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As the ceremony drew to a close, the prince grasped my hand in a cold, unforgiving grip. His fingers, rough with calluses, dug into my pale skin, leaving me wincing in discomfort. I was certain I'd bear the bruises of his touch for days to come.

As he dragged me away across the hall, I pleaded, "Please, I want to speak with my parents." The prince halted abruptly, his gaze freezing into a cold, menacing stare. I met his eyes with a silent, desperate plea, and after a moment, he relented. "Fine, one minute."

The assembly watched with bated breath as the scene unfolded before them. I rushed towards my father, embracing him tightly, the tears streaming down my face as I whispered, "Dad, please, I don't want to go." My father's voice was barely audible as he whispered back, "You need to, for our kingdom."

My sobs intensified, and I turned to my mother, her face etched with tears. I flung my arms around her, holding her close, even though she had often been cold and distant towards me. In this moment, she was still my mother, and I might never see her again.

"Mom," I rasped, my voice cracking with pain. She gently tucked a stray lock of hair behind my ear, wiping away her own tears before whispering, "Now go, and be safe, okay?"

As I pulled away, I felt an iron grip close around my wrist, the prince's fingers like a vice. I begged, "Please, no, just one more minute," trying to wriggle free from his grasp, but he remained unyielding, his eyes flashing with a warning.

"No, mom, dad!" I screamed, my voice echoing through the hall as the prince dragged me away, his grip on my wrist like a vice. "If you continue to yell, you will be punished," he warned, his eyes glinting with a malevolent light.

"I don't care, let go of me!" I shouted, struggling against his grasp. But he just chuckled, a low, menacing sound that sent shivers down my spine. "If you don't shut up, I'll kill your parents," he hissed, his voice dripping with darkness.

My blood ran cold at his words. I stared at him, my eyes wide with fear, knowing that he was capable of carrying out his threat. The rumors about his brutality on the battlefield flashed through my mind, and I knew that I had to comply.

Without another word, I turned and climbed into the white carriage, its elegant interior a stark contrast to the darkness that lurked within the prince's heart. I felt a sense of doom settle over me as I settled into the plush seat, the prince's eyes gleaming with triumph as he followed me into the carriage.

"Hyah!" I the coachman shouted as soon the prince entered into the carriage , the crack of the whip echoing through the air as the horses surged forward. I gazed out the carriage window, watching as the castle, my home, my family, my kingdom, faded into the distance. Tears streamed down my face, hot and unchecked, as I felt my heart shatter into a million pieces. I was never going to see my parents again, never going to walk the halls of my childhood home, never going to feel the warmth of the kingdom's sun on my face.

I rested my head against the cool glass of the carriage window, feeling the vibrations of the horses' hooves beneath me. I was aware of the presence beside me, the prince's silent, brooding form a constant reminder of my captivity. I didn't want to look at him, didn't want to acknowledge his existence. I hated him, hated him for taking me away from everything I loved, everything I knew.

As the tears continued to flow, my eyes grew heavy, weighed down by the sheer force of my grief. I felt myself succumbing to the darkness, a darkness that seemed to closing in around me like a shroud. It was a darkness that would be my new home, a darkness that would consume me whole. And with that thought, I let the shadows take me, surrendering to the abyss that had become my life.