Chapter 2 - THE PRINCE WHO COULDN’T LOOK AWAY
1215 Words
The Royal Academy courtyard was a battlefield. Not of swords or magic—but of enthusiasm. Students rushed around with the chaotic energy of caffeinated squirrels. Cloaks flapped, spellbooks flew, teenagers shouted excitedly about class schedules, and someone was already arguing about who would be the next imperial dueling champion. Celestia Draven stood in the center of it all like a lone cloud slowly drifting across a hurricane. Pillow hugged. Eyes half-closed. Soul at low battery. Astra, her star-fox spirit companion, hovered beside her in mild panic. “Celestia,” Astra whispered, “you’re surrounded by energetic creatures. Extremely energetic creatures. Please stay alert.” “I am alert,” Celestia replied. Her eyelids dropped. “Celestia!” “Mmm.” “This is not ‘alert.’ This is ‘I may fall asleep standing.’” Celestia adjusted her pillow. “…Standing naps are a skill.” Astra groaned. Before Celestia could select a bench to claim as her temporary grave, a blaring trumpet pierced the air. Celestia flinched. Astra clung to her hair. “Oh no. Oh no no NO—this is NOT the time—” “Why is it loud?” Celestia whispered, pained. “Because,” Astra squeaked, “that is the signal for the Crown Prince’s entrance!” Celestia blinked sleepily. “…Who?” Astra stared. “The future king? The kingdom’s strongest prodigy? The reason everyone here is panicking?” Celestia tilted her head. “Is he important to… me?” “No.” “Then irrelevant.” Astra slapped its face with its tiny paws. “You are going to make history cry.” --- ⭐ The Crown Prince’s Entrance (Which Celestia ignores) Students scrambled into neat rows, straightening their cloaks so fast Celestia feared someone might dislocate a shoulder. A pristine carriage rolled through the courtyard, pulled by shimmering mana beasts with silver-tipped horns. Knights in black armor marched beside it. Excitement electrified the air. Celestia yawned. The carriage door opened. And someone stepped out with a presence strong enough to silence the wind itself. Raven Aldric. The Crown Prince. Tall, cold, sharp-eyed. Hair black as midnight. Silver eyes that could freeze a river. Posture perfect enough to make professors cry with relief. Celestia blinked slowly. “…He looks strict.” Astra nearly combusted. “Celestia! Do NOT say things like that aloud!” “I didn’t,” she whispered. “But you THOUGHT it. And sometimes thinking loudly is worse.” Celestia hummed lazily, unconcerned. --- ⭐ The Ceremony Begins (And Celestia checks out) As Raven stepped forward, students held their breaths. “Welcome,” Raven said, voice calm, smooth. “You are the kingdom’s brightest young talents—” Celestia’s head drooped. Raven continued, “…and through discipline, focus—” Celestia’s eyelids fluttered. Astra shook her violently. “Celestia, no! Don’t do it—” Celestia curled onto her pillow and fell asleep. During the prince’s speech. In the middle of the courtyard. In front of the entire academy. Students gasped silently. “Is she SLEEPING?!” “Oh no.” “Oh no.” “She’s done for.” Astra covered its glowing face. “I give up.” --- ⭐ Raven Notices (He really, really notices) Raven Aldric had perfected the royal art of scanning crowds without breaking speech rhythm. But then his breath caught. There. A girl. Sleeping. In public. During his speech. Hugging a pillow like the world was her mattress. Raven’s mind short-circuited. Is this girl… serious? His gaze kept flicking back to her, despite his best effort to remain composed. Something about her stillness… her softness… her absolute disregard for authority… It poked at him in a way he did not appreciate. Nor understand. --- ⭐ Ceremony Ends — and Destiny Approaches Thunderous applause echoed. Celestia stirred, blinking blearily. “Oh. Finished.” Astra whispered angrily, “You slept through everything!” Celestia yawned. “Everything is too loud.” A sudden shadow fell over them. A familiar one. Celestia slowly looked up. Raven Aldric stood before her. Tall. Cold. Beautiful. Irritated in a quiet, royal way. Celestia blinked. “…Hello?” Raven stared at her like she had personally rewritten the laws of etiquette. “You were asleep,” he said. “Yes.” “During my speech.” “Yes.” “…Why?” Celestia considered carefully. “…I was tired.” Raven inhaled through his nose, visibly restraining the urge to react like a normal human. “You understand that is… unusual behavior?” Celestia hugged her pillow. “I prefer ‘unique.’” Students around them were panicking silently. “He’s talking to her again—!” “He looks confused—” “No, he looks… interested?” “NO HE DOES NOT.” Raven cleared his throat. “…Your name?” “Celestia Draven.” His posture shifted slightly. “The Duke’s daughter.” “Mmm.” Raven studied her. Her hair like moonlit silk. Her calm, heavy-lidded gaze. The pillow she guarded like a sacred relic. Something tugged at him. He didn’t like it. “You may go,” he said finally. Celestia got up at her usual slow pace. Drifted past him like a passing feather. Raven watched her leave. And despite himself… he thought: Why can’t I stop noticing her? --- ⭐ The Boy by the Fountain Later, Celestia wandered the courtyard again—searching for a place to nap now that the ceremony chaos had dispersed. By the fountain stood a boy with sharp movements and quiet intensity. Arin Voss. He paused his practice when she passed. “You’re Celestia Draven,” he said. “Yes.” “You’re the girl who slept during the prince’s speech.” “Yes.” “You… are strange.” Celestia blinked. Arin quickly added, “In an interesting way.” Celestia nodded. “Thank you.” Arin froze. She drifted away. A trace of curiosity flickered in his eyes. But someone else was watching more intensely. --- ⭐ The Prince Who Watches From a balcony above, Raven Aldric leaned forward slightly—barely noticeable to anyone else. But internally, his mind was chaos. She slept during his speech. She spoke to him without fear. She drifted like gravity worked differently on her. She reacted to nothing. And yet… He couldn’t look away. Why? He didn’t know. Not yet. But something about her… Something ancient. Something gentle. Something he couldn’t articulate— was pulling his attention like a quiet star in the dark. And Raven hated mysteries he couldn’t solve. --- ⭐ A Sleepy Beginning Meanwhile, Celestia finally found a quiet bench under a flowering tree. She lay down, pillow under her head. Astra circled nervously. “Don’t fall asleep outside! Someone could trip over you, or step on you, or—” Celestia closed her eyes. “Mmm.” Astra sighed deeply. “Fine. But if you die again, I’m not filling out the paperwork.” Celestia drifted into a peaceful half-dream. Completely unaware— that the Crown Prince was still watching her from afar. Not coldly. Not critically. But with a strange, quiet… curiosity. As if their paths had already crossed before they ever spoke. And destiny, amused by her mere existence, whispered: This is only the beginning.
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