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5. THEIA GIRL POV - The Warmth of His Affection

"Oh, dearest heart, with eyes so clear,
Forgive the chains I've bound you here.
In tangled webs of pride and woe,
I cast your love where shadows grow.

You did not choose, nor dream, nor long
For this cold court, this weary song.
A pawn, you were, in games I played,
While bitter grudges softly swayed.

My brother's crown, his burning might,
Tore us apart, as day to night.
And in my pride, I turned away,
To bind you to a debt you'd pay.

Forgive me, love, for what I've done,
The battle lost, the bridges burned.
I took your hand with hopes so vain,
To mend a rift, yet cause you pain.

I never asked, I never knew,
The weight of vows I placed on you.
Your soul, a flower, bound in frost-
For my own battles, love was lost.

If I could turn the wheel of fate,
And free you from this heavy weight,
I'd give you wings, I'd make you whole,
Unshackling the sorrow of my soul.

But for now, my love, this silent plea:
Forgive this man who cannot see-
That in the war of brother's pride,
It's love, not crowns, where hearts abide.

So let my words, though faint and few,
Find some small grace to reach to you.
And know, in every quiet sigh,
I mourn the love I'd made you buy."

Cit. Wuxiong

[FADE IN]

SOLAR REALM

- IMPERIAL PALACE -

INT. WUXIONG'S PRIVATE CHAMBER

5 DAY BEFORE

The room is still, far too still for comfort. A silence thick with the weight of unanswered questions, and beneath it, a hum of tension-faint, like the flicker of a distant storm. Her eyelids flutter, the haze of unconsciousness still clinging to her like a fine mist, but it is the voices that keep her tethered to reality.

She can hear them-two men. Their words sharp, their tones both commanding and uncertain.

"By the laws of our realms, I hereby declare Wuxiong and this young lady engaged. Officially."

The declaration slices through the heavy air, leaving a chill in its wake. Engaged? Her? Engaged? But who is this 'Wuxiong'? Why does it sound so familiar? And what does these 'realms' mean? Is she... in another world?

"What?" The second voice is less vigorous, more hesitant, and laced with disbelief. The contrast is stark, and it fills her with unease.

"Prepare their Imperial Arrangement certificate. It needs to be done before the Solar Alignment."

Solar Alignment. She has heard that term before, in whispered legends, tales of a time when the heavens will align in a rare event, and fate will rewrite the destinies of those caught beneath its influence. But she cannot understand how it could affect her, a simple girl-or is she? The thoughts swirl like the tempest outside her window, but she cannot hold onto them. Her head feels as if it is sinking deeper into a murky pool of confusion.

The conversation continues, but it is the second voice that catches her attention.

"This... this is some kind of joke, isn't it, brother?" The voice quivers with disbelief, even as it tries to mask its growing anxiety.

"And who said it was a joke, Wuxiong?"

The words are sharp, cutting through the air with authority. The name Wuxiong echoes in her ears. The one who has been engaged to her, is this Wuxiong?

The other voice-his brother? The weight of their relationship settles on her like a suffocating blanket.

Her heart skips a beat, the name "Wuxiong" stirring something deep within her. She remembers that name... but where? Who is he to her? Her thoughts are a muddled mess, the fog of exhaustion and confusion clouding her ability to think clearly.

But the sounds fade, and silence-ominous and unyielding-settles in the room once more.

5 DAYS LATER

EARLY MORNING

Her breath catches in her throat, a fleeting moment of freedom. She is alone. But that freedom is short-lived, and a shiver of dread crawls up her spine. The last thing she remembers-Theia-she has barely survived the collision of their world with another, and now she is here. A girl caught between worlds, between laws and realms, between desires and duties.

Is it possible she has slipped into some twisted dream, or has the collision altered her reality so deeply that she can no longer distinguish between what is real and what is not?

She opens one eye cautiously, testing the room. Empty. The oppressive weight has lifted for now. She lets out a slow breath and tries to make sense of her surroundings.

Her gaze sweeps the room, taking in the decor. It is grand, but not in the manner she would expect from a woman's chamber. There are no delicate fabrics or dainty trinkets. The space is pristine, neat, yet every surface is adorned with rich, elegant furnishings that speak of royalty, power. Her mind pieces together that this is not the room of a woman, yet it is too refined, too carefully arranged to be a man's quarters either.

A tension tightens in her chest. Whose room is this? And why has she been brought here?

