Chapter Text
The sun hung low in the sky, casting a golden light over the grand palace, but within its opulent walls, Princess Chigiri felt more like a gilded bird in a cage than royalty. His parents, the King and Queen, were obsessed with keeping him safe. They'd always been that way, ever since the prophecy was uttered.
It had all started the day he was born, with a seer’s chilling words echoing through the royal chambers. “This child will die as a prince,” the oracle had foretold, and from that moment, Chigiri’s life was sealed.
To protect him from the curse, the King and Queen made a decision that would shape Chigiri's life forever. They raised him as a princess, surrounded by the finest gowns, the most intricate jewelry, and constant reminders of the kingdom's expectations for grace and poise. He was taught to curtsy, to smile daintily, to speak with the refined sweetness of a royal lady. He learned the court’s most delicate dances and played the harp with the precision of a true lady-in-waiting. He was, in every sense, a princess—but not by birth.
Chigiri was beautiful—too beautiful. He’d grown up to be the picture of ethereal grace, his long rosy hair cascading down his back, eyes sharp and bright like rose quartz crystals. His features were delicate, perfectly symmetrical, but not quite feminine, though he often passed as a young woman when dressed in the royal gowns and laced corsets his parents insisted on.
His body, however, told a different story. Underneath the layers of silk and velvet, there was muscle and strength that could have belonged to any knight or warrior. But none of that mattered to the royal family, who only saw their fragile princess bound by a cruel fate.
And Chigiri? He longed for more. He was a prince, cursed to die as one, and yet he was being held hostage in the guise of a princess. There was so much of the world he wanted to see, to touch, to experience. But instead, he was locked away in the palace, as though the walls could keep the world—and his destiny—at bay.
The day had passed slowly, each hour feeling like an eternity under the heavy weight of the palace's expectations. Now, the evening had fallen, and Chigiri sat at his vanity, absentmindedly brushing through his silver hair, his mind a thousand miles away. The grand banquet was starting soon, but he didn’t care. His heart was elsewhere, out in the streets, among the people he’d only heard about in passing, in stories. He wanted to breathe the air of the town, not the perfumed air of the palace.
He rose from his chair, looking at his reflection in the mirror. The gown he wore—a delicate creation of pale blue silk, embroidered with silver threads—was stunning. But it was a cage, just like the rest of his life.
Chigiri's hand brushed lightly over the silver embroidery, his heart thumping in his chest. The moonlight shone through the window, and he glanced outside, feeling that familiar, irresistible pull toward freedom.
It was then that he saw it—the tapestry. A forgotten piece of the palace’s history, half-hidden in the corner of his room. Behind it was a narrow passageway, an old servant's escape route, one he’d stumbled upon when he was younger and more reckless. It had been years since he’d used it, but tonight, with his parents busy preparing for the banquet, it seemed like his only chance.
He crept over to the tapestry, fingers trembling as he grasped the corner. With a practiced tug, it revealed a small wooden door, almost hidden from sight. The lock had long since rusted, and with little effort, he pushed it open. The air in the passage was stale, but Chigiri’s heart beat loud in his ears, the promise of freedom making him feel more alive than he had in years.
His mind raced with thoughts of what lay beyond the palace walls. He’d heard rumors of a bustling market, of people who lived with real freedom—freedom that didn’t come with expectations or restrictions. He longed to taste that life, to see the world for himself.
For a moment, he hesitated. The walls of the palace had kept him safe all these years, kept him from the dangers that lurked beyond. But safety wasn’t everything. Not anymore.
Chigiri took a deep breath and stepped into the passageway. The cool stone beneath his feet felt like a promise, a path toward something real. His heart raced with excitement, but also with fear—fear of being caught, fear of the consequences if anyone discovered he’d left the palace.
The passage was narrow, winding, and dimly lit, but Chigiri moved swiftly. He’d memorized every turn, every creak in the floorboards. He knew the route well. His footsteps echoed softly through the passage, but he was too far gone to turn back now.
As he reached the end of the passage, a heavy wooden door loomed ahead. This was it. His way out.
He pressed his ear against it, listening. The sounds of the banquet were muffled from here, a distant hum of music and conversation. No one would expect him to be out here, not with the event going on. They’d all be distracted. He pushed open the door, slowly, and peeked into the empty hallway beyond.
No guards. No servants.
He slipped into the hall, pulling the door closed behind him as silently as possible. His breath came faster now, anticipation coursing through him. Every step felt like an exhilarating escape from the suffocating world he’d known.
When he reached the main doors, he hesitated. Guards were stationed at every exit, eyes sharp and ever-vigilant. He couldn’t risk being seen.
Chigiri’s gaze fell on a small, decorative archway beside the entrance—an old arch, a forgotten entrance that few even remembered. It led to the gardens, to a small door on the far side of the palace grounds, and beyond that? Freedom.
His pulse quickened. He couldn’t afford to think about the consequences. He moved toward the archway, praying no one would see him. His heart pounded so loudly in his chest that he thought it might give him away, but when he finally made it to the door, it was unlocked.
He pushed it open just a crack, slipping through and into the cool night air.
The palace grounds were vast, surrounded by high walls and heavy gates, but Chigiri had studied every corner, every inch of the perimeter. The servants' quarters were nearby, and he knew they often left their windows open to air out the rooms. Tonight, one of the windows was wide enough for him to squeeze through. It wasn’t far to the town from there, and once he was outside, there would be no turning back.
He took a deep breath, the taste of freedom hanging on the wind. With one final glance at the towering spires of the palace, Chigiri climbed up to the window ledge and dropped down into the soft grass below. His feet hit the ground with a quiet thud, and he crouched for a moment, waiting for any sound that might indicate someone had noticed.
But there was nothing. The night was his.
Chigiri sprinted through the shadowy rose garden, planted in celebration of his birth. He moved as quietly as he could, avoiding the guards posted near the gates. His heart raced with exhilaration as he neared the edge of the palace grounds. The town was just beyond the walls, a glittering sea of lights beckoning him forward. He could hear the distant sounds of people, of life, calling to him like a song.
Finally, after what felt like an eternity, he reached the edge of the palace, and with a final glance over his shoulder, he squeezed through a gap in the gate.
The cool night air hit him with a rush of freedom. The town, lit by lanterns and bustling with activity, spread out before him like a dream. He couldn’t believe it—he was outside, in the world, where he belonged.
But just as he began to walk forward, a voice cut through the stillness of the night.
"You're not from around here, are you, princess?"
Chigiri whipped around, startled, his heart leaping into his throat. Standing there, in the shadow of the alley, was a tall figure—a man cloaked in dark leather, his presence imposing and confident. His eyes gleamed with a mixture of amusement and something darker, something that sent a shiver down Chigiri's spine.
The man smirked, stepping closer, his boots crunching softly against the gravel. “Did you think you could just slip past unnoticed, princess?”
Chigiri’s heart pounded, but his voice remained steady, though his mind raced. “Who are you?”
The man’s grin widened, revealing a set of sharp teeth. “The name’s Kunigami," he said, his tone playful, but there was a dangerous edge to it. "And you, princess, are in my territory now."