That morning, the Aradelle sun filtered through the stained-glass windows of Vanka's room, casting a warm glow over her cream silk sheets.
It should have been a perfect morning. The birds were chirping, and her maids had already prepared an aromatic milk bath fit for a princess.
But Vanka sat frozen in front of her vanity. Her hand trembled as she gripped her silver comb.
"One... two... no, it's just the light reflecting," Vanka whispered to herself, desperate to believe her own lie.
She leaned closer to the large, gold-framed mirror, her sharp eyes searching. There, hidden among her thick, raven-black tresses, was a single strand that didn't belong.
It wasn't a clean, dignified white; it was a dull, sickly gray like a plant withering from thirst.
"Princess? Are you awake?"
The knock at the door made Vanka flinch. She frantically brushed her hair, tucking the gray strand deep beneath the dark layers.
"Come in," she called out, struggling to keep her voice steady.
Dila, her personal maid and childhood friend, entered carrying a tray with jasmine tea. She immediately noticed Vanka's ghost-pale face.
"Are you alright, Princess? You look... exhausted. Did that sorcerer last night really mess with your sleep?"
Vanka scoffed, forcing her usual arrogant mask back on. "That lowly mage? Please. He was just bluffing. I'm just... underslept because the party dragged on for too long."
"Thank goodness," Dila smiled in relief. "Because your uncle, Duke Baron, is already waiting in the lower gardens. He brought a special guest your suitor, Prince Eros from the Southern Kingdom."
Vanka rolled her eyes. "Eros? That peacock? Doesn't Uncle have anyone more... masculine in mind?"
"But Princess, Prince Eros is gorgeous! And more importantly," Dila whispered, "your uncle says Eros is the key to securing your spot as the heir before the King's health gets any worse."
Vanka let out a long, heavy sigh. She stood up, letting the other maids drape her in a pastel pink off-the-shoulder gown.
She had to look perfect. She had to prove to the world and to herself that Noah's curse was nothing but a hollow threat.
In the Palace Gardens
The King of Aradelle sat in his grand chair under the shade of a massive oak tree. Beside him, the Queen watched Vanka with a mix of worry and pride.
On the other side stood Uncle Baron, wearing that slimy smirk that always made Vanka's skin crawl.
And standing before them was Prince Eros. His blonde hair was slicked back to perfection, and his clothes were encrusted with enough gems to blind anyone.
"Ah, here she is! The loveliest flower in all the land!" Uncle Baron bellowed, spreading his arms to welcome Vanka. "Come, Vanka. Look who traveled all this way just to see your smile."
Vanka walked gracefully, though her heart was hammering against her ribs. Every step felt like she was dragging lead.
"Good morning, Father, Mother," Vanka said, kissing her parents' hands.
"You look pale, darling," the Queen whispered softly, stroking Vanka's cheek. "Are you ill?"
"Just a bit tired, Mother. Don't worry," Vanka lied.
Prince Eros stepped forward, taking Vanka's hand and bowing low. His cologne was suffocating a mix of rose and cinnamon that was way too intense.
"Princess Vanka," Eros's voice was melodic, like an opera singer's. "Seeing you in person is a thousand times better than any fairytale I've heard. I swear, even the goddesses in the heavens would be jealous of your perfection this morning."
THUMP.
Vanka felt a bizarre sensation on her skin. It felt like ants crawling beneath her pores. A sharp sting, gone in a flash.
"You exaggerate, Prince Eros," Vanka tried to laugh it off, though her heart was on high alert. "Do you say this to every woman you meet?"
Eros stared into her eyes, trying to make his gaze look as deep as possible. "By the stars, Princess, I never lie. To me, your beauty is the only truth in this world. You look so young, so fres —as if time itself stopped just to admire you."
Another sting. This time on her forehead.
Vanka felt something throb there. She glanced at Uncle Baron, who was beaming.
"See that, Brother?" Baron said to the King. "Aren't they a match made in heaven? Eros truly knows how to appreciate a gem like Vanka."
The King nodded weakly. "If Vanka likes him, then I have no objections."
"Princess," Eros spoke again, leaning in to whisper in her ear. "Would you walk with me to the pavilion? I've written a poem specifically to praise your flawless, porcelain skin."
"Flawless?" Vanka repeated, her voice trembling.
"Yes, absolutely flawless. Like the finest porcelain," Eros assured her.
Suddenly, Vanka felt an unbearable itch near her smile lines. She couldn't take it anymore.
"Forgive me, Prince. I... I suddenly feel nauseous. I need to return to my room," Vanka blurted out, turning on her heel before anyone could respond.
"Vanka! What are you doing? That's incredibly rude!" Uncle Baron shouted.
"Let her go, Baron," the Queen interrupted. "Maybe she really isn't feeling well."
Vanka ran as fast as she could through the palace corridors. She bumped into several servants, ignoring their startled cries. The moment she reached her room, she slammed the door, locked it, and lunged for her vanity.
"Damn you... damn you, Noah!"
Vanka took a jagged breath and stared into the mirror.
She let out a muffled scream, covering her mouth with both hands.
That same gray strand from this morning? It wasn't just gray at the tip anymore. It had turned bone-white from root to end.
And at the corner of her eyes right where she'd felt the sting when Eros praised her skin two fine lines had appeared. Real, unmistakable wrinkles.
To anyone else, she still looked like a beautiful 19-year-old. But to Vanka, who spent every waking hour admiring herself, this was a total catastrophe.
"He lied," she whispered with pure venom. "That Prince Eros... he lied when he said I looked fresh. He lied when he said my skin was flawless. And the curse... the curse is eating my youth!"
Dila knocked frantically on the door. "Princess! Open up! What happened?"
Vanka grabbed a pair of small scissors from her drawer. With shaking hands, she snipped the white hair at the root. She wiped the cold sweat from her forehead.
"I'm fine, Dila! Stay out!" Vanka screamed.
She sat back down, staring at her reflection with haunted eyes. She remembered Noah's face from last night. The man she had called 'mud.'
"So this is how you get your revenge, Noah?" Vanka spoke to her own shadow. "You surrounded me with these palace men because you knew... in this place, honesty is the rarest thing on earth."
She realized something terrifying. Uncle Baron had brought Eros on purpose.
Her uncle either knew about the curse, or he just wanted Vanka to be drowned in fake flattery until she was mentally drained.
"Every compliment is a poison," Vanka muttered. "Every flirtation is a death sentence."
Vanka grabbed her powder, trying to cake it over the fine lines near her eyes. But the more she covered them, the duller her face looked.
"I need him," she whispered, tears finally blurring her vision. "I need that disgusting man to tell me the truth."
Vanka stood up, hurling her silver comb at the mirror until it cracked.
"Dila!" she yelled.
The door swung open, and Dila rushed in, looking terrified.
"Find out where Noah went last night. Don't ask anyone official, don't cause a scene. Use my jewelry to bribe the gatekeepers if you have to. I need to find him before my whole head turns white!"
"But Princess, Prince Eros is waiting for lunch-"
"Tell Prince Eros he's a massive liar!" Vanka snapped in frustration, before quickly correcting herself, "I mean... tell him I fainted. Don't let a single man into my room today. Not one!"
Vanka curled up on the floor, hugging her knees. For the first time in her life, the proud Princess Vanka was terrified of the thing she loved most: her own beauty.