Quite afternoon in the Frederick Kingdom . Markets are busy . Everyone focusing on working .
While somewhere
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.
The boy us crying with fears while the other children are bullying him when
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.
A teenage girls is Sitting high on a wall, the golden rays of sunset lighting her blonde twin ponytails, in a decorated tunic—calm but fierce.
Watching them with disappointment and anger on her face
Children (in awe and panic): "Ahhh! It's the Princess! Run!"
They scatter like leaves in the wind.
Princess jump off the wall
Princess Ai (chuckling): "Heh, look how scared they are... Are you okay?"
She asked the boy with kind smile while feeling proud
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 can't blame him I just came out of nowhere.... after all I am princess of this kingdom"
Suddenly—
Voice (off-screen): "Princess Ai!"
Princess Ai: "Oh no…"
She said with fear and guilt of being caught
Commander (approaching sternly):"How many times, Princess, must I tell you—no 'funny business' during patrol!"
Princess Ai (pouting): "I am just helping a child..... ahhhh ok ok I'm sorryyy..."
She tried to defend but couldn't because she was actually having fun
Commander:"Back in formation. Now."
Ai : "yes sir "
[ 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 of this kingdom on your shoulders blah blah blah,' yeah yeah, I know."
She said with disgust
Actually she hears those words a thousand times
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.
She wanna play she wants to know what is it ..?but couldn't....
They complete the patrol and came back to the castle
Commander: " now it's your training time princess My lord is waiting....."
Ai : " ahh I am going..."
She doesn't wanna go but she has to
After a while
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..."
She kept trying but failed.....
She is Extremely tired her face dripping sweat, breathing heavily but still king showing no mercy to her.
Such then commander appears
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. Who is hiding her smile
Ai ( whisper) : " Thank god..... it's over"
King: "We'll continue this tomorrow."
Ai : "Yes my lord...."
King is leaving while Ai is watching to ask and without second thought she chin up her and ask
"Um... My Lord? May I... ask for something?"
The King stops look back with frown on his forehead he already know that it was going to be something ridiculous.
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.
So she just grabs courage and ask that in a flash knowing the fact it's going to reject
King Kazuya (coldly): "If you master the technique we practiced by tomorrow... I will allow it."
Ai (lighting up) she couldn't believe that he agrees "Thank you my lord ! I'll do my best!"
Till midnight she kept practicing in order to have some fun with girls.
Ai trains alone, bruised and exhausted but still she is determined.
From a chamber above, the King watches silently.
Inside, Queen Aliza Ai's mother sits at the edge of their bed.
Said (softly):"My Lord... will you really let her play tomorrow?"
She asked with dougt because she knows there no way he will allow her
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 cuts her words and goes to rest .
He leaves her words behind like dust.
Queen Aliza thinking " After all as long as that tragedy is bound to my daughter she....." Her heart got broken she holds her tears back ....
There was something else—something hidden in the silence. A tragedy no one had told Ai about... yet.
The next morning
Ai (excited): "Yes! I did it! I did the move! They'll be here soon! I'm so happy!"
She is able to master that move and now excited to hangout with girls
Commander:"Princess, they've arrived."
She runs out, glowing with joy—until....
Ai : " welcome welcome let's go ....show me your kitchen set how you play with thatt.....?? " She kept saying lots of things with excitement
When
Village Girl (hesitant):"Princess... we're sorry. We are not here to hangout with you . 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.
While Ai is standing in disbelief Girls leaves after saying what they want but still Ai try to tell her mind that it's not true
"He lied to me again... Like always. Every time, a lie—and I always believe it..."
She said all that with bowing her head
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 with anger with rage she already know that something like that happened like always but she still believe and again got betrayed.
Her eyes filled with anger tears are falling down her eyes .....
She stare him for a moment 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 again... it happens"
Commander (whispers): "It can't be... It's begun..."
"THE CURSEEEEEEEEEE"