Chapter 2

Aina took a step back after hearing the announcement. Her ears began to ring, and the dizziness in her head grew worse. She touched her head with her hand, shaking it several times. She wished what she heard was wrong and that her headache would disappear.

'Rose will be the Crown Prince Ian's partner? How is that possible? Rose lost and came in second place. Why is Rose chosen to be the Crown Prince's partner? Why am I being ordered to become a concubine for another kingdom? Why not me as the Crown Prince's partner?'

'Out of respect, they said? To show respect and honor to the Kingdom of Willise, they agreed to choose the best woman who won the competition? They chose me? Don't joke! That means I'm the victim. They're sacrificing me, aren't they? They didn't even ask me first! They don't care about my feelings. Can I refuse?' Question after question filled Aina's mind.

"Impossible," she whispered in panic. Her body trembled, and her once-perfect posture now appeared unsteady. She kept muttering before the world slowly faded into darkness before her eyes. Aina fainted under the surprised gazes of the crowd.

***

Her tightly shut eyes slowly opened. She blinked several times before suddenly widening her eyes. Aina immediately moved her body to sit up.

"Ugh.." a groan escaped her pale, small lips. Her hand clutched her head, which throbbed painfully.

Gradually, her memories returned clearly—about the competition's results and last night's celebration.

Aina wanted to scream. The air around her thickened, forming winds that swirled chaotically.

Aina wished last night's events were just a nightmare. But even this dream was too cruel for her, who had worked hard to reach the top, only to be pushed down with equal force. Aina's heart shattered, and the pain felt so intense it suffocated her.

'Why? Why did this happen? Why?' the questions kept echoing in her mind endlessly.

Unbeknownst to Aina, her unstable emotions triggered her powers. Like many other people of the Audellian kingdom, Aina possessed the ability to control the wind. However, only a select few could harness such talent, mostly among noble families.

The winds around her grew stronger. Aina might have completely lost control if not for the sound of something breaking.

A golden vase fell from a table and shattered into pieces. Aina's thoughts halted, and she snapped out of her trance. She turned her gaze to the source of the sound, which came from beside her bed. What had she just done?

'Did I knock it over?' Aina stared at the shattered vase. Its fate mirrored her own.

Her eyes blurred with tears.

The door to her room suddenly opened. Aina looked toward the entrance, where a maid dressed in servant's attire stood with clear worry on her face. The maid quickly approached Aina, almost running.

"Lady? Lady Aina, you're awake? Are you alright, My Lady? I heard something just now from your room," the maid's words stopped abruptly upon seeing the shattered vase pieces scattered on the floor.

"Vara," Aina called the maid's name.

The maid looked up at Aina's face, ignoring the mess on the floor.

"Yes, My Lady?"

But Aina remained silent and didn't respond further. This only added to Vara's anxiety.

"I will clean this immediately," Vara finally said, starting to pick up the shattered vase pieces carefully.

"How long have I been unconscious?" Aina suddenly asked.

Vara's hand paused in its movement. She then answered Aina's question respectfully.

"You have been unconscious for one night, My Lady. I will bring you some food right away since you didn't eat last night. Afterward, the doctor suggested that you rest for a few more days."

"What about my fate? I mean the King's decision to have me marry King of Willise Kingdom," Aina's voice trembled as she spoke, causing Vara's task to pause again. Vara could hear the quiver in Aina's tone.

Vara swallowed nervously, her face paling as she tried to find the right words. She didn't want Aina to feel worse from her answer, though she doubted her words would bring any comfort no matter how carefully chosen.

"His Majesty has deployed the kingdom's knights and high-quality attendants to serve you while waiting for King Willise's arrival. The knights arrived a day ago and are stationed outside your room, while the attendants assigned to serve you will arrive today. You are free to go anywhere and do anything accompanied by the kingdom's knights. However, the doctor advised that you rest for a few days, My lady."

After saying this, Vara returned to pick up the shattered vase pieces with care.

Aina watched Vara's hands as she cleaned the floor beside her. She was an intelligent woman; she understood her current situation mirrored the shattered vase Vara was cleaning.

The vase had broken into pieces after falling from the table. Aina had been shattered since the announcement at last night's celebration.

To avoid injury, the vase was carefully cleaned. To prevent Aina from doing something that could jeopardize the Audellian kingdom, the kingdom's knights were deployed to monitor her.

And afterward, the broken vase shards could be discarded. Aina could be sent to the Kingdom of Willise once King Willise arrived to claim her.

'Haha', Aina thought bitterly. Her fate was truly laughable. Yet at the same time, she wanted to scream and cry hysterically. But Aina wasn't sure she would accept this quietly. Even in Audellian, Aina often faced mistreatment because Rose was against her. She couldn't stand being in her family's residence either. Her grandfather's discipline was too harsh; if she failed to do something, she would be punished.

When the competition was announced, Aina saw it as a chance to free herself from the family that restrained her. She could even become the empress, the number one woman in this kingdom if she won. But the result was the exact opposite. How would her life improve in the Kingdom of Willise when, in Audellian, she was rarely respected?

Especially in Willise, she would be nothing more than a stranger sacrificed to maintain the relationship between the two kingdoms.

'Right, I have to escape'.

Knock. Knock.

The door to her room was knocked from outside. After Vara finished removing the vase fragments, she opened Aina's door. A blonde-haired girl entered, her expression anything but friendly. Her contemptuous gaze at Aina was evident.

Aina looked at the girl in surprise. "Olivia?" she said.

"Good morning, Lady Aina. You look pitiful right now," the blonde-haired girl replied, her tone laced with mockery. The girl named Olivia also wore a smile that was far from pleasant.

Vara, who was still in the room, gasped, shocked by Olivia's disrespectful words toward her mistress.

Aina was also silent, her jaw tense. Olivia was the woman who secured third place in the competition. She had been Aina's rival, besides Rose. Aina knew they didn't get along, but receiving such treatment still offended her. Aina didn't need someone who added to her mental burden.

It seemed Aina would once again endure ridicule instead of receiving sympathy.

How would Aina handle all of this?