# **Rooha's POV 🖤🥀**
I walked silently beside Ziya, listening to her endless chatter.
She was talking about the mansion, the city, and all the places she wanted to show me.
But my mind…
My mind was somewhere else.
Somewhere far away.
Back in my kingdom.
Back with my family.
Especially my mother.
I lowered my gaze, and my fingers unconsciously touched the pocket of my dress where I had kept my engagement ring.
*Mother…*
A bitter smile appeared on my lips.
I could still remember that day.
The day I had stood before her, begging her to understand my feelings.
"Mother, please! I don't want this marriage. I don't love him. Why can't you understand?"
But she hadn't listened.
Instead, she had looked at me with disappointment.
"Rooha! Enough! Your father has already made his decision. You must respect it."
I remembered the argument.
I remembered how she had raised her hand and slapped me.
For a moment, I couldn't believe it.
My own mother.
The woman whose arms I had always considered my safest place.
She had hit me.
And then she had forced me to agree to the engagement.
I had looked into her eyes, waiting for even a little understanding.
But all I found was fear.
Fear of disobeying her husband.
Fear of destroying her marriage.
Fear of going against the decisions of the man she had always obeyed.
"Mother, what about me?" I had asked her.
"What about my happiness? My dreams? My feelings?"
But she had only replied,
"Your father knows what is best for this family. Don't make things difficult for us, Rooha."
Those words…
They hurt more than anything.
I slowly blinked, bringing myself back to the present.
*The person you trust the most can sometimes become the person who hurts you the deepest.*
I had always believed my mother would stand beside me.
I thought she would hold my hand when the entire world stood against me.
But she had chosen to remain silent.
She wanted to protect her marriage.
She wanted to keep her husband happy.
And somewhere in between, she had forgotten that she was also a mother.
A small drop of water escaped from the corner of my eye and rolled down my cheek.
I quickly wiped it away.
"No more, Rooha…" I whispered to myself.
I took a deep breath.
Perhaps this was what life was teaching me.
Not everyone I loved would understand me.
Not everyone I trusted would stand beside me.
And sometimes, the only person who could fight for my happiness was myself.
I looked ahead.
I didn't know what awaited me in Villin City.
I didn't know what tomorrow would bring.
But I knew one thing.
I would never again allow someone else to decide how my life should be lived.
**I wanted to live. I wanted to choose. I wanted to be free.**
And this time…
I would choose myself.
-------
**Meanwhile, in Another Kingdom…**
**The Souza Kingdom**
The royal hall was silent.
King Ryan D'Souza sat upon his magnificent throne, his expression cold and unreadable. He was known as one of the greatest and most powerful kings, feared by neighbouring kingdoms and respected by his enemies.
Suddenly, the royal minister hurried into the hall and bowed before him.
"Your Highness…"
Ryan slowly raised his eyes.
"What is it?"
The minister hesitated before delivering the news.
"Your Highness, Princess Ziya… your wife… has escaped from the palace after the wedding ceremony was completed."
For a moment, complete silence filled the hall.
Ryan's fingers tightened around the armrest of his throne.
"She escaped?" he repeated, his voice dangerously calm.
"Yes, Your Highness. Our guards searched the palace, but she was nowhere to be found."
Ryan slowly stood up.
A faint, cold smile appeared on his face.
"Prepare my royal carriage."
The minister looked confused. "Your Highness?"
Ryan adjusted his royal coat and looked towards the palace gates.
"I am going to bring my wife back."
"But, Your Highness, should we send the royal guards first?"
Ryan turned towards him.
"Did I ask you to send the guards?"
The minister immediately lowered his head.
Ryan walked down the royal steps, his voice echoing through the hall.
"Let every kingdom know that King Ryan D'Souza is leaving the Souza Kingdom."
He paused near the entrance.
"My wife may have escaped from my palace…"
His eyes narrowed.
"But she hasn't escaped my attention."
**And with that, the greatest king of the Souza Kingdom set out to find his runaway bride.**
# **Aira's POV 🦋**
**The Streets of Villin City**
Ziya and Rooha were walking through the streets of Villin City, laughing and teasing each other.
Nearby, several military guards were practising sword fighting in an open training ground.
The sound of swords clashing filled the air.
Ziya stood with her arms folded, watching the soldiers.
"Look at that one! His movements are so slow," she commented.
Rooha giggled.
"Perhaps he's still learning how to hold his sword properly."
"Hey! Don't judge them too much," Ziya said, trying to hide her laughter.
"I'm only observing their skills, Princess."
The two girls continued watching the soldiers, completely unaware of what was happening on the other side of the street.
---
**Meanwhile…**
I was walking through the streets, enjoying a little freedom after escaping from the palace.
*Finally! A little peace.*
But my happiness didn't last long.
I suddenly noticed a group of royal guards approaching from the opposite direction.
My heart skipped a beat.
One of them looked directly at me.
"Your Highness…?
I immediately turned my face away.
*Oh, no. Not again!*
Another guard looked at me carefully.
"Princess Aira!"
I froze for a second.
Then—
"STOP! YOUR HIGHNESS!"
I didn't wait for another word.
I lifted the edge of my dress and started running.
*Why can't these people leave me alone for five minutes?*
I glanced over my shoulder.
The guards were following me.
"Princess! Please stop!"
"Absolutely not!" I muttered.
I ran through the crowded street, looking for somewhere to hide.
And then, I spotted two girls standing near the military training ground.
One of them was laughing while talking to the other.
Without thinking twice, I rushed towards them.
"PLEASE! HELP ME!"
Before either girl could react, I reached them and quickly moved behind one of them, trying to catch my breath.
The girl turned around in surprise.
"Hey! Who are you?"
I held her arm gently and whispered urgently,
"Please don't tell them I'm here!"
She looked at me, completely confused.
Then she noticed the roys running towards us.
Her expression changed.
And just like that, I found myself standing between two strangers and a group of very angry royal guards.
*Oh, Camellia… what have you got yourself into now?*..
To Be Continued… 🦋👑✨