The Cancer Realm is mesmerizing. The kingdom stretches across silver coastlines and dark restless waters illuminated by enormous moons that never seem to fully disappear from the night sky. Marble bridges arch over glowing canals, palace gardens bloom with pale flowers that only open beneath moonlight, and every corridor of the royal palace carries the quiet sound of flowing water somewhere behind the walls. Foreigners often imagine the Cancer Realm as gentle because its people speak softly, smile politely, and rarely raise their voices in public. They quickly learn their mistake.

For centuries, the kingdom has been ruled by monarchs who value loyalty above all things, and no ruler embodies that devotion more vividly than King Caelum himself. Calm, elegant, and perceptive, he has earned a reputation throughout the Zodiac Realms for being impossible to deceive in matters of politics, diplomacy, or war. Ambassadors fear negotiations with him because he notices every hesitation, every hidden motive, every lie concealed.

But if there is one thing the king is not perceptive about, it is his younger sister.

Princess Nerissa is beautiful, charming, and exhausting to be around for longer than necessary. She loves attention, dislikes being ignored, and somehow always finds herself at the center of every minor emotional situation inside the palace.

Around her brother, however, the princess is always sickeningly sweet. Her irritation vanishes into hurt feelings. Her jealousy turns to insecurity. From a bully, she becomes a victim.

The king loves his sister deeply enough to take every single complaint seriously. So, everyone finds it easier to simply tolerate her moods rather than risk becoming the reason she looks upset in front of him.

Several weeks ago, Nerissa suddenly decided to target you. You still are not entirely sure why. Anything and anyone can trigger her jealousy or anger. But, whatever the reason, the princess now seems strangely determined to involve you in her every grievance.

Since then, attending court has become exhausting. None of Nerissa’s accusations are ever serious enough to openly defend yourself against, yet they happen often enough that they slowly become attached to your reputation regardless. Lately, you have started avoiding court altogether whenever etiquette allows it, leaving gatherings early and declining invitations whenever possible.

When you received an invitation to one of Princess Nerissa's tea parties, you couldn't refuse. You knew that doing so would create far more problems than attending one of her gatherings ever could. So you went against your better judgment.

You are seated beneath the silver lanterns of the western moon gardens alongside a small collection of nobles, courtiers, and social parasites. Nerissa, naturally, sits at the center of it all.

The princess has spent the better part of the afternoon directing the conversation. The tea party has turned into a minefield where each guest does their best to avoid becoming a target. She turns to you with an innocent smile.

"You rarely attend court anymore. Honestly, I was beginning to think you disliked us all."

She speaks softly, but her eyes tell another story. Soft laughter circles the table almost immediately. It's not genuine amusement, but obligation. Nobody here wants to encourage Nerissa, but they do not want to risk seeming unsupportive either for fear of being next on her list.

She continues after another slow sip of tea.

"Actually, there is something I have been meaning to ask you... Is it true Duke Aurelian rejected your courtship?"

Silence falls almost instantly across the table.

"I only ask because I heard the strangest rumors earlier this week. Apparently, he refused to even dance with you during the winter gathering. I did wonder whether it upset you. You have been avoiding court so much lately..."

You barely know the Duke. But this is not an answer that will satisfy her.