06:00 AM
The alarm screamed. Rio, buried under a mountain of blankets, blindly groped for the table.
"So noisy…" he muttered.
The alarm stopped. Peace returned for a few seconds—then his phone lit up, spitting notifications like a firehose.
[TRENDING]
Minakaya: Global Conference & Symbol of National Stability
The World's Eyes on the Princess
Rio cracked one eye open, squinting at the screen, letting out a soft snort. His hair was a mess, like his soul hadn't fully loaded yet. In the corner, his school uniform hung stiffly, waiting for someone with actual energy.
Only one thought ran through his head:
"Hirigaya is equal to Minakaya?... Just let me have a normal life."
He dragged himself up, grabbed the uniform, and started the day without a spark of enthusiasm.
The Commute – Rio & Ellen
Rio walked slow, matching the rhythm of the busy city. Everyone around seemed alive. For him? Hollow.
"Morning, Mr. Prince-to-be."
A voice at his side. Ellen.
Rio gave a lazy, sleepy glare. "Stop it. I'm just a sleep-deprived second-year."
"You're engaged to a national icon," Ellen teased. "Shouldn't you be proud instead of whining?"
"That's exactly the problem," Rio replied flatly. "My life already reads like a power-struggle light novel…"
He tilted his head toward a giant billboard. Lylya stood perfect—elegant, sharp, framed by grand national symbols.
"Just walking past a food stall feels like passing the face of the country."
Ellen chuckled. Rio exhaled a long, tired sigh.
"Exhausting…"
School – Cold Contrast
The crowded school gate froze in an instant as Lylya appeared.
Everything got tidier, calmer, quieter. Some students stood so stiff they looked like wooden statues. Rio whispered to Ellen:
"There. That's her."
Lylya approached, measured steps, formal calm. The distance between them felt real, even though she was right in front of him.
"You're late," Lylya said.
"The road was long."
"That's not an excuse."
Rio met her eyes briefly. "For my life? Almost nothing counts as an excuse."
Whispers spread around them: Minakaya… Princess… Heir…
To Rio, he was just "Rio." No titles. No weight.
The Lore
Inside class, history began.
"Minakaya and Hirigaya are the two pillars of this nation," the teacher said. "One leads. One stabilizes."
The room buzzed. Rio twirled his pencil boredly. Crack. The tip snapped.
"Feels like," he muttered, "one does all the work, the other gets blamed."
Ellen tried not to laugh.
"Because two crowns only create war," the teacher continued. "The Hirigaya refused the throne hundreds of years ago."
Lylya listened calmly. Rio leaned his chin on his hand, staring out the window.
"Sometimes I think… your life's like having two skies. Must be nice," Ellen whispered.
"Having just one is already suffocating," Rio replied.
Then… the wall clock flickered.
The classroom went silent. The pencil hit the desk. For a brief second, the world felt empty. Rio froze.
"What's wrong?" Ellen asked.
"…Nothing."
Rio raised his hand. "Teacher, restroom."
"Go ahead. Don't be long."
The Restroom
Inside a locked stall, Rio overheard students talking.
"She's so cool, man."
"Right? Center of the world right now!"
"Man, if I were her fiancé… damn!"
Rio sighed. He stared at the dull wall.
"Beauty is expensive, idiots," he thought.
"And I'm out of coins to pay for her fate."
T/L Note – Setting: First attempt writing like this: Himikaya Academy, a modern magic school with elite politics and high pressure.Rio, the lazy but pivotal student, makes the story alive.(KRONTOL).
[CHAPTER 1 – END]