Selena had been pacing around the vast room for what felt like an eternity, her mind racing. Ten minutes had passed, but it felt like hours.
She had chosen the black dress, and to her surprise, it fit beautifully. The sleek fabric hugged her figure in all the right places, and it made her white hair stand out in stark contrast, almost glowing in the light.
'Engagement? What engagement?' she thought, her mind spinning.
But as she lingered on the thought, a faint memory about the book began to surface—something about a wedding. It wasn't her wedding, though... it was with someone named... what was it? Malia? Alia? Something with Lia, at least.
The more she thought about it, the clearer the story became in her mind. She remembered snippets from the book, My Kingdom Fall. Selena Crystiyal was the evil, cruel sister, the one who lost everything to her younger sister. The man of her dreams, the throne, and in the end—exile. And worse yet, eaten by wolves.
Her stomach twisted. 'No... this can't be happening. This isn't my life...'
There was a knock on the door, and another maid entered, her head slightly bowed in respect.
"Your highness, the carriage is waiting for you. Shall we go?" she asked, her voice clear and confident.
This maid was different—much more assured and bold than the one from earlier.
Selena gave a nod, trying to steady her racing thoughts. "I'll be there in five..." She paused as the maid's confused gaze met hers. "I mean, in five minutes. I'll be there in five minutes," Selena quickly corrected herself.
The maid didn't respond to the small slip-up, but added something that caught Selena off guard.
"Your sister is done cleaning the toilets, your highness."
"Toilets...?" Selena repeated, her mind still struggling to piece everything together.
"Yes, the toilets," the maid confirmed, a slight tilt of her head as if it was the most ordinary thing in the world.
"Why the toilets?" Selena asked, her confusion evident.
The maid looked at her as if she'd said something completely out of place.
"You told her to clean the toilets yesterday, your majesty. Do you not remember?" the maid replied, her voice calm but laced with surprise.
Selena blinked, momentarily lost for words. "I... Never mind," she said, her brow furrowing as the weight of the situation sank in. "Tell her to rest... okay?"
The maid stared at her in shock, her mouth slightly open and eyes wide.
'Man, was Selena Crystiyal that bad?' Selena thought,knots tightening in her stomach.
An awkward pause hung in the air before the maid spoke again, her tone polite but expectant.
"Shall we go?"
Selena put on a weary smile, her nerves showing. "Yes."
The maid led her through the castle's grand hallways, each step carrying her further from the confusion of her room.
'Wow' Selena thought as she took in the sights. The walls were adorned with paintings, most of them portraits of Selena Crystiyal—each one more regal and imposing than the last. Beautifully printed designs ran along the walls, adding to the opulence. Everywhere she looked, there were guards standing at attention, maids and servants bustling about, all of them seemingly existing solely to serve the castle's grandeur.
It was undeniably beautiful...
But it wasn't her home. The weight of that truth settled in her chest. She longed to go back to whatever life she'd had before this, to escape the overwhelming luxury that felt more like a prison than a palace.
They eventually made their way outside, and the beauty of the castle's exterior took her breath away. Lush gardens surrounded the building, and the grounds stretched on endlessly. A large, ornate carriage waited at the base of the stairs, its horses standing tall and proud.
As Selena approached, she couldn't help but notice that no one dared to look her in the face. Every person they passed lowered their heads in reverence, their gazes fixed firmly to the floor.
It was clear—whatever life Selena Crystiyal had led here, it had been one of power and fear.
The carriage rumbled away from the castle, heading toward the city—or village, or town—whatever it was called.
People were going about their daily routines, chatting, laughing, and moving along with their lives. But as the carriage carrying Selena passed, a strange shift occurred.
Suddenly, everything came to a standstill. Conversations stopped mid-sentence, and people froze in place. It was as if time itself had paused. The silence was unnerving. No one dared to even glance at the carriage, just like inside the castle.
Selena crystiyal , she thought, letting out a heavy sigh.
As she sat back, her mind began to race again. She hadn't even considered this before—she didn't know the prince's name. What if he asked her to call him by his first name? How was she supposed to handle that?
Gosh, this is troubling, she thought, feeling the weight of her situation pressing down even harder.
The carriage came to a smooth stop, and the driver opened the door to help Selena out. But to her, it wasn't really necessary—she was already prepared to face whatever awaited her.
