After some days.
The morning sun cast a golden veil over the royal gardens as Azar began his work. Dressed in the simple yet fine clothes gifted by Sera, he moved with a quiet focus, trimming roses, watering rows of lilies and clearing the marble paths of fallen petals. His hands, once rough from years of labor, now handled each bloom with the care of a jeweler tending to precious stones.
From the balcony above, Serain leaned against the railing, watching him with a curious smile. There was something oddly captivating about the way he worked, steadfast and graceful, as though he was tending not just plants but living treasures.
Aira appeared beside her, carrying a tray of tea. "You've been watching him for quite some time"
"I'm making sure he does his job" Sera replied, though her lips curved with amusement. "And he's doing it well"
---
By midday, Serain strolled down to the garden herself. The scent of jasmine followed her, her gown sweeping lightly across the grass.
"Azar" she called.
He straightened immediately, wiping his hands on a cloth before bowing. "Princess."
"You've made this place even more beautiful in just a few days" she said, her voice warm. "It feels more alive than before"
"I only gave it the care it deserves, princess" he replied humbly, though there was pride in his eyes.
Sera knelt slightly to examine a row of bright yellow marigolds he had planted. "You've done well. You'll be rewarded for your effort."
---
But not everyone was pleased.
From the far end of the garden, a shadow loomed, Prince Kaelith, his arms crossed. His sharp purple eyes studied Azar like a hawk watching prey.
Serain noticed him and smiled politely. "Kaelith, you're here"
"I am" Kaelith said evenly, though his gaze never left the green-eyed gardener. "I didn't know the royal gardens were now so interesting."
Sera tilted her head. "Azar is simply doing his work."
"I can see that" Kaelith replied, the corner of his mouth twitching into something between a smirk and a sneer. "Let's hope that's all he's doing."
Azar, sensing the prince's veiled hostility, lowered his eyes and bowed. "Your majesty"
Kaelith didn't return the courtesy, only turned sharply toward Sera. "We need to talk alone."
Sera glanced once at Azar before following Kaelith out of the garden. But as she left, she caught the way Kaelith looked back at the gardener, sharp, assessing, and full of silent warning.
Azar stood still, the echo of that gaze lingering like a weight on his chest.
( Later That Afternoon )
Kaelith's presence in the garden was calm but deliberate. His sharp purple eyes softened slightly as he turned to Sera.
"I've spoken to your family" he began. "They agreed, we should marry in four days instead of two weeks."
Serain blinked, surprise flashing in her expression before joy replaced it. "really?"
He nodded. "There's no reason to wait longer."
Her smile bloomed like the roses around them. "That's wonderful, Kaelith."
He stepped closer, cupping her face gently. Their lips met in a soft, lingering kiss, a seal on their soon-to-be union.
The moonlight poured over the royal gardens in a silver glow, illuminating every petal and leaf with quiet magic. Serain sat on the small stone stairs, her hands folded in her lap. She admired the beauty before her, roses swaying gently, fountains glimmering, the night air thick with the perfume of jasmine.
This garden was her sanctuary, a gift from her late grandfather, the former king. It was more than soil and flowers, it was her soul. she loved her grandfather a lot.
She tilted her head back, gazing at the stars when a rustle of movement caught her attention.
Azar emerged from the shadows, his chest rising and falling quickly. His skin glistened with sweat, his expression troubled, the lingering signs of a nightmare. He froze when he saw her.
"I'm sorry. I—I'm… please forgive me, I didn't—"
Before he could finish, Sera laughed lightly, patting the step beside her.
He didn't move.
Her tone sharpened. "You're disobeying me?"
He stiffened instantly and hurried to sit beside her.
"Good boy" she teased with a giggle, reaching over to pinch his cheek.
Azar glanced at her, and the words slipped from his mouth before he could stop them. "Why are you sad?"
Sera stilled. Very few people..if any..had ever read her emotions so easily. She always smiled, always appeared unshaken. She was smiling even now yet somehow, he saw through it.
"I don't know, Azar. I really don't" she admitted softly. "My wedding is in four days. I love Kaelith so much, I should be happy. And I am. But still, I feel empty."
