Meera entered the palace trembling but proud.
The Queen offered her gold — enough to live comfortably forever — in exchange for leaving the prince.
Meera's eyes filled with tears.
"I love him," she whispered, "not his crown."
The Queen's expression hardened.
"If you truly love him, you will leave."
That night, Meera disappeared from the village.
And Prince Arin's world shattered.