She tries to sit up, but a wave of dizziness overwhelms her, and she sinks back into the softness of the bed. The room is too large, too foreign, like a landscape she cannot navigate. It is as if she is the unwelcome guest in a strange palace, and yet she cannot recall how she has arrived here.

Footsteps.

Heavy, deliberate. Someone is approaching. She quickly closes her eyes.

Her breath hitches, and her pulse quickens as a figure enters. The man's presence seems to fill the room, filling the air with an unmistakable power that weighs heavily on her chest. He is tall, his movements sharp and precise. His aura is like that of a tiger, coiled and ready to strike.

His voice, when it comes, is low, almost gentle, but there is a depth to it-a weight that makes the hairs on the back of her neck stand on end.

"I'm sorry for what has happened to you. He's like this. Even I feel troubled giving him my total trust sometimes."

He pauses, as if the words themselves are a struggle. Her heartbeat drums in her ears, each word sinking deeper into her mind like a stone dropped into still water.

"He is secretive, but he has to. Always."

The man's back is to her, his silhouette framed by the faint glow of light spilling through the open door. It is as if he hasn't noticed she has awakened-though she isn't sure if that is the truth or if he simply wishes to pretend.

The thought of him being unaware of her open eyes sends a jolt of unease through her.

"Once you wake up, you will probably find everything out."

Find everything out? What does that mean? What has happened? What kind of arrangement is this?

"I'll take full responsibility for you. Rest assured. You'll be free. I'll let you live a normal life."

Normal life? A normal life? The words feel strange on his tongue, as if they belong to a distant, impossible dream. What is normal? Could anything about her life ever be normal again? And why is he saying this to her?

Her hand trembles beneath the covers, unsure if she should respond, unsure of anything.

The man shifts, and her heart tightens, bracing for what will come next. Her eyes shut down automatically.

She feels every move of his. He is slow, measured. He kneels beside the bed with a grace that is unnervingly deliberate. Then, with an unexpected tenderness, he takes her hand in his.

The warmth of his touch sends a shiver up her arm. His fingers, strong yet careful, encircle her wrist, pulling something small from his robes-a bracelet. She can feel the coolness of the metal as he slides it onto her wrist, but the sensation is strangely comforting, like the promise of something... more.

Her breath catches. The bracelet-an ancient symbol of binding.

Is this it? Is this the moment where she is claimed? Is this the moment where fate, her fate, is sealed forever?

"This is the minimum I can do to help you." He holds her hand for a moment longer than she expects, and for a fleeting second, she allows herself to feel the warmth that radiates from his skin. His presence is undeniably soothing, a contrast to the cold walls of the room. He is here, and yet he is still a stranger, wrapped in riddles and half-spoken promises.

The man stands abruptly, his hand slipping from hers. She feels the loss, the void, a deep ache that seems to extend into the very marrow of her bones. What is this feeling? Is this what it means to be loved? Is this what it means to be touched with the warmth of another's soul?

She fills something in her eyes, pushing the tears that threaten to fall back into the depths of her ears. The world outside-this world, this realm-is so full of uncertainty, and yet, this man's touch has left something behind: a hunger, a longing.

But who is he to her? Is he the key to her survival-or is he yet another part of the tangled web she is bound in?

She doesn't know.

But one thing is certain-she is no longer the same girl who crashed onto another planet, alone and lost.

Now, she is something else entirely.

Something in the making.

Something bound to the forces of fate, and the secrets of two brothers who might hold the answers to every secrets of this realm, the realm she will need to uncover.

As the soft footsteps recede into the distance, the girl's hand instinctively curls into a fist. She opens her eyes. The bracelet on her wrist glints in the dim light.

The Solar Alignment will come. And with it, her destiny will unfold.

But will it be a path of freedom-or of chains?

The warmth lingers on her wrist, even after the man has gone. The faint pressure of the bracelet-a delicate, almost imperceptible weight-presses into her skin, but it is the warmth that unnerves her most. It is not the warmth of the metal, which she knows must be cool to the touch. No, it is something else. Something that seeps deeper, into her very bones, filling the hollow spaces within her chest.

She breathes shallowly, unsure whether to pull the bracelet off or leave it where it rests, its presence both a comfort and a curse. The warmth isn't just physical. It seems to seep into her soul, spreading outwards like a quiet fire, curling around her heart, chasing away the dark shadows that have always clung to her.

But it also feels dangerous.

The bracelet-a simple thing, silver with intricate engravings she has yet to understand-glows faintly, almost imperceptibly, as though alive. The edges of the metal seem to pulse with energy, rhythmically, like a heartbeat that isn't hers.