As she stepped out, her gaze shifted to the castle before her. It was beyond magnificent, towering with regal authority. The stonework seemed to shimmer in the sunlight, and the entire structure was even grander than the one she had just left.
'Okay wow' Selena thought, momentarily taken aback by its sheer beauty.
Without thinking, she moved toward the castle doors, leaving the driver behind, who was meant to introduce her to the prince. But it didn't matter. She had more pressing concerns, and her feet carried her forward.
The guards stationed by the door didn't even spare her a glance as she approached. With barely a flicker of acknowledgment, they opened the massive doors for her—but Selena could have sworn she saw one of them trembling slightly.
"Your h-highness!! Y-you're here!"
The startled voice of a maid near the entrance broke the silence. She quickly dropped her head in a deep bow.
"I-i-i apologize for the wait... Please, allow me to take you to His Majesty," she stammered, her voice shaking with a mix of awe and anxiety.
Selena was led through the massive hallways, and just like she had imagined, everything was beautifully grand. The opulence of the castle was undeniable—every corner, every detail seemed to speak of wealth and power.
Eventually, she was brought into a living room where she was informed that His Highness would be joining her shortly.
She took a seat on the soft, luxurious couch, sinking into its plush comfort. As she looked around, she couldn't help but notice the simplicity of the room, yet how lovely it was in its design. The walls were adorned with tasteful art, and the furniture was elegant without being overbearing.
Guards stood at attention in every corner of the room, silent as statues, their eyes never leaving their posts. Not a single word was spoken between them, adding to the unsettling stillness of the place.
Though she was in awe of the interior, her mind kept racing. She couldn't quite shake the feeling that everything was too... perfect. Too rigid.
It was then that someone entered the room and took a seat across from her.
"Ah, Lady Selena," the person said, their voice smooth but tinged with an unfamiliar tone.
Selena's eyes shot up at the sound of the voice, and she was immediately struck by the most handsome face she'd ever seen.
He was blonde, with deep ocean-blue eyes that seemed to see right through her. This must be the prince, she thought, her heart skipping a beat.
"It's a pleasure to finally meet you," he said, his voice smooth and confident.
He looked every bit the part of a prince—his regal bearing, his well-tailored clothes, even his scent, which Selena imagined was undoubtedly as refined as the rest of him.
"Ah! It's a pleasure to finally meet you too, Prince... uh..." Selena stammered, momentarily lost for words.
"Harry Strongbone," the prince finished her sentence with a slight, amused smile.
A brief silence hung between them before he spoke again. "I'm judging you know why you were called here."
Selena blinked, momentarily dumbfounded. She couldn't quite grasp what he meant until the realization hit her. The engagement.
"Ah, yes, hahaha," she cleared her throat, forcing a nervous smile. "Yes, I know."
"I know this engagement thing came a bit too quickly, but I hope you understand why it's taking place," he said, his voice calm but purposeful.
"Yes... I know," she replied, her tone betraying a lie. In truth, she had no idea what was happening, but she couldn't let that show. She had the book, My Kingdom Fall, but unfortunately, she hadn't read all of it. She had skimmed through the back cover and a few chapters—maybe up to chapter 3—but that was it.
He leaned in slightly, his voice lowering as if sharing a secret. "With both our kingdoms in conflict, we might build an empire together."
The weight of his words settled heavily in the air. Selena's thoughts raced. An empire? What kind of empire? She felt a chill at the idea. The book hadn't gone into detail about the prince or his plans—just vague hints about Selena Crystiyal's fall from grace.
Her mind was spinning. Was this really happening?
Our kingdoms have been at war for far too long, and I want us to change that," Prince Harry said, his gaze steady and intense. "Selena, we could rule together and create a great empire with both our kingdoms, that is, if you want to."
Selena was left speechless. Her mind raced, but her mouth opened and closed as if searching for the right words.
What do I even say to that? she thought, feeling like a spectator in her own body. Why is he asking me to accept the engagement? This is an engagement meeting, it must have already been set, right?
"So, what do you say?" The prince's voice brought her back to the present.
Before she could stop herself, the words slipped out.
"Yes..."
Her mouth moved on its own, the response falling from her lips as if it were preordained