Chapter 2: Chains and Wings

Ariana wasn't supposed to make friends outside her world.

Her father's rules were clear—associating with "common" people would ruin their family's name. Her mother reminded her constantly that she was born to be admired, not to mingle with those beneath her. But that day, as she stood by the gates watching Leila disappear into the crowded streets, something inside her shifted.

That night, Ariana lay in bed staring at the ceiling, listening to the soft ticking of the antique clock on her wall. Outside her window, the city of Eldermere stretched beyond the estate, filled with lives untouched by suffocating expectations. Leila's words echoed in her head. It's messy, but it's fun.

The next afternoon, curiosity got the best of her.

Slipping past the watchful eyes of her bodyguards, Ariana found herself at the edge of town, where the streets buzzed with life. Small market stalls lined the sidewalks, selling everything from roasted corn to colorful beaded jewelry. The scent of spices and freshly baked bread filled the air.

She spotted Leila near a fruit stand, arguing with an elderly vendor over the price of apples.

"You're cheating me, Mr. Gathu! I saw you sell it for less yesterday," Leila huffed, crossing her arms.

The old man chuckled. "That was yesterday, kid. Prices change."

Ariana, used to people cowering before her last name, had never seen someone argue so freely. She hesitated before stepping closer. "I'll pay for them."

Leila turned, eyes widening. "Ariana?"

Ariana nodded, dropping a few crisp bills on the wooden counter. The vendor whistled, amused. "Rich girl wants to buy your apples, huh?"

Leila grabbed Ariana's wrist, pulling her away. "What are you doing here?" she whispered urgently. "If someone sees you—"

"I wanted to see your world," Ariana said simply.

Leila sighed, eyeing Ariana's perfectly ironed dress and expensive shoes. "You're going to stick out like a diamond in a pile of rocks."

Ariana smiled. "Then show me how to blend in."

That was the beginning.

From that day on, whenever she could slip away unnoticed, Ariana would meet Leila. They ran through the streets, played soccer with the other kids, and sat on rooftops eating roasted peanuts. Ariana learned to braid Leila's hair, and Leila taught Ariana how to bargain in the markets. They became inseparable, despite their differences.

But secrets don't stay hidden forever.

One evening, as Ariana returned home, brushing dirt off her dress, she found her mother waiting in the grand foyer. Her eyes were sharp, her lips pressed into a thin line. "Where were you?"

Ariana's heart pounded. "Nowhere, just—"

A slap echoed through the marble walls.

"You do not lie to me," her mother said coldly. "You reek of the streets. Have you been sneaking out like a stray dog?"

Ariana clenched her fists, biting back tears.

"You are not ordinary," her mother continued. "You do not belong in that filth."

For the first time, Ariana looked her mother in the eye and said, "Maybe I don't want to belong here either."

The silence that followed was suffocating.

That night, the estate's gates were reinforced. Security was doubled. Ariana was locked in her golden cage once again.

And Leila… she waited at their meeting spot for hours, not knowing that Ariana was now a prisoner of her own family's fear.