Heir Princess Kiran of the Spring Nation Shezil

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Kiran was never one for parties. She preferred the kind peace of sitting with friends in silence, each doing whatever they wished. At parties, she must smile. Stand straight, never let your crown slip. Your dress must never touch the dirt, but must always touch the floor. Your dress must show your figure, but flow as you walk. Your dress... Your hair... Your dress... Your hair...

It was exhausting.

So, when she found herself in a carriage made of redwood, heading to the Royal Unity Celebration... she wasn't happy.

"Sit up straight, ad-angeid," Kiran's mother - Queen Consort Zild - said. "We're nearly there."

Kiran straightened her back and looked out the window. The large castle located in the Center Nation Shabo grew close. The dome in the middle was covered in stained glass depicting the four seasons. A few minutes later, she was in the courtyard.

Shabo was the only nation to experience all four seasons, as it was in the center of the other four nations that made the land of Shezul. Currently, it was summer, so the leaves were green and the trees were tall. There was a heart of joy in the castle.

"Kiran, wait," Kiran's mother said before the family left the carriage. She leaned over and fixed the circlet on Kiran's head. The circlet was like all those of the children of monarchs: silver with a jewel in the center. Hers was detailed with leaves, and the jewel was a bright green (except during golden hour, when the sunset seemed to appear in the leaves). It fix softly against her pale skin and long red hair.

After that, Kiran's father - King Abil - took Zild's arm and led her out of the carriage. The crowd of Shabo citizens who had gathered in the courtyard all bowed. Kiran stepped out, and they stayed bowing until she had met her parents in the entrance hall.

To the left of Kiran was the royal family of the Autumn Nation Shezum. Kiran recognized their Heir Prince - Veiris. He was tall and had dark brown hair. His circlet was the most simple circlet Kiran had ever seen. There were small twists on the sides, and an orange jewel in the middle. Unlike Kiran's jewel - which was welded into the circlet - his hung down to the area just above and between his thick eyebrows.

Their two nations were once close, but had become more neutral towards each other in the past few centuries. Kiran hoped they would be great allies once more.

She made a mental note to greet Veiries during the Celebration.

Another family entered the hall. The family of the Winter Nation Shezen. King Lonek was the brother of Prince Zentik. Their parents had both died thirteen years before. The past Queen Regnant - their mother, who was named Paop - died shortly after her three-year-old son disappeared in the silence of night. The past King Consort - their father, who was named Doz - died three months before, after passing the monarchy to his eldest son, Lonek.

Kiran's father walked over to Lonek and smiled, putting his right hand over his heart in greeting.

"It has been far too long since we have spoken, keliho," Abil said. "How has your world risen?"

"It has risen above. And you?" Lonek responded.

"Above all. Oh, and Prince Zentik. Is your world risen as well?"

"Yes, it has, notara," Prince Zentik said.

Zentik was short for someone from Shezen. He had black hair that made his already-pale skin look even paler. His circlet was decorated with what looked like snowflakes, and a dark blue jewel was placed in the center of a large snowflake.

Kiran heard he was only a year older than her, making him aged eighteen. He seemed like a nice young man, but Kiran would have to know him before she made a decision about the Prince. She heard rumors that he hadn't stopped looking for his lost brother since he was old enough to fight.

Kiran and Zentik were from allied nations, so it was surprising that they weren't closer friends. However, there were assumptions. If a Prince and Princess from different kingdoms seemed like friends, the world would believe they were more.

Kiran hated those beliefs. Why could a man and woman not be friends? Why must they always be "more"? And why is friendship valued less than romance?

When Kiran became Queen Regnant, she would do her best to change those beliefs.

----

Heir Prince Veiris of the Autumn Nation Shezum

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Veiris had never felt so out-of-place in his life.

The warm autumnal colors of Shezum formal clothes stood out against the kind spring colors of Shezil and sharp winter colors of Shezen. The Prince of Shezen made Veiris's heart beat... The Princess of Shezil made his heart beat faster.

"Is my circlet straight?" Veiris asked his mother - Queen Consort Mesu.

"Yes," his mother said. "Do you not remember how long we spent pinning it to your hair just right?"

"I remember, I just wanted to make sure. We're about to represent out nation. I have to look perfect."

Veiris's sister - Princess Yakel - smirked and rolled her eyes. She saw right through his excuse.

The doors to the entrance hall opened again, and Veiris's family moved out of the way. The royal family of the Summer Nation Shezon walked in. They wore more vibrant colors than everyone else. The King and Queen wore beautiful, detailed crowns. The circlet that Princess Zoneen - who Veiris saw as an elder sister - wore had no engraving in the sides, but a yellow jewel held inside a flower design.

Zoneen walked over to Veiris to greet him.

"It's been too long since we talked," she said, grabbing the front of his arms. "We need more wars, then we can see each other!"

The two laughed.

"Lovely to see you, too."

An attendant from the Unity Castle - which was vacant all year, except for the Royal Unity Celebration - entered the room. The attendant wore a thin pink scarf over their hair. The scarf had been pinned to cover the lower half of their face - a sign of respect for servants to show to royals. That was why Veiris had never seen a servant's full face.

"Hello, Good Royals. I am Keli, and I will be helping you as we announce your entrance to the Great Hall. We will introduce the families in order of life," they said. "So, it will start with Shezil, then Shezon, then Shezum, then Shezen. I'm sure you already know that, but we would hate for any confusion. Please, line up."

They all lined up, and Keli spoke again.

"Thank you. The announcer is standing."

"Welcome, nobles from afar, to the Royal Unity Celebration!" the announcer said. She was barely visible through the crack in the door that Keli had left when they walked into the room. She wore a golden dress covered in pearls. Her hair was covered in a yellow veil, and Veiris assumed her face was also hidden. "The Four Imperial Families are prepared to join us all. Let us welcome them!"

The nobles in the Great Hall cheered. The announcer stepped to the side, and the door was opened wide by servants.

"Imperial Shezil, King Regnant Abil and Queen Consort Zild!"

The Shezil Monarchs entered the Great Hall.

"Imperial Shezil, Heir Princess Kiran!"

The Shezil Princess entered the Great Hall.

"Imperial Shezon, King Regnant Izum and Queen Consort Kirek!"

Izum and Kirek entered the Great Hall.

"Imperial Shezon, Heir Princess Zoneen!"

Zoneen entered the Great Hall.

"Imperial Shezum, King Regnant Neko and Queen Consort Mesu!"

Veiris's parents entered the Great Hall.

"Imperial Shezum, Heir Prince Veiris!"

Veiris stepped into the Great Hall. He walked down the stairs to where his parents waited, then turned to watch.

"Imperial Shezum, Princess Yakel!"

Yakel entered the Great Hall. She stood by Veiris.

"Imperial Shezen, King Regnant Lonek!"

The Lone Monarch entered the Great Hall.

"Imperial Shezen, Prince Zentik!"

The Shezen Prince entered the Great Hall.

"Thank you all for coming to this celebration!" the announcer said, standing in the middle of the platform as the doors behind her closed. "Let this be a night of royal unity, as the name suggests!"

A cheer went up, music started playing, and the party began.