Chapter 1: A Fateful Night

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In the ancient and enchanting kingdom of Atarah, a realm like no other, there existed a magnificent castle perched atop the world. Rulers and dignitaries from far and wide journeyed to explore the ornate halls of Atarah and pay homage to the kingdom's esteemed sovereigns, High King Roland and Queen Mira. The Queen, in her wisdom, had bestowed upon the kingdom three remarkable sons. The eldest was Lenox, a valiant and brilliant warrior, renowned for his courage and tactical genius. Next was Carter, whose captivating looks and charm enchanted all who cross his path, often leading him into romantic adventures with widows, merchant's wives, and eager princesses. The youngest of the three, Grey, was a reserved soul who found solace in books, spending hours assisting the castle librarian and tutoring young children.

One day, excitement enveloped the entire kingdom as it was time for Lenox's nineteenth birthday and the search for his future princess. Kings far and wide presented their first-born daughters as potential brides, but none captured Lenox's heart like the enchanting maiden he had met in the village one spring afternoon. Zariah, the captivating daughter of the royal cook and lady-in-waiting for Queen Mira, immediately entranced Lenox with her beauty and intelligence. For weeks, Lenox and Zariah secretly met in the castle library, their friendship slowly blossoming into something deeper. As the months passed, their connection intensified, and on the eve of Lenox's birthday celebration, he delivered a special invitation to Zariah, requesting she wear something blue and gold, his favorite color combination.

The day of the grand celebration arrived, with eligible young ladies and distinguished guests filling the castle's dance hall, dressed in pristine white. King Roland and Queen Mira, resplendent in their white and gold attire, observed the magnificently decorated hall and the arriving guests. As the horns announced Prince Lenox's arrival, he descended the grand staircase in his regal attire, stopping briefly to notice Carter surrounded by admirers and Grey absorbed in a book in his right hand and a glass of wine held in his left hand.

However, it was Zariah who truly took Lenox's breath away as she stood across form him, resplendent in a deep V-neck chiffon dress of royal blue adorned with a gold belt and elegant child chains. Her clear gold heels accentuated her smooth caramel skin. As they joined on the dance floor, Lenox kissed Zariah, sealing their love. King Roland and Queen Mira accepted Zariah as their daughter-in-law, and two months later, Lenox and Zariah wed, and then announcing to the entire kingdom the eldest prince and the first princess were expecting the first royal heir to the throne. During Zariah's seventh month of pregnancy, the couple received an unexpected visit from the Great Witch of Atarah, Clio, who possessed the gift of foresight. Clio shared a premonition – their first-born daughter would become the kingdom's first powerful witch. However, she also revealed a grim prophecy: an enigmatic enemy, Zayne, ruler of the dark kingdom Syndril, would seek to steal their daughter's powers and enslave Atarah.

On the night Zariah went through long hours of labor until she finally gave birth to a beautiful baby girl and named her Jade, for her sparkling green eyes lit up the room along with her smile. A few nights later, while the castle slept, sinister shadows moved with stealth and purpose, hunting for the royal family's newborn child. Lenox and Zariah slumbered, fingers intertwined, while baby Jade cooed in her crib. Zayne, adorned in a red suit matching his fiery red eyes, approached the crib, filled with anger and malevolence. Lenox awake, spotting Zayne standing over their child, while at the foot of the bed, Drystan, Zayne's right-hand man, appeared with two menacing, horned wolves, also known as Vors Canis. Lenox, in an act of desperation and protection, threw his dagger at Drystan, while Zariah was capture by Zayne, while holding baby Jade.

After a fierce battle with Drystan and the Vors Canis, Lenox stood before Zayne, sword in hand, pleading for his family's life. Zariah managed to retrieve Jade from Zayne's grasp, but as they attempted to escape, they found themselves trapped by walls of red fire, their fate hanging in the balance. Crouched on the bed, a family united, Prince Lenox and Princesses Zariah braced themselves for the unknown.

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⏰ Last updated: Jul 23 ⏰

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