CHAPTER 1 — THE VOICE THAT STOPPED AN ENTIRE KINGDOM
No one expected the greatest scandal in royal history to begin with a single song.
For years, Prince Adrian had rejected every noblewoman introduced to him. The daughters of kings, wealthy dukes, famous generals, and powerful merchants had all failed to win his heart. Rumors spread across the kingdom that the prince was cursed, incapable of love, or secretly in love with someone who no longer existed.
The aging king grew desperate.
"If you refuse to marry," he warned one evening, "our bloodline may end with you."
But Adrian never changed his mind.
"I will never marry for beauty, wealth, or political alliances."
"So what are you waiting for?" the king demanded.
The prince stared through the palace window toward the distant mountains.
"I'm waiting for the one voice that reaches my soul."
Those words shocked the royal court.
Within days, messengers traveled to every village, castle, and distant province.
The announcement spread like wildfire.
Ninety-nine unmarried women would compete.
No names.
No noble titles.
No expensive dresses.
No family reputations.
Every contestant would wear the exact same velvet mask and identical white gowns so the prince could judge only their voices.
Many nobles secretly hated the idea.
"If peasants are allowed to compete," Count Leopold complained, "our daughters will stand beside servants."
"But His Highness insisted," answered the royal adviser.
No one dared challenge the prince.
For an entire month, the kingdom prepared.
Some girls trained with famous vocal masters.
Others drank expensive herbal potions that promised perfect voices.
Several wealthy families even bribed musicians, hoping to gain an advantage.
Meanwhile...
Far beyond the capital...
Deep inside a forgotten forest...
A lonely cottage stood beside a frozen river.
Inside lived a young woman named Elara.
She never entered cities.
She never attended festivals.
Most villagers avoided her completely.
Children whispered frightening stories whenever they passed her home.
"The Witch Girl..."
"The Monster..."
"The Cursed Daughter..."
Some claimed they had seen her face years earlier and fainted from terror.
Others insisted that anyone who looked directly at her would suffer terrible misfortune.
Only one elderly woman ever visited her.
Grandmother Miriam.
"You should never leave this forest," the old woman always warned.
"They would never understand."
Elara lowered her eyes.
"I know."
Every evening she sang while collecting herbs by the river.
Animals gathered around her.
Birds landed on nearby branches.
Even frightened deer approached without fear.
Her voice possessed something impossible to explain.
It soothed pain.
It calmed storms of emotion.
It sounded almost... magical.
One afternoon a royal messenger became lost in the forest.
While searching for the road, he heard someone singing.
He froze.
He had served the royal family for thirty years.
He had heard opera singers from distant kingdoms.
He had attended performances before emperors.
Never...
Never had he heard anything remotely like this.
He followed the sound until he reached the small cottage.
Just as he was about to knock...
The singing stopped.
The wooden door opened slightly.
Only a gloved hand appeared.
"Can I help you?"
The messenger could not see her face beneath a dark hood.
"I..." he stammered.
"I believe I have just found the future queen."
Elara immediately stepped backward.
"No."
"The competition begins in five days."
"I cannot."
"You haven't even heard the invitation."
"I already know my answer."
The messenger frowned.
"The prince wishes to choose with his ears—not his eyes."
Silence.
Then...
Very quietly...
Elara asked,
"If I sing..."
"...will he truly not see my face?"
"I swear it."
She slowly closed the door.
Hours later...
The messenger found a single folded letter resting outside.
Inside were only four words.
"I will come alone."
Five days later...
The Royal Grand Hall overflowed with nobles from across Europe.
Crystal chandeliers illuminated hundreds of guests.
Musicians played before the golden throne.
One contestant after another stepped forward.
Beautiful voices echoed through the palace.
Some received applause.
Some received standing ovations.
Some believed victory already belonged to them.
Yet every time...
Prince Adrian quietly shook his head.
"No."
Hours passed.
Contestant Forty-One.
Rejected.
Contestant Sixty-Seven.
Rejected.
Contestant Eighty-Nine.
Rejected.
The atmosphere became tense.
Several noble families left the hall in humiliation.
The king rubbed his forehead.
"This was your idea..."
Finally...
Contestant Ninety-Eight finished her final note.
Thunderous applause.
Even the judges smiled.
The king leaned toward his son.
"Surely this one?"
Adrian remained expressionless.
"No."
The room fell silent.
Only one contestant remained.
The enormous palace doors slowly opened.
Everyone turned.
A young woman entered wearing the same simple white gown as everyone else.
But unlike the others...
Her mask was completely black.
No jewels.
No embroidery.
No expensive shoes.
She looked almost invisible.
The audience laughed quietly.
"She came from the countryside."
"What a waste of time."
"She'll embarrass herself."
The mysterious girl walked onto the stage without saying a word.
She gently nodded toward the musicians.
The first note echoed through the hall.
Then...
She began to sing.
Within five seconds...
The laughter disappeared.
Within ten seconds...
Several nobles lowered their wine glasses.
Within twenty seconds...
One elderly duke began crying uncontrollably.
Even the palace guards forgot they were standing at attention.
The music seemed to stop time itself.
Prince Adrian slowly rose from his throne.
His breathing became uneven.
His heart pounded harder than ever before.
For the first time in his life...
He had found the voice he had spent twenty-five years searching for.
When the final note faded...
No one moved.
No one even breathed.
The prince stepped forward.
His voice trembled.
"I choose you."
The hall erupted into whispers.
The king smiled with relief.
At last...
The prince had found his future queen.
The mysterious girl bowed respectfully.
Then the prince spoke the words everyone had waited to hear.
"Remove your mask."
She froze.
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For several terrifying seconds...
She didn't move at all.
