Following them into the unknown took every ounce of willpower not to scream or demand we turn back.
Badiru, the tall man with an enigmatic air who had introduced himself as my guide, handed me a map of the journey. "It'll take two days to reach the Apati Kingdom," he said, his voice steady, as though this was an ordinary trip and not the most unsettling adventure of my life.
Two days. If not for the carriage—a grand, albeit uncomfortable contraption—I doubt I could muster the strength to continue this journey with them. The road ahead was daunting, but what loomed heavier on my mind was the simple yet infuriating question: How am I supposed to endure this in bridal attire?
The gown was breathtaking in every way—layers of fine silk embroidered with golden thread, shimmering jewels catching the sunlight, and a veil so elaborate it could rival a tapestry. But comfort? It was a foreign concept in this garment. Surely, they didn't expect me to sit in this fashion for two entire days.
Blessedly, my two attendants had been allowed to accompany me. A rare mercy in this ordeal. Their presence was a fragile tether to familiarity, keeping the overwhelming emotions from swallowing me whole.
"Princess irode ," whispered Shola, seated to my left by the carriage window. "The Apati lands are said to be beautiful. Lush forests, clear rivers… Perhaps the journey will not be so terrible?"
Beside her, Yinka chimed in with a smile that was more nervous than reassuring. "And they say their markets are grand!Jewels and fabrics from all corners of the land. Maybe you'll find a gift to bring back home."
Home. The word made my chest tighten. What home? Once I reached the Apati Kingdom, my fate was sealed. The whispers of treaties, alliances, and royal unions floated like heavy clouds over my head.
But for now, I clung to the moment—the rhythmic creak of the wheels, the soft voices of my attendants, and the fleeting glimpses of open fields rolling past the carriage windows. Little by little, their small talk started to ease my nerves.
For two days, I would remain in this in-between space—suspended between the girl I was and the woman I was expected to become. The weight of destiny pressed against my bridal veil, but deep in my heart, a tiny ember of defiance sparked. This may be their plan, but I hadn't decided yet if I would let it be my story.