Scene 1: The Cursed Prince
The prince awoke to faint whispers, as if the darkness itself was calling his name.
He did not know where he was, but the cold wrapping around his body told him this place showed no mercy.
He opened his eyes slowly… or so he thought.
The darkness had not changed.
The black band still covered his eyes, and the curse had not allowed him to see the light since that fateful night.
He rose with difficulty, leaning on his sword planted in the ground. The sword pulsed with a faint red glow, like a living heart sensing its owner.
Every pulse reminded him…
That he was still alive, even though the world wished him dead.
"The cursed prince… the forgotten heir…"
The voices echoed again.
He gripped the sword hilt tightly and whispered:
— Silence.
Suddenly, silence fell, yet the feeling of being watched did not disappear.
He took one step, then another, until he felt the ground beneath him changing. This was no longer just a dark forest…
It was the land of a curse.
He remembered.
He remembered the palace, the blood, the screams, and the faces of those he trusted stabbing him in betrayal.
He remembered how his identity was stolen before his eyes were taken.
He thought to himself:
— If this hell is my fate… I will rule it.
Suddenly, the darkness trembled.
Distorted shapes emerged from the mist, their eyes red, their bodies twisted as if born from nightmares.
He did not need to see them… he could feel them.
He raised his sword.
The red glow flared, and a strange heat spread through his body—not pain…
But power.
— Come closer, he said with a cold smile,
— The lost prince… is not dead yet.
Scene 2: The Emperor Appears
We return to the little princess Alicia, who asked her father:
— Father… do I have a grandfather or grandmother?
Arsian replied:
— Yes… you have a grandfather.
Then he fell silent, remembering the past when he had told his father:
"Father… the Emperor wants my daughter's power, and he plans to experiment on her to see what she is like without the family curse."
Arsian's father, Askard Azure, said:
— My son, I understand how you feel. You want to protect your daughter… but this is Emperor Scalven Goldness.
And we are only nobles of the empire he rules.
We cannot commit rash acts like refusing an emperor's order.
Feeling disappointed, Arsian left the head of the family's chamber.
He went to his aide, James, and said:
— James… I want to escape with my daughter. I cannot bear her being tortured and experimented on by the emperor. Farewell, my friend.
Arsian then woke up with his daughter, who said:
— Father… is this the kingdom you lived in? It's amazing!
Arsian smiled and replied:
— Yes… this kingdom is my birthplace.
Scene 3: Shadows of the Palace
The carriage moved slowly inside the palace walls.
Alicia sat quietly, her blue eyes scanning the tall columns and wide windows, as if trying to memorize everything.
The palace was more beautiful than she had imagined, yet the beauty felt cold.
— Father… why is this place so big?
Arsian answered without smiling:
— Because those who live here… like to feel above everyone else.
The carriage stopped, and the door opened.
Arsian stepped out first, then carried his daughter in his arms.
At that moment, he felt something familiar…
That heavy sensation he hadn't felt in years: the breath of the palace.
He walked through the long corridors, memories assaulting him mercilessly.
Old laughter, training as a knight, and the nobles' gaze that was never innocent.
Suddenly—
— Arsian Azure.
He stopped and turned slowly.
A tall man stood at the end of the corridor, his dark hair and stone-like features dressed in the empire's official attire.
— The emperor knows of your return.
Arsian unconsciously tightened his fist:
— Did he send someone to welcome me… or to watch me?
— Both, came the reply.
Inside the palace, in a distant wing, a lady dressed in dark clothes stood before a tall mirror. Her black hair flowed down, her eyes sparkling with cold curiosity:
— So… the daughter of Azure has returned.
A man behind her replied:
— Yes, my lady. The child bears the same signs.
She laughed softly:
— Interesting… the family curse has not yet returned.
Then she added quietly:
— Inform the emperor. The time is near.
That night, Alicia sat on a large bed in a luxurious room, far bigger than her old home, yet she felt lonely.
Arsian approached and sat beside her.
— Father… are we safe here?
He looked at her, then said:
— I do not know, Alicia.
He placed his hand on her head and added:
— But as long as I am here… I will not allow anyone to harm you.
