"That's enough… both of you!"
Grace's sharp voice cut through the rising tension like a blade.
Both boys froze immediately and slowly lowered their guards.
Grace turned toward Arnold, her expression firm.
"Arnold… you need to leave."
Arnold shook his head.
"I'm sorry, Princess Crystal, but this is against the law. I'm not leaving until you come with me."
His voice was steady but filled with determination.
"For the sake of both kingdoms, I advise you to come with me."
Azrion stood silently, his jaw tight with frustration. His fists clenched at his sides, yet he knew there was little he could do without making the situation worse.
Grace looked between the two of them before lowering her eyes.
She had no choice.
Slowly, she turned back to Azrion.
"I'm sorry, Azrion… but I guess this is goodbye."
Arnold helped her onto his horse, then mounted behind her. Without another word, they rode back toward the palace.
Azrion remained where he stood, watching them disappear into the distance. For a moment, he simply stared, his chest heavy with emotions he couldn't put into words.
Then he turned, ready to storm away.
Suddenly—
"Are you hurt?"
Azrion spun around in surprise.
"Leah? What are you doing here?"
Leah stepped out from behind the trees, her expression dark.
"Breaking the rules… keeping secrets… that doesn't sound very noble, Prince Azrion."
Azrion looked away, guilt written across his face.
"Leah… I'm sorry. I just didn't know how to tell you. Everything happened so fast."
She walked closer to him slowly.
"Tell me something," she said softly.
Her eyes were filled with jealousy, pain, and anger.
"Do you like her?"
Azrion hesitated.
"Leah… I…"
"Just answer me," she interrupted. "And please be honest for once."
Azrion took a deep breath.
"I don't like her."
For a brief moment, Leah's shoulders relaxed.
Then he continued.
"I love her, Leah."
The words struck like a blade.
Leah's expression hardened as her eyes shimmered with tears.
"I see… I guess you love her even more than your own kingdom."
"It's not like that," Azrion said quickly.
Leah shook her head.
"I advise you to throw that love away, Prince Azrion… because I assure you, it's one that will never be."
Without another word, she turned and walked away, leaving Azrion standing alone.
Meanwhile, Arnold brought Grace safely back to the palace gates.
As they stopped, he finally spoke.
"I'm sorry for what happened… but I really hope this never happens again."
Grace looked at him quietly.
"Why? Are you going to report me to my parents?"
Arnold sighed.
"If it comes to that… I will. I'm just protecting you from yourself."
Grace stared at him in disbelief.
"Arnold… what happened to you? Why are you acting like this? You're supposed to be my best friend."
Arnold's voice trembled.
"You tell me, Princess Crystal."
His eyes were filled with emotion.
"What's so special about him that you'd break the rules just to see him? I saw the way you looked at him."
He swallowed hard.
"Tell me… do you like him?"
Grace crossed her arms and studied him carefully.
"Hold on… are you jealous, Arnold?"
Arnold laughed bitterly.
"Maybe I am."
Tears gathered in his eyes.
"Why do you have to choose him over me? He's supposed to be our enemy."
Grace softened slightly.
"Arnold… I'm sorry. But right now you're letting jealousy cloud your judgment. I promise you, Azrion is a good person. There's probably some misunderstanding somewhere."
Arnold shook his head.
"I'm sorry, Crystal… I love you. But I can't bear to see you with someone like Azrion."
With that, he turned his horse and rode away.
Grace stood there silently before finally entering the palace.
The moment she reached her room, all her emotions overwhelmed her. She collapsed onto her bed, tears streaming down her face.
"I don't know what I'm doing anymore…"
Later that evening, Leah stormed into a hidden cave deep within the forest.
Inside the cave floated a glowing sapphire-like orb, and within it was the imprisoned dark sorcerer, Rhaegor.
Leah's eyes burned with bitterness as she wept.
"How dare they hurt me like this… and that princess… after everything I've done for Azrion and the kingdom, he still lied to me."
Rhaegor's voice echoed calmly from the orb.
"Oh dear… I'm sorry to hear that, my dear. I'm afraid that's simply how people are."
Leah wiped her tears.
"Ever since I was little, people keep hurting me. Are my feelings not important, Rhaegor?"
"Oh no, my dear," he replied smoothly. "Your feelings matter very much… especially to me. It's not you that's the problem. People simply don't value precious things."
Leah lowered her head.
"It hurts so much."
"I understand," Rhaegor said softly. "But tell me… what exactly happened?"
Leah explained everything in detail.
Inside the orb, Rhaegor's lips slowly curled into an evil grin.
Who knew my time would come so soon, he thought. This time, I'll make sure both dragon bloodlines disappear.
"Rhaegor… are you okay?" Leah asked.
"Yes, my dear," he replied. "They dared to commit such a terrible crime and still lie to you. Surely… they should be punished, don't you think? At the very least, to make sure they never meet again."
Leah nodded slowly.
"You're right… but how?"
"Well," Rhaegor said, "why not inform both sets of parents about what they've done?"
Leah hesitated.
"But… wouldn't that mean betraying Azrion?"
Rhaegor chuckled softly.
"Oh, you naive girl. Did he think about that before betraying you?"
Leah clenched her fists.
"You're right. I'll tell the queen… but how do I inform the parents of that worthless princess?"
"I can show you a spell," Rhaegor said. "You can deliver the message from here."
With Rhaegor guiding her, Leah cast a spell.
Far away in the throne room of Aetherion, a dark cloud suddenly formed before the king. Within it appeared a shadowy face and an eerie voice.
The king stood up in alarm.
"What is this… wait… that voice?"
"You sit on your throne," the voice echoed, "unaware of what your daughter has done… secretly meeting the Prince of Zerathion."
The king's eyes widened.
"What?!"
"Oh yes," the voice continued coldly. "The curse has begun… and both kingdoms will soon fall."
The dark cloud vanished instantly.
The king remained frozen on his throne, his heart racing.
"No… this can't be."
"Guards!" he shouted.
A guard rushed in.
"Bring me the queen… and the princess immediately!"
"Yes, Your Majesty!"
Back in the cave, Leah exhaled with satisfaction.
"That was amazing, Rhaegor. She'll never see Azrion again for sure."
"Anything for you, my dear," he replied smoothly.
"But… what did you mean about a curse?" Leah asked.
Rhaegor chuckled.
"Oh, that? Just something to scare them a little more."
"Oh… okay," Leah said. "I guess I should deliver the message to Azrion's mother as well."
Before leaving, she turned back toward the orb.
"Rhaegor… I thought about what you said. I'll get those items from both Azrion and that princess if it means freeing you."
"Oh Leah… thank you so much," he said sweetly. "But I hope it won't be too much trouble."
"Leave it to me," she replied before walking out of the cave.
Moments later, Grace and the queen entered the throne room.
"Father, you called?" Grace asked. "Is everything alright?"
The king stared at her intensely.
"Crystal… have you been seeing the Prince of Zerathion?"
Grace froze.
"Despite my warnings not to have anything to do with them?"
Grace hesitated.
"Father… I—"
"Answer me!" the king demanded.
Grace sighed heavily.
"Yes."
Both the king and queen suddenly looked as if the strength had left their bodies.
The king sank back into his throne, his face pale.
"Oh, Crystal… what have you done?"