Marrying The King Was Never Her Dream | Book 2

Chapter 11

IMPORTANT PLEASE READ!
hi, so a bit of explanation before you start with the chapter. i have decided to switch the writing style of Raina's POV from first person to third person. this is because it's easier for me to write in third person (which means more updates) and Malik's part is already in third person, so it'll make more sense for the whole book to be in third person. sorry for the confusion, i will correct the previous chapters from first person to third person once i'm done with the book. thank you for understanding and i hope you're not confused. i promise the book will be better in third person. i write better with it.

~Ruks.

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| Chapter 11 |

Raina

Raina did not think she would get as teary-eyed as she did when leaving Jamya. It had been her dream to leave the city since the day she first arrived in it on that rocky boat. But when the day came to leave, she found it especially hard. She doesn't know when she will ever get the chance to visit again.

Her farewells have been short. Raina doesn't socialize much in their village. She kept to herself most of the time. The only people she has bid her goodbyes to are Sara and Baba Tanko.

She had hugged Sara so hard. She couldn't believe she was going to miss the silly little girl that was her only friend in the world. Who would care listen to her rants now? There was no doubt that Raina wasn't going to the capital to make friends. She had a mission to accomplish.

Sara had told her to be careful and gave Raina her most treasured gold bracelet as her wedding gift. She is not coming to the wedding. Sara had cried because of that but there was nothing she could do to change her father's mind.

The journey to the capital was long. They had set out at the first break of dawn. Raina had packed her small belongings alongside the gifts the Emperor had brought a few days back into the carriage he had sent. Together, with her mother, they set out for the Jamyan Palace and joined the Emperor's entourage for their departure.

And just like that, Raina parts with her home. The home she claims to hate but had soon come to love.

They have been traveling for hours now. Stopping twice to pray before resuming. During their last stop, she found out that they would be in the capital by dusk. Anytime soon, now.

It doesn't take long for them to reach the golden gates of the Capital City. Raina has never been there before and is in complete awe at how magnificent they look. Tall walls made of the strongest stone line the gates made of pure gold. Multiple uniformed guards with gleaming swords stand right outside the giant gates of the city. They quickly bow once they notice the Emperor's procession and open the gates.

The gates reveal a long stretch of plain land with the promise of a city just beyond the silhouettes of the grasslands. They travel for some time, passing mostly farmlands and grazing sites before they reach another gate that is smaller than the one they had passed but still magnificent in its own way with intricate designs on the walls and even on the gold-painted iron of the gate.

Another group of guards surround the gate, but not as many as the ones at the first golden gate. They too bow very low before quickly opening the gate by yelling at the guards inside the gate to let it open. The long procession makes it way.

Raina's breath stops. The Capital City is beyond words, beyond Raina's imagination. Giant stone houses with the most enchanting lights fills her view. She is so much used to seeing wooden houses in Jamya that stone houses shock her. The only stone house in Jamya was the Governor's house and the Emperor's Jamyan Palace.