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The twin moons hung high in the sky, casting a silver glow upon the grand palace of the Moon Clan. Their light streamed through the massive glass windows of the royal chambers, where Queen Selene Cassiopeia Astraeus sat upon a velvet chaise, cradling a newborn in her arms.
Her husband, King Solarian Aetheron Astraeus, stood beside her, his dark eyes filled with wonder as he gazed down at the tiny girl wrapped in silken cloth. The child did not cry, nor did she fuss. Instead, she stared back at them with eyes like the endless night—deep, vast, and filled with an unsettling knowledge.
"She is unlike any child I have ever seen," Selene whispered, her fingers brushing against the baby's silvery hair. "Nyx… our little moon."
Solarian chuckled, pressing a kiss to his wife's temple. "Luna," he corrected, the name carrying a weight neither of them fully understood. "She is the first and only blood child of the Moon Clan… and the most precious."
The palace doors swung open, and the high priestess entered, her robes shimmering in the moonlight. She held a staff adorned with a crescent crystal, her aged face filled with reverence as she knelt before the royal family.
"My King, My Queen," she began, her voice echoing through the chamber. "The heavens have whispered her name long before this night. She is the descendant of the Eclipse Goddess, the child who will bring balance to the clans."
Selene's grip on the child tightened. "The Eclipse Goddess perished eons ago."
"Yes," the priestess said, her eyes locking onto the infant's unreadable expression. "But her soul was reborn."
A tense silence filled the room. Luna's tiny fingers curled into a fist as if she understood the weight of their words.
Solarian exhaled slowly. "It is too soon to burden her with such a fate."
Selene pressed her lips to her daughter's forehead. "She is our child before she is anyone else's."
The priestess bowed. "As you wish, My Queen."
And so, the Moon Clan's princess was raised not as a celestial being, but as a child of the royal family—unaware of the power that coursed through her veins.
---
Years Later
The halls of the palace echoed with the sounds of clashing steel. The scent of night jasmine mixed with the crisp chill of the midnight air as Luna swung her blade in a swift arc, disarming her opponent with precision.
Levi, her golden-haired younger brother, let out a huff as his sword clattered to the ground. "You're getting stronger."
Luna smirked, flipping her blade before sheathing it. "And you're getting slower."
Levi narrowed his fierce eyes, but there was no malice in them—only admiration. "One day, I'll surpass you."
She flicked his forehead. "Keep dreaming, little brother."
Despite their banter, she loved him dearly. Levi had been adopted into the royal family as a child, but he had never once felt like an outsider. He had sworn to protect Luna from the moment he could hold a sword, and even now, as a young man, his loyalty remained unshaken.
But tonight was different. Tonight, the air was heavy with an unspoken tension.
Luna wiped the sweat from her brow and turned to leave, but Levi caught her wrist. "Father summoned you," he said, voice low. "It's important."
Luna arched a brow. "Did he say why?"
Levi hesitated, then shook his head. "No… but I have a feeling it's about your future."
A strange unease settled in her stomach. She was the princess of the Moon Clan—fierce, independent, and unyielding. What could possibly warrant such urgency?
Without another word, she made her way to the throne room, where her parents awaited.
As she stepped inside, she saw the solemn expression on her father's face, the way her mother's hands were clasped tightly in her lap.
"Luna," Solarian said, his voice gentle yet firm. "It is time we speak of your marriage."
Luna froze. The word struck her like a blade to the chest.
Marriage?
No.
Absolutely not.
Her fingers curled into fists as she met her father's gaze. "No."
Selene sighed. "Nyx, listen—"
"I said no." Luna's voice was like steel. "I will not be married off like some bargaining piece."
Solarian's expression darkened. "This is not a discussion."
Luna clenched her jaw, her heart pounding in her ears. She had fought for her people, bled for her clan, and proved her worth beyond measure. And yet, they sought to bind her future with chains of duty.
Her mother reached for her, but Luna stepped back. "I refuse."
With that, she turned on her heel and walked out of the throne room, her mind already racing.
If they would not let her choose her own path… she would forge it herself.