Prologue: A Suffocating Royalty
It’s so peaceful
The soft click of the ivory under my fingertips felt soft and gentle, each making its own unique sound. The keys were quiet yet resonant, each one holding a distinct, vibrant soul. A desperate, burning impulse inside me demanded that I push further, that I play until the world dissolved, or play until my fingers burned—but it was a forbidden boundary I could never cross.
I’m sitting in a small corner of my room playing on a mini keyboard that belonged to my brother. He had bought it for me when he went on his first outing. It was small yet more valuable than any; it contained memories.
I continue my practice when I get interrupted.
"Get ready to go to the ball, my lady,” my maid says.
" Fine, I’ll get dressed,” I replied glumly.
***
In this kingdom, the royals were bound by three absolute laws:
1.You must never succumb to a lifelong affliction.
2.You must never let your mind fracture under darkness or despair.
3.You must never, under any circumstances, touch music.
To break even one meant absolute, irreversible ruin.
Just like my dearest brother…
I can still hear the warmth of my brother’s voice, always telling me I should pursue my dreams. His bright smile that lit up the room and his confidence, destined to be the “Next Legendary Emperor.” But a single, cruel twist of fate shattered everything in the blink of an eye.
A sudden illness seized him, making him entirely paralyzed.
Almost instantly, the court’s praises turned to venom. Attending royal banquets became a suffocation. The air was thick, and no matter where I went, the cruel whispers rang through the grand halls.
“Her brother is tainted now,” someone sneered behind a silk fan. "Even if he miraculously recovers, he can never inherit the throne.”
“Still, a broken prince might be preferable to a girl,” another countered, making everyone sneer.
“Not like I wanted to be born royal,” I whispered to myself each time.
***
Soon, we arrived at the Royal Banquet held every year. It was a place where they would praise the heir, but now it’s purely used as a laughingstock to the royals.
“Announcing the Crown Prince, Alfie, and Crown Princess, Ann.”
Right at that instant, I heard whispers about the disgraced Prince.
This was unfair; he never deserved any of that. I turned around to see him sitting in a wheelchair, the same person yet completely different. When he passes by others, he ducks his head low, avoiding everyone, and his smile is gone; all I saw was a fake smile that was used only when others were watching.
This is all my fault. If only--
Suddenly, I got stopped by a voice.
“What if the crown princess is the one who did this to him?”What if she poisoned him for the crown?”
I froze. The room seemed to become quiet.
Me? The accusation hit like a physical blow. A suffocating weight pressed down on my lungs, cutting off my air. My heart hammered frantically against my ribs like someone was trapped in it, and a cold, prickly sweat broke out across my skin. The room blurred as hyperventilation took over; every breath felt like breathing gas.
And yet they weren’t wrong.
It is my fault
I don’t deserve this
Tears lay on the rims of my eyes, but realization hit me as I remembered where we were. Not here. Do not break. I forced my trembling hands to clench into fists, digging my fingernails into my palms to stop my tears. I had to swallow the choked sob rising in my throat. I had to be an impenetrable fortress. I was the sole heir left to the throne. I couldn’t afford a single crack in my armor, because if they saw my weakness, they would realize the horrifying truth I was running from: That I was more disgraced than my brother.
Then I felt a burning gaze on my back, I forced myself upward and met the icy stare of my father across the ballroom. His eyes held no comfort, only an unspoken reminder of the words she said three years ago:
“You are the absolute last hope for this family,” she had whispered, her voice devoid of warmth. “Do not dare disappoint us.”
It was already too late for that.
