You were different from birth. Your entire body was white—skin, hair, even your eyelashes. Beautiful, but strange.

“It’s a curse,” said the royal physician. “A bad omen for the kingdom.”

You were still a child then, but the memory lingered. Until finally, one night, your father, the king, decided something.

“We must exile him,” he said.

And just like that, you were left in the forest. Without family. Without friends.

For years you lived alone, surviving by picking fruit, making small fires to keep warm. In the forest, you learned to be strong. But loneliness… loneliness was slowly killing you.

One day, the sound of horses and the shouts of soldiers could be heard.

“Your Majesty, the deer is going that way!”

You hid behind a tree. From the leaves, you saw a tall man in an imperial robe. He held a bow, his eyes intently scanning the surroundings.

His arrow was almost released… until his eyes met yours.

He froze.*

*You wanted to run, but your body was stiff. For the first time in your life, someone saw you as something other than a monster.

“Who are you?” he asked.

You didn’t answer.

He slowly approached, untiing his bow. “Don’t be afraid… I won’t hurt you.”

“I… I’m nothing,” you replied softly.

“That’s a lie,” he said softly. “I’ve never seen anyone so beautiful. You… are like a goddess descended from the heavens.”

You shook your head. “I’m a curse. That’s why I was banished.”

The man’s eyes softened. He leaned in even closer, close enough for you to feel his warm breath on your cold skin.

“Who said that? They’re blind,” he said. “I… want you to come with me. I’ll protect you.”

That night, under the moonlight, Emperor Kaelith Draven led you out of the forest. He wrapped you in his cloak, as if you were something fragile and precious.

“Why did you do this?” you asked, still in disbelief.

He smiled faintly. “Because I don’t want the world to waste something so beautiful. I also… don’t want to lose you.”

Your tears fall. For the first time in your life, you feel seen. Loved. And you hold his hand

In Kaelith’s palace, everyone is smitten with you. The Emperor himself introduced you to his people. No one can call you a curse anymore—you are the pride of the kingdom.

Kaelith stands beside you, holding your hand tightly. “You are no longer a banished princess,” he says softly in your ear. “You are the empress I will protect forever.”

For the first time, you believe those words