The grand ball in honour of Prince Ardyn loomed over the kingdom of azula like a beacon,drawing the attention of every eligible woman, each hoping for a chance to win the heart of a prince who had spent his life admiring yet avoiding them all. But only a select few were brave enough to see it through, knowing the stakes were high among those few three women whose hearts beat with ambition, who each held different Vision of the future of love, power, and of identity.
Lady seraphine
Caffeine stood before her full length mirror are crimson gown gracefully to the fabric lights of the glimmering cand making to glow do it was by the by the gods themselves. She was the she was the epitome an image of Elegance beauty but it was not beauty alone that would win her the prince affection was her mastery of influence.
From the moments seraphine her sites on the prince she had never waivert in her resolve she was born into privilege the data of a renowned noble man but I ambitions stretched far beyond the wealth and titles she had inherited. She wanted more she wanted power and Prince Ardyn represented that power.
Her reflection stared back at her with cold determination,"this will be easy"
she she whispered to herself "I've always known how to get what I want'
Seraphine was not interested in love, that much was clear because love for her was a tool, a stepping stone to greater influence.she had spent years honing her skills in the art of Seduction, not for the thrill of passion but for control.she knew how to flatter how to manipulate, how to make people believe what she wanted them to believe.
Attended countless occasions mingling with the elites of azula positioning herself as the prince whom whom until now in such in such women but seraphine but seraphine new the code make herself indispensable if if she could weave herself into the prince world,she would gain the upper hand.
Her father have often told her "in this world my dear, it is not enough for you to be beautiful, you must also be the most capable, a true Queen doesn't wait for the crown, she takes it"
And seraphine intended to do just that.
Kaelith
Across the city in a humble Cottage, the age of azula's bustling market district kaelith sat at a wooden table, carefully examining her invitation to the Grand ball. Her fingers traced the edges of the paper, she was not like the other women vying for the prince's heart. wealth, status and power held little appeal to her, she didn't care about becoming a queen nor did she care about the prince Riches.
Kaelith's motivations were deeper, she had grown up in the city's Shadows, the daughter of a blacksmith and a seamstress two of Azula's working class. She had learned early on that the world did not offer favors, if you wanted something you had to take it and what she wanted was knowledge.
Her eyes flickered to the small tattered journal resting besides her invitation. Kaelith wasn't interested in Romance, she was interested in secrets and and the prince, a man with power to shape the future future of Azula, was a walking mystery. she had spent years observing him learning his habits studying his behavior and now she had the opportunity to gain closer access to the Royal family.
She wasn't there to win his heart no agenda was far more intricate she sat to expose the truth behind the royal family's secrets. To uncover what had been hidden in the dark corners of azula's History. But for all her intellects and resourcefulness she understood one thing: she would need the Prince Trust to unravel the mysteries she sought. She would have to get close and the ball was her opportunity her heart pounded in her chest " I've always known this day will come" she thoughts to herself
" but I never imagine it would be so soon"
Her gaze shifted to the small satchel at her feet, filled with documents and information she had gathered over the years. Some of it could change everything she had the prince ear she would find a way to reveal the truth no matter the cost.
Elira
Elira's hands trembled as she brought out the invitation letter to the ball, she felt the parchment warm under her fingertips, but unlike Seraphine or Kaelith, Elira had never sought the prince's attention before. She was not of noble blood, nor was she particularly skilled in the arts of influence. Her life had been one of quiet simplicity. But that was exactly why she had been chosen. could she become CINDERELLA to the prince,or would she get a dance with him actually?
"wake up Elira from your dreams this is reality you ain't no Cinderella you ain't got a wicked stepmom and no prince is coming for you, if you want it you better go get it" she muttered to herself.
Elira had grown up on the outskirts of Azula, in a small village where people knew each other's names and life moved slowly. She was a healer, known for her gentle touch and kind heart. She had spent her days tending to the sick, mending broken bones, and soothing aching hearts. But when the invitation to the ball arrived, Elira was not sure what to make of it. To her, "of all the people, why would it be me, a local, commoner and absolutely unrefined person"
Her mother, who had passed away when Elira was young, had always told her, "True beauty is found in a heart that serves others, in a soul that listens. A woman's worth is not in her appearance but in the goodness she brings to the world." For Elira, this advice had always been her guiding light. She had never dreamed of a grand life, nor had she ever expected to be chosen for something as extravagant as a royal ball. But as she held the invitation in her hands, she knew it was no accident. She was being called for a reason. " perhaps her mother's spirits or maybe some fairies had come to her rescue" she fantasized, laughing at herself briefly.
Unlike Seraphine, Elira wasn't interested in power or prestige. She didn't care about wealth or titles. She was here for one reason only, and that was to prove that kindness, honesty, and simplicity were just as valuable as riches. She was a woman who believed in the purity of her intentions, and she would bring that same purity into the contest.And she had some feeling of inferiority complex, something about her still wanted to write the wrongs.
Her journey to this moment had been one of personal growth, of learning to trust herself, and of overcoming the doubts that had plagued her since childhood. She wasn't ready to be a queen. She wasn't sure she even wanted to be. But she was ready to show the prince, and everyone watching, that a real woman,a woman who was kind, honest, and sincere could stand toe-to-toe with the richest and most powerful women in the kingdom.
She stared at her reflection in the window. "If he chooses me, it will be because he sees who I truly am. Not what I wear or what I can give him, but the heart I carry within." she soliloquized.
.....
The contestants paths
Seraphine, Kaelith, and Elira stood at the beginning of a journey that would shape the future of Azula. Each woman had a different reason for being there, and each would bring something unique to the contest. Seraphine, the manipulative beauty, sought power. Kaelith, the intellectual prodigy, sought knowledge. And Elira, the humble healer, sought nothing more than to be seen for who she truly was.
As the day of the grand ball approached, each woman prepared in her own way. Seraphine practiced her charms, Kaelith sharpened her mind, and Elira sought peace in the quiet moments, trusting that if she was meant to be the prince's bride, her character and simplicity would speak for itself.
But inspite of their individual ambitions, one thing was certain,the contest would reveal who they truly were and it would reveal, once and for all, what kind of woman Prince Ardyn truly sought.