The Moon Bride Of The Forgotten Dynasty

In a kingdom erased from most histories where silver mist covered mountains and the moon decided fates rather than emperors a young noblewoman named Yue Xin awaited the night of her binding. She stood inside a palace of quiet marble halls dressed in a ceremonial gown of pale silk her long black hair adorned with white blossoms that matched the pallor of her trembling hands.

She was to be married to Prince Liang the only heir to the Forgotten Dynasty. A prince no living soul had seen in decades. Some whispered he was cursed to stay hidden from sunlight. Others said he died long ago yet continued to walk with the breath of the dead. Yue Xin had been chosen because her family once betrayed the royal line and this marriage would seal forgiveness or condemnation for all.

The moon rose swollen and silver casting ghostly shadows along the palace walls. Servants guided Yue Xin to the Moon Pavilion a secluded structure at the edge of the imperial gardens where ancient lantern trees bloomed with glowing fruit. Her heart thudded painfully as the wind carried soft whispers through bamboo leaves. The world held its breath.

The doors of the pavilion opened by themselves. She stepped inside.

The chamber was dim only lit by moonlight pouring through a circular skylight like a celestial spotlight upon a stone altar. On the altar stood a single black vase carved with scenes of the moon devouring the sun. The air smelled faintly of incense and something colder like winter trapped in stone.

Yue Xin took a hesitant breath. Is Prince Liang here

Her voice echoed against silence.

Then she saw him.

He emerged from the shadows dressed in robes darker than midnight his features sharp and beautiful as if carved by the moon itself. His skin pale his eyes reflecting a silver glow both haunting and gentle. He bowed slightly but did not step closer.

I am Liang he said voice smooth like still water. You must be Yue Xin

She nodded though fear touched the edges of her courage. You are not what people say

He gave a faint smile one that seemed to carry centuries of sadness. People often fear what they do not understand

She stared at him feeling something draw her near like the moon tugging the tide. But she forced herself to remain still. Why have you been hidden from the empire

His gaze drifted upward to the moon. Because the moon binds my life. It grants me immortality but steals the day from me. I cannot walk beneath sunlight or I fade into nothingness. I remain a prince who can never rule. A man who can never be free

Her breath caught. Immortality Is that not a blessing

His eyes darkened. No blessing comes without a price

He extended his hand. Come stand beside me Yue Xin

Her heart urged her forward. She placed her hand in his and his touch shocked her like cool water after fire. He guided her to the altar.

Tonight we wed under the moon he said. Your life and mine will be bound. Your soul will become part of the moon dynasty eternally watching over the realm

Eternally The word struck her like a blade. I did not know my fate would be sealed forever

Liang bowed his head apologetic. I would spare you if I could. But the moon has already chosen you. Our destinies are not ours to command

He raised the black vase and poured silver liquid into two small cups carved from moonstone. The liquid shimmered like liquid starlight. Yue Xin hesitated trembling.

Before she could protest a cold wind swept through the pavilion extinguishing all lantern light. Darkness consumed them except for the moon above. The doors slammed shut. Their vow had begun.

Liang whispered Drink and you will walk with me in eternity

Yue Xin looked into his sorrowful eyes. She felt his loneliness pierce into her heart. He was not a monster. He was a prisoner of destiny as she was.

She lifted the cup.

But before she drank the moonlight flickered. A sharp cry echoed from the shadows. A masked figure burst into the room striking the cup from her hand. The silver liquid scattered across the floor sizzling as if alive.

Do not touch that the intruder hissed. It is poison made from the souls of those sacrificed to the moon

Liang face twisted with fury. How dare you violate sacred grounds

The intruder removed his mask. His eyes mirrored Yue Xin own fear and hope. He was her elder brother Yue Shen whom she believed to be dead for years.

Xin come with me now. They will turn you into a spirit bride and you will never walk this earth again

She gasped. Brother How are you alive

No time. We must flee

Liang tightened his jaw. You cannot take her. She is bound to me by fate

Yue Shen drew a sword forged of sunstone glowing faintly even in darkness. Then let fate fight me

The air shook as the brothers clashed blades and moonlight. Liang fought with eerie elegance his movements like shadows dancing. Yue Shen fought fiercely each strike burning like morning sun.

Yue Xin screamed Stop both of you

But neither stopped. Their battle spiraled leaving glowing slashes along the marble floor. The moon itself seemed to tremble.

Suddenly Yue Shen blade pierced Liang side. A burst of silver light exploded from the wound. Liang stumbled eyes wide with shock and pain. Yue Xin rushed to him but he raised a weak hand.

