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Binding Fate: Betrothed to the Otherworldly Duke

Prologue

Prologue

Sep 22, 2023

Mikhail


I could feel my pulse beat relentlessly in my palm as if I were holding my own heart in my hand. 

The magic coursing through me manifested in my right hand, which shimmered with a bright blue light. 

It might as well have been my heart for what I was about to do. 

I checked the black rope at my waist, securing it with a tight pull on the knot, then focused on the glowing rune beneath me.

I had done this many times before, so why was I feeling nervous now?

I attempted to steady my heart as  I pressed my glowing hand firmly against the intricate symbol, igniting it along with several other runes that formed a perfect circle around me. 

A sudden, powerful gust of wind whipped through the chamber, sending all small, unsecured items hurtling through the space. The air inside the chamber pulsated with ancient energy.

Undeterred by the storm blowing around me, I chanted words that were now long forgotten by the world. And with each uttered syllable, the wind intensified. It roared around me like a beast eager to break free of its chains. It pushed and pulled against me, threatening to lift me off my feet, but I held firm, bracing myself against the ferocious gale, never lifting my arm from the glowing rune.

As the runes continued to glow brighter, I could now see the silhouettes of other men against the room’s dark stone walls. They held onto the other end of the heavy, black rope tethered to my waist, sidestepping the airborne debris with practiced agility. They, too, had done with me many times.

A blinding light suddenly burst into existence in front of me, its intensity casting long shadows over me. With each passing second, it grew and morphed into a swirling vortex of brilliant, ever-shifting colors. 

Its size threatened to consume me and everything else in its path. 

As much as I strained against its force, the vortex's power lifted my body from the ground,  ripped me off the rune, and pulled me toward its spiraling center. 

The rope around my waist pulled taut as the men on the other end held firmly to me. Even as I risked being consumed by the spiraling light, I continued the chant.

 A voice shouted from behind me—one of the men holding the rope—but I paid it no heed.

I was so close. I couldn’t stop now.

A sudden pang in my chest caused my breath to catch in my throat. In that pause, the runes’ glow extinguished one by one, their energy spent. The multi-colored vortex shrank until it was no more, leaving the chamber in utter darkness.

My exhausted body fell to the ground with a soft, almost pitiful thud. The chamber plunged into an oppressive silence. 

“It didn’t work,” I muttered softly, my voice barely more than a whisper. My heart was heavy with the weight of failure.

I closed my eyes, accepting the shroud of darkness that enveloped me.

A chill, icy as winter's touch, swept across my brow, pulling me from the grasp of dreams. 

 As the fog in my vision dissipated, the familiar details of my opulent chamber emerged from the gloom.

One of the room's ornate double doors—sculpted with intricate designs of roses and vines—groaned softly, allowing a sliver of the hallway's muted light to break through. 

His footfalls, barely more than a whisper on the carpet, brought him to my bedside. The relief in his oceanic blue eyes was palpable as they settled on me. "It is heartening to witness your eyes open once more, Your Grace. " His gentle, fatherly tone resonated with genuine worry. Carefully, he removed the wet cloth from my forehead and helped me to a seated position.

Turning my attention to the grand, arched window draped in rich, navy-blue curtains, my eyes lost themselves in the early night sky outside. "Pascal," I began, "how long was I asleep?"

"Merely a handful of hours, Your Grace," Pascal replied, nodding toward a polished wooden bedside table where damp cloths lay folded in a neat pile. "A touch of fever had its claws in you."

A long pause ensued, thick with unspoken words and shared history. Pascal, always the caretaker, pierced the stillness. "Shall I request your evening repast, Your Grace?"

A single, brief nod was all the response Pascal required. With a respectful bow, he retired to gather dinner for me.

Drawn to the outside world, I rose from the bed and approached; my gaze focused on the looming tempest gathering strength from the south. 

A knock rippled through the silence before I could lose myself further in my thoughts. "Enter," I beckoned, assuming it to be Pascal and the maid with my supper.

As the doors swung open, a young man entered, his hair a chaotic cascade of chestnut and eyes azure as the midday sky.

"Take a seat, Henry," I said, gesturing toward one of the lavishly upholstered couches, velvet the color of ripe plums.

Henry perched on the couch. "Your Grace," he began, his voice tinged with the gravity of the news. "We have just received a raven from Aeloria."

I sat on the couch across from him, my intense gaze compelling him to elaborate. "Is that all?" I inquired, my voice impatient.

"The guild members claim they felt a strange energy pulse a few hours ago, around the same time as..." Henry's voice trailed off, the unspoken words hanging in the air.

I didn’t need Henry to complete his sentence. "We must head to Aeloria at once," I declared, moving with such urgency that my rising caused a bout of vertigo. I swayed unsteadily, grasping for balance, just as Pascal entered with a maid bearing my dinner.

