Love between war

✧══════════════════════✧ Long before the fate of princes was written in blood and whispers... Before fear divided brothers... Before love and betrayal twisted the hearts of kings... Before swords carved history into flesh and soil... There lived a woman whose voice dared to rise when others remained silent.Her name had faded from history.But her words did not. In those ancient days, the mighty Kingdom of Elowen was ruled by nobles whose hearts had long forgotten mercy.Golden chandeliers sparkled above endless banquets. Silver goblets overflowed with sweet wine.Musicians played cheerful melodies.Laughter echoed through magnificent halls. Yet outside the palace walls... Reality was cruel.Cold wind swept across the streets. Whoooosh... Children slept beneath broken roofs, shivering beneath thin blankets. Mothers hid their tears while feeding their children the last crumbs of bread.Farmers worked until their hands bled, only to surrender most of their harvest as taxes.Widows mourned in silence.The poor prayed every day. "Please save us..." Many saw their suffering. Many pitied them. But very few dared to speak. She did. A noble scholar woman.Wise beyond her years.Fearless before kings. Her sharp mind frightened corrupt nobles.Her compassion comforted the helpless.And one day... She wrote a prophecy.A prophecy that would shake empires.A prophecy that would decide the fate of generations.The sacred royal chronicle became known throughout all kingdoms as— "The Night of the Dragon and the Crimson Moon." The chamber was silent. Whoooosh... Cold wind brushed against the tall windows.The lantern flame flickered gently.The scholar sat before an ancient wooden desk.Her fingers trembled slightly.Yet her gaze remained calm. Slowly... She dipped her quill into black ink. And wrote— "When the empire stands upon the edge of fate..." "Two royal children shall be born beneath the same night sky." The lantern danced softly.The wind grew colder.Her expression slowly darkened. Again... The quill moved. "One shall bear the mark of the Dragon..." "The Light of the Empire." Silence. A strange unease spread through her chest.She closed her eyes briefly. Then— She continued. "And one shall carry the mark of the Crimson Moon..." "The Shadow that will swallow the throne." The room suddenly became cold. Very cold.As if destiny itself had entered.Her breathing trembled. Haa... She gripped the quill tightly. And wrote the final words— "One will protect the kingdom." "And one will destroy it." "One will rise as the light of the empire." "And one will become its shadow." The lantern flickered once. Twice. Then— Pfft... Darkness swallowed the chamber. The prophecy was sealed. Locked inside the sacred royal archives.But words possess wings. They travel through whispers. Through fear. Through time. Soon... The entire Kingdom of Elowen knew. And even distant kingdoms trembled.Yet one truth remained hidden. No one knew... Who would become the savior. And who would become the curse. ✧ Fifty Years Later ✧ Night covered the capital of Veloria. Dark clouds drifted across the sky. Tap... Tap... Tap... Rain fell softly upon the palace windows.Cold wind howled around the towering walls. Whoooosh... Torches burned along marble corridors.Their flames danced nervously.Inside the imperial palace— Tension filled the air.Servants hurried anxiously. Tap... Tap... Tap... A young maid carefully carried medicinal herbs.Her hands trembled. "Has the royal physician arrived?" she asked nervously. "She arrived moments ago," another maid whispered. The scent of crushed Moonleaf and Silver Sage filled the air.Warm medicinal steam rose from silver bowls.And inside the magnificent imperial chamber—Empress Aurelia Thoren struggled through unbearable pain.Her fingers gripped the silk sheets tightly.Her breathing trembled. "Haa... Haa..." Sweat glistened upon her pale forehead.Her long black hair clung to her cheeks.Pain filled her beautiful green eyes. Yet... There was still gentleness within them.The royal physician held her hand. "Your Majesty..." Her voice was calm. "Breathe slowly." "The child is almost here." Aurelia nodded weakly. For her child... She would endure anything. Outside the chamber—A small boy stood quietly. Silver hair framed his delicate face. His brown eyes were filled with worry. This was— Theon Falan. Only two months ago... He had lost his parents.His entire world.An accident had stolen everything.But Empress Aurelia had taken him into the palace.She cared for him.Protected him. Loved him.As her own child. Theon nervously held his sleeves. "Aunt Aurelia..." He lowered his head. "Please be safe." An elderly maid