26

Liam squeezed my hand, his thumb gently caressing my knuckles. "Are you happy, Daliah?" he asked, his gaze filled with genuine concern.

I looked into his eyes, the depth of our connection evident in the way our souls seemed to intertwine. "Happier than I ever imagined, Liam. Everything feels like magic."

As the carriage continued its journey through the kingdom, Liam pointed out various landmarks and shared tales of the realm's rich history. Each village we passed welcomed us with open arms, and the people, from young children to the elderly, gathered to catch a glimpse of their future queen.

Liam's storytelling painted vivid pictures of a land shaped by time, tradition, and the untold stories of its people. The countryside unfolded before us like a living tapestry, revealing rolling hills, lush meadows, and the distant silhouette of towering mountains.

The rhythmic clip-clop of the horses' hooves on the cobblestone roads seemed to echo the heartbeat of the realm itself.

As we travel