The heavy scent of rain hung in the air, a warning of the storm approaching. The dark clouds stretched across the sky, swallowing the last traces of sunlight. Inside her chambers, Miyaa sat before a polished mirror, her reflection staring back at her with an unsettling gaze. Her fingers tightened around the armrest of her chair. She had known this day would come—the day when the world around her would shift, and she would no longer have the luxury of pretending she was safe.
The Western Empire demanded a princess, and fate had cruelly placed her name on their lips.
She knew the court would soon decide her future. Her father, King Fredrick, had not summoned her yet, but the silence was louder than words. The palace halls whispered of war, and Miyaa knew the weight of those whispers would soon fall upon her shoulders.
Her door creaked open, and Lily entered, her face pale. "Your Highness, you haven't eaten all day," she said softly, placing a tray of untouched food on the table.
I turned away from the mirror, my gaze hard. "There's no time for hunger, Lily," I said. "The Western Empire has set its sights on our kingdom, and I will not sit idly by while they decide my fate."
Lily hesitated, then sighed. "Then at least allow me to fix your hair properly. If you are to fight this battle, you must look the part of a warrior, not a victim."
I allowed a small smirk. "Wise words, Lily."
As my lady-in-waiting worked, my thoughts drifted to my younger sister, Lisa. Sweet, delicate Lisa, whose body was not as strong as her spirit. I had spent many nights by her bedside, holding her hand through fevers and restless nights.
A soft knock on the door interrupted my thoughts. Before I could answer, the door swung open, and Damien stepped in. The Crown Prince of Balhae, my elder brother, the only man I could truly trust.
"You look like you're preparing for war," he said, leaning against the doorframe.
"A war is coming, Damien," I replied, meeting his gaze. "And I will not be caught unprepared."
Damien crossed the room in two strides and knelt before me . He took my hands in his. "You are not alone, Miyaa. I will not let them take you away."
I felt my throat tighten. "You know what father will say. If sending me means avoiding war, he will do it."
Damien's grip on my hands tightened. "Then I will give them another option."
Before I could ask what he meant, the door burst open again. This time, it was my bodyguard, the only man who had saved my life more times than I could count. His dark eyes were sharp as ever, his sword strapped to his side, ready for whatever danger lurked beyond these walls.
"Your Highness," he said urgently. "I intercepted a message from the concubine's quarters. Annie and her mother are moving against you tonight."
Lily gasped, and Damien cursed under his breath. however, I did not flinch.
"Then let them come," I said coldly. "I will be waiting."
---
On the Battlefield
Far from the palace, across blood-soaked lands and burning villages, Prince Rex of the Western Empire stood amidst the chaos of war. His armor was stained with the blood of fallen men, his sword an extension of his own body. He had no time for mercy.
The Eastern Kingdom had dared to resist, and now they paid the price. His horse reared, and with one swift motion, he cut down another enemy soldier. The battlefield was a graveyard of broken bodies and shattered dreams.
"Your Highness," his general called. "The enemy is retreating."
Rex pulled off his helmet, his piercing eyes scanning the carnage before him. "Send word to the emperor. The East has fallen."
The war had been won, but another battle awaited him.
His bride awaited him in Balhae.
---
Back at the palace, Annie and her mother sat in a dimly lit chamber, their whispers like the hiss of snakes.
"She must not see the morning light," the concubine said, her fingers twisting the golden ring on her hand. "If she marries the Western Crown Prince, she will be untouchable."
Annie's eyes gleamed with malice. "Then we must strike tonight."
A knock interrupted them, and a hooded figure stepped into the room. The assassin.
Annie slid the dagger across the table. "Make sure she never wakes."
The deal was sealed.
It was time for Miyaa to disappear.
---
The night was eerily silent. I lay on my bed, eyes closed, but I was not asleep.
I was waiting.
And when the door creaked open, I did not hesitate.
A shadow moved toward me ,dagger raised. But before the blade could strike, steel met steel.
my bodyguard stood before me, his sword clashing against the assassin's. Sparks flew in the darkness, and within moments, the would-be killer lay lifeless on the floor.
I sat up, my heart pounding.
My bodyguard turned to me, his grip on the sword tight. "Annie sent him."
My fingers curled into fists. "Then she will regret it."