Elizabeth lay awake in bed, staring at the ceiling. Thirty days. That was all she had to find true love. But how was she supposed to do that? Love wasn't something she could force, and she had never thought about it seriously before.
The weight of the task pressed on her chest. Helen had found true love in her father, Daniel, but could Elizabeth really do the same? She wasn't even sure what love was supposed to feel like.
Morning light streamed through the window as she got up and stretched. Boma was already waiting for her in the living room, a cup of tea in hand.
"You look like you didn't sleep," Boma said, watching her closely.
Elizabeth sighed as she sat down beside her sister. "How am I supposed to find true love in just thirty days?"
Boma smiled softly. "Love doesn't follow a timeline, but you won't find it by sitting in this house."
Elizabeth frowned. "So what do I do?"
Boma set her cup down. "You need to live. Go out, meet people, open your heart. If love is meant to find you, it will."
Elizabeth hesitated. She had been away for so long—her life had revolved around survival and staying away from this place. Now she was expected to open up to someone new?
As if reading her thoughts, Boma nudged her shoulder. "Take it one step at a time. You don't have to figure it all out today."
Before Elizabeth could respond, Ada stepped in. "She's right," Ada said. "But we also need to be careful. The river is watching."
Elizabeth met her gaze. "What do you mean?"
"The forces that tried to stop Helen will try to stop you," Ada warned. "They don't want another Keeper. They will use fear, doubt, and even people close to you to distract you from your path."
A shiver ran down Elizabeth's spine. "So what do I do?"
Ada's eyes softened. "Be smart. Trust your instincts. And most importantly, let your heart lead, not fear."
Elizabeth took a deep breath. She had no choice. If she wanted to protect her family and uphold Helen's legacy, she had to find love.
But where would she even begin?
Elizabeth sat in silence, absorbing everything Ada and Boma had told her. She had no idea how to find love, but she knew one thing—if she wanted to protect Christian, she had to try.
She sighed and leaned back against the couch. "Speaking of Christian… where is he?"
Boma's expression softened. "He's been in his room since the incident. Dad hasn't left his side. He's been taking care of him, making sure he's alright."
Elizabeth's chest tightened. Her father had always been a strong man, but she could see how much this was breaking him. Losing Helen, almost losing Christian… it was too much. She had to make sure nothing else happened to their family.
As the sun began to set, Elizabeth made up her mind. She would go out. Maybe love wouldn't just fall into her lap, but she had to at least try.
She stood up and walked to her room, searching through her clothes for something nice. After a few minutes, she settled on a fitted gown that hugged her curves in all the right places. It was a deep shade of blue, flowing just below her knees. Simple, yet elegant.
She slipped on a pair of heels and let her hair fall in soft waves over her shoulders. Staring at her reflection in the mirror, she barely recognized herself.
"You look beautiful," Boma said from the doorway, smiling.
Elizabeth chuckled nervously. "It feels weird dressing up like this."
Boma walked over and squeezed her hand. "You deserve to feel beautiful. Now go. See where the night takes you."
Elizabeth took a deep breath and nodded. She grabbed her small purse and stepped outside. The air was cool, the night alive with the distant hum of voices and cars.
She walked down the street, her heels clicking against the pavement, heading toward the main road to catch a cab. As she neared the roadside, something—or rather, someone—caught her eye.
A young man stood in front of a marriage court, his hands in his pockets. He was tall, well-built, and undeniably handsome. The soft glow of the streetlights highlighted his sharp jawline and deep brown eyes.
Elizabeth slowed her steps, curiosity sparking in her chest. What was he doing standing outside a marriage court at this hour?
And why did it feel like fate had led her right to him?