The carriage moved at a steady pace along the road that led from Aeloria to Nivara. The sound of the wheels rolling over the dirt and the occasional creak of the wood filled the air, but to Amara it all felt distant, like background noise. She stared out the window, unsure of what to think, while Asier remained beside her, watching her in silence.

  Finally, Asier broke the silence.

  “Are you sure about what you’ve decided?” he asked, his tone somewhat serious, as if carefully choosing his words. “Are you sure you won’t miss anything about your former home?”

  Amara turned toward him, surprised by the question. Her answer came quickly, without hesitation.

  “No,” she replied firmly. “I have nothing to miss from Aeloria. I always suffered there. My parents… they never gave me what I needed. My life was planned, but it was never truly mine. No one treated me well. I’m glad to know I can leave all of that behind.”

  Asier watched her silently for a moment, observing her determination. At last, he spoke, a faint smile on his lips.

  “I’m sorry for everything you went through,” he said, as if he truly meant it. “I’m glad to know you feel relieved leaving all that behind.”

  Amara nodded without adding anything else. She didn’t need empty words; she only wanted to move forward and distance herself from everything that had trapped her in Aeloria.

  Asier quickly changed the subject, pointing toward the window.

  “Look, we’ve arrived in Nivara.”

  Amara leaned closer, and what she saw surprised her. The lands of Nivara were completely different from those of Aeloria. People walked through the streets with smiles on their faces, and in the distance she could see a much greener landscape, with magical creatures flying through the air. It was a place far more vibrant and full of life—something Amara had never experienced in Aeloria.

  Asier watched her as she took everything in with wonder.

  “Magical creatures are common here,” he commented, as if it were the most normal thing in the world.

  When they arrived at the castle, Asier guided her through the corridors to her room.

  “This will be your room,” he said, pointing to a door. He opened it so Amara could see the interior: a large, elegant, and welcoming space, though more austere than what she had known in Aeloria. “If you need anything, don’t hesitate to ask. My room is right next door.”

  Amara looked at him, grateful for the kindness he showed her. She wasn’t used to someone being so straightforward and so willing to help.

  “Thank you,” she replied, slightly blushing at his offer.

  Noticing her reaction, Asier smiled faintly. He didn’t say anything else, but he thought her shyness was… charming.

  “There will be a ball on Friday,” he continued, changing the subject naturally. “I’ll present you as my fiancée, so you need to be ready.”

  Amara nodded, not entirely sure what to expect from that night, but she understood it was part of what was expected of her now.

  “I’ll keep it in mind,” she replied.

  Asier moved toward the door, ready to leave.

  “I recommend you rest. It’s already getting dark, and tomorrow will be a long day,” he said, giving her a calm look. “Good night, Amara.”

  “Good night,” she replied, feeling more relaxed, though the weight of everything that had happened still lingered in her mind.

  Amara closed the door behind him and stood there for a moment, looking around her new room. Everything was different, and although the change filled her with uncertainty, there was also something that kept her steady: she was finally far away from Aeloria, and she had no intention of looking back.

  The next day, Amara woke up early, eager to begin her day in Nivara. She got up quickly and left her room, determined to find Asier. But as she searched the corridors, she couldn’t find him anywhere. She walked through rooms and halls of the castle, but Asier seemed to have vanished. Finally, just as she was beginning to feel desperate, she found his office. The door was slightly ajar, and when she peeked inside, she saw Asier speaking with a young man who had a serious expression.

  “Amara, come in,” Asier said when he saw her, inviting her inside.

  “Amara, this is Nico,” Asier continued, gesturing toward the young man beside him. “Nico is my most loyal assistant and helps me with everything related to the empire. Nico, this is Amara, my fiancée.”

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  Nico gave a slight bow of his head and a respectful smile, but his demeanor was reserved, as if he were accustomed to dealing with people frequently. Amara nodded, acknowledging the formality of the situation.

  Amara sat down, feeling a bit nervous, and then looked at Asier, who seemed busy with several papers.

  “So… what am I supposed to do here in the castle now?” she asked, sounding somewhat unsure.

  Asier looked at her and smiled lightly.

  “For now, you don’t have to do anything,” he replied. “But soon there will be several events, and you’ll need to accompany me to them. There are many things we need to organize, and you’ll have to be by my side when making certain decisions.”

