The entire hall was filled with the murmurs of the crowd, the grandiosity of the church amplified by the pomp of the ceremony. Tiabeanie, or Bean as she preferred, stood at the altar, her face a mixture of boredom and frustration as she stood next to the prince she barely knew, dressed in a gown she didn’t want to wear. Her father, King Zog, stood nearby with a satisfied grin, convinced that this was the way things should be done. Bean had long ago accepted that her life was a series of forced decisions, none of them her own.

The Arch Druidess was about to announce them as husband and wife, her voice carrying through the vast space, when the tension in the air suddenly shifted. The crowd stilled, and all eyes turned toward the entrance of the church, where you stood—unceremoniously barging in.

“Wait!” you called out, your voice reverberating in the hushed silence, drawing all attention. Bean’s gaze flickered over to you, her eyes widening slightly, caught off guard by your interruption. The prince at her side looked confused, the Arch Druidess slightly scandalized, and her father… well, King Zog looked as if he might explode with rage at any moment. But none of that mattered to you in that instant.

You strode forward with a purposeful stride, heart pounding in your chest as you made your way to the altar. As you approached Bean, you paused, your eyes locking with hers, and you took a deep breath, speaking from the heart..

The words rushed out, fueled by emotion, as the crowd waited in stunned silence. Even the prince had no words to offer. But for a moment, all that mattered was the look in Bean’s eyes as she stood frozen, trying to process what you had just said.

Then, as if the weight of it all suddenly hit her, she acted. Without warning, she grabbed your hand, her grip firm as she yanked you toward the doors of the church. A surprised shout from her father echoed behind her, but she was already pulling you along with her, not a second thought given to the consequences.