The morning sun poured through the tall windows of the Imperial Castle, bathing its white stone halls in gold.
Princess Ariel hummed softly as she walked through the palace gardens, completely unaware that her life had already been redirected by a decision made in silence.
At fourteen years old, Ariel was kind-hearted, curious, and dangerously uninformed.
---
A Normal Morning
"Your Highness, your schedule for today—"
"I know, I know," Ariel interrupted cheerfully. "Lessons, etiquette, magic theory… again."
The maid sighed. "Please don't wander off this time."
Ariel smiled innocently and nodded.
The moment the maid turned away, Ariel slipped into a different corridor.
Freedom.
---
A Glimpse of the Wind
In one of the outer courtyards, a familiar breeze brushed against her face.
"…Wind magic?" she whispered.
Curious, Ariel followed the sensation until she saw a boy around her age standing alone, surrounded by gently swirling air.
Silver-gray hair. Calm eyes. Focused expression.
That's… the Chaos Family heir, she realized.
Luo Chaos.
She had seen him during the tournament but had never spoken to him properly.
The wind shifted suddenly, dispersing as Luo opened his eyes.
Their gazes met.
"Oh—! I'm sorry," Ariel said quickly. "I didn't mean to spy."
Luo blinked, then shook his head. "It's fine."
An awkward silence followed.
---
An Unaware Bond
Ariel tilted her head, studying him. "Your wind magic is beautiful."
"…Thank you," Luo replied.
She smiled brightly. "I'm Ariel."
"I know," he said instinctively—then paused. "I mean… Your Highness."
She laughed. "You don't have to call me that."
Something about her felt… unfamiliar. Not unpleasant, just strange.
Yet Luo felt no connection. No warmth. No pull like the one he felt with Mei Lin.
And Ariel felt none either.
Just polite curiosity.
---
A Decision Made Elsewhere
High above them, behind closed doors, King Arthur finalized the arrangements.
"The Chaos Family has accepted the decree," a minister reported.
"Good," the king replied. "The princess will be informed later."
No names were spoken. No faces considered.
Just bloodlines and power.
---
A Queen's Silence
Queen Maria stood at the balcony, watching Ariel laugh below.
Her fingers tightened around the railing.
She knows nothing, Maria thought. And that's what frightens me most.
---
Two Children, Two Different Hearts
As Ariel waved goodbye and returned to the palace halls, Luo remained in the courtyard, staring at the sky.
For reasons he couldn't explain, the wind felt restless.
Far away, in the Lin Family lands, Mei Lin awoke suddenly from sleep, her heart pounding.
"…Luo?"
The wind outside her window answered softly.