The road they passed was mostly damp and musky, with rain constantly splattering on the palanquin Dalia was seated in.
It rained cats and dogs, as if also aware of the turmoil in her heart.
Dalia's gaze was fixed on the open window, watching the rain pelt lush green leaves and trees, swaying the leaves harshly. She wanted so badly to ask the guards outside how far until they reach Zephyria, the powerful kingdom where the monster ruled, but she bit her tongue, shrinking further into the walls of her ride.
Her hands had not stopped shaking since she left home, her feet had not stopped trembling, fear evident in every fiber of her being. If only she could escape from here, but the numerous guards following her made it impossible, and she had no lover as strong as a warrior to come fight for her.
"Dear ancestors, and those who have fought on this ground, please help me," she whispered, hoping for a miracle to aid her.
The cold wind from the heavy rain washed over her, causing the hairs on her body to prickle. Worry and weariness began to seep in - soon she would be in the land of the monster.
Her gaze drifted outside once more; the rain had not ceased but instead intensified with every road they passed. If only her father could see the signs. Heavy rain like this was never a good sign; in fact, it was a bad omen and a warning sign. Perhaps it was warning her not to travel further, not to marry the person chosen for her. It was well aware that he was a monster, as rumored, and not good for her.
"Princess Dalia," a knock came through her window, causing her to stir awake. She rubbed the bags under her eyes – she couldn't even remember when she had fallen asleep.
Pushing the light green silk curtains aside, she was greeted by the face of a guard. "Do you want to rest for a while before we continue our journey?"
Her eyes wandered outside, revealing a street flanked by imposing, solid mold houses. Each building was adorned with wall-mounted street lamps, flickering with fire and casting light along the path. The darkness of night provided an explanation for the guard's earlier query.
"I will rest, and we shall continue tomorrow," she managed to say, hoping her voice was audible enough for him to hear.
The guard nodded and opened the door for her. She was greeted with a cool breeze that prickled her. Thankfully, she had a big woolen cloak to ward off the cold from reaching her since it covered her entire body.
Her gaze rested on the door in front; it was small, but it seemed sufficient. She watched as the guard rushed in before returning a few seconds later. "There is a room available for sleeping and food to eat."
"I will just sleep," Dalia replied, giving him a small smile. Eat? Did he expect her to eat in this situation? Why should she wet her tongue with sweet food when she was embarking on a journey to her possible doom?
"Very well," he bowed and walked ahead of her. She followed him and was shown a small room with a bed filled with nothing but heavy mattresses.
Her gaze traveled towards the open window, where she watched the dense forest in the distance. Perhaps she could just jump off and run to it. No one would know, right? But she sat there, doing nothing but watching.
There was no way those guards would not know; they must be surrounding the building. She was keenly aware of her father's commands, and these guards were just as stoic as him.
When morning came, they continued their journey, and just like yesterday, fear still gripped her. It didn't help that her stomach rumbled, but she had lost her appetite and promised herself not to eat anything.
It took four more days before she was informed that they had reached the country where the monster resided, she whispered, her heart racing with fear.
'I am just a few miles away from my doom.' Taking a deep breath, she tapped on the wall of the palanquin. "I need a moment," she said quickly, trying to steady her nerves.
The ride immediately stopped, and a guard came up to her, "May I let you out?" he asked.
"Yes," she cried, "I can open the door myself," she said sharply when he was about to open it. A moment is what she needed to clear her head before she came face to face with the monster.
The guard obliged, letting her out but keeping a distance as she began to walk towards a tree. She ignored him completely; he was just doing his job.
She clutched the tree branch, her hand trembling as she fought back the nauseating feeling in her stomach. With a small yip, she bent over and vomited on the grass, her body weak and drained from days of only drinking water.
The guard rushed towards her, his voice laced with concern. "Are you alright?" he asked, worry evident in his eyes.
"I am fine," she replied weakly, her voice barely above a whisper. She knew she had pushed her body to its limit by not eating for four days, surviving solely on water. It was a miracle she was still standing.
"We bought food from the village we passed," the guard mentioned, offering a solution to her obvious weakness.
Looking up at the guard, she realized he must have noticed that she hadn't eaten any of the food offered. She had purposely avoided eating in an attempt to appear skinny and unappealing to the monster king.
However, she couldn't ignore the consequences of her actions - her family would be worried, and if she was rejected by the monster king, she would have no place to return to. Her father would obviously not take her back.
"Bring the food," she softly to the guard, her voice almost inaudible as she accepted the reality that she needed nourishment to face the him ahead.
As the journey resumed, the guard announced their arrival shortly after.
Pulling back the curtains, Dalia gasped at the breathtaking sight before her.