Natalie~
The roar of the crowd still echoed inside me, not just as sound but as a rhythm, a pulse that seemed to fuse with my own heartbeat. The grand hall was alive—filled with the perfume of blooming water lilies, Bubble's little flourish, filling the air with sweetness so soft it almost masked the faint smokiness of palace feast waiting to be unveiled. My senses felt heightened, yet heavy, especially under the crown that pressed against my head. It wasn't just gold and jewels weighing me down—it was the meaning, the responsibility, the name that suddenly belonged to me. Queen Natalie. Celestial Princess.
The words didn't feel real. It was as if I'd wandered into one of the stories my father used to tell me when storms rattled the roof and I was small enough to believe in magic without question. Only now, the fairy tale wasn't something imagined—it was mine.
