In the opulent ballroom of the royal palace, Princess Seraphina of the Crystalia Kingdom celebrates her birthday surrounded by her family, noble guests from the Emerald Empire, Magmarium, and Thunderfell. The air is filled with whispers of admiration and reverence for the beloved princess as gifts from far and wide are presented before her.
As the evening progresses, the moment arrives when her dearest friend Sarah, whom she and Atlas had grown up with as childhood companions, approaches Seraphina with a box intricately wrapped in shimmering paper. Sarah's side stands Seraphina's so-called fiancée, Atlas, their expressions smug and self-assured as they present their gift together, as if doing her a great favor.
While maintaining a composed smile on her face, Seraphina's heart seethes with bitterness and betrayal. She curses them silently, her thoughts laced with the sharp sting of betrayal as memories of their shared past flood through her mind.
Despite the anguish in her heart, Seraphina graciously accepts their gift, thanking them with practiced ease before Sarah spoke.
"Oh, my dear bestie, happy birthday, so sorry I didn't get enough time to wish you a happy birthday, and together we have a friendly conversation as usual, I have a lot of gist for you, Phina," Sarah spoke remorsefully.
"You bitch, if we're alone together, I'll just kill you," Seraphina mumbled under her breath.
"Pardon?" Sarah asked, as she wondered what Seraphina was saying.
"Don't worry, I'll find time to come see you tomorrow, okay?" Sarah spoke.
"Oh, God, look how beautiful you are, huh, Phina? I can't wait for you to go and come back from Azurehaven empire so we could get married officially," Atlas said with a smirk on his face.
"When I'll be back, I'll come to kill you and your sex whore, Sarah. How about that?" Seraphina imagined in her head.
"Hey, Phina, you are spacing out," Sarah spoke.
"Lord Atlas really loves you beyond words," Sarah said.
"Yeah, yeah, whatever, keep blabbering your stinking mouths," Seraphina spoke to herself inwardly.
"Why don't you marry him?" Seraphina finally replied rudely.
Both Atlas and Sarah glanced at each other, then Sarah said, "Why do you say so, Phina?"
"Come on, it's just a joke," Seraphina said, as her burst out laughing.
"Oh, okay, we'll get leaving," Atlas replied, and then they scurried away.
Alone once more, surrounded by the echoing laughter and chattering of the party guests, Princess Seraphina's facade falters, revealing a glimpse of the heartbreak that lies beneath her serene demeanor.
As she clutches the gift from Sarah and Atlas in her hands, a single tear escapes her eye, a poignant reminder of the pain hidden behind her smile.
The night wanes on, the festivities continue, but within the depths of the princess's soul, a storm rages silently as she grapples with the betrayal of those she once held dear.
And yet, despite the ache in her heart, Seraphina remains resolute, her spirit unbroken, her smile unwavering as she faces the world with grace and dignity, a true princess in every sense of the word.
As the night wore on, Seraphina found herself once again in the company of Sarah and Atlas. This time, they were seated in a quiet corner of the ballroom, away from the prying eyes and ears of the other guests.
"Phina, we need to talk to you about something," Sarah said, her voice low and serious.
"What is it?" Seraphina asked, a sense of trepidation growing in her chest.
"It's about the Emperor's contest," Atlas said, his eyes gleaming with a calculating light.
"We know you're going to participate, but we want to advise you on how to... minimize your chances of catching the Emperor's eye," Atlas said.
Seraphina's eyebrows shot up in surprise. "What do you mean?"
Sarah leaned in, her voice barely above a whisper. "We mean, don't try to stand out too much. Wear plain clothes, don't draw attention to yourself. You know, just blend in with the other maidens."
Seraphina's eyes narrowed, her mind racing with suspicion. "Why would you want me to do that?"
Atlas smiled, his teeth glinting in the candlelight. "Because, Phina, we want you to come back to us. We want you to marry me, as planned. And if you catch the Emperor's eye, well... that might not be possible."
Seraphina's heart seethed with anger and betrayal, but she kept her mask of calm intact. "I see," she said, her voice dripping with sweetness. "Thank you for your concern, dear friends. I'll definitely take your advice into consideration."
As she smiled and nodded, Seraphina's mind was racing with plans of her own. She would participate in the contest, all right. And she would make sure to stand out, to shine brighter than any other maiden. For she knew that the only way to escape the clutches of Atlas and Sarah was to catch the Emperor's eye, and to make him fall deeply in love with her.