Her eyes swept over the moonlit blooms. "This garden is the only thing that makes me feel safe, the only thing that lifts my heart. Azar.… thank you for caring for it the way you do." She reached over and patted his head gently.
In that moment, he forgot how to breathe.
The princess looked like something pulled from a dream, dressed in a flowing royal white nightgown, its silk catching the moonlight like water. The delicate fabric fell gracefully around her, its gold-thread embroidery glinting faintly at the edges. Her long white hair shimmered, framing her pale skin and deep blue eyes in a halo of light.
Her touch erased the remnants of his nightmare, replacing them with a strange, unshakable peace.
"You'll be leaving soon" he said quietly. "I promise I'll never let anything or anyone hurt this garden, princess. I wish you a long and happy life ahead."
( After 3 Days )
The entire kingdom shimmered like a jewel under the moonlight. Lanterns of gold and crimson swayed gently in the warm evening breeze, their light spilling across white marble streets. Every archway, balcony, and tower was draped in silks and garlands and lavender blooms from the northern gardens, golden ribbons from the eastern provinces. The royal families had spared no expense for the wedding of Princess Serain, and the air was thick with music, laughter, and the faint perfume of a thousand roses.
And then there was the garden. Azar had worked since dawn, turning it into a realm worthy of legends. Cascading ivy framed the paths, white lilies floated on the fountain's glassy surface, and delicate lanterns hung from the orange trees, making the leaves shimmer like stardust. Under the moon, the garden looked less like a place of earth and more like a piece of heaven itself, all in honor of his master's wedding day.
Every heart in the crowd beat faster when the princess appeared. Serain stepped forward in a bold royal gown of deep crimson, the skirts wide and rich with gold embroidery, the train flowing behind her like a river of fire. Her snow white hair was crowned with a circlet of rubies, her beauty so radiant it seemed to pull the very air from the lungs of those who beheld her. Behind her walked her brother Raiden, tall and broad-shouldered, his white-and-blue formal suit gleaming in the torchlight, the steel of his posture as sharp as any blade. He looked every inch the warrior prince, his presence like a shield at her back.
When they reached the altar, Raiden halted, allowing Serain to step forward to Kaelith. The ceremony was a vision of royal grandeur ancient vows spoken, rings of gold exchanged, and the kiss that sealed them as husband and wife met with a roar of cheers from the gathered nobles.
Later, the great hall came alive with the night celebrations. Dukes, princes, and princesses from distant kingdoms danced in the ballroom, their silks swirling under chandeliers. Serain remained close to her brother, sipping her wine.
"So, brother… will you cry when I leave?" she teased, tilting her head at him.
Raiden's jaw tightened; he tried to keep his composure. He had been with Serain her whole life, more her protector than her brother. He had fought duels for her honor, ridden through storms to fetch her when she was lost, stood between her and any threat without hesitation. She was the blood he would spill the world to protect.
"You know I will not" he said, scanning the hall.
She pouted, and he sighed. Then, in a rare crack of armor, he cupped her face. "Do you wish me to shame myself before all these people?"
Her lips curved into a smile, she knew the depth of his love without words. She hugged him tightly.
"Where is Kaelith? He should be here at your side" Raiden asked, a trace of annoyance sharpening his tone.
"He said he needed some air. I'll go find him."
As she turned, her gown caught on the edge of his sleeve, a tiny pull that made her hesitate. A few delicate beads fell from the hem, tinkling on the floor like warning bells. She freed herself and walked away.
Raiden's eyes followed her until she vanished from view.
Serain slipped into her chambers, quiet as a shadow. She meant to surprise her husband, who stood out on the balcony. She reached for the door then froze.
A soft, breathless voice that she knew too well.
"Kaelith… stop…"
Another voice, deep and low. "I care not. I have missed you too long."
Her pulse roared in her ears. She pushed the balcony doors open and her world shattered.
Kaelith stood with Aira, the maid Serain had been treated as a sister and best friend, his lips at her neck. Aira's gown was rumpled, and the mark of her painted lips stained Kaelith's wedding suit.
"You traitor!" Serain's voice rang like steel, her eyes burning with a fury that made Kaelith flinch. "How dare you!"
