I woke up again. But this time—in a bed. Silk sheets, a carved canopy, a ceiling adorned with intricate paintings. I blinked. Once. Twice. And my heart started racing. This wasn’t my room. This wasn’t my life. Not California. Not America. Not Earth.
Somewhere nearby, a fire crackled softly in a hearth. Outside the window, sounds unlike anything familiar: the chime of bells, the songs of birds I’d never heard before, the murmur of voices in an unknown language. I sat up. The blanket slipped off, revealing a white nightgown I definitely hadn’t put on. Panic crept up my throat.
“This is a dream…” I whispered. “A weird, really weird dream…”
I pinched myself. Hard. It hurt. I didn’t wake up. My heart pounded in my temples. An image flashed before my eyes—that prince, Kaiden. His gaze. His voice. The way he said I was his betrothed. That every year a woman arrives here. That I’m now the True One. This wasn’t a delusion. And I… wasn’t home.
I felt sick. Not literally—but close.
I walked to the window. Outside was a city straight out of a movie—towering spires, cobblestone streets, fountains, strange lizard-like creatures harnessed to carts. Magic. The word came to me unbidden. This was all magic. Or madness. Or maybe I was in a coma? Lying somewhere hooked up to an IV, my brain spinning these dreams.
But the breeze was real. It brushed my hair, carrying the scent of sun-warmed grass and something sweet, bitter… fiery. This world—it was real.
There was a knock at the door before it opened. A girl, about nineteen, with golden skin and a long braid, entered. She smiled and bowed.
“Lady Iris, I’m Linna. I’ve been assigned as your chambermaid. May I assist you?”
I just nodded. My voice was stuck in my throat.
Linna approached, gently offering to help me wash up, assisting with my clothes—a light dress of thin fabric, no corsets or nonsense, surprisingly comfortable. As I dressed, she spoke:
“You should rest. The Crossing is always tough. We say the first days are like walking through fog. But it’ll get easier soon. Prince Kaiden has ordered that you be provided with everything you need.”
When she finally looked at me, something like surprise flickered in her eyes. She froze for a moment, as if forgetting what she was about to say.
“Forgive me, my lady,” she said, her voice a little hoarse. “You’re… incredibly beautiful. Not like our women. Our ladies are different. You have this… glowing skin… and your eyes. They almost shine.”
I wanted to smile but could only manage a nod. Beauty was the last thing that mattered when your world had been shattered.
The room was part of a lavish suite: a bedroom, a sitting area, a bathroom, a balcony overlooking a central square. Down below was a market, people in long robes walking the streets, and in the air, tiny lights fluttered—no, not lights, but spirits, maybe? Floating orbs of light.
I felt like an exhibit in a museum. I didn’t know how to speak, how to move. I sat on the edge of a chair, staring into space. Everything was foreign. Overwhelming. Too beautiful, too alive. Like I’d stumbled into a waking dream and now had to become part of it.
A couple of hours later, three maids burst into the suite. Not with shouts, but like a storm—polite, yet unstoppable.
“Forgive us, Lady Iris, but we must prepare you. The reception has been moved up,” one said, laying out fabrics on the bed. “The king’s family awaits to meet you.”
I blinked, not immediately grasping it.
“What?.. Why?” I didn’t even stand, my voice raspy.
“The royal couple is expecting you,” replied another, holding a comb. “And Prince Kaiden’s older brother has arrived from the northern citadel.”
“But… I’m not ready. I don’t know what to say, how to act…”
“That’s why we’re here,” chimed in the third, smiling. “Everything will be fine. We’ll take care of it all. You’ll be dazzling.”
They lifted me up, started brushing my hair, washing my face, draping a thin wine-colored cloak over my shoulders. My hair was woven into an elaborate braid, and they applied a light shimmer to my face—not makeup, not paint, but something like glowing dust. I wanted to resist, but I had no strength. Inside, everything felt burned out.
“It’s been a long time since we’ve had a True One,” one of the girls said. “The last arrived over ten years ago, but the magic didn’t accept her. You’re different. It’s obvious right away. Even your beauty—it’s unique. Everyone’s saying so.”
“I don’t want any of this,” I whispered. “I want to go home.”
Linna paused, looked into my eyes, and said softly, almost with pity:
“I understand. But maybe your home is here now. Sometimes the heart arrives first, and the mind catches up later.”
Her words hit like a slap. I stayed silent. Just stared into the mirror at my reflection. At a stranger transformed into an ornament, a mystery, a hope for a dying lineage.
And beyond the door, they waited. Where fate was already beginning to unfold.
Before I was summoned to the throne room, the door to my suite opened. Not loudly, but with the distinct confidence of a soldier—or a prince.
He walked in. Prince Kaiden.
Tall, with a straight posture, dressed in a black embroidered doublet, a silver clasp at his throat, and a ring of flame on his finger. His stride was assured, as if the whole world had long been under his feet, and his gaze—cold and lazy, like a predator nothing could surprise. Handsome, undeniably. Too much so. But I’d learned to be wary of men like him—they know exactly how good they look.
“Leave us,” he said curtly to the maids, not even glancing their way.
I remained standing in the middle of the room, straight and composed. I didn’t bow. I didn’t smile. He walked to the window, silent for several long seconds. It felt like even the silence here obeyed him.
“I’ll be blunt,” he began, not turning around. “I’m not thrilled about any of this.”
I stayed quiet. Listening.
“I’m tired of being thrown together with girls chosen by some ancient magic. They all come with eyes full of hope, dreaming of a crown, of love, of ‘healing’ me. Nonsense.”
He finally turned to face me. Hands behind his back, expression indifferent.
“I have women. Several. They’ll stay. Regardless of whether a marriage happens. I’m not about to play the farce of fidelity.”
How charming. He’d clearly rehearsed this speech. But I still said nothing.
“All the previous candidates were empty inside. None were a match. After the ritual, we sent them on their way, and they left. Of their own accord. Because living in the shadow of a pointless marriage is a waste of life.”
I wanted to say something, but he didn’t let me.
“If a wedding does happen, nothing will change afterward. There’ll be one night—and only to confirm you’re not the one. No romance, no pretending. I don’t believe in fate; I believe in experience. And experience tells me—you’ll leave on your own.”
He gave me one last look—brief, appraising—and walked out. Just left.
And I stood there, still with my back straight, though my fists were now clenched so tight they hurt.
What an arrogant peacock.
Does he seriously think I crawled here for his attention? That my entire life will now revolve around whether he wants me or not?
Ridiculous. Smug. Gorgeous—to the point of nausea. And… no, Iris, don’t fall for the pretty packaging.
I want one thing—to go home. I don’t care about his curse, his mistresses, or all these pompous court games.
But no, he dumped that whole monologue on me like a verdict. Didn’t even let me get a word in. Not to ask, not to respond. Just decided he already had me all figured out.
He’s wrong, Kaiden. Very wrong.
A knock at the door. The maids.
I took a deep breath and unclenched my fists.
Fine. Let’s play. But on my terms.