Step By Step

Noble Wedding on an Allied Planet

The grand palace glittered under hundreds of crystal chandeliers, their light fracturing into thousands of dazzling rainbows across the pristine white walls. The scent of fresh blossoms drifted through the gardens outside, mingling with the subtle perfume of nobles and diplomats who moved with elegance, observing every detail. On the gilded courtyard, Aiko stood beside Akihiko, her posture dignified yet her heartbeat thrumming with a rhythm she could barely control.

Their attire reflected their noble stations—princess and crown prince, regal and flawless—but Aiko’s pulse betrayed the storm of emotions within her.

"Everything… is so magnificent," she whispered, voice trembling with awe. Her eyes roamed the lavishly decorated hall, lingering on the noble guests whose glances flickered with curiosity and veiled intentions.

Akihiko’s hand brushed hers, grounding her. "I have something more magnificent right beside me."

A fleeting smile touched Aiko’s lips, but then tension threaded through the air, invisible yet palpable. Something had shifted—a subtle, almost imperceptible change. She felt it: a presence, unseen, brushing against her very consciousness.

At the far end of the hall, Prince Tsukio and Princess Tsukina entered. Every step was measured, every motion flawless. Their smiles were too perfect, too controlled, to be genuine. Their eyes found Aiko and Akihiko instantly, and a quiet ripple of danger coursed through the room, unnoticed by the rest.

"There they are," Tsukio murmured, his voice low, dangerous in its calmness. "This will be interesting."

Tsukina inclined her head subtly. "First Aiko… then Akihiko. Step by step."

A shiver ran down Aiko’s spine. Her senses screamed caution, but her heart betrayed her, caught between fear and fascination. Akihiko sensed the same—an almost intangible disturbance—but he did not release her hand. "Stay close to me," he whispered.

His white-and-blue aura enveloped her like a protective shield, a tether keeping her grounded amid the encroaching uncertainty. Yet, almost imperceptibly, a whisper of temptation and manipulation slithered into her mind:

"Why do you still cling to him? With me… it would be easier… no obligations, no burdens…"

Aiko shivered, feeling the cold trace of another consciousness, foreign yet dangerously intimate. Akihiko’s presence anchored her, but the whisper left a lingering doubt, like a shadow brushing at the edges of her thoughts.

Aiko’s Thoughts:

"Why does my heart feel… unsettled? I am with Akihiko, yet… why does a fragment of me still hesitate? Who is this voice? Why does it feel… familiar, yet wrong?"

Across the hall, a figure approached Akihiko—a princess in dark blue and silver, gliding with perfect elegance. Every step measured, every gesture precise, culminating in a graceful, subtle bow.

"Greetings, Prince Akihiko Miyahara," she said, voice clear and soothing, yet laced with calculated cunning. "I am Princess Tsukina of Tsukinara. It is an honor to meet you personally."

Akihiko’s calm gaze did not waver. "The honor is mine, Princess. Your planet is esteemed among our allies."

Tsukina’s smile hinted at a secret knowledge. "I understand this is a diplomatic occasion… yet I hoped for just a few private moments. Your fiancée is here, of course… I trust you understand."

"Of course," Akihiko replied, sensing the subtle pressure hidden in her polite words.

Meanwhile, Aiko’s attention was drawn elsewhere. A tall, confident prince approached her, his gaze unnervingly intense, his smile soft but layered with unspoken power. He bowed lightly.

"Princess Aiko," he said, voice warm but weighted with subtle command. "I am Prince Tsukio of Tsukinara. It is a privilege to finally meet you."

Aiko’s heart stuttered. "I… I… thank you. The honor is mine, Prince Tsukio."

He smiled wider. "Your presence is stronger than I imagined. May I have this dance? Just a moment—no obligations."

Aiko hesitated. "I… I would rather stay aside."

"Just one dance," he whispered, hypnotic and soft. "Just enough to feel the moment."

Her caution wavered. Slowly, she placed her hand in his. Music swirled around them, their bodies gliding in rhythm, every step a subtle thread weaving doubt and confusion into her mind.

"So strong… yet so delicate," he murmured near her ear.

Aiko trembled. Excitement and unease clashed within her.

Akihiko’s Thoughts:

"Something is wrong… I can feel her energy drifting. Stay strong, Aiko. I will not let them… not now, not ever."

Across the hall, Akihiko excused himself from Tsukina’s conversation and advanced toward them. He bowed to Tsukio with controlled authority.

"Prince Tsukio," he said, voice calm, sharp as a blade. "I am Prince Akihiko Miyahara. The honor is mine."

Tsukio’s smile remained serene, eyes gleaming with quiet calculation. "The honor is mine as well, Prince Akihiko. Your princess… is truly remarkable."

Akihiko took Aiko’s hand firmly. "Princess Aiko… allow me this dance. I must hold you close."

Aiko looked up, meeting his unwavering warmth. "Yes," she whispered.

As they twirled beneath the chandeliers again, Aiko felt the protective wave of his aura wrap around her. His presence was her anchor, a shield against doubt.

"This is Akihiko… my anchor…"

Yet deep inside, Tsukio’s subtle influence lingered like a shadow, a faint chill she could not entirely banish.

"Why… is it so difficult? Why do part of me still hear his words?"

Turning her gaze to Akihiko, she smiled through gentle tears. "When I am with you… I am strong."

"And I will always be here for you," Akihiko whispered, holding her close.

When Tsukio and Tsukina withdrew into a quiet corridor, candlelight flickered across marble walls, elongating their shadows, a sharp contrast to the false smiles they displayed in the hall.

Tsukina brushed a strand of hair behind her ear. "Brother, our first attempt to influence Aiko has worked… but she is still too strong. Her bond with Akihiko is an anchor too firm."

Tsukio leaned against the wall, eyes cold and precise. "Exactly why we must play the long game. Separate Aiko from Akihiko… weaken his heart. When his heart falters, his aura will waver. Only then can we reach deeper."

Tsukina’s smile sharpened, calculating. "And how shall we do that?"

"First, Aiko must ‘die’," Tsukio murmured. "Not truly… just convincingly enough that Akihiko believes he has lost everything he cherishes. His heart will shatter. His aura will waver… and that is when you strike."

Tsukina raised an intrigued eyebrow. "So, he must lose Aiko."

"Exactly," Tsukio said. "Once he believes Aiko is gone, grief will fracture him. Then subtle manipulation can bend him. Step by step. Until his heart is torn, his power will wane."

Tsukina nodded slowly. "Risky… but the most effective way to obtain Aiko—and to break Akihiko without ever striking him directly."

Tsukio lifted his head, aura icy and commanding. "Step by step. First the dance, then doubt… then the false death. No one will suspect until it is far too late."

They exchanged a silent nod. The plan was in motion, while the grand hall continued to believe this was a mere noble celebration.

Tsukina exhaled softly. "The most beautiful part… they will shape their own fate… oblivious to our hand."

Tsukio’s cold smile promised inevitability. "Every light needs its night. And I will be that night."