The cursed began

Children are laughing cruelly around a small, quiet boy. One of them throws a stone.

Child A (mocking): "Eww, look at his face—how ugly!"

The boy flinches, shielding his face.

Suddenly, a voice echoes like a command from above.

???: "Hey! Stop it! That's not how you treat someone. Just play and have fun!"

The children freeze and look up.

Sitting high on a wall, the golden rays of sunset lighting her blonde twin ponytails, is a teenage girl in a decorated tunic—calm but fierce.

Children (in awe and panic): "Ahhh! It's the Princess! Run!"

They scatter like leaves in the wind.

Princess Ai (chuckling): "Heh, look how scared they are... Are you okay?"

But the boy, overwhelmed, stares at her wide-eyed and runs away without a word.

Princess Ai (sighing):"Ahh.. why'd he run? I was just trying to help... Well, I did kinda drop out of the sky, huh..."

Suddenly—

Voice (off-screen): "Princess Ai!"

Princess Ai: "Oh no…"

Commander (approaching sternly):"How many times, Princess, must I tell you—no 'funny business' during patrol!"

Princess Ai (pouting): "I'm sorryyy..."

Commander:"Back in formation. Now."

[ Bustling Market Streets – Evening]

The Princess, the Commander, and a squad of armored guards move through the market.

Commander (lecturing):"Look carefully, Ai. This is how you lead patrols across your kingdom. You're not a child anymore. You must learn—"

Princess Ai (cutting him off): "'—you have a responsibility to the kingdom blah blah blah,' yeah yeah, I know."

Suddenly, voices of young girls nearby draw her attention.

Village Girl 1 (giggling): "Aww, it's so cute! Look at mine!"

Village Girl 2:"Hey! Mine's shinier!"

They're playing with wooden kitchen toys, giggling freely.

Ai watches, her smile fading slightly.

[Royal Castle – Training Grounds]

Ai (gritting her teeth): "Ahhh—Wrong! Still wrong!"

King Kazuya (stern):"How many times must I repeat myself? Grip the sword firmly! If you can't even hold a weapon properly, how can you lead a kingdom?!"

Ai (breathing heavily): "Yes, my Lord..."

Commander:"My Lord, it's time for the council meeting."

King Kazuya: "Prepare the hall. I'm coming."

He looks at Ai one last time.

King: "We'll continue this tomorrow."

Ai (timidly):"Um... My Lord? May I... ask for something?"

The King stops.

Ai (gathering courage):"I... I invited some village girls to play with me tomorrow. They're just little girls playing with kitchen toys, and I—I want to join them. Just for a day. Please..."

She looks down, voice trembling.

She had never played as a child. Never had friends. Though raised like a warrior, deep inside she longed for something softer—as there is a still little girl inside her.

King Kazuya (coldly): "If you master the technique we practiced by tomorrow... I will allow it."

Ai (lighting up): "Thank you! I'll do my best!"

[Midnight – Training Grounds]

Ai trains alone, bruised and exhausted but determined.

From a chamber above, the King watches silently.

Inside, Queen Aliza sits at the edge of their bed.

Queen Aliza (softly):"My Lord... will you really let her play tomorrow?"

No reply.

Queen Aliza (more softly): "She's still a girl... your daughter..."

King Kazuya (gruffly):"She has no time for such nonsense. Let me rest."

He leaves her words behind like dust. And Queen already know that he didn't allow her

There was something else—something hidden in the silence. A tragedy no one had told Ai about... yet.

[ Castle Courtyard – Next Morning]

Ai (excited): "Yes! I did it! I did the move! They'll be here soon! I'm so happy!"

Commander:"Princess, they've arrived."

She runs out, glowing with joy—until—

Village Girl (hesitant):"Princess... we're sorry. We can't play with you."

Ai (confused):"Why...?"

Girl: "Because... you're a princess. We're just normal village girls. Your life isn't like ours. You have a kingdom to rule. We're not... supposed to mix ."

Ai (shocked): "No... wait..."

Girl (sadly): "Forgive us... Please let us leave."

The soldier escorting them leads them away.

Ai (head bowed): "He lied to me again... Like always. Every time, a lie—and I always believe it..."

Tears slide down her cheeks, sorrow turning to rage.

Ai (turning, voice shaking): "You told them not to play with me... didn't you, Commander? The King ordered this—didn't he? Answer me!"

She said that and ran away while

The Commander, trembling, falls to his knees.

His eyes widen in horror—not from her anger, but from something else.

Commander (voice trembling): "Th-that mark... in her eyes it appears..."

Commander (whispers): "It can't be... It's begun..."

"THE CURSE"