10 years later
"I miss you, Mom," Cally whispered, gazing at a cherished photograph of her late mother.
It had been a year since her mother's passing, and now Cally found herself in solitude. She took one last, lingering look around her mother's room, searching for any overlooked items. With college in the bustling city awaiting her, she had no choice but to bid farewell to the house filled with precious memories of her mother. Every nook and cranny of the home held reminders of her, making it impossible not to yearn for her presence. As Cally prepared to close the door behind her, she noticed something hidden beneath the bed frame. It was an old yet remarkably well-preserved book. She examined the book's cover, which featured a captivating image of a princess and a prince, their expressions marked by an intriguing blend of beauty and hideousness.
"Bella and the Cursed Prince? Perhaps one of the many stories my mom read to me when I was a child," Cally mused. She couldn't help but feel curious, considering she thought her mother had sold their old books, especially the fairytales, since Cally had outgrown them.
Carefully, she put the book in her bag. It held an enduring connection to her mother, and Cally couldn't bear to part with it. As she said her final goodbye to their home and town, the memories of her mother, intertwined with the book, remained forever cherished in her heart.
The cityscape that greeted Cally left her utterly astonished. The city, with its vastness, noise, and excitement, stood in stark contrast to the small, quiet, and peaceful town she had known her whole life.
While this wasn't Cally's first visit to the city, having come before to prepare her university application, it never ceased to overwhelm her. "It's just so different here, Mom."
Her landlady handed her the key to the new apartment, saying, "Here's the key to your apartment. Take good care of it and enjoy your stay." As Cally entered her new home, she took in the small but cozy space, complete with a few furnishings. She put her bag on the floor as she settled into a chair.
"Will I thrive here, all on my own?" Although solitude had become her companion since her mother's passing, the unfamiliar environment posed new challenges, especially as her first year of college loomed closer.
"I'll need to carefully manage my budget; part-time work is the answer to cover my living expenses, including rent and meals," she reasoned. Thankfully, her scholarship eased her tuition concerns, and her mother's financial support provided a safety net, yet part-time work was crucial for her survival in the city.
"Oh," a sudden recollection of the book she had found in her mother's room struck Cally. She carefully retrieved it from her bag and gently caressed the book's cover. As she delved into its pages, Cally immersed herself in the tale, each word rekindling cherished memories of her mother reading it to her.
"I recall it now! The ending of the second prince is still a mystery to me, but I suppose it's not the focus of the tale, after all," she mused before gently placing the book aside.
As the exhaustion of her journey combined with the book's late-night reading, Cally succumbed to sleep in her chair.
A sudden clap of thunder jolted her awake, the sound reverberating through the room. The chill of the cold wind from the open window sent her scurrying to close it. The room was in near darkness, with only the distant city lights providing light.
"It's so cold—"
"Who are you?" A deep voice pierced the silence, instantly replacing the cold with fear. Cally's mind raced through countless possibilities: a thief, a killer, or perhaps even a ghost? Her anxiety prevented her from turning to confront the source of the voice.
"Face me and state your identity. This is an imperial order," the voice commanded, carrying an unmistakable authority.
Imperial order? Was this a joke or a prank? Cally cautiously turned to confront the voice. Her fearful eyes met a pair of captivating red irises filled with confusion and a touch of anger. The peculiar lighting outside cast an otherworldly glow upon the stranger, accentuating his distinctive rose-colored hair. A costume, resembling that of a prince from a fantasy tale, adorned his figure. An actual sword was pointed in her direction.
Her fear gradually transformed into bewilderment. "Are you a thief in a cosplay?" Cally asked, her voice quaking with a blend of fear and curiosity.
