THE JOURNEY NORTH
1917 Words
The palace no longer felt like home.
It felt like a place waiting to say goodbye.
The announcement of Princess Lyrielle's departure had changed everything overnight. Servants hurried through the halls carrying bolts of silk, jewel boxes, and trunks. Guards stood straighter whenever she passed. Nobles who had barely acknowledged her existence now greeted her with sympathetic smiles.
Lyrielle hated every bit of it.
Where had this concern been all these years?
Now that she was leaving, everyone suddenly remembered she existed.
Only two days remained before she would leave the Solar Empire forever.
Selene watched from the balcony overlooking the courtyard.
Every servant surrounded Lyrielle.
Every conversation was about Lyrielle.
Even the King...
Her father...
Spent more time speaking to Lyrielle than he had with anyone else.
Her hands gripped the marble railing so tightly that her knuckles had turned white.
"Why her?" she whispered bitterly.
Ever since the announcement, everyone spoke only of Lyrielle. The forgotten princess had suddenly become the center of attention. Servants rushed to prepare gowns for her journey. Nobles pitied her. Even the Emperor had spent more time speaking to her than he had in years.
It should have been me...
The thought disgusted her.
Jealousy settled in her chest like poison.
"She disappears for years," Selene muttered, "and suddenly she's everyone's precious princess."
Her maid lowered her head.
"My lady-"
"Leave."
The maid quickly obeyed.
Selene clenched the balcony railing.
For the first time in her life...
She couldn't stand the sight of her sister.
*. *.
"You're packing too much."
Rowan leaned against the doorway of Lyrielle's chambers with a grin.
Luna laughed softly while folding another gown into a polished cedar trunk.
"A princess doesn't travel with one dress."
"I'd rather travel with none."
"You'll regret saying that when you're freezing in the north."
Lyrielle rolled her eyes.
"I doubt demons care what I wear."
"They might," Rowan replied. "If you insult their fashion, they may send you back."
She laughed.
A genuine laugh.
Luna smiled quietly.
Late that evening, while folding the last of Lyrielle's belongings, Luna noticed the princess staring at the moon.
"My lady?"
Lyrielle didn't look away.
"Luna..."
"Yes?"
"Why don't I have powers?"
The room became still.
Luna's hands froze over the open trunk.
She had expected that question someday.
Just...
Not today.
"There are truths," Luna answered carefully, "that reveal themselves only when the time is right."
"So you know."
"I know enough."
"Then tell me."
Luna approached her and gently tucked a strand of white hair behind her ear.
"You have spent your entire life searching for answers."
She smiled sadly.
"Perhaps your journey will finally lead you to them."
Lyrielle sighed.
"I hate mysterious answers."
"I know,but I am in no position to say anything."she smiled and hurried away.
The following morning, Lyrielle stopped leaving her room.
Meals were brought.
Untouched.
Books were delivered.
Unread.
Cassian stood outside her door with a tray of breakfast.
"Lyrielle."
Silence.
"I know you're angry."
Nothing.
"I deserve that."
Still nothing.
He rested his forehead against the wooden door.
"I should have protected you."
His voice was barely above a whisper.
"I failed as your brother."
Inside the room...
A single tear slid down Lyrielle's cheek.
She heard every word.
Yehe couldn't bring herself to answer.
Departure day arrived.
The palace courtyard had never been so crowded.
Soldiers stood in perfect rows.
Nobles gathered along the marble steps.
A carriage of black obsidian waited before the gates, pulled by enormous shadow-coated horses whose crimson eyes glowed beneath silver armor.
Standing beside it...
Was Prince Azrael.
Tall.
Motionless.
His black cloak shifted gently in the wind.
He regarded the palace with complete indifference.
King Orion stepped forward.
"You've arrived."
Azrael's crimson eyes swept across the royal family.
He spoke only three words.
"Let's finish this."
His voice was calm.
Cold.
Without anger.
Without excitement.
Yet the words carried enough weight to silence the entire courtyard.
Lyrielle descended the palace steps.
Their eyes met.
She expected hatred.
Instead...
She found nothing.
No curiosity.
No kindness.
No contempt.
Only calculation.
"You are Lyrielle."
It wasn't a question.
"Yes."
He nodded once.
"Good."
He turned toward the carriage.
"We're leaving."
No greeting.
No introduction.
Nothing else.
For reasons she couldn't explain...
His indifference irritated her more than open hostility would've.
Before she entered the carriage, King Orion called her name.
"Lyrielle."
She turned.
The Emperor stepped closer until only the two of them could hear each other.
"This journey was never meant to punish you."
His tired eyes met hers.
"You are leaving because you are a princess.
You are fulfilling your duty."
"You'll accompany her."
Luna bowed deeply.
"With my life, Your Majesty."
Only then did Lyrielle realize she wouldn't be facing the unknown completely alone.
The journey lasted nearly three days.
The forests grew darker.
The mountains higher.
The air colder.
Eventually the carriage emerged from thick mist.
Lyrielle looked through the window...
And froze.
The Demon Dominion was nothing like the terrifying stories she'd heard.
Dark stone towers pierced the clouds like black spears.

