When swords fall like petals

WHEN SWORDS FALL LIKE PETALS

Introduction

In a world of two rival kingdoms Velheim in the Southwest, Drakar in the Northeast tradition binds women like chains. But some chains are made to be broken.

Prologue: The Knight Who Wasn't

The tournament grounds of the Southwest Kingdom still reeked of sweat, steel, and summer dust. The crowd roared as Sir Liam Rosier - a knight of unremarkable height but remarkable silence - parried a blow that should have shattered his ribs.

Except Sir Liam wasn't Liam.

Her name was Nagma.

And she was very, very tired of pretending.

Her twin brother, the real Liam, had the magic in their bloodline. She had the sword arm. When he'd refused his military conscription to chase spells and incantations, Nagma had simply stolen his armor, cut her hair, and stepped into a lie that had lasted eight months.

Eight months of binding her chest until she couldn't breathe. Eight months of deepening her voice and avoiding eye contact. Eight months of watching nobles sneer at "Sir Liam's" slender build and graceful footwork.

Tonight, the Crown Prince himself was watching.

Crown Prince Liam Rosier - no relation to her false identity, though the shared name made her skin crawl - stood in the royal pavilion like a blade in a velvet sheath. Tall. Dark-haired. Eyes that didn't blink as often as they should. They called him the Shadow Handler in whispers. He ran the empire's unseen networks: spies, assassins, information. No one knew his real face except the King.

And right now, that face was staring directly at her.

Breathe, Nagma told herself. He doesn't know. No one knows.

She won the match. Barely. As the crowd erupted, she kept her head down, her breathing steady, her left hand - the healer's hand, the one that had saved lives on a frozen battlefield two years ago-tucked safely behind her back.

Then the Crown Prince descended from the pavilion.

He moved like smoke. Slow clap. No smile.

"Well fought, Sir Liam. Truly. But I noticed something your left parry. Too elegant. Almost practiced by someone smaller. Someone hiding."

He leaned in. His breath was warm against her ear.

"Care to explain?"

Nagma's heart stopped.

But her face remained calm. It had to.

"I don't know what Your Highness means."

The prince's eyes glittered.

"Then train with me tomorrow. Privately. Just you, me, and the truth."

And just like that, the game changed.