Alicia smiled faintly and closed her eyes.
Yet inside her, something stirred—not just fear, but a warning.
And somewhere in the palace, eyes began to watch.
Scene 4: The Emperor Emerges
At that moment, a person with bright yellow hair and light red clothing was spying on Alicia and Arsian through a magical eye in their room.
A blue window appeared in front of the emperor, as if it were the system's first appearance to the princess of House Azure.
The emperor asked:
— System, I want to know if the curse of House Azure or Scarlet exists in this little girl's body?
The system replied:
— After scanning, no trace of Azure or Scarlet curse was found. She is truly curse-free.
The emperor pondered:
— How is this possible? A curse over a century old disappears because of a marriage between two cursed families… something is amiss.
I must understand this, perhaps I can remove the curse from an imperial family as well.
The emperor held dark objects resembling burns, radiating a violet aura.
Scene 5: First Use of the System
Alicia opened her eyes, as if waking from a dream, sitting on her bed while her father Arsian slept beside her.
A window of the system appeared, saying:
— Hello, daughter of House Azure.
Alicia stared at the window, not realizing this was the first time she had seen the system, and asked:
— Who are you?
The system replied:
— I am the System, or in other words, the electronic assistant for this world.
I cannot communicate with anyone under four years old, and today is your fourth birthday.
You have reached the required age to use the system.
Alicia asked:
— So, how can I use you now?
The system replied:
— Because I cannot communicate with anyone younger than four.
Do you want to know your skills?
Her eyes sparkled with curiosity:
— Yes!
The system displayed Alicia's stats:
Intelligence: 49
Strength: 9
Agility: 5
Stamina: 4
Mana: 99
Skills:
Crystal Ball Skill (derived from Crystal Sword Skill)
Blue Explosion Skill
Elemental Control (Water, Air, Fire – can unlock more elements later)
Scene 6: Meeting the Grandfathers
The next morning, two carriages arrived at the palace.
The first was white, decorated with the Azure family sword and diamond emblem, the second with a red magical emblem and six-pointed star of House Scarlet.
From the blue carriage descended Askard Azure, Arsian's father, and from the crimson carriage Julian Scarlet, Alicia's maternal grandfather.
They exchanged looks of hatred and challenge.
Arsian and Alicia watched from the palace window, and Arsian was shocked to see his father.
— Who are these two men, Father?
Alicia asked.
Arsian replied:
— The one with white hair and blue clothing is my father, your grandfather.
The other is your mother's father, Julian Scarlet.
Alicia rejoiced:
— Really?
Arsian smiled:
— Since you want to see your grandfathers… let's welcome them.
Arsian stepped out carrying Alicia, and the grandfathers' harsh expressions softened to calm.
— What a lovely child…
But we are old now.
Scene 7: The Grandfathers' Encounter
Everyone sat inside the palace hall.
Askard Azure sat upright in a chair, his gaze steady, while Julian Scarlet stood across, his magical aura faint but present.
Alicia stood beside her father, clearly curious about her grandfathers.
Askard stepped forward and slightly bowed to look at Alicia:
— So… this is my granddaughter?
Alicia nodded quickly:
— Yes! I am Alicia.
Askard's expression softened:
— You resemble your father… very much.
Julian chuckled lightly:
— But she carries something else too.
Arsian looked at him cautiously:
— What do you mean?
Julian extended his hand slightly, without touching her, and closed his eyes for a moment.
A brief silence fell, then he opened his eyes suddenly:
— No trace of the curse.
Askard clenched his fist:
— Are you certain?
Julian nodded seriously:
— Certain.
The two grandfathers looked at Alicia again, and this time, their gaze was not one of conflict… but of amazement.
Askard murmured:
— A child without a curse… from two cursed families.
Julian smiled lightly:
— It seems fate is mocking us.
Arsian stepped closer, placing his hand on Alicia's shoulder:
— That is why I hid you.
A heavy silence filled the hall.
Then Askard finally said:
— From now on… you will not be alone.
Alicia looked at them and smiled innocently:
— So… will you stay with me?
The grandfathers exchanged a brief glance, then answered almost simultaneously:
— Yes.