The Bride Who Sailed Away

The sun dipped below the ocean, and the Sea Goddess temple stood empty. My fifth betrothal ceremony with the Crown Prince, Edric, had ended exactly like the previous four: without my groom.

When Edric and my mother finally arrived, she grabbed my freezing hands. "Leonora, your father was injured. Edric was busy at the royal infirmary." "Be generous. Don't blame him."

I bit my lip. "And last time?"

My mother froze. "Last time... there was an emergency with the Royal Fleet—"

"Was there?" I cut her off. "Last time you said my brother was ill."

Edric paled. My mother frowned, "I...I remembered wrong! Don't be so calculating, Leonora. You'll chill the Prince's heart."

My gaze fell upon the embroidered seashell charm tied to Edric’s belt—an item my weak, illegitimate stepsister never parted with.

Edric rubbed his temples, his eyes full of exhaustion. "I told you I was busy. If you still won't believe me, I will ask the High Priestess to annul this betrothal."

"No need," I broke the silence.

He looked at me, a satisfied smile forming on his lips.

"I'll ask her myself," I said. "From today on, we are nothing to each other."

"What the hell does that mean, Leonora?" Edric snapped. He stepped forward. "The High Priestess herself decreed this marriage. You pull a stunt like this now, and you make us a joke in front of the entire archipelago!"

I stared right at the seashell charm on his belt. "I'm already a joke, Edric. Five betrothal ceremonies. You ghosted me five times. People call it a match blessed by the Sea Goddess, but we both know I’m just begging for scraps."

My mother grabbed my arm. "Leonora Haven! Have you lost your mind? How dare you speak to the Crown Prince this way?"

She yanked me back. "Do you have any idea how good he is to you? Are you really going to throw away a lifetime of devotion over a scheduling mix-up?"

"A mix-up?" I scoffed.

"Yes!" my mother hissed, stepping between us. "Have you forgotten three years ago? When you fell overboard during the autumn squall? Who jumped into the crashing waves to save you?"

I swallowed hard. The memory flashed in my mind, uninvited and painful.

The water had been freezing. I was sinking. Edric hadn't even hesitated. He dove into the black waves. When he finally dragged me onto the deck of the Wrathwave, his lips were blue and he was shaking violently. But he stripped off his dry captain's cloak and wrapped it around me, holding me tight.

"And what about last year?" my mother pressed on. "When you misspoke and offended the High Priestess at the Goddess Festival? Who took the blame?"

Edric did. He knelt outside the Storm Cape lighthouse in the pouring rain for three straight nights. His knees were so swollen he couldn't walk, let alone board a ship, for half a month. When I sat by his bed crying, he just wiped my tears and smiled. I'd do it again, he had said. I can’t stand seeing you hurt, Leo.

That was a year ago. Looking at the man standing in front of me now, he felt like a total stranger.

Edric rolled his eyes, completely out of patience. "Are you done with this drama? It’s just a ceremony, Leonora. You want the stupid formality that badly? Fine! I’ll have my men send out fleet invites tonight. We’ll do the whole thing over again tomorrow. Just grow up and stop acting like a spoiled brat, will you?"

My mother nodded eagerly. "Listen to him, Leonora. Apologize right now. The wedding goes on as planned."

My chest tightened hard. I'm the one ruining things? I need to grow up? The sheer audacity of it left me speechless.

Before I could defend myself, rapid footsteps echoed across the dock.

"Madam! Your Highness!"

It was Meredith’s personal maid. She sprinted toward us.

"What is it?" my mother demanded, dropping my arm instantly.

"It’s Lady Meredith," the maid cried. "She fainted! Her seasickness flared up, and she has a terrible headache. She won't wake up! I didn't know what else to do, so I came to find you."

All trace of annoyance wiped completely clean from Edric's face. His voice cracked with a sudden, frantic edge. "Is it serious? Did you call the royal physician?"

"We did, but she keeps crying out for you, Your Highness," the maid sobbed.

My mother’s face drained of color. "Oh, my poor Meredith. Edric, we need to go to her right now." She turned toward the docks. "Take Leonora's private yacht. The engines are already warmed up. It'll get us there faster."

They were going to take my ship. To go see the sister who was actively stealing my fiancé.

"Mom," I said, my voice deadpan. "How am I supposed to get back?"

My mother whipped her head around. "Leonora! Stop making this about you! Your sister is sick and you're worried about a ride home? Are you trying to kill her with your selfishness?"

"I don't care how you get back!" she yelled. "Walk, stay here, do whatever you want! Just stay out of the way!"

She grabbed her skirts and hurried toward the docks.

Edric turned to follow her. "Just wait here, Leonora," he threw over his shoulder, his tone careless. "I'll come back for you later."

I stood frozen in the middle of the grand hall. I watched them rush through the dock gates, board my yacht, and speed off into the dark waters.

The cold sea breeze hit my face. A single tear slipped down my cheek, hot and pathetic.

He’s not coming back, I thought. He never does.

The hall was dead silent. Above me, hundreds of red ribbons—the sacred symbol of a Voyage Betrothal—fluttered in the wind.

I took a deep breath. The suffocating pain in my chest slowly morphed into a cold, hard clarity.

"Let's go," I told my maid, who was standing behind me trembling.

"Home, My Lady?"

"No," I said. "To the inner sanctuary."

By the time we reached the heart of the Sea Goddess Temple, the sky was pitch black.

The sanctuary was lit by hundreds of candles. High Priestess Elowen was standing at the main altar. When she heard my footsteps, she turned. Her eyes softened with pity when she saw my windblown hair and the undried tears on my cheeks. She already knew.

"Leonora, my child," Elowen sighed softly.

I walked straight down the aisle, stopping right beneath the towering statue of the Sea Goddess.

I dropped to my knees on the freezing stone floor and bowed deeply.

"High Priestess," I said, my voice ringing loud and clear in the empty sanctuary. "I, Leonora Haven, have a request."

"Speak, child."

I looked up, my eyes dry, my heart completely numb.

"I will offer myself for the peace treaty," I said flatly. "I am willing to accept the marriage alliance. Send me to the Frozen Sea."