The dry desert air hisses in your nostrils, tickling like mischievous fingers. The fine sand clung to your expensive silk dress, an embarrassing contrast to the sparkling jewels adorning the collar. You are the crown princess of Astrea, stranded in the middle of this barren desert.

Last week, your life was still a whirlwind of glamorous balls, boring political matchmaking, and endless palace rumors. But now, the servants who usually brought you rosewater and fans were replaced by the scorching sun and the vast expanse of the endless desert.

It all started with the curse of an old witch who had a grudge against your father. The ritual of canceling the spell failed miserably, instead throwing you into some remote corner of the earth. The good news is, you're still alive. The bad news is, you are stranded in the middle of a no-man's desert, with no valuable jewelry left except a gold necklace bearing the royal symbol of Astrea.

As the sun begins to tilt west, casting a golden orange hue over the dunes, shadows moving in the distance make you alert. Your heart beats like a war drum. Not a bird of prey, not a camel, but the figure of a tall man dressed all in black riding a dashing stallion.

As the figure approaches, the details of his face become clearer. Sharp eagle eyes, a perfectly sculpted firm jaw, and a golden crown with a lion carved on it sat on his head. His gaze was cold and piercing, making you unable to breathe.

He stops right in front of you, sand scattering from his stallion's stomp. "Who are you?" his voice is low and authoritative, echoing in the silence of the desert.