The next morning dawned as it always did—heavy and suffocating. Hazel lay in the confines of her chamber, the soft rustle of the silk sheets the only sound in the stillness of the room. The sunlight streamed through the large windows, casting golden hues on the plush furnishings that surrounded her. Yet, despite the beauty of her surroundings, Hazel felt like a bird trapped in a gilded cage, her wings clipped by the very walls that were meant to protect her.
She had been a princess for as long as she could remember. Raised to embody grace, beauty, and poise, her every action scrutinized, every word measured. Her entire existence had been built upon the expectations of others—those who admired her, those who feared her, and most of all, those who sought to control her.
Her father, the King, had always been distant, his love for her buried beneath layers of political maneuvering and cold ambition. He had never truly seen her as his daughter, but rather as a pawn to be used in the game of power. For years, he had insisted that her marriage to a foreign prince would solidify his reign, binding alliances and securing his place as ruler. The notion that she had no say in her own future never seemed to bother him. To the King, she was a tool, not a person.
Her mother, once the beloved Queen, had been the only source of warmth in her life, but her death had shattered whatever fragile sense of peace Hazel had known. The whispers surrounding her mother's untimely demise, and the rumors of the Devil's blood running through her veins, were impossible to ignore. Hazel had grown up in the shadow of those rumors, the mystery of her mother's death never fully explained. And now, with the revelation of the prophecy, Hazel felt as though the weight of the world had descended upon her shoulders.
She stared out the window, her reflection in the glass blending with the view of the palace grounds. The garden below, full of vibrant flowers and lush greenery, seemed so far away, so out of reach. It was a cruel reminder of the life she would never have. She would never be able to walk through that garden freely, to pick flowers or chase the butterflies that fluttered about. She would never taste the sweetness of life beyond the palace walls.
Selene entered the room quietly, as if sensing the weight of the princess's thoughts. Hazel turned to her, forcing a smile, though it didn't reach her eyes.
"Your Highness, it is time for your breakfast," Selene said softly, placing a tray on the table beside Hazel's bed. "The King requests your presence afterward."
Hazel nodded absently, too lost in her thoughts to respond fully. She had no appetite for the lavish meal that had been prepared for her, nor for the conversations she would have to endure with the courtiers. They would talk about the upcoming marriage, the potential alliances, and the future of the kingdom, all while ignoring the fact that Hazel herself was nothing more than a prize to be won.
Selene's voice interrupted her reverie. "I understand you are troubled, Your Highness, but you must eat. You will need your strength."
Hazel's gaze flickered to the tray. The food was beautifully arranged, delicate pastries, fresh fruit, and cups of the finest tea, but it all felt so hollow to her. What was the point of feasting when her life felt so empty?
"I'm not hungry," Hazel replied softly, her voice tinged with a hint of bitterness. "How could I be when I am to be married to a man I don't even know? A prince who may very well be the son of the Devil himself?"
Selene's eyes widened at the mention of the prophecy, but she quickly masked her shock with a calm expression. "The prophecy…"
Hazel's lips twisted into a bitter smile. "Yes, the prophecy. The Devil's son who will either save or destroy us all. Who will decide the fate of the kingdom. And what am I? A pawn in this twisted game? A princess destined to marry him, whether I like it or not."
She paused, her eyes darkening with the weight of her thoughts. "Why is it that everything in my life is decided for me? Why is it that my marriage is the only thing left for me to do?"
Selene moved to her side, placing a hand gently on Hazel's shoulder. "You are not a pawn, Your Highness. You are the kingdom's hope. And though it may seem as though your life is not your own, you do have the power to change your destiny."
Hazel looked up at her handmaiden, the words feeling foreign to her. "How? How can I change anything when I am locked away in this gilded cage? When every move I make is controlled, every decision dictated by others?"
Selene met her gaze with quiet understanding. "You are not alone, Your Highness. There are others who will help you. The right choices can still be made, even within these walls."
Hazel sighed and leaned back against the cushions, staring at the ornate ceiling above. She had no idea what Selene meant, but for the first time, there was a flicker of hope in her chest. Perhaps there was more to this prophecy than she had initially thought. Perhaps her marriage to the Devil's son wasn't as predestined as her father and the kingdom believed.
---
Later that day, Hazel was summoned to the royal council chamber. The air was thick with tension as the courtiers whispered about the prophecy, about the mysterious prince, and about the unknown future of the kingdom. Her father stood at the head of the table, his gaze sharp and calculating as he addressed the gathered nobles.
"Hazel," he began, his voice cutting through the murmurs. "The time has come for you to meet the prince you are to marry. You must prepare yourself. This union will ensure the kingdom's strength and solidify our place in the world."
Hazel's stomach twisted. She could feel the eyes of the council upon her, their judgment hanging heavy in the air. She had no choice but to obey, to marry a man she didn't know, a man who might hold the key to the kingdom's future—and her own.
As the meeting ended, Hazel's mind raced. She had learned nothing new about the mysterious prince, nothing that would give her any insight into the man she was about to marry. Her life had been mapped out for her long before she was born, and the walls of her gilded cage were closing in tighter with every passing moment.
She couldn't help but wonder, as she was escorted back to her chambers, if the prince—this Devil's son—could ever truly be the key to her freedom. Could he be the one who would free her from her gilded cage, or would he only reinforce it, trapping her further into a life she could never escape?
For now, she would wait. But in the depths of her heart, something dark and dangerous stirred, a feeling that the life she had always known was about to change. Forever.
And with that change, Hazel realized, the world itself might never be the same again.