The golden dawn that should have marked a royal union instead bore witness to a daring escape. Princess Liora and Prince Kaelion, bound by a marriage neither desired, vanished from the palace before the ceremony's vows could be spoken.
The grand palace stirred with confusion. Guards stood stationed at every entrance of Liora's wing, their spears gleaming under the sun's glare. Yet, the princess and the prince were nowhere to be found. The halls echoed with whispers—How could they have disappeared without a trace?
Behind the veil of royal schemes, Queen Selene reveled in her plan. With Liora cast out, she and her children would finally rule unchallenged. The queen believed the forced marriage would ensure Liora's misery, thinking Prince Kaelion, from a rival kingdom, would mistreat her. But Queen Selene underestimated both her stepdaughter's cunning and her own daughter's heart.
For in the shadow of the queen's ambition, Princess Clara, Selene's first daughter, wrestled with her own secret: she had fallen for Kaelion. Yet, her loyalty to Liora was stronger. Clara orchestrated the escape, crafting a route so discreet that by the time anyone realized what had happened, Liora and Kaelion were already far from the palace walls. Clara, clever and composed, feigned ignorance, all the while preparing to secretly inform Liora of unfolding events at home.
The escape shattered the royal families. Whispers turned to outcries as both kingdoms—sworn enemies for generations—were thrown into turmoil. Yet, amid the confusion, Queen Selene trembled. Fear shadowed her regal features. What secret from the past had returned to haunt her?
---
Far from the palace, Liora and Kaelion ventured into the unknown. Thick forests loomed, ancient trees whispering secrets in the wind. Liora, who had never stepped beyond the palace gates in her twenty years of life, pressed on. Her mother had kept her sheltered, and now she wondered why.
Kaelion, stoic yet burdened with questions, kept close. The forced alliance between their kingdoms puzzled him. Why would two rival lands suddenly unite? What power lay hidden behind this union?
Days passed. The air grew colder. The search for the old woman, the only person who might hold the truth, seemed endless. Then, without warning, Liora faltered. Her steps slowed, her breath hitched, and she collapsed.
Kaelion's heart stilled.
He carried her to a clearing and hastily built a small hut for shelter. Desperation gnawed at him. He sent word to Clara, hoping for answers. But Clara could only confess one thing: Liora had never left the palace before. Never. Not once in twenty years.
Kaelion stared at the pale, unmoving figure before him. Frustration and fear overwhelmed him. He knelt beside her, grasping her hand—so cold, so fragile—and whispered prayers to gods he barely believed in.
Then, as twilight fell, a rustle echoed from the forest's edge.
Kaelion leapt to his feet, sword drawn.
From the shadows emerged a figure cloaked in tattered robes. The moonlight revealed her face—lined with age, eyes gleaming with ancient knowledge.
The old woman.
Kaelion lowered his blade, relief washing over him. Together, they entered the hut, where Liora lay motionless.
The old woman examined her, her expression darkening.
> "Her life hangs by a thread," she murmured. "The danger she faces is beyond my power. Her fate is bound to a secret buried with her mother. Unless the truth is unearthed, she will meet the same end."
Kaelion's chest tightened. He had always admired Liora's sharp tongue, her quiet strength—even when they argued. Now, seeing her so still, he realized how much her laughter and spirit had meant to him.
> "There must be something we can do!" he cried.
The old woman's gaze softened.
> "She must wake. By any means."
---
Days turned into weeks. The forest grew silent around the small hut. Kaelion stayed at Liora's side, his resolve hardening. He spoke to her, recalling their quarrels, her sharp wit, the rare smiles she shared when unguarded.
Then, on a quiet dawn, Liora's body trembled.
Her breathing faltered.
Kaelion panicked.
Tears filled his eyes as he clutched her hand.
> "You can't leave now," he whispered. "We still argue too much. I need to hear you mock me again. I... I don't want to be alone."
His voice broke.
And then—
A miracle.
Liora stirred. Her fingers twitched. Slowly, her eyes fluttered open.
The old woman gasped in disbelief.
> "Impossible," she whispered. "Only true love could break such a curse."
Kaelion froze.
> "True... love?"
The old woman smiled knowingly.
> "Your heart has chosen her."
Kaelion stared at Liora, confusion battling the truth blooming in his chest.
> Do I truly love her?
As Liora blinked awake, her gaze meeting Kaelion's, the mysteries of the past remained unsolved. But one thing was certain—their journey had only just begun.