Ten miles of peach blossom

*Ayin’s POV* I kept running through the forest in my nine-tailed fox form, the wind brushing through my fur, the cold biting against my skin, and my senses heightened with every step. I felt every leaf beneath my paws, every whisper carried by the night breeze. The world had sharpened around me—vivid, alive. It was like nothing I had ever experienced. Today was my birthday—the day I turned *100,000 years old* as the princess of the Nine-Tailed Fox Clan. In our tradition, it’s the most sacred moment in a fox princess’s life—a day when a new power awakens inside her. A tenth tail. A transformation that marks the beginning of her reign as Queen. For most, it’s magical, exciting, and deeply celebrated. For me, it was just another day. The moment I reached that age, I ran deep into the forest, away from the palace, away from the ceremony. Because this transformation wasn’t just powerful—it was painful. And I didn’t want anyone to see my weakness. A tenth tail… The mark of a true queen. I was the only daughter of my parents. An orphan. "I lost them both during the war between the Fox Clan and the Werewolf Clan......a war that began because of me". My father sacrificed his life to seal the alpha lord of the Werewolf clan,using a forbidden weapon—one I had created. That only made things worse. My mother followed him in death, unable to bear a world without him. A bond too strong, too tragic. Since then, I’ve carried the weight of their legacy alone. The clan looks at me as their future—but behind their reverence is pressure, fear, and expectations. No one sees the girl behind the title, only the power I’m meant to represent. I’ve never had the luxury of mourning them properly. Every day since their death, I’ve trained, studied ancient texts, mastered lost magic—all to become a queen worthy of their sacrifice. And today… I was finally stepping into that terrifying destiny. The forest grew darker as I ran. The moonlight pierced through the canopy in silver streaks, lighting my path. I felt the ancient magic already stirring deep within me—power coiling like a serpent in my chest, preparing to awaken. Suddenly, the pain hit. It was sharp, searing, like fire licking my spine. I collapsed onto the cold earth, claws digging into the dirt. My body convulsed as the tenth tail tore through, energy crackling around me. The forest trembled. The wind howled with my scream. My vision blurred, flashing between the present and glimpses of a future I couldn’t understand—fire, war, a crown dripping with blood. Was this the power I had waited for? I rolled onto my side, trembling, breath shaky. Everything hurt. But beneath the pain, I felt it—*a new presence inside me. Ancient. Royal. Dangerous.* The moment it entered, I knew I was no longer just Ayin. I was the Veiled Queen of the Nine-Tailed Foxes. *"A queen doesn’t cry,"* I whispered again, wiping the tears I didn’t realize had fallen. And then… darkness took me in like a wave of a dream. ************ As I stepped through the golden gate into the heart of the Fox Realm, a wave of serenity washed over me. But what caught my eye wasn’t the beauty of the realm—it was *Selin*, my maid. She was seated on the lap of a Tree Spirit, locked in a deep kiss beneath the shade of the sacred Willow Tree. Their love looked innocent. Pure. She laughed into his mouth as he tucked her hair behind her ear, eyes glowing with joy. For a moment, I stood still, watching them. A strange ache bloomed in my chest. *Would I ever be loved like that?* *Would the heavens bless me with another mate? Someone who would hold me without fear, see me beyond the crown and the tails?* My thoughts vanished the moment Selin spotted me. She gasped, pulling away instantly, her entire body trembling as she dropped to her knees in panic. “Y-Your Grace! I’m so sorry! It’s not what it looked like—I mean—it is, but—please forgive me, it won’t happen again! Please don’t banish me!” She kept talking, stammering through fear, eyes lowered, face hidden. I smiled softly. Selin had served me for over 200 years. Loyal, bright, and kind-hearted. And I had never once raised my voice at her. Cruelty was not the kind of queen I wanted to be. “Is that how you greet your queen on her coronation day?” I said, voice calm. She froze. Then, as realization dawned on her, she leapt to her feet and threw her arms around me, hugging me tightly—like a sister reunited with her own blood. “Your Grace! You’re back!” I hugged her back, allowing myself—for just one moment—to feel like *Ayin*, not the Queen. Her embrace was warm, trembling with unspoken emotions. I let my hands slowly wrap around her, burying my face in her shoulder for a fleeting moment. Her heartbeat was fast, frantic—but real. Just like mine. “I thought you wouldn’t return until the tenth tail ceremony ended,” she whispered breathlessly, pulling away to study my face. Her eyes, wide and glassy, were filled with wonder and concern. “You disappeared before sunrise. We searched everywhere.” “I needed to be alone,” I replied, brushing my veil back over my face. The golden silk fluttered lightly as it settled, covering the soft lines of fatigue and pain I didn’t want anyone to see. She looked at me knowingly. “Was it painful?” I hesitated. “More than I expected.” A silence stretched between us before she broke it. “You should have told someone. You didn’t have to face it alone.” I gave a small, humorless smile. “I’ve been alone since I was born into a crown.” Selin’s expression softened, but before she could respond, the Tree Spirit—her lover—bowed deeply behind her. “Your Grace,” he said respectfully, voice calm and ethereal like the wind, “I take full responsibility. If you must punish someone, let it be me.” I glanced at him, his form still glowing with ancient energy. “Why would I punish love?” I asked. “In this realm, love is sacred. Cherish it.” He raised his head slowly, stunned by my words. Turning to Selin, I touched her arm. “Just be careful. Not because you broke rules—but because you deserve to be loved safely, and fully. No secrets. No hiding.” She nodded, tears brimming. “Thank you, Ay—Your Grace.” “Call me Ayin,” I said softly. Only in this realm, only with her, could I afford to shed the title. But the moment was short-lived. A sharp flutter rippled through my chest—*a warning*. The ancestral veil around my tenth tail stirred, glowing faintly through my robe. “I have to return to the temple,” I said. “Something isn’t right.” Selin's smile faded. “You just got here…” “Duty never rests,” I replied, already walking toward the heart of the realm, where the high priests awaited. Behind me, I heard Selin whisper, “She’s not just a queen… she’s our legend.” And yet, deep inside, I still wondered if I’d ever find a place where I could simply be… *me*. "But before I could move even a few inches… something else hit me—a scent. It was intoxicating. A rich blend of aged wine and fresh forest air—warm, majestic, yet undeniably powerful. I froze in my tracks. My fox tails shimmered, glowing brighter than ever, as if they’d recognized something ancient… something binding. Then I heard it—a whisper in my mind. *‘Mate.’* And just like that, it hit me—right in the chest. A pull so deep, so fierce, it stole the breath from my lungs. I turned. And there—standing in the shadows, eyes glowing like gold fire—was the last person I ever expected to see. *Him.* But he was supposed to be dead."