The Fae King's Chosen

Chapter 5 - Navigating a New World

The morning light filtered through the grand windows of the palace, casting long shadows across the intricate marble floors. Alessia stirred from her restless sleep, her mind still heavy with the weight of everything Oberon and Caelorn had told her the day before.

The prophecy, the mate bond, the fate of the fae world resting on her shoulders—it was all too much to process. She had always imagined adventures in far-off worlds when she was a little girl, but this wasn’t the thrilling fantasy she had once dreamed of. This was real. And terrifying.

A soft knock on the door startled her, pulling her from her thoughts. “Come in,” she called, sitting up in bed and rubbing her eyes.

The door creaked open, and Aleron, a young fae servant she had met briefly the day before, stepped in with a tray of food. He was shorter and slighter than the fae warriors she had seen, his emerald-green eyes bright with nervous energy as he approached her.

“Good morning, Lady Alessia,” he said with a bow, his voice soft. “I’ve brought your breakfast.”

Alessia blinked, still not used to being addressed so formally. “Morning,” she mumbled, rubbing the sleep from her eyes. “You don’t have to call me that, you know. Just Alessia is fine.”

Aleron hesitated, his gaze flickering to the floor. “As you wish, Alessia.”

She smiled slightly at his nervousness, then glanced at the tray he had set down. The food looked exquisite—fruits and bread that shimmered faintly, as though magic had touched every piece.

“Thank you,” she said, reaching for a piece of fruit. “This looks amazing.”

Aleron shifted awkwardly, clearly wanting to say something but unsure how to proceed. Alessia raised an eyebrow, setting the fruit back down. “Is something wrong?”

He glanced at the door, then back at her. “It’s just... I’ve never... I mean, none of us have ever seen a woman before. Not in centuries.”

Alessia blinked, suddenly feeling very self-conscious. “Right. Because of the curse.”

“Yes,” Aleron said, his eyes wide. “And now you’re here, and it’s... well, it’s a lot.”

Alessia couldn’t help but laugh softly, though there was a hint of nervousness in it. “Trust me, it’s a lot for me too.”

The awkwardness lingered for a moment longer, but Aleron eventually bowed again and excused himself, leaving her to her breakfast. Alessia sighed, picking up the piece of fruit again but not really tasting it as she ate. The reality of her situation kept pressing in, and she couldn’t shake the overwhelming feeling of being out of place.

After a while, she decided she needed fresh air. She dressed quickly and made her way through the palace corridors, retracing her steps from the day before. The grandeur of the palace still left her in awe—the high ceilings, the shimmering tapestries, the soft glow of magic that seemed to linger in the air. It was beautiful, but also unsettling.

As she walked, she couldn’t help but notice the stares. Every fae she passed—whether a guard, a servant, or a warrior—paused to look at her, their expressions a mix of awe and curiosity. It was like they couldn’t believe she was real.

Leaning slightly toward Caelorn, who had joined her on the walk, she muttered, “Is this going to be a thing everywhere I go? People staring at me like I’ve got two heads?”

Caelorn chuckled softly. “You are the first woman they’ve seen in centuries. It’s only natural they would be curious.”

“Curious is one way to put it,” Alessia said, rolling her eyes. “I feel like an exhibit at a museum.”

Caelorn’s lips twitched with amusement. “It will take time for them to adjust. You’re... important, Alessia. To all of us.”

She sighed, not quite sure how to feel about that. “I’m just me,” she muttered. “I don’t feel important.”

“You are,” Caelorn said softly, his golden eyes serious now. “More than you know.”

They continued walking in silence, though Alessia couldn’t shake the feeling of being watched. Everywhere they went, fae men paused to look at her, their expressions filled with wonder. It was strange. Back in her world, she had always felt invisible—just another person blending into the background. But here, she was something entirely different. She was a legend. A hope for the future.

It was almost laughable, really. The irony of it hit her as they walked through the grand gates leading out of the palace and into the bustling streets of Silvaris. She had spent her life reading about mythical creatures and otherworldly realms, but now she was the mythical one. The fae looked at her like she was some kind of rare, magical being, when all she felt was... ordinary.

As they made their way through the city, Alessia’s discomfort slowly faded, replaced by a growing curiosity. The streets of Silvaris were filled with life—fae men moving about their daily tasks, the hum of magic ever-present in the air. She could feel it, like a gentle thrum beneath her skin, a reminder that this world was unlike anything she had ever known.

Caelorn led her through the marketplace, where fae vendors sold all manner of goods—shimmering fabrics, glowing stones, and strange foods that Alessia couldn’t even begin to identify. The air was filled with the scent of flowers and spices, and for a moment, she forgot about the weight of the prophecy and the curse. She was just... exploring.

“Here,” Caelorn said, gesturing to a stall filled with intricately woven fabrics. “Would you like something to wear? The palace tailors can create clothing for you, but perhaps you’d like to choose something yourself.”

Alessia blinked, taken aback by the offer. “I... I don’t know.”

Caelorn smiled, his expression warm. “Take your time. It’s important that you feel comfortable here.”

Alessia hesitated for a moment before stepping closer to the stall. The fabrics were soft to the touch, shimmering with faint magical energy. She ran her fingers over them, her thoughts still swirling. Everything about this place felt both strange and wonderful. The magic, the beauty, the way people looked at her—it was overwhelming, but also... exciting.

“Do you like this one?” Caelorn asked, holding up a piece of fabric that shimmered in hues of blue and silver.

Alessia smiled softly, nodding. “It’s beautiful.”

He smiled in return, and for a moment, the tension between them eased. It was a small moment of normalcy in a world that felt anything but normal.

As they continued through the market, Alessia began to relax. The fae were watching her, yes, but they weren’t hostile. They were curious, fascinated even. And slowly, she began to feel less like an outsider and more like... part of this world.

But as the day wore on, the weight of her role, of the prophecy and the curse, settled back over her like a heavy cloak. She couldn’t escape it. No matter how much she tried to immerse herself in the beauty of this world, she knew that her presence here was tied to something much larger than herself.

She was the first. But she wouldn’t be the last.

And somehow, she would have to figure out how to save this world—whether she wanted to or not.