Her fingers hover above it, drawn to its warmth, yet repelled by the unease growing in her chest. She cannot deny that it feels like a lifeline. The warmth it carries is unlike anything she has ever known, and yet, beneath it, there is a sense of inevitability-a feeling that the moment she accepts this bond, something irrevocable will shift.

Her mind races as she tries to piece the fragments of the conversation together.

"Prepare their Imperial Arrangement certificate... before the Solar Alignment."

Her breath catches as the words return to her, sharper now in her memory. The Solar Alignment, the event that could bind destinies, rewrite fates, realign the very fabric of the world. It is said that once the realms align, the stars themselves will declare what is to be. And her fate, it seems, has already been sealed.

But how? Was she meant to be part of this strange, cosmic arrangement, or was she merely caught in the crossfire of something far greater than herself?

She glances down at the bracelet again, her pulse quickening.

Suddenly, the door creaks open. It snaps her out of her thoughts. Her heart leaps in her chest, and for a moment, her breath catches in her throat. But as the weight of her dizziness begins to lift, as if the door itself has scattered the fog in her mind. The room, which had felt oppressive and strange, now seems a little clearer, a little less suffocating. Her head is still heavy, but the nausea she had felt earlier fades like mist in the sun.

She takes a steadying breath, blinking as the room slowly sharpens into focus. The strange, pulsating warmth of the bracelet on her wrist becomes the only reminder of her previous disorientation, its heat still lingering against her skin-but even it seems less overwhelming now, as if it, too, has quieted in its intensity.

A tall figure steps through the door, and her gaze instinctively shifts toward him. It must be him-Wuxiong. The guy who saved her.

Her pulse stutters at the thought of his name. There had been so little clarity in her mind before, but now, his presence seems to anchor her in the reality of the moment. The dizziness that had clouded her thoughts seems to dissipate as soon as he enters. Though her body is still weary, she feels less sick-lighter, almost as if the fog in her head has finally lifted.

He stands still in the doorway for a moment, his gaze on her, unreadable yet sharp. Then, without a word, he crosses the room toward her, his movements measured, deliberate.

"You're awake," Wuxiong observes, his voice low, carrying a certain gravity that makes her heart skip. The way he speaks seems less like a statement of concern and more like an observation-an acknowledgment that something has changed. But what, exactly, has changed?

"I'm happy to see you look better." She blinks, surprised by his words. It's true-she does feel better. Not entirely well, but better. The oppressive nausea and dizziness are gone, and her mind is clearer, sharper. Even the warmth from the bracelet on her wrist, though still present, has become more like a quiet hum, a subtle reminder of the connection between them. It's no longer suffocating. Just... there.

"I... I feel... Strangely well. " she admits quietly, surprised at the truth of her own words. She shifts her wrist slightly, feeling the cool touch of the bracelet against her skin, but it no longer feels like a weight bearing down on her. The warmth is constant, but it's no longer overwhelming. It's almost... comforting.

Wuxiong steps closer, his gaze flickering down to her wrist, where the bracelet rests. His expression doesn't change, but there's a faint shadow of something-perhaps approval or even relief-in his eyes.

"It's the bracelet," he says, his voice soft but firm. "The connection between us. At first, it can disorient you. It has to. The bond wants you to fight it. To resist. But that resistance only makes it harder. Once it strengthens... you will adapt. It's the only way out for survival. "

Adapt? For survival? The word hits her like a cold gust of wind. She doesn't want to adapt to anything. She doesn't want to belong to him or anyone. But deep down, she feels the truth of his words like a pulse beneath her skin. She feels the pull of the bracelet, the warmth that seems to grow stronger with every passing second. It's not just the physical connection-it's something deeper, something more primal.

"I don't want this," she says before she can stop herself, her voice small but firm, as she looks down at her wrist. "I don't want to be bound like this. What reason do you have to do this to me?"

The words sound weaker than she means them to. She wants to protest, to shout, to break free from whatever this is-but she knows, deep down, that the more she resists, the tighter the bond will become.

Wuxiong doesn't react immediately. He just stands there, watching her, his gaze unwavering, as if he is waiting for something. Then, slowly, he speaks again, his tone unexpectedly calm.

"You don't have a choice," he says quietly. "The Imperial Decree has already been emitted."

She feels the truth of his words sink in. A chill washes over her, and for a moment, she feels as though she is drowning in them. No choice. The words are like chains, wrapping tighter around her chest. She wants to deny it, to reject it, but she can't. The bond is real, the connection undeniable.

