*A Ball Full of Surprises*
Elara stood in front of her mirror, adjusting the simple but elegant *brown dress* she'd chosen. It wasn't flashy like her sisters' gowns, and that was on purpose. If anyone tried to "accidentally" pour juice or water on her, this dress wouldn't show it much. She wasn't new to their tricks.
Her sky-blue hair was tied up loosely, with two soft curls framing her face. She looked… calm. Which was a lie. Her stomach was doing backflips.
Outside, the celebration had begun. The great ballroom glittered with magic-infused chandeliers, and every corner smelled of honeyed wine, roasted meats, and exotic perfumes. *Royal guests* from all four regions—dressed in silk, armor, and shimmering cloaks—filled the hall, chatting, laughing, and waiting.
The queen, seated on her high throne, stood to address the crowd. Her voice rang with power.
> "Today we celebrate the awakening of my daughters' powers. They are the pride of Caelora—and soon, they will be queens of their own regions. But no queen rules alone. Tonight, they choose the men who will walk beside them—not as masters, but as partners and also make sure they produce a female heir that will continue the realms."
The hall went quiet.
Then came the selection.The first princess, radiant in a golden gown and flanked by admirers, stepped forward. She chose four men as husbands—two princes and two noble scholars—and declared three others as concubines, all of whom seemed pleased to be chosen.
The second princess, bold and graceful, pointed to three high-ranking princes, each one more handsome than the last.
The third, known for her fierce attitude and love for combat, surprised no one by selecting two muscular warriors* from the Western barracks. She winked at them. They nearly fainted. The fourth choose her two male best friends who were noble men from a rich home.
Then came *Auri*, the youngest and kindest. She looked nervous as she approached a gentle-looking scholar, her longtime crush.
> "I choose… you," she said softly.
The man bowed politely, but his eyes darted elsewhere. The rejection was subtle, but obvious.
Auri tried to smile.
Elara, watching from a distance, winced.
And now… all eyes turned to her. As always, she is always the center of attention.
Now it was Elara's turn.
The hall grew still. Her brown dress swayed slightly as she stepped forward, heart thumping like a warning drum. She looked around the room, pretending to be calm.
None of the men met her eyes.
They looked past her. Around her. Through her.
Just like always.
Elara swallowed, trying not to show it. She thought maybe she could just fake a fainting spell, or trip and disappear under a table until this part was over. Queen's Forgotten Daughter Down! Emergency! Let's skip her!
But then—someone did look at her. Someone HOT
A man. A prince.
He stood tall near the royal column, dressed in silver and dark blue, his golden curls hair catching the light like he was in a shampoo commercial or will you say a idol. His grey eyes—unusual and sharp—had been locked on her the moment she entered the hall.
Elara blinked . "Wait… him? He's looking at me? Is this some prank? Is this about to be a very attractive kidnapping?"
The man began to walk—toward her.
Her knees suddenly remembered they had the ability to tremble.
He stopped right in front of her, elegant and confident, and then...
*He kneeled.*
Like, full knee-to-marble-floor.
And stretched out his hand to her.A gasp spread through the room like wildfire. Even the second princess nearly choked on her wine. If she had seen him earlier, she might have claimed him already.
Elara stared at the hand. Then at him. Then back at the hand.
"He smells expensive. And his jawline looks like it could cut glass. Am I being proposed to by a royal statue? Is this real life? Did someone spike the fruit wine again?, Damn, even if I see him in my own world,I must date him"
The prince looked up at her with a soft, knowing smile. "May I be your chosen?"
Elara blinked again.
Then slowly, carefully—like she still wasn't convinced this wasn't a prank—she reached out and placed her hand in his meaning she accepted him as her husband.
The hall erupted.The queen didn't look surprised at all. If anything, she looked… pleased.
She rose once again, her regal voice carrying over the noise.
"Elara," she said, "you will not be taking only one man as your husband. Prepare for more to be chosen for you in due time."
Elara blinked. More? I'm barely processing this one! Do I get a welcome basket for each man or just one group discount husband gift set?", Elara thought to herself.
Still, she nodded politely. "Yes, Your Majesty."
The queen then raised her hand, commanding silence.
"Tonight, I name my daughters their roles for the future of Caelora."
She turned toward her daughters, one by one:
"Lisa, my firstborn—you are heir to the throne and you will have your sister rule along side with you."
Lisa smirked like she'd been expecting it since birth.
"Jane, the North is yours. Reina, take the South. Auri, rule over the West."
Each sister accepted with a curtsy and self-satisfied looks. Then the queen turned to Elara.
"And Elara… you will be assigned to the East."
The hall went tense.
People whispered. A few gasped. The East?Even the floor seemed to pause.The East was a cold, desolate mystery—snow-covered mountains, ancient magic, and the last place anyone wanted to rule. It was basically the fantasy version of being sent to boarding school inside a haunted freezer.
Elara's sisters laughed openly.
> "Perfect match," Jane whispered.
> "Maybe the snow will teach her some manners," Reina added.
Even Auri looked at her with pity.
But Elara just stood there, holding her head high, even if she felt like disappearing into her brown dress and thought :"everyday,new problems and surprises. Am not even borter with this girl's talk, already have enough on my plate already".
As the queen took her seat again and the music resumed, the party returned to life. People danced, drank, and gossiped. Elara turned to the man still kneeling beside her, now standing with a calm expression.
"You seem like nobody likes you," he said lightly.
Elara raised an eyebrow. "Oh wow, thanks for the pep talk. "
She turned to face him. "Who are you anyway? And why did you choose me? You saw the mess. I'm heading to the East Side of Doom. Do you still want to be my husband?"
He smirked, casually confident.
"Yeah. No matter the cost."
He extended a hand again, this time not as a formality—but as a partner.
"Oh, by the way… my name is Kael."
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