The sun dipped low over the Kingdom of Eldoria, casting golden light over its hills, rivers, and the majestic castle nestled atop a blossom-covered slope. From the highest balcony, Princess Anita stood quietly, her emerald eyes drifting over the kingdom she was born to rule. Yet inside her heart, something stirred—not pride or excitement—but yearning. A whisper of something more.
A gentle breeze teased her auburn curls as the evening bell rang below, signaling preparations for the grand masked ball—a celebration of peace, wealth, and heritage. Guests would arrive in glittering carriages, and nobles from every corner of the realm would dance under moonlight and chandeliers. But Anita's heart wasn't in it.
Just as she turned to leave the balcony, a rustle echoed from the gardens below. She paused. A cloaked figure emerged from the shadows, as if summoned by her thoughts. Startled, Anita's breath caught in her throat. She should have called the guards—but something about the figure made her stay.
The stranger's voice was soft, like a song carried on the wind. "You are not meant to sit on a throne, Princess. Your fate lies beyond these walls."
"Who are you?" Anita whispered.
The figure stepped closer, and from beneath the hood, luminous eyes met hers. "Seek the forest," they said. "Seek the truth beneath the roots. And find the Crown before the Shadow does."
Before she could speak again, the figure was gone—vanished as though they were never there.
Anita clutched the balcony rail, her pulse racing. She didn't know what the Crown was. Or what shadows would rise. But she knew one thing…
Tomorrow, she would begin her own story.
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