The kingdom of azula thrived on Whispers. Cut through the bustling streets doing noble carriages and settled in the grand Palace halls like a Mist that is refusing to Fade. But today married a bit of urgency crackling like a storm about to break.
"The prince will be there"
"he never shows his face"
"do you think it's true that he's finally choosing a bride?"
" an even if it is,it has to come from commoners as they see us to be?
Elira adjusted the strap of her gown as she passed a cluster of women eagerly spreading the latest Rumour.
A bride? that was laughable, prince ardyn spent years avoiding courtship as if it were a plague, why would he change now?
The answer stood before her to the city's main notice board.a parchment stamped with the Royal crest its bold ink, catching the glimmering lantern light
"A GRAND BALL IN HONOUR OF PRINCE ARDYN, AN OPEN INVITATION TO ALL OF AZULA"
and just below it was written
" a feast, a night of celebration, a once in a lifetime opportunity"
Elira narrowed her eyes, nothing in Azula's history suggested that the royal family would suddenly host and event this grand and compelling not just for the Nobles and monarchs but commoners as well. although the notice gave a little clue of what it would be, afterall,
"a once in a lifetime opportunity could possibly not be for the Nobles only she thought.
And if there was one thing she knew it was that unprecedented events always had ulterior motives.
....
Miles away behind the Towering Palace walls,prince Ardyn sat in his private chamber, with his fingers pressing against his temples as his mother Queen Monica paced The Polished marble floor.
" this is an opportunity" she said,her tone laced with barely restrained patience. "Do you understand how rare it is for a prince to reach your age unmarried and without scandal"
The Queen's sharp gays darkened "then consider it a test, a ruler does not hide in the shadows Ardyn,he commandsthe room"
Command, the word settled heavily on his shoulders, it was what had been expected of him since birth,to lead, to obey,to put the kingdom before his own desires. he had never asked for the crown, never sort the weight of expectation that came with it, but there was no escaping it.
.....
In another part of the city,lady seraphine gazed at her reflection in the mirror, her crimson lips curling into a satisfied smile. she had always known she would attend the ball,to her, the prince wasn't just a man, it was an opportunity, so while others dreamed of love Seraphine played a different game. She had spent years building herself into Azula's elite, perfecting every movement,every calculated glands, and now she would place herself directly before the prince where he had to notice her.
......
Across town, in the dim light of a flickering candle kaelith traced her fingers over the age of the invitation she had,quiet unlike the noble women who would arrive in silk and perfume, kaylith had no illusions of Romace in fact she was here for different reason.
A hidden one
A reason that uncovered would unravel everything
One night
one prince
Three women with three different motives
Yet none of them knew how much their fates were about to get intertwined.
...