  Amara nodded enthusiastically, relieved by his answer.

  “All right, that sounds perfect. But Asier, do you have any free time? There’s something I’d like to talk to you about.”

  Asier glanced at Nico, who made a slight gesture, as if suggesting that Amara needed his attention. Though busy, Asier nodded and stood up from his chair.

  “Very well. Let’s go to the gardens. It might help you relax a little.”

  Amara smiled gratefully and followed him out of the office. The fresh air made her feel better as they walked toward the castle gardens, where the scent of flowers and the vibrant presence of magical creatures surrounded her. A pair of brightly colored birds flew close to them, as if greeting Asier.

  “These animals are friendly,” Asier explained. “It’s always important to treat them with respect. Here in Nivara, magical creatures are part of our daily lives.”

  Amara watched the animals for a moment, fascinated. Then she decided it was the right time to ask the questions she had been holding back.

  “Asier, everything has happened so fast, and I have a few questions,” she began, looking at him seriously.

  Asier looked at her attentively and nodded.

  “Go ahead, Amara. I’ll try to answer them.”

  “Why did you decide to marry me?” she asked, sounding a bit uncertain.

  Asier thought for a few seconds before answering.

  “As you know, I planned to marry someone from Aeloria. But when I saw you and learned everything you had been through, I felt you were a very strong and determined person. I need a wife who will stand by my side in difficult moments and who shares my vision for the future… our future.”

  Hearing this, Amara felt her cheeks warm, and she couldn’t help lowering her gaze for a moment. Asier’s words made her think about what their engagement truly meant.

  “Why do you want to take over Aeloria?” she asked, continuing her questioning.

  Asier sighed before responding, looking toward the horizon.

  “My family has had conflicts with Aeloria for years. Before he died, my father asked me to finally take control of that kingdom, and that is what I intend to do. Besides, magical creatures are increasing in number, and I need to expand our territory to find them a suitable home.”

  Amara nodded, now understanding the true reasons behind Asier’s decisions. But there was still something that troubled her.

  “Doesn’t what happened to me before our engagement bother you? You know… what Anwar forced me to do…”

  Asier stopped and looked her directly in the eyes. His dark gaze reflected a seriousness that made her feel slightly uneasy, but also reassured that his answer would be honest.

  “Of course not,” he said firmly, then sighed. “What happened wasn’t your fault. No one should ever be forced to do something like that… Those situations should be voluntary. What happened should never have occurred. As your fiancé, I will make sure the people of Aeloria pay for what they did to you.”

  Amara was left speechless for a moment, surprised by the intensity of his response. A wave of gratitude washed over her, and for a second she began to wonder if, perhaps, she was starting to feel something genuine for Asier.

  “Thank you,” she finally said, her voice trembling. “I didn’t expect you to answer like that. It’s… it’s a relief.”

  Asier nodded and smiled slightly, looking at Amara with a softer expression.

  “You’re welcome. Do you have any other questions?”

  Amara shook her head.

  “No, not for now,” she replied, feeling calmer. “Thank you for this walk. It made me feel better.”

  Together, they returned to the castle. When Amara reached her room, she found a cheerful young girl waiting for her at the door.

  “Hi! I’m María, your new maid,” the girl said with a wide smile. “I’m so happy to be here to help you!”

  María was sixteen years old, with brown hair and large eyes that sparkled with energy. Though young, her enthusiasm was overflowing. Amara smiled back, feeling a bit more at ease.

  “Nice to meet you,” Amara replied, relieved to see someone so warm and friendly in the castle.

  María quickly stepped closer, her energy contagious.

  “I heard the ball is on Friday, right? We have to find a dress for you! It 's urgent!”

  They got to work together, and after several attempts, they finally found a dress that Amara loved. As they worked, they began to form a genuine bond of friendship. María told Amara that she came from a humble family whose parents owned a bakery, and that she had several younger siblings whom she adored.

  Amara looked at her, somewhat surprised.

  “I never had siblings, but I’m glad to have a friend here,” she said with a sincere smile.

  María returned the smile.

  “Me too!”

  The day passed quickly amid laughter and small stories, and although Amara didn’t openly admit it, she felt that—for the first time in a long while—something good was beginning to emerge in her life.