The palace was buzzing with life for the Annual Moon Garden Festival, a tradition Gerah vaguely remembered writing—but now it felt far too real.
Every lady in the kingdom was expected to present a gift to the prince—a symbol of admiration, and, secretly, an act of courtship.
Gerah didn’t plan to participate. She was a side character, after all.
But the universe had other plans.
Mara, draped in silver silk and jewels, prepared a rare black rose grown in her family’s garden. "The prince will remember me this time," she whispered to Hannah, her eyes gleaming with confidence. “It’s only a matter of time before Gerah fades.”
19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkCpH3pVrIh
Later, during the festival…
19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbArKzSEHy2
The garden glowed under moonlight. Laughter, music, and perfume danced in the air.
Gerah wandered alone, away from the crowd. She picked a small, imperfect white flower growing near the palace wall. It wasn’t royal. It wasn’t rare.
But it felt real.
Just as she turned to leave, she almost bumped into Xavier.
19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4GzjtHHJTe
“Princess Gerah?” he said.
19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6psNEvab5b
She blushed, hiding the flower. “Sorry—I was just—”
19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIfPLyrYrND
“You weren’t going to join the gift offering?” he asked gently.
19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEfRP0S3jvI
“I don’t think I’m the type of girl who... gives princes flowers.”
19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoWjRRw6Ucf
He chuckled. “Then maybe I’ll give you one.”
He pulled a rose from the garden and tucked it behind her ear.
19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡutgTTDoENT
“You’re different,” he said.
“And that’s what I like.”
19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeo4z4KY3x9
From the distance, Mara saw it all—and her hand crushed the rose she had brought.
19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9riyDGJLVq
19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhyNQbTnTVH
Meanwhile…
Jiru and Marco watched the interaction unfold from the balcony above.
“She’s changing everything,” Marco muttered. “Gerah wasn’t supposed to matter.”
19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnPYlpz9I7F
“She always mattered,” Jiru replied without looking away.
19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdK5ITRFhrF
Later that night, Gerah writes in her hidden notebook:
“Dear story, you’ve gone rogue. But maybe…
that’s okay. Maybe, I needed to stop writing, and start living.”
ns216.73.216.251da2
