Midu stood before the young man, who offered his hand with his palm facing the sky. In the background, the Great Tree of Viridia sheltered them beneath its massive, glowing branches. The girl placed her hand on Gram's. At that moment, she lifted her gaze and found the icy, penetrating blue eyes of the prince of Rocaventia.

–You may pronounce your vows –said the Grand Scholar as he tied their hands together with a ribbon.

–My dear Midu Eldaren, princess of Viridia –Gram began–. From the moment our eyes met, I knew our fates were intertwined in ways that neither time nor space could comprehend. Today, before these witnesses and under your sky, I vow to be your refuge in times of uncertainty and your companion in every adventure life brings us.

Midu was a half-human; the only trait distinguishing her from a human was her elongated ears and her deep connection with nature. The girl had large, emerald-green eyes, long, golden hair tied in a braid, and her face and body bore symbolic tattoos from her culture.

–My beloved Gram Maristhar, prince of Rocaventia, from the first day you arrived in Viridia, I knew my life would change forever. I have seen strength and passion in you. Today, in this sacred place, I vow to be your light in dark times, your comfort in difficult days, and your joy in every moment we share.

Gram was slightly older than Midu. His hair was long, almost as long as hers, but unlike her golden locks, his was black as night and as straight as a sheet of paper. The boy was remarkably pale, almost translucent, slim and slender, but with an air of fragility. He was also tall and loved wearing silver jewelry.

They paused briefly before beginning the joint vow. When Midu noticed Gram's lips move, she began to recite with him.

–We commit ourselves today, and every day we have left in this life, to love and respect each other. May our souls find peace in each other's embrace, and may our hearts beat as one with every step of our journey. With these words, we seal our love and our promises, eternally bound as husband and wife. May our union be strong and enduring.

Their gazes met again, and their lips pressed together for a few seconds.

–No one would guess they met just a week ago –Elara whispered to her husband.

–What does it matter? Do you realize the importance of this moment? –Vladar asked, not expecting an answer–. This alliance between Eldaren and Maristhar makes our houses the most powerful in all Valoria.

–You're right –Elara replied–. Besides, I've heard that Teron Shakin has just died.

–Yes, that old man, along with Durkin Cimarro, practically dictated orders throughout Valoria—one from the north, the other from the south.

Vladar was an older man with long white hair and an eye patch over his right eye. He had lost it thanks to Durkin on the day of Prince Gram's birth. Vladar had told Durkin that his son would be much stronger and more handsome than the king of the sands' child. At first, Durkin had played along, but when Vladar let his guard down, Durkin grabbed a glass and smashed it into the recent father's face. As Vladar writhed on the ground, the last thing his right eye saw was Durkin, just as serious as before the whole conversation.

–But with our new ally, we could stand up to the Cimarro –Elara tried to persuade her husband.

–It's not that simple. For starters, we don't have full control over Viridia's forces, and it's very difficult to cross that cursed desert of sand –Vladar grumbled.

–Well, at least the girl seems beautiful –Elara said, returning to the original conversation.

–Yes, beautiful, young, and without much spirit –the man remarked–. He'll manipulate her however he wants.

The ceremony transitioned into a banquet. It took place in the private forest of the castle, with a U-shaped table. On the left sat those close to Gram, on the right were Midu's companions, and in the connecting section sat the princes and their closest relatives.

–Congratulations, sister! –a voice came from her right, and she immediately saw her older sister, Rome, raising her glass to toast Midu's marriage.

Midu didn't truly love Prince Gram. It was impossible; they had only spoken two or three times, and between her shyness and his cold demeanor, there had been very few romantic moments of any value. In fact, the marriage had been arranged by Vladar and Rome herself, Midu's older sister, who was also the queen of Viridia. She often claimed that the three sisters ruled together, but in reality, the most important decisions were always made by Rome, and occasionally she consulted Soca, but she rarely involved Midu.

Rome was already an adult, but the idea of marriage didn't appeal to her. Ever since Midu was a child, she had grown accustomed to seeing her sister with a different partner every so often, and it didn't matter whether they were male or female. Rome was a woman who commanded attention; she was tall, with dark hair, golden-flecked eyes, and half-human ears that made her unique.

The party continued, with everyone talking, eating, and laughing—everyone except Midu, who didn't feel connected to what was happening around her. In her mind, she wondered what her life would be like from that moment on, and the thought filled her with such anxiety that it manifested as a painful knot in her stomach.

–Excuse me –Midu said to her new husband.

The girl stood up as quickly as she could to get some air. Rome motioned to Soca, their sister, to take care of Midu while she entertained the other guests.

–What's wrong, sister? –Soca asked.

Soca was the most different of the three sisters. She was a half-human with demon blood. Demon ancestry was common among those from the fire and volcanic regions, but it was rare to find a half-human with those traits. The primary feature that distinguished those with demon ancestry was their horns. Soca's horns weren't very large, but they were twisted, partly hidden by her long, platinum blonde hair.

–For a moment, I thought I was suffocating... I... –She didn't know how to explain to her sister what was happening to her.

–It's alright –Soca embraced her–. It's normal; you're going through a lot of changes, and you're still very young.

–I don't want to leave Viridia. I've heard terrible stories about Rocaventia, each worse than the last.

–That's not possible; you two must stay together, and Gram is the only heir to the Maristhar family. His parents would never let him live outside their kingdom –she said, holding Midu's hands to calm her–. And if the prince is too cold for you, bring him to your side.

–Alright, I'll try –Midu replied, looking into her sister's eyes.

The two sisters returned to the celebration, where everyone was dancing and singing. As soon as they entered, Rome grabbed Soca, and the two danced together, though Midu knew full well that both of them would end up with different partners by the end of the night.

–Aren't you going to dance? –Midu asked Gram.

–No –this response chilled the timid Midu–. Not unless it's with you.

The prince stood up elegantly and offered his hand to his princess. This gesture brought back memories of their wedding ceremony for Midu, but she gathered her courage and took her husband's hand.

They began to dance, and the prince was remarkably skilled. With a quick movement, he pulled Midu closer, and they continued dancing. When their eyes met, it was the first moment of real connection the newlyweds had shared.

The celebration eventually came to an end, and people began saying their goodbyes. As the last wedding congratulations were exchanged, everyone started retiring to their respective rooms. It was then that Midu realized she would have to spend the night alone with Gram, and the thought terrified her.

Once in their room and alone, the tension was palpable. Both remained in their undergarments, and Gram slowly approached Midu. She began to tremble slightly.

–Relax... –he whispered in her ear.

As soon as he finished speaking, he looked into her eyes and gently caressed her face. Then, he kissed her softly.

–Tonight, we'll do nothing more than this –the prince assured her–. Once we reach Rocaventia, we'll figure out the rest.

–Really? –Midu could hardly believe it; perhaps the prince was kinder than she had thought.

He didn't respond to her last question and simply lay down. She stood there for a few moments, frozen, but then she lay down beside her husband and extinguished the only candle that lit the room.