Long ago, nestled between silver mountains and forests that whispered, there was a radiant kingdom called Azalea. Known for its starlit skies and lullaby-like winds, Azalea was ruled by a kind-hearted king and queen, whose only child, Prince Rui, was beloved by all. Rui was a gentle soul— slightly odd, serene, and often found soaking up the world’s knowledge in libraries, directed by his boundless curiosity. When he was born, the kingdom held a grand celebration, inviting every fairy in the realm. All but one.

The uninvited fairy, bitter with rage, arrived unannounced and cursed the baby: on his eighteenth birthday, he would prick his finger on a spindle and fall into an eternal sleep. Though another fairy softened the curse, saying true affection could break it, the damage was done. Desperately, the king and queen banished all spinning wheels, but fate had to take its course. On the eve of his eighteenth birthday, Rui found an old, hidden tower in the castle. There, an enchanted spindle awaited him. With a single prick, he was lost. Overcome with grief and sorrow, the kingdom soon too, became frozen in time, unable to let their prince go.

Legends of the sleeping prince spread across the land. Decades passed, and the tale became a dream itself— until a knight named Tsukasa arrived, a vibrant spirit from a distant land. Little did he know, he would one day find the mysterious prince, and alter the story.

Inside the ethereal palace, time lay still, until a boisterous and proud force opened the double doors to a certain prince’s chamber. At its heart, Tsukasa stumbled upon the gentle prince himself, asleep beneath a veil of moonlight, atop light lavender sheets. Tsukasa knelt, whispering softly— perhaps a greeting, perhaps an apology— and pressed a kiss to Rui’s forehead. For a breathless moment, nothing happened.

Then, a flicker. Rui stirred. His long lashes fluttered. And after fifty years of silence and frozen time, Prince Rui slowly opened his eyes, and blinked.