"Prince! Prince!" Thomas, Prince Andrew's trusted bodyguard, called out urgently as he hurried into the grand hall.
Andrew turned from the window where he had been lost in thought, watching the setting sun bathe the palace walls in hues of gold and crimson. "What's the noise about?" he asked, frowning at Thomas's breathless state.
"Your Highness… have you not heard the news?" Thomas hesitated, unsure of how his prince would react.
Andrew arched a brow. "What news?"
"The royal court has announced your betrothal," Thomas said cautiously. "You are to marry a princess of Balhae."
A slow smile spread across Andrew's face. "Ah, Thomas, everyone knows I love Miyaa. If this is true, then it is the best news I could ever receive."
But Thomas's expression darkened. "Prince, I'm not speaking of Princess Miyaa."
Andrew's smile faltered. His heartbeat quickened. "What do you mean?"
"The king has arranged your marriage to Princess Annie."
A chilling silence filled the chamber. Then—
"What?" Andrew's voice thundered through the hall, shaking the very air. His hands clenched into fists at his sides. "Why should I marry her? This is absurd! I must speak with my father at once."
He stormed through the corridors, ignoring the startled looks from passing servants. The grand doors to the throne room loomed ahead, and he pushed them open without hesitation.
His father, King Frederick, sat upon his ornate throne, his expression unreadable. Advisors stood at his side, whispering among themselves.
"Father," Andrew said, barely containing his anger, "I heard you have arranged my marriage to Princess Annie."
The king exhaled heavily. "Yes, what about it?"
Andrew stepped forward, his eyes blazing. "Why would you do this? You know the one I love is Princess Miyaa."
The king's gaze hardened. "You are still naïve, Andrew. Do you not understand the weight of your responsibilities? The Western Empire stands at the brink of war with Balhae. A marriage alliance is the only way to ensure peace."
Andrew's breath came in sharp, uneven draws. "Then why not Annie? Why Miyaa?"
The king's jaw tightened. "Who do you think the Balhae king would send to marry the Crown Prince? His beloved daughter, or the one he deems… expendable?"
Andrew felt the weight of those words press down on his chest. His father was right—King Fredrick of Balhae would never part with Annie if war loomed on the horizon. Instead, he would send Miyaa, the princess he never cherished, as a sacrificial piece in a dangerous game of power.
Andrew swallowed hard. "Father, we can send our armies as reinforcement instead. We don't have to do this."
The king shook his head. "No country has ever managed to defeat the Western Empire, not just because of their military, but because of their strategy. The Crown Prince is ruthless, his tactics enough to bring even the strongest nations to their knees. We will never gain the upper hand in this war." His voice softened. "Forget about reinforcement. Forget about marrying Miyaa."
Andrew clenched his jaw, fighting against the helpless rage inside him. "Is there truly no other way?"
His father sighed. "We can only wait and see what Balhae's final decision will be."
Andrew turned and left in despair . He knew, in that moment, that the fate of his love, his kingdom, and his future was no longer in his hands.
The grand hall of Balhae's royal palace was bathed in golden candlelight, yet the atmosphere was anything warm. The envoy from the Western Empire stood tall, his fine silk robes shimmering under the flickering flames. His sharp eyes scanned the room with an air of superiority, lips curling into the faintest smirk.
"Welcome. I trust you had a pleasant journey," King Fredrick said, his voice firm but laced with caution.
The envoy gave a slow bow, though the glint in his eyes suggested mockery rather than respect. "Your Majesty, I bring a message from the Emperor himself." His voice was smooth, yet the words carried the weight of an impending storm. "To maintain peace between our great empires, the Emperor has decreed that a princess of Balhae must wed our Crown Prince."
A murmur rippled through the court. Advisors whispered in hushed tones, their faces grim. King Fredrick's fingers curled into a fist atop his throne. Everyone knew of the Western Empire's Crown Prince—ruthless, cunning, a man whose name alone sent shivers through the bravest of hearts. This was no proposal. This was a veiled threat.
The Prime Minister stepped forward, his face lined with concern. "Your Majesty, surely you do not intend to send Princess Miyaa?"
Fredrick's jaw clenched. "And if not her, then who?" His voice was tight, filled with suppressed frustration.
The envoy let out a soft chuckle. "Princess Annie is already engaged to Prince Andrew of the North. That leaves only Princess Miyaa." His gaze sharpened. "Unless, of course, you have another daughter you are willing to send in her place?"
The room fell silent. The tension pressed heavy upon them all. King Fredrick inhaled deeply before exhaling a long, tired sigh. "The wedding shall take place next month," he said at last, his voice devoid of warmth.
The envoy nodded in satisfaction before retreating, his mission accomplished. The doors closed behind him with a final, echoing thud.
King Fredrick leaned back, exhaustion clouding his regal expression. "Dismissed," he muttered.
The court adjourned, ministers and officials filing out, their expressions troubled. Yet the Prime Minister lingered. "Your Majesty, are you truly going to send Princess Miyaa away?"
King Fredrick's gaze hardened. "What choice do I have? Should I offer your daughter instead?"
The Prime Minister paled. Without another word, he bowed and left.
---
Princess Miyaa sat in her chambers, oblivious to the storm brewing outside. The scent of cherry blossoms drifted through the open window, but it did little to ease the heaviness in her chest.
"Princess," a hesitant voice broke the silence i turned to see my lady-in-waiting, Lily, standing by the door, hands clasped tightly. Her usually bright face was shadowed with unease.
"Lily," I said softly, sensing the unease in her friend's posture. "What is it?"
Lily stepped forward, her eyes filled with reluctant sorrow. "Princess… do you know you are to be married to the Crown Prince of the Western Empire?"
For a moment, time itself seemed to freeze. I blinked, as if willing the words to change, to mean something else. But Lily's solemn expression shattered any illusion of hope.
A laugh bubbled from my lips, light and disbelieving. "You must be mistaken, Lily. My father would never do such a thing."
But Lily did not laugh. She only lowered her gaze.
The air turned ice-cold.
I felt her breath hitch, her pulse quickening. The Western Crown Prince. A man of nightmares. A man whose name alone brought fear to entire nations.
My hands trembled slightly, but I forced myself to stay composed. "Tell me everything," I whispered.
Lily hesitated but obeyed. "The envoy came today with a decree. The Emperor demands a princess from Balhae as a bride for his son. The court tried to resist, but… the king had no choice."
No choice.
My fingers curled into the silk of my dress. No choice. The words echoed in my mind like a cruel joke.
I rose from my seat, walking to the window. The palace gardens stretched before me, untouched by the weight of the world. i had always known that as a princess, my fate was never my own. But still…
"Lily," i murmured, turning back. "What do they say about him? About the Crown Prince?"
Lily hesitated, then spoke, her voice barely above a whisper. "They say he is ruthless. That his hands are stained with the blood of many. That his heart is made of ice."
My lips pressed into a thin line.
If my father truly meant to send me away, then i had only a few weeks left in the only home i had ever known.
i would not waste them.
A storm was coming.
And I would be ready.