"Milady Bryelle!"
Voices echoed as a group of elven knights appeared, their expressions extrely relieved. They rushed toward the young elven girl seated on a stone bench, cradling a small bear plush in her arms.
These were the sa elves who had been frantically chasing her re hours ago, their anxiety now lting into profound relief as they saw her safe and unhard.
"We have been searching everywhere for you!" One of the knights exclaid.
"Thank the gods you're alright."
Another knight stepped forward, his tone gentler but laced with reproach. "Milady, please don't wander off alone like that again. Do you realize what could have happened if we hadn't found you?"
Bryelle glanced up at them, her expression nonchalant, and simply shrugged her shoulders. "I wanted to go there, but you wouldn't let ."
The knights exchanged uneasy glances, their disciplined faces betraying their bewildernt at their lady's petulance. They understood her frustration-she was rarely allowed beyond the palace walls, her every move carefully monitored. It was no wonder she longed for freedom, yet their duty was to protect her, even if it ant confining her within the gilded cage of her royal status.
"It's because it's dangerous, Milady," One knight tried to explain, his voice faltering under her indifferent gaze. "We have strict orders to ensure your safety..."
Bryelle's lips pressed into a thin line, her sulky deanor unchanged. "I know," she murmured, her tone resigned as she allowed herself to be gently led away by the knights.
"By the way, where is that despicable man who kidnapped you?!"
"H-He left...now let's head back," Bryelle said in a hurry.
With a silent signal, the elven knights removed the plain cloaks they had donned to blend into the city, revealing the emblem of the Teraquin Royal Guard emblazoned on their armor. Their presence now unmistakable, they guided Bryelle towards a waiting carriage, its ornate design a stark contrast to the simple life she often yearned for. As the door closed behind her, the carriage set off, carrying her back to the grand Teraquin Royal Palace.
Upon arrival, the palace's familiar opulence greeted her-marble floors glead under the light of crystal chandeliers, and towering arches frad the corridors that led to her chambers. Other guards t them, and as they gently transferred Bryelle into a new wheelchair, a procession of maids lined up to greet her. Their expressions were carefully neutral, though Bryelle could see the faint furrow of their brows, hear the hushed whispers that trailed behind her. She knew their thoughts, could feel the weight of their judgnt, but she had long grown accustod to their silent scrutiny. Ignoring their curious glances, she focused on the plush bear resting on her lap as her maid pushed her towards her royal chambers.
"Leave ," Bryelle said softly as they reached the doors to her room.
Her maid nodded, bowing deeply before retreating, leaving Bryelle alone. The heavy doors closed behind her with a soft thud, sealing her in the solitude of her opulent chamber.
Bryelle climbed onto her bed out of her wheelchair, the plush mattress sinking under her slight weight. Hugging the bear tightly, she rolled onto her side, her cheeks burning red as the events of the day replayed in her mind.
"Haa... I can't believe it!" She groaned, burying her face in the plush toy's soft fur. "What have I done?"
"He was a human, and yet I... I...!" She stamred, the mory of the encounter sending a thrill through her. The sensation of his arms around her, the warmth of his touch, it was all so overwhelming, so confusing.
"I hope I wasn't too heavy for him," she whispered to herself a bit anxious but rembering how easy he lifted her she felt a bit relieved.
But then, as if struck by a sudden realization, Bryelle's eyes widened in horror. She shot up in bed, clutching the bear to her chest.
"No!" She gasped in panic. "I forgot to ask his na!"
Bryelle stared down at the small box clutched in her hand, her fingers trembling slightly as she opened it. Inside, nestled in soft velvet, was a delicate leaf pendant. Its design captured her attention, a simple yet elegant piec. With a deep breath, she reached up and gently removed the pendant she currently wore around her neck.