Do not touch me. Sunstone will burn you too

Yue Shen grabbed her hand. Xin please. If he rises again he will finish the ritual

She looked from the brother she loved in life to the prince she had begun to understand in heart. Her pulse fractured by impossible choice.

Liang breathed heavily. If you stay by his side you will live but only as a prisoner to fear. If you stay with me you will live forever but lose the sun

Yue Shen voice broke. Choose freedom sister. Do not be enslaved by myths

Liang voice trembled. Choose me and you will never be alone again

Tears flowed down Yue Xin cheeks. How could destiny be so cruel as to offer two impossible futures

The moonlight dimmed as clouds swallowed the sky. Darkness rushed in. She closed her eyes.

I choose

Her words were lost as both men collapsed in agony the shifting moon tearing at the magical bond that held them. Yue Xin knelt between them sobbing. Fate refused to hear her choice.

The Moon Pavilion shook. The altar cracked. Silver liquid surged across the floor forming ghostly shapes. The spirits of past moon brides filled the air wailing.

Liang cried out agony twisting his body. If the ritual breaks I will vanish. My immortality was never meant to end. Help me Yue Xin help me live

Yue Shen gripped her wrist. And if you help him you doom yourself. Leave now before the curse takes you too

Yue Xin stared into Liang desperate eyes. She remembered his sorrow his kindness his longing for freedom from eternal night. She touched his face gently.

You do not deserve to fade alone Maybe I was meant to find you

She stood and ran to the altar. She retrieved the shattered moonstone cup dipped it into the spilled silver liquid ignoring the stinging burn. She carried it back knelt beside Liang and lifted it to his lips.

Drink. Live

He stared at her stunned. Then weakly drank.

Silver light surged around him making the air hum with magic. His wound sealed. His breath steadied. But when he opened his eyes sorrow filled them.

Why did you save me Knowing what I am

Because no one deserves to die unloved

Yue Shen roared in despair. No Xin you do not understand

But it was too late.

The spirits swirled turning into blinding radiance. The cup shattered fully. A column of moonlight descended from the heavens wrapping Liang and Yue Xin in shimmering chains. The Moon Bride ritual had completed its binding not by vow but by sacrifice.

Yue Xin screamed as the chains tightened around her soul. Liang pulled her into his arms shielding her with his body. I am sorry. I could not stop this

Their bodies lifted from the floor floating toward the skylight. Yue Shen lunged trying to pull her free but the light burned his hands. Xin

She reached toward him tears streaming. Forgive me brother. Live for me. Live under the sun

The last thing Yue Shen saw was her sad smile disappearing into the moon.

The sky outside glowed like silver fire. Villagers awoke to see two new stars streak upward from the palace and vanish behind the moon. The night fell silent.

On the moon itself in a palace no mortal had ever seen Yue Xin opened her eyes. She stood beneath a sky of endless twilight surrounded by gardens made of frost and glowing rivers. Liang stood beside her his face etched with guilt and longing.

I tried to give you a choice he whispered. But fate has bound you to me

Yue Xin touched her chest where the chains had once glowed. They were gone. Her heartbeat was steady strong yet changed. She felt neither hunger nor fatigue. Her body felt weightless as if she belonged to the night.

Will I never see my brother again she asked voice trembling.

Liang gently wiped her tears. The mortal world will forget you. Even memory cannot reach the moon

She collapsed into despair. All because fate demanded a sacrificer heart.

Liang knelt before her. I promise your eternity will not be empty. If I must walk this cursed immortality I will spend every moment earning your forgiveness

Yue Xin lifted her gaze to him. Pain lingered but so did fragile trust.

Days became moons moons became years. Yue Xin walked gardens of frozen beauty. Liang never left her side telling stories of constellations of forgotten empires of lost lovers who found each other beyond death. Slowly a bond deeper than mortal vows formed between them.

One night Yue Xin stood on a balcony overlooking Earth distant and small like a lantern floating on a dark river. She whispered into the wind.

Brother are you still watching the night sky

Liang stepped beside her. The world below may forget your name but love does not depend on memory. It exists even when unseen

She looked at him under moonlight. Perhaps destiny did not steal her life. Perhaps it gave her a new one.

She placed her hand upon his. Then whispered

If I must be the Moon Bride then let our hearts rule this forgotten dynasty together

For the first time Liang smiled without sadness. And so they watched centuries rise and fall holding eternity between their joined hands.

And on Earth villagers still release lanterns every year toward the heavens believing the moon watches over them. They do not know a princess of the moon watches back with eyes full of love immortal yet still human still hoping that fate no longer decides hearts.

Love that defies death is not tragedy. It is legend.

And every night when the moon glows brightest some claim they see two silhouettes standing side by side upon lunar palaces whispering vows that even time cannot break.