten. The same voice that always whispered to her
And then she saw them, fae warriors in radiant armor, wings unfurled like spun glass, walking the golden streets of what could only be Vaeleria, the lost fae kingdom that Auren and Imogen had talked about. The city that was said to have burned and been hidden by the faes
But here it stood, alive, whole and glorious
Her heart pounded. She wasn’t dreaming of a place she was inside a memory.
The land stretched before her and her feet moved of their own accord. She didn't know where she was heading to, but her feet somewhat seemed to guide her. She passed the meadows and before long got to the main town.
It was so beautiful, she had to stop for a second to admire it. Women gossipped happily as they moved along the streets, children laughed and played with one another, and the men were either carrying bags from their fields or just walking alongside the women.
They looked so peaceful and loving. Her journey continued till she finally found herself standing before a very large palace. Two guards stood by the door dressed in armored suits.
For some reason, they didn't say anything or try to stop her as she walked up and entered through the door.
The interior of the castle was breathtaking to say the least. High above, the ceilings arched like the canopy of an ancient forest, carved from living silverwood that shimmered with veins of light. Crystalline chandeliers hung suspended in midair, their glow pulsing gently like captured starlight. They didn’t burn with flame, but with threads of pure magic that shifted color — soft gold, deep violet, or icy blue depending on the hour.
The walls were made of obsidian stone laced with veins of moonstone, reflecting faint light so the corridors never fell completely dark. Along them, fae runes were etched — ancient symbols that pulsed faintly whenever a royal passed by, recognizing the bloodline of Vaeleria herself.
“Have you seen the princess?" A voice came up behind Haven. She turned around to see two maids heading down the corridor. She followed them up close but they didn't seem to notice.
“They can't see you. You don't exist in this time and age," the whisper said again in her mind.
“I know right," the other maid gushed. “She looks like a goddess. Any man would be lucky to have her."
" Too bad she chose Eurolys of all fae men.” The blonde girl's voice dripped with disdain. " He's such an asshole and a two-timing bastard. I'm surprised, Athalia can't see that.”
The brunette shook her head. “I can't blame her. Don't you see the good boy attitude he portrays around her? Always playing the knight in shiny armor. If I didn't know his true colors, I myself would never believe he's such a vile person."
Oh! So apparently the princess was getting married to someone who was probably of no good if she were to trust the words of the maids.
The sound of a desperate moan broke the silence. The maids turned towards the door where the sound had been heard from, and so did Athalia. Three of them peeked through the small crack in the door and what Haven saw horrified her.
A man dressed in wedding attire had a woman bent over the dresser while he fucked her ruthlessly from behind. Her screams, no matter how she tried to suppress them, echoed faintly in the room.
“Oh fuck, Eurolys!" The woman moaned. “You feel so good! I still can't believe you are getting married to that stupid sister of mine."
“Don't worry yourself about that, Maeva," he growled, not stopping. “It's all for a good cause. I have to claim that I love her so all this can work.”
So this was the asshole who Athalia ruined her life for. Did she know he was a lying scum before she did all she did? Was he even ill, or was it also part of his scheme.
The two girls stepped back and continued their walk down the corridor. Haven followed them.
“I wish I could tell the princess what her beloved Eurolys is currently doing, a few hours to their wedding,’’ the brunette said, and screamed when her friend reached out and pulled her ears.
“Are you insane, Scilla!" The blonde hissed. " Did you forget what she did to Eryndor's wife when she tried telling her the same thing? Are you in such a hurry to lose your life?”
Scilla huffed, adjusting the basket of linens in her arms. “I was just concerned. The princess is kind, you know? Always smiles when she passes by. I just don’t understand how someone like her could fall for him.”
The blonde rolled her eyes. “You’re naïve. Love makes even the wisest fools. Athalia may be the crown’s jewel, but she’s still a woman. And women see what they want to see when their hearts are involved.”
They turned a corner, their soft slippers barely making a sound on the shimmering marble floors. Haven followed close behind, her pulse quickening at the name Athalia.
Scilla bit her lip. “Still, it feels wrong keeping quiet. If she marries him, it’ll ruin her. I heard Eurolys has debts with the shadow markets — owes favors to beings that don’t belong in the light. What if he’s using her for her title?”
The blonde shot her a sharp glare. “Keep your voice down before the walls hear you.” She glanced nervously at the glowing runes on the wall; they pulsed faintly, reacting to her agitation. “The palace listens, Scilla. It always listens. You should know better.”
Scilla lowered her tone to a whisper. “Maybe the palace should listen. Maybe then someone would do something before it’s too late.”
The blonde stopped walking and sighed, rubbing her temples. “You really don’t get it, do you? Athalia is not just any princess. She’s Vaeleria’s heir. The magic in her veins could raise or destroy kingdoms. If she loves the wrong man, the realm will bend to that love, for better or worse.”
Haven froze at the words, a chill racing down her spine. Bend to that love…
“So what happens,” Scilla asked softly, “if that love turns into hate? Or worse, makes her do something unspeakable.”
" You do not interfere!” The blonde said, her tone sharper this time. They stopped before a huge double door and knocked before pushing the door open.
A silver haired woman stood before the mirror, with two other girls adjusting her dress and hair. The instant the door opened she turned around and her eyes met with Haven's.
“You?"