Massive waterfalls cascaded from cliffs into glowing rivers below.
Silver-leaved trees surrounded the city walls, their branches shimmering beneath the moon.
Dragons circled distant peaks.
Thousands of lights illuminated the capital like stars scattered across the earth.
"It..."
She whispered.
"It's beautiful."
Azrael didn't look up from the book he had been reading throughout the journey.
"It usually surprises people."
The palace gates opened.
Rows of armored demons knelt as the carriage passed.
Inside the throne hall stood the Demon Emperor.
His silver-black hair flowed over robes embroidered with ancient runes.
His crimson eyes held wisdom rather than cruelty.
Lyrielle instinctively lowered her head before him.
"Raise your head."

His voice echoed through the hall.
She obeyed.
He studied her quietly.
"Good."
He descended the throne.
"You are no longer in a kingdom that mistakes humility for obedience."
He stood before her.
"Do not bow simply because others expect it."
His words settled deep within her heart.
"Respect should be earned."
He smiled faintly.
"And neither should yours be given away so easily."
For the first time since leaving home...
Lyrielle felt...
Safe.
"Luna."
The Emperor turned to the maid.
"You'll remain by Princess Lyrielle's side."
"It would be my honor."
A servant stepped forward.
"This way, Your Highness."
Her room overlooked the northern cliffs.
Moonlight poured through towering arched windows draped in deep sapphire curtains embroidered with silver constellations.
The walls were carved from polished obsidian veined with shimmering crystal that reflected the light like stars trapped in stone.
A grand canopy bed rested in the center of the room, layered with midnight-blue blankets so soft they looked like clouds.
A marble fireplace crackled gently despite no one tending it.
Bookshelves stretched from floor to ceiling, already filled with histories, poetry, and maps.
Fresh white lilies sat beside the window.
The balcony overlooked an endless valley where glowing rivers wound between dark mountains.

There were no chains.
No guards outside her door.
Only silence.
"This..."
Lyrielle whispered.
"...is for me?"
Luna smiled.
"It appears the Demon Emperor intends to treat you as a princess."
Night settled over the palace.
Azrael walked through silent corridors until he reached his father's study.
Without knocking, he entered.
The Demon Emperor looked up from a stack of ancient scrolls.
"You've brought her safely."
"I have."
Silence lingered.
Then Azrael asked the question that had troubled him since the marriage had been arranged.
"Why her?"
His father folded the scroll closed.
"Because she is the one."
"That explains nothing."
"No."
The Emperor rose and walked toward the window overlooking the moonlit city.
"It explains everything."
Azrael frowned.
"You chose a powerless human princess."
The Emperor smiled faintly.
"You still believe power is something you can see."
He looked back at his son.
"One day you'll understand."
Azrael crossed his arms.
"I dislike riddles."
"I know."
"But the truth has waited eighteen years."
His expression grew solemn.
"It can wait a little longer."
Azrael left without another word.
Yet for the first time...
He found himself wondering whether the quiet human princess carried a secret that could change both kingdoms forever.
*. *. *.
The palace had fallen silent long after midnight.
Moonlight spilled through Lyrielle's arched windows, painting silver patterns across the obsidian floor. Half-packed trunks surrounded the room, yet she hadn't touched them in over an hour.
A knock broke the silence.
She frowned.
"I don't want dinner."
"It's not dinner."
The deep voice made her freeze.
Azrael.
She opened the door just enough to glare at him.
"What do you want?"
"I was told this was your room."
"You've confirmed it. Goodnight."
She moved to shut the door.
A gloved hand stopped it effortlessly.
"You've been avoiding everyone."
"I'm avoiding pity."
He studied her for a long moment before walking inside without waiting for permission.
"How rude."
"You'll survive."
She folded her arms.
"If you've come to remind me of the trials tomorrow, save your breath."
"I haven't."
"Then why are you here?"
His crimson eyes swept over the half-packed room.
"To see whether the woman I'm marrying intended to run away."
She laughed-a cold, bitter sound.
"I considered it."
"And?"
"I realized there was nowhere worth running to."
Silence lingered.
Finally she spoke again.
"You know what would be best for me?"
"What?"
She looked him directly in the eye.
"Calling off this marriage."
The words echoed through the room.
Azrael didn't react immediately.
Instead...
"Are you that eager to return to the family that never deserved you?"
Her expression hardened.
"You know nothing about my family."
"I know enough,I've been watching."
His voice remained calm.
"I watched servants hesitate before speaking to you."
"I watched nobles pretend you didn't exist."
"I watched your siblings struggle to look you in the eye."
"And I watched your father spend years pretending he had only one daughter."
Each sentence struck harder than the last.
"You don't know what you're talking about."
"No?"
She stepped closer.
"They're still my family."
"They're trying now."
Her voice cracked despite herself.
"They tried because you were leaving,that doesn't erase the years before."
Azrael's gaze softened-just enough that anyone else would have missed it.
"You deserve better."
"I don't need your sympathy."
"It wasn't sympathy."
"What was it?"
"...The truth."
Neither spoke for several seconds.
Finally Azrael turned toward the door.
"Be ready at sunrise."
Without another word, he left.
Only after the door closed did Lyrielle realize her hands were trembling.
*. *. *.
After everyone had gone to bed...
Luna stood to her feet approached the old mirror she had taken from Lyrielle's room in Asterwyn.
With trembling fingers, she whispered ancient words.
The mirror shimmered.
For only a heartbeat...
The reflection changed.
Instead of Lyrielle...
A woman with snow-white hair and glowing silver eyes smiled sadly back.
"My princess..."
Luna whispered through tears.
"The time has finally come."
The mirror went dark.
No one saw.
- Writer