"Why me?" The question slips out before she can stop it. She wants to ask more, to scream, to demand answers-but it's the only question that matters right now. Why her? Why had she been chosen for this? What is it about her that makes her part of this twisted fate?

Wuxiong takes a deep breath, his eyes narrowing as he regards her. He seems to hesitate for a moment before speaking, as if weighing his words carefully.

"It's my fault," he says, his voice low, almost reluctant. "You are bound to this realm, to me, because I've feared of losing you while you were the weakest. It seems the threads of fate are already woven. You are a part of the Solar Realm now, whether you wish it or not. Our marriage has been scheduled before the Solar Alignment."

Her heart races at the words. The Solar Alignment. The term echoes in her mind, sharp and heavy. She remembers the conversation she overheard earlier-the talk of an Imperial Arrangement, of certificates, of an inevitable bond.

"Imperial Arrangement?" she whispers, more to herself than to him, trying to grasp the fragments of what she's been hearing. "What does it mean? What is this... arrangement?"

Wuxiong's gaze softens just slightly, and he steps closer, his presence filling the space around her. "It means that you and I are now bound by the laws of the realms. Your fate is entwined with mine. The Solar Alignment, well, once it occurs, our bond will be complete."

Complete. The word hangs in the air like a sentence.

She stares at him, trying to read his expression, but his face is a mask of unreadable resolve. She wants to scream. To break free from this fate that has been forced upon her. But she knows, deep down, that it's too late. The bond is already taking root, and she can feel it in her very bones.

"And if I don't accept this?" she asks, her voice trembling, though she tries to keep it steady.

His eyes flicker with something-perhaps pity, or perhaps something colder. "You will accept it. The realm demands it. The decree demands it. The alignment will not wait for you to be ready. You will accept this bond, as we all must. Unless you want to die, of course."

She feels the weight of his words pressing down on her. Her chest tightens as she glances down at the bracelet once more, feeling the warmth radiating from it. She knows, instinctively, that it is not just a piece of jewelry-it is a symbol. A symbol of the fate that has already been sealed.

And yet, despite the rising panic within her, there is something else-something deeper. The warmth from the bracelet, while still binding, feels less foreign now. Less suffocating. It is as though it has become a part of her, a part of the very fabric of who she is.

She looks back at him, her gaze steady now, despite the maelstrom of emotions swirling inside her. "I don't want to be bound," she says, her voice soft but firm. "But I understand. There's no way out of this, is there?"

Wuxiong doesn't answer immediately. He simply stands there, watching her, his expression unreadable, but his eyes softening ever so slightly. For a moment, she wonders if he feels the same weight of the bond as she does.

"No," he says at last, his voice quiet, almost too soft. "There isn't."

The room falls into a tense silence, the only sound the rhythmic pulse of the bracelet, as if it, too, is acknowledging the truth of what has been said.

The Solar Alignment will come. When? It'll be a surprise, but she knows, without a doubt, that her life, her future, will be decided by forces far greater than herself.

WUXIONG turns to leave, but before he does, he speaks one last time, his voice low and solemn. "It will happen," he says. "In the meantime, you can count on me. I'll go call the doctor to visit you. Do you like Jasmine tea?"

"By the laws of our realms, I hereby declare Wuxiong and this young lady engaged. Officially." She repeats her memories out loud.

"I assume you like Jasmine tea.."

"This is what your brother said, right? He was the one who caused all of this. Have I committed a crime to deserve your brother's hatred?"

"Far worse, girl."

"I don't understand. I remember you telling me your elders equals trouble. Are you a puppet emperor or something like that?"

"I am not. Nor is he."

"Who is he you're talking about?"

"My brother."

"Oh, so he... Are you Wuxiong? Wuxiong is your name, right?"

"Yeah, but you better remember to call me Your Highness in front of others. You've entered a royal private chamber without a distinguished identity." he weighs his words. "You're lucky enough not to have been murdered." he whispers to himself.

The door closes softly behind him, leaving her alone once more. The mysteries around the Solar Realm are multiple. Yet the warmth from the bracelet remains, its pulse steady against her wrist, reminding her that she is not just in this room-she is a part of something much larger than herself.

Something that is coming.

And there is no turning back.

[FADE OUT]

Summary: THEIA GIRL wakes up, WUXIONG has gifted to the girl, officially engaged to him through the Imperial Decree, a bracelet, which it seems to have a strange effect on her.

What are the secrets behind the bracelet?
Why has WUXIONG omitted certain facts?
Where is the origin of this bracelet?

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@ahnjenjae

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