3 days ago.
The morning sun filtered through the tall, arched windows of Bloodmoon Academy, casting warm golden streaks across the polished stone floors.
The classroom of 2-B buzzed with quiet anticipation as students trickled in, their uniforms crisp and their satchels heavy with scrolls and crystal pens.
At the back of the room, Prince Natsuko Sanda lounged in his seat, one leg draped casually over the other.
His silver-threaded cloak shimmered faintly, a subtle reminder of his royal blood.
Beside him, Kuwahara Daisuke, his childhood friend from when he was 17.
He was confidant and leaned over the desk, whispering animatedly.
"Did you hear about the merchant's caravan that got ambushed near the Hollow Pines?" Daisuke asked, eyes wide with curiosity. Sanda smirked, brushing a strand of dark hair from his face.
"Father dispatched the Crimson Guard. They will manage it. But I heard Kohaku's family was part of that convoy."
Across the hall, in the adjacent corridor just outside the class 2-B, Natsuko Akagi stood alongside with Hagiwara Kohaku, her best friend and the merchant's daughter.
Akagi's demeanour was calm, regal even, but her eyes flicked toward the classroom door with quiet impatience.
"I hope your father's alright," Akagi said gently, placing a hand on Kohaku's shoulder.
Kohaku nodded, her braid swaying as she shifted nervously.
"He sent word this morning. Just a few bruises. But the guards said it was no ordinary bandit raid."
The bell chimed softly, signalling the start of class.
Students hurried to their seats, parchment rustling and whispers fading.
The instructor, a stern elf with ink-stained fingers, entered with a flourish of his cloak.
Sanda glanced toward the door just as Akagi stepped in, her gaze meeting his for a fleeting moment.
No words were exchanged, but the air between them pulsed with unspoken tension, Siblings bound by duty, divided by secrets.
As Kohaku took her seat beside Akagi, Daisuke leaned closer to Sanda and whispered,
"Looks like today won't be boring after all."
***
The cobbled streets of the Bloodmoon Kingdom glowed with the soft hues of twilight.
Lanterns flickered to life, casting warm amber light as the day's bustle gave way to evening calm.
Prince Sanda and Daisuke walked side by side, their school satchels slung over their shoulders, the palace spires gleaming in the distance.
"You really think Professor Elenor gave us that essay just to punish us?" Daisuke groaned, kicking a loose pebble.
Sanda chuckled, his voice low and amused, "She saw you sleeping through her lecture. Consider it mercy."
As they turned the corner near the Moonbridge Fountain, laughter drifted toward the people who were under the bridge.
There, beneath the cherryshade trees, stood Princess Akagi and Kohaku, their faces lit with the last rays of sun.
Akagi spotted them first, her expression unreadable.
"Well, look who survived Elenor's wrath," she said, arms crossed but eyes twinkling.
Sanda raised an eyebrow, "Barely. Daisuke's still recovering."
Kohaku giggled, nudging Akagi, "We were just talking about the festival next week. My father's setting up a stall, spiced moonfruit and crystal sweets."
Daisuke's eyes lit up, "I'm volunteering to taste test."
The four fell into step together, the palace gates drawing nearer.
The tension between the two siblings softened, replaced by the easy rhythm of shared memories and the comfort of familiar company.
As they passed the royal gardens, Akagi glanced at Sanda, "Mother wants us both at the council meeting tomorrow. Do not be late."
Sanda nodded, his tone more serious now, "I will not. Things are changing. We need to be ready."
The palace doors loomed ahead, carved with the sigils of the Bloodmoon lineage.
***
The grand Moonstone Hall shimmered under the glow of enchanted chandeliers, casting a utopian divine light across the hard marble floor etched with the sigils of the Bloodmoon lineage.
Velvet banners hung from the vaulted ceiling, each bearing the crest of the royal family, a crimson moon encircled by twin dragons.
King Natsuko Furukawa stood at the head of the hall, his regal presence commanding silence.
Beside him, Queen Natsuko Suzume sat with quiet grace, her eyes scanning her children with a mix of pride and calculation.
Sanda, Akagi, Daisuke, and Kohaku stood before them, summoned without explanation.
The tension was palpable.
The king's voice rang out, deep and resolute, "Three days from now, the Bloodmoon Kingdom shall host a tournament unlike any before."
Akagi stepped forward, her chin lifted, "As I requested, Father. I will choose my future consort not through courtship, but through challenge."
Queen Suzume nodded, her gaze sharp, "The trials will evaluate strength, wisdom, and heart. Only the worthy shall stand before our daughter."
Sanda blinked, surprised, "You are serious? A tournament to decide Akagi's marriage?"
Akagi turned to him, her expression firm but not unkind, "I want someone who earns their place beside me. Not just a name or a title."
Daisuke whispered to Kohaku, "This is going to be chaos. Half the kingdom will show up."
Kohaku smirked, "And half will leave with bruises."
The king raised a hand, "Let it be known that in three days, the Tournament of Crimson Vows shall begin. All eligible contenders may enter. But only one shall win the princess's hand."
The hall fell silent again, the weight of destiny pressing down. Akagi stood tall, her eyes gleaming with resolve.
Somewhere in the kingdom, suitors would begin preparing. And in the shadows, others might plot.
The Bloodmoon Kingdom was about to witness history.