“In a world that worships bloodlines and strength, beauty is never enough to make someone valuable.
Yet sometimes, fate chooses the person trusted the least to change everything.”
That day, the entire sky above Valtharion was filled with dragons.
Hundreds of winged creatures crossed the silvery-blue sky, casting enormous shadows over the towering stone spires. The royal bells had been ringing since morning, answered by the cheers of the people filling the main streets.
Black-and-gold flags bearing the emblem of a three-headed dragon fluttered from every corner of the city.
Valtharion was celebrating a wedding.
The grandest wedding in decades.
The wedding of Crown Prince Kaelum Drakhar.
Yet behind the door of a room filled with wedding gowns, a woman sat silently before a mirror.
Aphrodite Sylvaris stared at her own reflection.
The white gown she wore was so beautiful it almost seemed unreal. Its fabric draped all the way to the floor, adorned with silver threads and blue gemstones that glittered whenever they caught the light.
Her long, silvery-white hair was styled simply beneath a small diamond-studded crown.
Her porcelain-pale skin looked even paler beneath the morning light.
And her eyes.
Blue like a sea no storm had ever touched.
Everyone always said the same thing when they saw her.
Aphrodite was the most beautiful woman among the fairies.
Ironically, that beauty was the only thing she had to be proud of.
Because Aphrodite had no magic.
Not even a little.
Ever since she was a child, she had been the subject of gossip.
Other fairies could make flowers bloom with a single touch.
They could summon the wind.
They could heal wounds.
But Aphrodite couldn't even produce a tiny light from the palm of her hand.
“Princess.”
The servant's voice made Aphrodite lift her head.
“Yes?”
“The carriage is waiting.”
Aphrodite drew a deep breath.
Today was supposed to be another woman's wedding day.
Not hers.
The Crown Prince's original bride had vanished just hours before the ceremony.
No one knew where she had gone.
No one knew whether she had fled or been kidnapped.
There was only one thing Aphrodite knew.
The Dragon Kingdom needed a bride.
And someone had to take her place.
Someone without the power to refuse.
Someone like her.
“All right.”
She stepped out of the room.
No one asked whether she was willing.
No one asked whether she was afraid.
No one cared.
Because today, Aphrodite Sylvaris was not marrying for love.
She was marrying because the kingdom needed a bride.
The carriage door opened.
Cheers immediately filled the air.
Aphrodite slowly descended the steps.
Dozens of eyes turned toward her.
Some were filled with admiration.
Some with curiosity.
Others didn't even try to hide their doubt.
“Is that the bride?”
“I heard she's from the Fairy Clan.”
“Is it true that she has no magic?”
“A magicless woman is becoming the Crown Prince's wife?”
The whispers rang out clearly.
Aphrodite lowered her gaze.
Not because she was ashamed.
She was simply too used to it.
A man in black-and-gold royal attire stood before the palace gates.
Kaelum Drakhar.
The Crown Prince of the Dragon Clan.
He was tall, handsome, and possessed the aura of a man accustomed to getting whatever he wanted.
His black hair was neatly styled. His dark eyes looked warm as he gazed at Aphrodite.
Kaelum smiled.
It was a smile that made the people cheer even louder.
He walked toward Aphrodite.
“Lady Aphrodite.”
Aphrodite bowed politely.
“Your Highness.”
Kaelum held out his hand.
“Starting today, you don't have to call me that when it's just the two of us.”
Aphrodite studied his hand for a moment before finally taking it.
“Then what should I call you?”
Kaelum's smile widened.
“Kaelum.”
Simple.
Warm.
It almost made Aphrodite forget that the man standing before her was a stranger.
“All right, Kaelum.”
To be continued ✨