CHAPTER 1:THE BETROTHAL

The grand halls of Vaeloria's Palace were silent, yet the air was heavy with unspoken sorrow. Princess Seraphina Everaine, adorned in a gown of silver silk, sat before a polished mirror, her emerald eyes reflecting a fate she could not escape.

Outside the arched windows, the twin moons of Vaeloria glowed softly, casting an ethereal light upon the sprawling gardens below. Tonight, the kingdom celebrated, for the princess was to be betrothed to Emperor Darius of Zephirion, a man known not for his kindness, but for his conquests.

A gentle knock at the door broke the stillness.

"Enter," Seraphina called, her voice steady despite the storm within her heart.

Her handmaiden, Elena, stepped inside, her auburn curls pinned neatly beneath a golden circlet. Her hazel eyes, always filled with warmth, now carried a shadow of worry.

"My lady," Elena whispered, closing the heavy oak door behind her. "The court awaits you. Your father has sent me to fetch you for the announcement."

Seraphina inhaled deeply, her fingers tightening over the edge of the vanity. "Tell me, Elena," she murmured, "do you believe in fate?"

Elena hesitated, glancing at the reflection of her mistress in the mirror. "I believe fate is what we make of it, my lady. But… I also know the gods weave our threads in ways we cannot always understand."

Seraphina stood, her gown shimmering as she moved. "Then perhaps the gods have cruel hands."

Elena said nothing, only reached for the silver veil resting on the table. With careful hands, she draped it over Seraphina's head, fastening the delicate lace with a comb of moonstone.

"The people will sing your name tonight," Elena tried to comfort her.

"And tomorrow, I will be a prisoner in another man's castle," Seraphina whispered.

A heavy silence settled between them, broken only by the distant sound of drums echoing through the palace corridors. The betrothal feast had begun.

The Great Hall

The Great Hall of Vaeloria was alive with music, laughter, and the clinking of goblets. Lords and ladies dressed in opulent finery filled the long banquet tables, feasting upon roasted pheasant, honeyed fruits, and spiced wine. King Aldric Everaine, Seraphina's father, sat upon his gilded throne at the head of the hall, his expression unreadable as he watched his daughter descend the marble staircase.

Whispers followed her like ghosts.

"She is truly a vision."

"A sacrifice, more like."

"The Emperor of Zephirion will have Vaeloria wrapped around his fingers with this marriage."

Seraphina kept her chin high, though every step felt like walking deeper into a cage. She reached the end of the staircase, where Lord Cedric Valerius, the king's advisor, extended a hand to guide her toward the raised dais. His sharp, calculating gaze lingered on her for a moment too long before he turned to address the gathered nobles.

"Honored guests," Lord Cedric announced, his voice carrying through the hall. "Tonight, we celebrate a most sacred union—one that will bring lasting peace between Vaeloria and Zephirion. Princess Seraphina Everaine, heir of Vaeloria, shall be betrothed to the great Emperor Darius, securing prosperity for our lands."

A smattering of applause followed, though not all claps were eager. Many in Vaeloria feared the emperor, whose conquests had swallowed lesser kingdoms whole.

Seraphina lifted her gaze, meeting her father's eyes. There was no warmth there, no reassurance—only duty.

And then, the great doors of the hall swung open with a thunderous boom.

A Shadow in the Hall

Silence fell as a lone figure strode into the hall, the torches flickering in his wake. Kael Draven.

Dressed in a dark leather tunic and a tattered cloak bearing the crest of a long-fallen house, the warrior moved with quiet confidence. His raven-black hair fell to his shoulders, framing a face carved with sharp angles and piercing storm-gray eyes.

Seraphina's breath caught. Kael. The man she had not seen in two years. The man she had once loved… and lost.

Murmurs spread like wildfire.

"A Draven? Here?"

"The exiled warrior returns… what does he seek?"

Kael's gaze did not waver as he approached the dais, stepping past stunned guards who dared not move without the king's command.

"Kael," King Aldric's voice was measured, though the tension in his shoulders betrayed unease. "You walk into my hall on a night of peace. Have you come to pay your respects to your future empress?"

Kael's eyes flicked to Seraphina for only a heartbeat before he spoke. "I come not for pleasantries, Your Majesty," he said, voice low but resolute. "I come to warn you."

A ripple of unease swept through the court.

"Warn us?" Lord Cedric scoffed. "What nonsense do you bring, exile?"

Kael did not break his stare. "The empire you would chain your daughter to is already at our gates. Zephirion does not seek peace. They seek conquest. Emperor Darius marches his army even now."

Gasps filled the air. The celebration turned to unease.

King Aldric's fingers curled over the armrests of his throne. "You expect me to take the word of an exiled warrior?"

Seraphina stepped forward, her voice steady. "Father, if there is even a chance he speaks the truth—"

"You will hold your tongue, Seraphina." The king's voice was sharp. He turned back to Kael. "I will not let a traitor sow discord on this night. Guards, escort him out."

The guards hesitated. Kael, despite being unarmed, stood like a man who feared nothing.

"I have seen the fires of Zephirion's war machines," Kael said, his voice edged with urgency. "You offer your daughter as a bride to a man who sees her only as a pawn. But if you will not listen, then I will do what you refuse to do—protect her."

The words struck Seraphina like lightning.

"Enough," King Aldric growled. "You are no protector. You are nothing but a fallen knight of a dead house."

Kael's jaw tightened. "Then watch as your kingdom burns."

With one final glance at Seraphina—one filled with longing, regret, and a silent promise—Kael turned on his heel and strode out of the hall.

The doors slammed shut behind him.

A shiver ran down Seraphina's spine.

The empire was coming. And Kael had returned.

But was it to save her… or to remind her of a love she could never have?