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The grand palace stood tall beneath the embrace of themoon, its ivory spires glistening like divine blades piercing the heavens. Inside, past the gilded corridors lightened in the warm glow of lanterns, lay a chamber dressed in the colors of passion and fate.
A wedding chamber.
Silken drapes, dyed in the deepest shades of red, pour down jfrom the ceiling, framing the vast chamber like the embrace of a lover. Golden embroidery wove intricate patterns of roses and phoenixes across the walls, symbols of eternal union and rebirth. Scattered petals, their scent lovely and intoxicating, covered the marble floor, while twin braziers at the far end of the room flickered with a low, golden light, casting elongated shadows that danced upon the walls.
At the heart of it all, seated upon the edge of a magnificent four-poster bed with crimson sheets, was a man.…no, a king.
He wore a robe of deep red, its fabric flowing like liquid fire over his lean, powerful frame. The color suited him well, for it was the shade of love, of war, of destiny itself. His hair, stark as winter's first frost, cascaded past his shoulders, strands of silver catching the candlelight in a ghostly glow. And his eyes warm, brimming with a joy so rare for one who carried the heavy weight of The Crown remained fixed upon the delicate thing resting in his palm.
A necklace.
Not just any necklace, but one crafted with the greatest care, an artifact meant to defy the very laws of the world. Its chain was woven from celestial silver, so fine it seemed lighter than air yet unyielding as fate. But the true marvel rested at its heart.
a gem, red as fresh blood, suspended in its delicate embrace.
Yet this was no ordinary gemstone.
It was an Abyss Crystal. A cursed relic, feared by many, for it was said to grant power at a cost, the slow erosion of one's soul. It was a thing of corruption, of temptation, a shard of the abyss itself.
Or at least it had been.
The King brushed his fingers over the crystal's surface, marveling at the way it seemed to distort the very space around it. The air trembled at its edges, bending light in unnatural ways, as if reality itself recoiled from its presence. And yet, unlike the wild, untamed Crystals harvested in the depths of the mines, this one radiated nothing but a gentle warmth.
A soft smile touched his lips as he held the necklace close to his heart, feeling the steady rhythm of his own pulse against it.
"Truly, the Craftmaster is without equal," he thought. "It took him an entire year to cleanse the corruption, to strip away the abyssal taint and leave only its purest essence. But it was worth it. Completely worth it."
His fingers curled protectively around the chain, as if cradling something fragile, something precious.
"Elizabeth will love it."
And in that moment, there was nothing in the world but that thought, nothing but the warmth in his chest, the anticipation of seeing her smile, the quiet joy of knowing he had given her something priceless.
Nothing but love.
A soft creak echoed through the chamber as the grand doors slowly parted.
The King's fingers instinctively curled around the crystal, slipping it into the inner pocket of his robe with a fluid motion. His head turned toward the entrance, and the moment his gaze landed upon the figure standing there, the world around him melted away.
His breath hitched.
The dim candlelight cast a golden halo around her, framing her silhouette like an apparition of the divine. Dressed in robes of the purest white, embroidered with delicate silver threads that shimmered like stardust, she stood poised yet effortless, carrying a polished silver tray. Upon it, a porcelain teapot and two intricately crafted cups, their surfaces adorned with swirling patterns of gold and red.
But none of that held his attention.
It was her, his bride, his queen, the woman who had captured his heart long before this day.
Elizabeth.
Her golden hair flow down her back in rivers of silk, strands catching the warm glow of the lanterns like woven sunlight. Each step she took was measured yet graceful, the very air around her seeming to movebaside in reverence. Her fair skin bore the softness of morning light, and when she met his gaze with those deep sky-blue coloured eyes, he swore the heavens had been etched into them.
She was ethereal, a vision of beauty so breathtaking that he felt unworthy of her presence. And yet she was his.
His heart pounded wildly, warmth spreading through his chest like the embrace of spring after a cruel winter. His pulse quickened, his body still, utterly captivated. He couldn't look away.
A knowing smile tugged at the corner of her lips. "Stop staring," she murmured, amusement dancing in her voice.
He blinked, snapping out of his trance, a small chuckle escaping him. Had he really been that obvious?
She stepped forward, approaching the bed with an effortless grace, the scent of roses and night-blooming jasmine lingering in her wake. Setting the tray down upon the lacquered table beside them, she poured the dark crimson liquid into two delicate cups.
The wedding wine. A sacred tradition.
A drink shared only by those whose souls were now bound together, an unbreakable union sealed not just in vows, but in blood and eternity.
He reached forward, lifting his cup with steady hands. She mirrored him, her delicate fingers wrapped around the fragile porcelain.
Even now, he still couldn't believe it.
This day, this moment… had finally come.
He had spent years preparing for this, for a future where they would rule side by side, where she would sit beside him upon the throne, where he could wake up each morning to the warmth of her presence.
And now, it was real.
Their eyes met, a silent understanding passing between them. A promise.
With a soft smile, she lifted her arm, intertwining it with his.
Together, they tilted their cups, the rich, spiced wine cascading past their lips as they drank, their gazes never once breaking.
Tonight marked the beginning of something new, something good.
Or so he thought.
Author's Note: Hey everyone, this is my first time writing, I hope you enjoy this book and a review will be appreciated.