"Serain, wait-..I can explai-"
Her palm struck his cheek before he could finish, the sound cracking through the night. "Explain it all to my father. Save your lies!"
Kaelith's expression hardened. He seized her hair, yanking her toward him. "If your father had not meddled, I would have married Aira as I wished! You were nothing but a crown to be won."
Her voice trembled, but her glare did not falter. "Then may the crown rot in your hands."
"If I refused your father's command, I would never rule. And you so blind you pretended not to see!" His grip tightened, making her cry out in pain.
At that moment, Aira moved, cold steel flashing. Serain gasped as the blade slid between her ribs, straight to her heart.
The world blurred. Her knees buckled. She staggered against the balcony rail, seeing Kaelith and Aira's faces vanish into the shadows.
She was falling until strong arms caught her. Even as her life ebbed, she knew them. Azar. His tears fell hot against her cheek as he whispered words she could not fully hear, though her heart understood.
She touched his face, a faint smile gracing her lips. At least she would die in the garden she loved, in the arms of the one who had always kept it safe.
"Please… do not leave me" he begged.
And then—darkness.
.
.
.
Serain's eyes flew open to blinding white light.
She blinked, once, twice..her breath quickening. The scent in the air was strange, too clean, laced with something sweet and artificial. She wasn't in her royal chambers. The ceiling above her was plain, white, and smooth not carved stone. The walls were painted a pale pink and covered with… fluffy, soft toys. Dozens of teddy bears stared down at her from shelves and bed corners, their button eyes catching the morning light.
She sat up sharply, her head spinning. Her gown was gone. Instead, she wore a short pink top that left her midriff bare, and thin pants of an oddly soft fabric clinging to her legs. Her hair was a tangled mess, as though she'd slept for years.
She stumbled to a mirror on the wall and froze.
It was her… but not her. The face staring back had her eyes, her lips, the familiar curve of her cheek but the softness of her royal beauty was sharpened, her features subtly altered, as if another life had carved new lines into her.
"No…" she whispered, touching the reflection. Her heart thundered in her ears. She slapped her cheeks once, then again, hoping to wake from a dream. But the image didn't change.
Her gaze caught on a small wooden table crowded with books, papers, and a framed picture. She reached for it.
Her knees nearly buckled. The frame held a man and a woman her father and mother and a young man between them, smiling, alive. Her brother.
Tears flooded her vision. She clutched the frame to her chest, rocking forward.
"Father… Mother… Raiden…" Her voice cracked and grew louder, the sobs wracking her body. She wanted to run to them, to bury her face in their arms, to undo whatever cruel twist of fate had ripped her away.
The door opened. Footsteps.
She looked up and froze again. It was her brother… and yet it wasn't. This man had the same blue eyes, the same unmistakable presence but his hair was shorter, styled oddly, and he wore a thin loose top and short pants. Around his neck hung a strange circular device. A silver glint caught her eye, a piercing above his brow.
He stepped closer, his expression puzzled. "Sera? Are you okay—"
She jerked back, clutching the frame tighter.
"Don't touch me!" she snapped, fear twisting in her chest.
Before he could react, she hurled the frame at him.
"What the fuck?!" he barked, dodging as it smashed against the wall.
Her pulse spiked. Before he could take another step, she shoved past him, her bare feet pounding against the floor. She didn't know where she was, only that she had to get out.
The front door was open. She sprinted through it, bursting into blinding daylight and the world swallowed her whole.
This was no kingdom. The air buzzed with a low, constant hum. The streets were paved with strange black stones. Towers of glass and steel clawed at the sky, their surfaces glittering like captured lightning. People moved in herds, dressed in colors and fabrics she had never seen, their faces buried in glowing rectangular objects. Wheeled carriages roared past without horses, flashing lights and metallic skins.
Serain's breath caught in her throat. The voices of strangers surrounded her, their words sharp and quick, half of them speaking in a tongue she barely understood. The scents were dizzying smoke, roasted food, something acrid and sour.
She turned in a slow circle, her heart clawing at her ribs. The world felt too fast, too loud, too bright. Everything she knew had been stripped away, and she was standing in a place that seemed to have no sky, only glass and light.
She wrapped her arms around herself, trembling. "Where… am I?"