"I wish those who have left could return…."
"Light or darkness? How am I supposed to choose?"
"May the flowers of hope bloom once more upon this barren land…."
A girl in an elegant white gown lay fast asleep on a palace garden bench, surrounded by thick books she had already read. One could only wonder how a princess such as herself ended up dozing off in a place like this. Yet, the atmosphere was undeniably serene, calming the soul of anyone present—at least for now.
From time to time, she murmured words in her sleep—phrases filled with unanswered questions, perhaps reflections of the dreams that held her. And if such was truly the case, then she ought to wake soon, lest those dreams turn into nightmares.
"Edelweiss!"
A young man, seemingly close in age to the girl, called out from a distance. As he approached, he gently shook her shoulders, hoping to rouse her from her slumber.
On the other hand, Edelweiss began to realize—faintly at first—that the voice she heard was not part of her dream. Slowly, she opened her eyes, only to find the caller standing right before her. Instinctively, she jumped up from the bench and hurriedly fixed her appearance.
The young man let out a soft sigh and smiled. "Falling asleep in random places again, aren't you?"
"I-I'm sorry, Brother," she replied with a faint, playful tone. "I just couldn't resist the drowsiness once the breeze started to lull me."
The man—Aden—could only shake his head. Such scenes had become a familiar sight. They often occurred whenever the young princess found herself captivated by a book, staying up late into the night to quench her curiosity.
Sometimes she could be found asleep beneath the great tree, on a garden bench, or most curiously when she was obsessed with culinary topics, in the kitchen. The problem was, she simply couldn't fight off her drowsiness. And there was only one person capable of waking her once she fell into such a deep sleep: Aden.
Speaking of her brother, Edelweiss suspected he hadn't come just to wake her up. And her intuition was proven right—their father, the king, was calling for his youngest daughter.
Aden explained that while he didn't fully know the details, the matter was about Edelweiss' coming-of-age ceremony. Just days ago, she had reached the age of adulthood as defined by the kingdom's law.
"I believe Father wants to speak about the ceremony, which had to be postponed due to the recent visit from Lubria's nobles," added the prince.
"In that case, let us go meet him now."
Gathering her strength, Edelweiss rose to her feet and followed her brother toward the royal chamber. She didn't know how long her father had been waiting, but she knew she couldn't afford to delay any longer.
Moments later, they arrived in a hall adorned with lavish ornaments, two thrones standing proudly at its center—a chamber surely meant for both king and queen. Courtiers and palace guards stood in lines at the edges of the red carpet, bowing respectfully as Edelweiss and Aden passed.
"Greetings, Father, Mother," they said in unison, bowing in reverence.
Her Majesty the Queen answered their greeting, "Rise, my children. His Majesty the King has a decree for both of you."
"What decree is it, Father?" Edelweiss asked.
"Aden, before the Festival of Light begins, accompany your sister to the branch family's mansion in Maxima. She must be there for training before the ceremony," the king declared.
The moment she heard that, something felt off to Edelweiss. She decided to probe further—directly, without delay.
"Training before the coming-of-age ceremony? Father, with all due respect, why must I undergo such a thing? And why in Maxima? Will the ceremony be held there as well?"
"Because you have yet to go through what your brother once did," replied the king.
His words only deepened her confusion. Did that mean she had to undergo military training like her brother? But she and her father had already agreed years ago that her training would differ from Aden's.
She couldn't give up just yet. So, she played the card she still had. "Father, if I leave the capital, I'll be forced to abandon my herbalism studies."
For a moment, the king looked away. "That is of no concern, so long as you complete the training."
"In other words, Father is choosing to halt his daughter's efforts—her desperate search for a cure to her own parents' illness?"
"Enough, Edelweiss!" the queen finally had to intervene, putting a stop to the growing tension.
At the same time, her brother laid a gentle hand on her shoulder and shook his head. She knew exactly what he meant by that gesture. He was reminding her not to question their father's will, so long as it was for a good cause.
It seemed they had no reason to linger any longer. Besides, the king no longer seemed interested in answering her concerns. With a sorrowful tone, Edelweiss apologized for her impudence.
With deep respect, the two of them took their leave, preparing for the long journey ahead—a journey that would last a long, long time....