smiled gently. "Do not worry, little one." "Her Majesty is the strongest woman in this palace." Theon nodded.But his little heart remained restless. Inside— Pain surged once more. "Aah!" Aurelia cried. The maids hurried anxiously. The physician encouraged her softly. "Almost there!" "Just a little longer!" Meanwhile... Far away... Hidden deep within another residence of Veloria—A woman also suffered through childbirth.Her name was—Elion. No one in the palace knew she existed.No one knew she carried the Emperor's child.Her fingers dug painfully into the blanket. Tears filled her eyes. "Please..." She whispered weakly. "Let my child be safe." Back in the palace— A final cry escaped Aurelia's lips. Then— "Waaaah!" A newborn baby's cry echoed throughout the chamber.For a moment—Everything became silent. Then— Joy erupted. "A son!" The physician smiled brightly. "The Empress has given birth to a prince!" Tears filled several maids' eyes. Smiles spread everywhere. Outside— Theon's eyes widened. "He is born?" he asked excitedly. The maid laughed softly. "Yes." "You have a little brother now." 😊 Without waiting— Theon ran inside. Tap! Tap! Tap! His silver hair bounced as he hurried. Aurelia stretched out her trembling arms. "My child..." The physician carefully placed the newborn baby into her embrace. The moment she held him— Tears filled her eyes. "So tiny..." She whispered lovingly. The baby rested quietly against her chest.Soft black hair.Snow-white skin.Beautiful tiny features. Little fingers wrapped around his mother's hand.Aurelia smiled through tears. "My precious son." Theon slowly approached. His eyes sparkled. "So small..." 🤭 Aurelia laughed softly. "Theon." "This is your little brother." The boy carefully looked at the infant.Then smiled brightly. "I will protect him forever." Though his voice was small... His promise was sincere. Aurelia gently stroked his hair. "And he will love you too." But suddenly— The physician froze. "Hmm..." She slowly adjusted the baby's blanket.Then— Her eyes widened. Everyone followed her gaze. On the infant's neck— A birthmark. A beautiful crescent moon. Crimson red.As if painted by blood beneath the moonlight.The physician's face paled. "Your Majesty..." "The prince bears a birthmark." Aurelia looked down. "A birthmark?" And then—The mark glowed.A faint crimson light spread throughout the room. Softly. Slowly. Brighter... And brighter...The maids gasped. "The Crimson Moon!" "The prophecy!" One servant stepped backward fearfully. "The cursed prince..." Fear spread through the chamber. Like poison.Like shadows crawling across the floor. Theon blinked in confusion. "Cursed?" "What does that mean?" Nobody answered. Aurelia's face became pale. But only for a moment. Then—She tightly embraced her son. Protectively. Fiercely. "No." Her voice trembled.But her eyes burned brightly. "He is my son." "He is not cursed." "No prophecy..." "No fear..." "No whisper..." "Will take him away from me." The baby slowly stopped crying. Sleeping peacefully against her chest.As though he understood— He was loved.Deeply.Completely. Outside— Whispers had already begun. "The Crimson Moon..." "The cursed prince..." "The prophecy is real..." Fear spread throughout the palace. Like wildfire. Meanwhile— Inside the hidden residence— Another newborn cried. "Waaaah!" Elion collapsed weakly against her pillow. The physician smiled. "My Lady..." "A son." Relief filled Elion's eyes. She gently embraced the infant. "My child..." Her lips trembled. "You are safe." But suddenly— The physician froze.On the baby's neck— A magnificent birthmark appeared. A Dragon. Elegant. Proud. Its wings curled around his neck like a guardian.And then— Golden light burst from the mark. Warm. Radiant. Magnificent. The chamber glowed. The physician stared in disbelief. "The Dragon..." "The Light of the Prophecy..." Elion slowly smiled. But her smile carried ambition. And desire. "My son..." She whispered. "You will become the light of this empire." That night— Two princes were born. One beneath the Crimson Moon. One beneath the Dragon's Light. One destined to be feared. One destined to be adored. Back inside the imperial chamber— Aurelia gently rocked her sleeping son.Little Theon stood beside her. His small fingers carefully held the infant's hand.As if silently promising— "No matter what happens..." "I will stay beside you forever." Outside— Rain continued to fall. Tap... Tap... Tap... The wind whispered softly. Whoooosh... Far beyond the palace walls— Destiny had already begun weaving its threads. The empire believed fate had revealed its truth. But fate... Had only just begun to lie. ✧══════════════════════