We're in a meadow full of lavenders and daffodils, and I am currently with Fabien, my best friend and the prince of the kingdom of Hitia.
"Adore!" Astell shouts, calling me as he runs toward me. Hearing him call me 'Adore' made Fabien furious. "Don't call Adora, Adore. I'm the only one who should call her that."
Astell ignored him and gave me a grinning smile. He's notorious for being that cunning prince of the Vathen kingdom.
"Astell, look at what Fabien found!" I squealed in excitement, pointing at the butterfly that is resting on top of a daffodil.
"Shh... You'll scare the butterfly." Fabien quietly said as he landed his index finger on the surface of his lips.
Astell popped in between Fabien and I.
"Cool!" He shouts and the butterfly suddenly flies away.
"You scared the butterfly!" I said with all my might as tears started rolling onto my cheeks.
"Adore, don't cry. Look." Fabien rubs my shoulder as he tries to console me.
I looked at the butterfly as it flew but suddenly as it lay on top of a lavender, the butterfly turned into something that I didn't even expect.
It turned into snow.
"Waah~!" I was amazed by the scene I witnessed.
"So the legend is true?!" Astell, surprised as I am, jumped as he saw the scene. Astell is intelligent despite being a playful person; he wouldn't believe in such silly legends, but I guess he believes it now.
As we continued playing, our parents came to fetch us.
"Adora, you need to come home now." My mother said as she gently lays her hand on my little shoulders.
"But mom! It's too early!"
She gave me that look and I eventually agreed. Even if I whine, I would still go home.
✦ ✦ ✦
"Adora, my dear, you won't be allowed to see Fabien and Astell for a long time."
"What? Why?!" I tried to muster all of my strength to not allow myself to cry.
"We must always follow the tradition." She said as she avoided my innocent eyes.
"What's this so-called tradition? Why am I not informed about this, mother?" I talked back, trying not to let my tears fall.
"You'll understand it eventually, honey." Mother said, forcing a smile. She then walks away and leaves me in my room.
The next day, I waited for my best friends at our spot. I was expecting to play with them... but, they didn't show up.
13 years later...
I have been waiting for this day. I trained to become the perfect Empress of the Prollisea Empire and saying that I am ready is an understatement. The Prollisea Empire consists of the kingdoms of Hitia, Vathen, and Itheapis.
It is in the tradition that the heirs of these kingdoms are involved with the Game of Draethas. This was named after Emperor Draethas. He prevented the epidemic from happening and saved all of the Prollisea Empire. There was a never-ending civil war between the three kingdoms at the time and because of his reputation, he was given the authority to implement this game to end this civil war. And that is the game that I would be facing tomorrow.
In the kingdom of Itheapis, they should only consider a princess or lady. If a prince competed in the Game of Draethas and became the Emperor, the princess that came from Hitia or Vathen Kingdom wouldn't survive to bear his children. They would die because they couldn't handle the mana that exudes from the princes. And so, they only let the princesses and ladies from our kingdom to become the Empress of Prollisea.
All of the descendants of the reigning queen in Itheapis are men, and thus I was chosen because my father is the Duke.
Before the Game of Draethas starts, there would always be a masquerade ball. I'm wearing a long flowing white gown bejeweled with Swarovski crystals, and a mask just above my nose. I'm surprised to see that I don't look like myself. I just wish everything would be fine tomorrow. I really hope that I can see my two best friends again.