Through Edelweiss' eyes, we see her bedroom—still immaculate despite her rather "chaotic" efforts to find the items she needed. Of course, the credit went to her loyal maid, Sophia, ever ready to clean up after the princess.
Sophia watched with disbelief as Edelweiss packed ancient books that seemed only to fill up the storage carriage, even though many of her belongings had yet to be packed.
"Please don't look so surprised, Sophia. I need all these books for my studies," Edelweiss said suddenly, startling her maid. "Speaking of books, I almost forgot about this one," she added, picking up an old and tattered volume.
"M-my apologies, Your Highness! I just never imagined you'd be fond of books like that."
"Ever since I was young, Father used to tell me tales of legendary artifacts. At first, I thought he was just making them up—but then, in the library, I found books that actually mentioned those very things."
Sophia remained silent, offering no response to the explanation. It was true—Edelweiss loved books more than anything in the world. She could spend hours lost in them, simply to quench her boundless curiosity. At times, this devotion led her to fall asleep in the most unusual hours and places.
"Oh, by the way, have you packed your things? We'll be leaving tomorrow when the festival begins."
"My apologize, Your Highness, but I will not be able to accompany you tomorrow. His Majesty has requested that I remain at the palace."
"What a shame," Edelweiss murmured softly, disappointment clear in her voice. "I shall miss your presence, Sophia."
Sophia smiled warmly, her heart touched by the appreciation. She gently took Edelweiss's hand.
"Please don't be sad, Your Highness. I'm certain this journey will help you grow stronger. I promise I'll be here, waiting for your return—along with all the fascinating stories you'll surely bring from beyond these walls."
Sophia's words were meant to encourage, to ease any lingering doubts in her mistress's heart regarding the mission entrusted by the king. To Edelweiss, Sophia was more than just a servant—she was like a sister, second only to Aden. The bond they shared transcended title and duty; they were more akin to kindred spirits than master and maid.
...
The next day, people from every corner of the city gathered at the royal square to assist with the final touches for the festival. In truth, the preparations had already been completed the day before, yet some citizens insisted on perfecting every detail, leaving no room for imperfection.
It's worth noting that the Festival of Light in the Kingdom of Firmus is actually the kingdom's anniversary celebration. Around 350 years ago, Richard Vorwister II established the independent monarchy of Firmus following the Great War, a symbolic act of separation and sovereignty.
At night, during the festival, people would line the streets, lighting torches placed in front of their homes, illuminating the entire city in a radiant glow. At that moment, the high priest would lead a communal prayer for the continued glory and prosperity of Firmus.
Traditionally, Edelweiss and Sophia would stroll the streets together, purchasing trinkets and enjoying the merriment with the townsfolk. However, this year was different—they had to prepare for their departure.
"Are you ready, Edelweiss?"
"I know I'll miss this place so dearly. After all, it's where we were born and raised."
Aden chuckled lightly, perhaps finding his sister's sentiment a touch too dramatic.
"Don't be so melodramatic. We'll be back in a few months, I'm sure."
Their departure was kept secret. They traveled with a group of merchants, blending in with their plain clothing and modest belongings. There were clear advantages to disguising their royal lineage—chief among them, avoiding unnecessary danger.
Seated quietly at the edge of the supply carriage, a weary Edelweiss gazed into the distance. It was a bit unusual—one would expect her to be reading rather than lost in daydreams. She felt a pang of disappointment toward her father, who had advanced their departure to midday, robbing her of the chance to attend the festival one last time.
"I shouldn't feel this way... I mustn't question Father's command," she whispered, clinging to that thought like a mantra to dispel the shadows of doubt.
"Edelweiss? Is something troubling you?"
"Oh, it's nothing, Brother. I was just wondering what Sophia is doing right now..."
Aden knew full well that Edelweiss was merely deflecting, hiding the unease that stirred in her heart. He even understood what had brought it on.
As she gazed upon the city now bathed in light, the distant echoes of celebration slowly fading into the wind, Edelweiss found herself wondering about the journey ahead. Would this be the beginning of something meaningful, just as Sophia had said? Or was it the prelude to something far greater yet to unfold?