The sun was setting, casting a warm orange glow across the towering walls of Valeris, the capital of the kingdom. At its heart stood a magnificent marble castle. As the twilight deepened, the castle's white stone bathed in the golden light, glowed like fire kissed by dusk.
On one of its many balconies stood a girl—young, graceful, and distant. Her long brown hair flowed down her shoulders like a waterfall, and her red-amber eyes gazed into the horizon.She was Princess Seraphine.
Behind her, quiet footsteps echoed. A woman stepped into view, wearing light white armor and a sword at her side. A long scar ran down her face, but the mischief in her smile softened her hardened appearance.
"Your Highness," she said playfully, holding out a sealed scroll. "A message from His Majesty."
Seraphine turned, her lips curling into a tired smile. "Tracy, how many times must I tell you? When we're alone, call me Sera. You're the only friend I have. Even if you tease me like this... I'll always say the same."
Tracy grinned. "Fine, fine, Sera. But still... this is the first time your father's contacted you in ages. I can't even remember the last time you two spoke."
Sera's smile faded. Her amber eyes darkened."That man is no father. He's the King. And I? I'm his tool—a burden. Don't forget that."
Tracy looked down, chastened, then quietly handed her the scroll.
"It's about your marriage," she said. "The decision's been made."
Seraphine accepted it in silence and began reading.
Tracy, unable to hold back her curiosity, leaned closer. "So? What's his name? Is there a portrait? Is he some prince from a distant land?"
The princess let out a soft sigh. "Jack von Ignis. Count of Greenriver. The only son and heir of Duke Ignis."
Tracy blinked. "Jack? That sounds… a bit too common, doesn't it? Even if he's a noble of high status."She tilted her head, frowning slightly. "Shouldn't a princess be marrying a prince? You know—royals with royals, and all that?"
"Names can be misleading," Seraphine said quietly. "And I'm a princess only in title. A prisoner in truth. You, more than anyone, should understand that."
She reached out, gently tracing the scar on Tracy's cheek with her fingers.
"Maybe," she whispered, "I'll find more freedom with a commoner than I ever would with a prince."
Then she turned back toward the fading sky, watching the sun's last golden rays disappear beyond the horizon.
__
From the window of his study, Jack watched the same sun slowly set—its golden light washing over Pyraethis, the capital of the Ignis Duchy. The orange glow clung to the rooftops and stone walls, painting the city in warmth as it faded into dusk.
Without turning around, Jack spoke coolly.
"Captain Garren, have you completed your mission? I asked you to gather all available information about my would-be wife. So—tell me—what have you found?"
A voice responded from behind him, filled with amusement and just the right amount of sarcasm.
"You're quite the peculiar future husband, my Lord Count. I must say, your tastes… are unusual. Spying on a young girl—your future wife, no less. Hm. Young nobles these days are far bolder than I remember."
Jack sighed and turned slightly, casting a sharp glance over his shoulder.
"Could you shut your mouth, Lord Garren? I gave you a task as my Knight-Captain. I didn't ask for your commentary. Have you completed it or not?"
"Princess Seraphine is the firstborn of King Arvex and Her Majesty, the late Queen Elnor, who passed away just a few weeks after Seraphine's birth," Garen began, his voice laced with subtle suspicion. "Her presence within the royal family has always been… unusual. She rarely attends public events, and on the rare occasions she does, she's always seen beside the King—never more than a few steps away. Or rather... I'd say the King never leaves her alone."
Jack, listening intently, tilted his head and interrupted, "And why would you say that? Maybe she's just shy—someone who doesn't like crowds or talking to strangers."
Garen raised a brow and scoffed sarcastically, "Oh, of course. Maybe you, future husband, have uncovered some profound truth with your mythical genius that outshines my entire spy network. Please, next time you go spy on your wife-to-be and let this old guard enjoy retirement."
Jack rolled his eyes. "How petty of you, Captain. Fine, go on. I won't interrupt again."
Garen gave a mock bow. "It would be an honor."
He straightened and continued, more seriously this time. "No, the Princess isn't shy. Not in the slightest. A few years back, she managed to convince some of the castle guards and servants to help her escape the palace—and the kingdom. For reasons still unknown."
Jack raised an eyebrow at that but remained quiet.
Garen smirked, pleased that Jack was finally listening properly. "I suspect the King is wary of her. Not because of what she's done, but because of her blood. There's something about her mother's side he doesn't want the world—or the Princess herself—to know."
Jack opened his mouth to speak, hesitated, then finally said, "…And do you know what that something is, Garen?"
"I was about to get to that," Garen said, a twitching smile creeping across his scarred face. "Now listen closely, because this part gets interesting."
He leaned in, voice lowering just enough to pull Jack's attention tighter.
"I believe the Princess may already know the truth. During her escape attempt, she fled south. Not east. Not west. South—towards the Empire of Raevanthar."
Jack frowned. "So?"
Garen smirked. "Her mother, Elnor… was actually the sister of the current Emperor. Emperor Talandor Raevan."
Jack blinked, clearly trying to process the implication. "You mean… the late Queen Elnor was Imperial royalty?"
"Exactly," Garen said, pointing a finger in the air for emphasis. "That makes Princess Seraphine a Raevan by blood. A niece to the Emperor. The daughter of both a King and an Imperial Princess."
Jack's brows furrowed deeper. "Still... I don't get the point. Why would the King imprison his own daughter just because her grandfather—or uncle—is an Emperor? Shouldn't that be something to celebrate? That kind of bloodline is rare."
Garen's smile faded. "In a perfect world, maybe. But in this one? That kind of bloodline is dangerous."
He continued, his tone growing heavier. "At the time of the marriage, our kingdom didn't fully grasp Emperor Talandor Raevan's true nature. He had only recently ascended the throne, and the alliance was forged to boost trade and form diplomatic ties with the strongest power on the continent."
He paused, then added coldly, "But Talandor Raevan is a man of ambition. Ruthless ambition. His dream is to unite the entire continent under his banner. Our kingdom, being the second strongest, stands in his way. The King has allied with other nations to hold the Empire at bay, but ever since Seraphine was born, the Emperor has made several attempts to undermine the Kingdom. His final goal, I suspect, is to crown Seraphine and rule through her—a puppet Queen of both bloodlines."
He straightened up, crossing his arms. "Think about it, Jack. A girl born of two thrones. If the Empire ever wanted a legitimate claim to our land, or if our Kingdom wanted to claim influence in the Empire, Seraphine would be the perfect key. Or worse… the perfect weapon. The King isn't raising a daughter—he's containing a political time bomb. Even if he loves her, he cannot afford to let her out of his sight."
Jack's voice came out barely above a whisper. "So, Captain… if she's so important to both the Kingdom and the Empire, why would the King just hand her over to us?"
The more Jack thought about it, the more uncertain he became.What if the Ignis family is being used as a pawn? A buffer between two thrones—caught in the storm between the Kingdom and the Empire…