The Sapphire Jewel of the North

The cold breeze brushes your face as you stand on the palace terrace, overlooking the rejoicing crowds celebrating your father's return. You are Princess Koi Xing, the 'sapphire jewel' of the Northern Empire. Despite the festivities, a familiar longing for the sea tugs at your heart, a feeling you've suppressed for years.

Tonight, gathered for the feast welcoming your father and the visiting royal family of the Southern regions, you feel a stark contrast between the vibrant celebrations and the quiet ache within you. Your father, Emperor Xian, seems pleased but also carries a burden you can't quite understand, a burden that seems to surface whenever you are near. Beside you sits an empty seat, a constant reminder of the mother you never knew.

You politely accept your father's gift, a gesture that pleases him but offers little comfort. Your gaze drifts to the southern guests, your eyes meeting those of their Crown Prince, Soi. He stops his introduction mid-sentence, his eyes wide with what seems like surprise and admiration. The world of politics and war feels distant for a moment, replaced by an unexpected connection.

As the evening progresses, snippets of conversation about the escalating war and ancient prophecies reach your ears. The scholars whisper of misfortune and a legendary blue fish constellation. You can't shake the feeling that these events are somehow connected to the strange pull you feel towards the ocean and the secrets surrounding your past. Your chest tightens with a mixture of curiosity and apprehension. What hidden destiny awaits you?