The mont the old pendant slipped from her skin, a transformation occurred. Her hair, which had been a soft, unremarkable brown, began to shimr, the color shifting like the leaves in autumn. It deepened into a rich, blondish-green, flowing in waves down her shoulders, the tips glowing faintly green. Her eyes, once a muted brown, now glead with a vibrant blend of green and yellow, like the forest at dawn. Her face, already delicate, now radiated an ethereal beauty, rivaling even the most esteed royals of her House.
A small smile graced her lips as she admired the pendant, its soft glow reflecting in her newly transford eyes. Carefully she placed the leaf pendant around her neck. The cool tal settled against her skin, and a wave of happiness washed over her, a feeling that seed to lift her spirit in a way she hadn't felt in a long ti.
Bryelle was a princess, the youngest of the Teraquin royal family, and every aspect of her life was ticulously curated by those around her, particularly by Tanya Teraquin, who ensured that everything from her clothes to her accessories t the highest standards. As a Teraquin, she was expected to embody perfection, to be the very image of grace and nobility. But beneath the layers of silk and finery, Bryelle had her own desires, her own tastes that often went unnoticed.
The leaf pendant was not a grand piece of jewelry by the standards of the Teraquin House. In fact, it was quite simple, even humble, compared to the opulent adornnts she was usually expected to wear. By the lofty standards of her family, it might even be considered a disgrace to wear sothing so plain. But to Bryelle, it was precious, not because of its material value, but because of the aning it held.
She had always yearned for sothing like this, a token that was hers alone, sothing that reflected her true self. However, she had always been too afraid to indulge in such desires, knowing how her family would react. That's why, when Amael bought it for her, it felt like a dream—a dream she had long given up on. The happiness she felt at that mont was overwhelming, and she accepted the gift with gratitude, despite knowing how others might judge her for it.
"I should hide it from the others..." She murmured to herself, her voice tinged with worry as she thought of her siblings and the other mbers of the Teraquin House. They would never understand, never see the value in sothing so simple. To them, it would be nothing more than a blemish on the family's image, a mistake to be corrected and they would again mock
her...
With a sigh, Bryelle slumped back onto her bed, her gaze drifting up to the ornate ceiling. "H-He was so kind... even though he was a Human..." She whispered.
At first, she had been terrified, genuinely scared when she realized Amael was human. The fear was almost instinctive, born from a deep-seated trauma that had made her wary of any physical contact with humans. But there had been sothing about him-sothing in the way he spoke, in the honesty of his words and the gentleness of his touch-that had cald her. Slowly, the fear had ebbed away, replaced by a sense of safety that was unfamiliar to her.
No...it felt really familiar.
"Father..."
She had felt this safe around a man only around her father.
She had been shocked by her own reaction, by how quickly she had co to trust him, even allowing him to carry her without flinching. It was a feeling she had never experienced before, a level of comfort she never thought she could have with a human. Any other person might have made her faint from fear, and yet, with Amael, it had been different... even if she had fainted upon realizing what he was.
Guilt tugged at her heart as she rembered her actions. She had wanted so desperately to experience the world beyond the palace, to enjoy life as others did, that she had let Amael misunderstand her situation. She could have called for her people earlier, but she had chosen not to, wanting to spend just a little more ti with him, to savor the simple joy of being in
his company.
"I hope he doesn't hate ..." she murmured, her voice filled with uncertainty as her gaze darkened. "But I will probably never see him again..."
The thought was a painful one. He was the first boy she had ever grown close to, the first she
had ever truly enjoyed being with. In the short ti they had spent together, he had given her a glimpse of what life could be like-free, unburdened by the expectations of her royal
lineage.
-THUD!
Suddenly, the door to Bryelle's room swung open with a force that sent a rush of air through the chamber. Startled, Bryelle's hand instinctively flew to her neck, swiftly tucking the pendant beneath her collar. Her heart raced as she turned her gaze toward the doorway,
already knowing who would be standing there.
Long, mint-green hair cascaded down her back in elegant waves, and her eyes glead with a piercing golden hue that seed to see straight through anything they looked upon.
"Elder sister..."
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