The heart of Valtoria

The night air was alive with the sweet scent of blooming flowers and the soft hum of music. The palace gardens were ablaze with candles and lanterns, casting a warm, golden glow over the gathered nobles around the Valtorian Realm. Inside the grand ballroom, the cream of Valtorian society mingled and laughed with other kingdoms, their jewels and finery glinting in the light. The orchestra played a lively waltz, and couples twirled across the dance floor. At the center of it all was the royal family of the Valtorian Realm: King Rykerion Thrain Clio, Queen Adelaide Niamh Clio, and their daughter, Remi Akira Nalani Clio, the Duchess of Valtoria. Remi, a vision in a gown of silk and silver, smiled and curtsied as she greeted the guests. "Enjoy the night," Remi said. "You look stunning, my dear cousin," Princess Zephyrine Everhart of Aerthys Kingdom said. The heirs and heiresses of the five kingdoms were Remi's cousins and were all present at the ball. "Let's greet some guests over there!" Princess Castella Clascione of Aquamaria Kingdom excitedly said. Castella was their youngest; it was hard for them to refuse what she wanted. Remi smiled and went with her. But beneath the surface of this glittering facade, tensions simmered. The king and queen were at odds over the future of the kingdom, and Remi felt trapped in the middle. As the night wore on, Remi's thoughts turned to her own desires, her own dreams. She longed to break free from the suffocating protocol and expectations that came with being a member of the royal family. "Year by year, everything's getting so tiring," Remi said. "I totally agree," Princess Lylah Pendelton of Terraverde Kingdom agreed. "As if we have a choice," Prince Kaius Steele Reed of Elyria Kingdom said. "At least your mom and dad are letting you do what you want, and you can even join a band," Prince Caelun Daou of Emberia Kingdom said, which made them laugh. Just then, a commotion at the entrance caught Remi's attention. A young man, tall and dark-haired, stood in the doorway, his eyes scanning the room as if searching for someone. Remi felt a jolt of recognition, though she couldn't quite place him. There was something about him that seemed familiar, yet utterly foreign. As their eyes met, the music seemed to fade into the background, and the room surrounding them melted away. For a moment, it was just the two of them, suspended in time. Then, just as suddenly, the spell was broken. The young man's eyes dropped, and he bowed low, disappearing into the crowd. Remi was left feeling shaken, her heart pounding in her chest. "RAN!" Remi woke up after hearing Zephyrine shout her name. "You're having a dream," Zephyrine added. Remi then held her chest, and it was still pounding. 'Who was that mysterious stranger, and why did I feel an inexplicable connection to him?' Remi thought. "Are you okay?" Zephyrine worriedly asked. "Uh, yes, I am fine. It was just a weird dream," Remi explained. As the night drew to a close, Remi couldn't shake the feeling that her life was about to change in ways she couldn't imagine. Little did she know, the threads of fate were already in motion, weaving a tapestry of love, danger, and destiny that would forever alter the course of her life. ------ Remi's POV Since that night I had that dream, he hasn't left my mind. Who was that? He seems familiar, but I really can't remember who he was. "We'll be having a ball in two months; do you have something to wear na ba?" Laylah asked over the phone. I'm currently on a video call with my cousins. I suddenly turned my attention to what she said. "What did you just say?" I asked to reassure myself. "Uh, the ball's in two months?" Laylah repeated, sounding puzzled. "Don't tell me you forgot!" Zeph said, raising her eyebrow. Instead of responding, I tried to recall the theme in my dream. "What's the theme again?" "I can't believe you, Remi Akira Nalani Clio!" I frowned, looking at Zeph. Did I ask that out loud? "Silver and gold," I whispered. "Seems like you still remembered after all!" Castella exclaimed, and that's when I confirmed it. What if that dream becomes real? Will I meet that guy? Will I remember him? But why wouldn't I remember someone if I can't even remember that I got into any accidents that led me to forget someone? "Did I forget someone?" I asked, looking at my cousins on the phone. I noticed they got quiet, and none of them seemed to want to talk. Something's not right. Are they hiding something from me? If yes, what is it? "Did I? Who?" I asked repeatedly. "Guys, I have to go, I just remembered that we have a practice later," Kaius suddenly said, then left the call. I looked at the time, and it was already 9:00 pm, so obviously he was just dodging my question, but why? "Castella, let's look for a gown. Ciao, my dears!" Lylah said and left with Castella. Who would look for a gown at this hour, and is there even a boutique that’s open at this hour? Besides, we all have our own stylists. “We all have a designer that can go to our houses anytime,” I said, as if the two ladies could still hear me. I then looked at the phone again. "Zeph? Cael?" I asked, raising an eyebrow. "Zeph, can you help me with my tuxedo?" Cael asked, diverting attention away from me. Zeph agreed immediately, and both of them left the call. What's happening? "Achi Remi," my attention suddenly shifted to the door when a little girl came in. "Yes, Aizlee?" She's Princess Zara Aizlee Clio, my younger sister. "Mom said we're about to eat, so I should call you already to eat," she sweetly said. A lot of people say Aizlee looks exactly like me when I was a kid. Well, duh? Of course, we're sisters, so why wouldn't we, right? "Okay, sweety, I'll go after you, okay?" She nodded and went back to her nanny to assist her with going down the stairs. While looking at Aizlee leaving my room, I couldn't help but think of the guy in my dream again, for some unexplainable reason. 'Who are you?'