"Your Grace, you are not fit to go anywhere," Pascal asserted, concern etched deeply into his features.

Henry stepped forward, offering his support as he and Pascal guided me back to the comfortable confines of the couch. "Pascal is right, Your Grace. You still need to recover. I will ride out and look into this. I'll send a raven ahead so the guild members in Aeloria can begin searching for the energy source," he explained to me, his tone resolute.

I shook my head, determination flickering in my eyes. "No, I will come with you. Pascal order the carriage to be readied." I insisted, attempting to rise but ultimately surrendering to my body’s protests. I sank back into the plush cushions, the maddening sense of helplessness washing over me.

"You and Belmont head out first on horseback. I will follow in the carriage." I addressed Henry, who hesitated before nodding his agreement.

"Yes, Your Grace. We will head out immediately. Lord Belmont and I should make it to Aeloria by tomorrow night." Henry bowed and took his leave. I was left in the care of Pascal and the maid, who was finishing setting up my dinner on the table before the couch. My thoughts churned in turmoil as they bustled about, arranging the dishes.

Could it have worked? I wondered, my gaze drawn again to the window, the darkened sky outside a canvas for my racing thoughts.


cmarqu22
C.Marquez

Creator

If you're enjoying the story, don’t forget to hit subscribe, like the chapters, and share your thoughts in the comments! Every interaction helps boost visibility, making it easier for others to discover the novel. Your support means the world and keeps the journey going! ❤️

#fantasy_romance #romance #isekai #fate #Duke #far_away_world #action_fantasy #Adventure_Fantasy #Transmigration

Comments (4)

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L. V. Adams
L. V. Adams

Top comment

Very well written! I like it!

3

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Binding Fate: Betrothed to the Otherworldly Duke
Binding Fate: Betrothed to the Otherworldly Duke

6.8k views88 subscribers

SEASON TWO COMING SOON!

After an experiment goes awry, Samara finds herself in the mystical land of Lumicrestia, where dark forces are drawn to her for reasons she doesn’t understand. As she struggles to adapt to this new world, she gains an unexpected protector in Duke Mikhail Aster, a powerful figure both feared and revered. Samara feels an unshakable sense of familiarity with the Duke, and as they delve into the secrets of their intertwined pasts, they must also navigate the treacherous politics of Lumicrestia. Their growing bond tested as they face a corrupt high priest and an ancient deity bent on plunging the world into darkness.

Cover art by @Daldalezz on instagram. Read more
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43 episodes

  • Prologue
    Episode 1 Prologue
  • Chapter 1: Not in Kansas Anymore
    Episode 2 Chapter 1: Not in Kansas Anymore
  • Chapter 2: Down by the River a Hero was Found
    Episode 3 Chapter 2: Down by the River a Hero was Found
  • Chapter 3: Late Knight Conundrums
    Episode 4 Chapter 3: Late Knight Conundrums
  • Chapter 4: Oh Night Divine
    Episode 5 Chapter 4: Oh Night Divine
  • Chapter 5: Quoth the Raven, Forevermore
    Episode 6 Chapter 5: Quoth the Raven, Forevermore
  • Chapter 6: Whispers of a Forgotten Memory
    Episode 7 Chapter 6: Whispers of a Forgotten Memory
  • Chapter 7: Shared Dreams
    Episode 8 Chapter 7: Shared Dreams
  • Chapter 8: Hounded through the Shadows
    Episode 9 Chapter 8: Hounded through the Shadows
  • Chapter 9: A Blessing or A Curse
    Episode 10 Chapter 9: A Blessing or A Curse
  • Chapter 10: A Mother's Burden
    Episode 11 Chapter 10: A Mother's Burden
  • Chapter 11: City of Wonder and Magic
    Episode 12 Chapter 11: City of Wonder and Magic
  • Chapter 12: A Run in with Trouble
    Episode 13 Chapter 12: A Run in with Trouble
  • Chapter 13: Going Down Swinging
    Episode 14 Chapter 13: Going Down Swinging
  • Chapter 14: A Bright Flash of Death
    Episode 15 Chapter 14: A Bright Flash of Death
  • Chapter 15: A Familiar Stranger
    Episode 16 Chapter 15: A Familiar Stranger
  • Chapter 16: Trusting a Stranger
    Episode 17 Chapter 16: Trusting a Stranger
  • Chapter 17: The Cloaked Coachman
    Episode 18 Chapter 17: The Cloaked Coachman
  • Chapter 18: Welcome to Aster Castle
    Episode 19 Chapter 18: Welcome to Aster Castle
  • Chapter 19: Lingering Doubts of the Past
    Episode 20 Chapter 19: Lingering Doubts of the Past
Ep. 1 Prologue

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Prologue

Prologue

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