Silver starlight spilled across her ceremonial robe — a flowing gown of moonlight fabric threaded with ancient magical runes and glimmers of embedded code. From the observation deck of the diplomatic cruiser, Princess Helya Lains watched the floating spires of her homeland slowly drift into the distance.
Her kingdom, The Crown of Starlight, had always considered her a mistake.
Too powerful. Too unpredictable.Too… hybrid.
Half royal sorceress, half daughter of a runaway technomancer from the Federation — her very existence was an inconvenience. Now, with war tensions rising and the two superpowers at the brink of conflict, she had become a convenient tool.
A marriage.
A treaty.
A pawn.
They thought they were sending her away like baggage.
They were wrong.
Three days earlier, inside the Royal War Chamber:
"Helya will be a symbol of peace. Her presence will stabilize negotiations with the Federation."
"You mean to say she's our offering."
"Call it what you like. She's still royal. She'll play her part."
Behind the obsidian mirror-glass of the chamber, she had heard every word.But instead of fear, she had smiled.
Because she already had a plan.
She touched the small silver ring hidden inside her glove. Its twin-core design hummed faintly: one half carved with glowing arcane glyphs, the other with ultra-fine Federation circuits.
A gift.
From her fiancé — Commander Cael Thorne, heir to the Arena Federation's most powerful tech dynasty.
To the public, he was a loyal general.
To her, he was a long-time secret ally.
To both nations, they were pawns.
To each other, they were revolution.
As the diplomatic cruiser prepared for launch, Helya stood tall beneath the thrusters' light. The wind tugged at her silver hair, her gaze firm, her spine straight. The entire sky trembled as the engines roared to life.
"Let them believe I'm a bargaining chip," she whispered.
"I'll show them what happens when you underestimate the wild blood in your veins."
With a final glance at her homeland, she turned her back on it.
Not in defeat,but in declaration.
The kingdom had discarded her. The Federation would try to control her. But neither side knew: Helya wasn't part of their game anymore. She was about to rewrite the board.