Chapter 1. A Fate Decided
Long ago, in the magnificent Kingdom of Valoria, there lived the wise King Aldric and the graceful Queen Seraphina. They had two beautiful daughters. The elder princess, Elara, was kind-hearted, gentle, and respected by everyone in the kingdom. The younger princess, Lyra, was beautiful as well, but she was proud, ambitious, and often jealous of her elder sister.
When both princesses came of age, the King announced a grand ceremony unlike any other.
"The time has come," King Aldric declared before the royal court. "My daughters shall choose their future husbands through the ancient Crown Ceremony."
The royal hall was filled with princes, nobles, warriors, and young men from kingdoms near and far. According to tradition, each princess would throw the sacred royal crown into the crowd. Whoever caught it would become her future husband.
Before the ceremony began, Lyra quietly leaned toward Elara and whispered,
"Dear sister... let me choose first."
Elara smiled warmly.
"Of course. You are my little sister."
Lyra stepped forward confidently and threw the golden crown high into the air. It landed perfectly in the hands of Prince Cassian, the handsome heir to the wealthiest kingdom in the land.
The crowd erupted in cheers.
"What a perfect match!"
"They truly belong together!"
Lyra proudly walked toward Cassian with a victorious smile.
Then it was Elara's turn.
As she prepared to throw her crown, Lyra secretly stretched out her foot, causing Elara to lose her balance for just a moment. The crown slipped from Elara's hands and flew in an unexpected direction.
It landed in the hands of a poor young man named Kael, who wore simple clothes and lived as a humble villager.
For a moment...
The entire hall fell silent.
Then loud laughter echoed throughout the palace.
"A poor man?"
"Did the princess really choose a beggar?"
"How can the future queen marry someone like him?"
Even Queen Seraphina couldn't hide her disappointment.
"Oh, Elara... you could have chosen anyone. Yet you chose a poor man?"
Lyra laughed even louder.
"Sister, at least you could have picked someone rich."
King Aldric stood up angrily.
"You have disgraced this royal family. I expected so much from you."
Everyone waited for Elara to change her decision.
Instead, she stepped forward bravely and held Kael's hand.
"I will marry Kael. He is the man chosen by destiny, and I will not take back my word."
The hall became silent once again.
Lyra immediately announced proudly,
"And I shall marry Prince Cassian, the future king of the greatest kingdom."
King Aldric sighed before making his final decision.
"So be it. Three days from now, both weddings shall take place in this palace. According to our tradition, each groom must return in three days with a gift worthy of his bride."
After the announcement, both sisters went to meet their future husbands.
Lyra smiled at Prince Cassian.
"I'll be waiting for you."
"I'll return in three days," Cassian promised.
Meanwhile, Elara walked toward Kael.
"Will you come back for me in three days?"
Kael looked into her eyes and nodded.
"I promise."
As Kael was leaving, Prince Cassian quietly walked over to Elara.
"You still have time to change your mind," he whispered. "Don't waste your life with a poor man."
Without waiting for an answer, he walked away.
Back in the palace, Lyra continued mocking her sister. Even the King and Queen tried to convince Elara to cancel the marriage.
But Elara stood firm.
"No matter what anyone says... I will marry Kael."
