The world was ruled by four powerful Empires.
The Kim Empire was famous for its strength and kindness.
The Jeon Empire was famous for its ruthless nature and intelligence.
The Min Empire was famous for its cunningness and, unfortunately, its laziness.
And the Park Empire was famous for its gentle and warm-hearted rulers.
Historically, the Kim and Jeon Empires had always been very close friends. Their ancestors had fought wars together, protected each other's borders and even celebrated festivals together.
But the present generation was completely different.
The friendship between the two Empires was slowly becoming complicated.
The Min Empire supported the Jeon Empire, while the Park Empire supported the Kim Empire.
The present ruler was King Kim Ajin, the head of the Kim Empire. Under his rule, peace had been maintained for many years.
But according to the ancient royal tradition, every generation had to choose the next ruler.
This time, there were four candidates.
Kim Raizel — the first son of Kim Ajin.
Jeon Mandhagini — the eldest daughter of Jeon Krechi.
Min Arreista — the middle child of the Min Empire.
Park Ajuni — the youngest child of the Park Empire.
The next ruler would be chosen during the upcoming royal ceremony.
But before that ceremony could even begin...
A royal wedding was taking place in the Kim Empire.
Kim Empire — Royal Marriage Hall
The entire city was decorated for the wedding.
Golden lights covered the palace walls.
Flowers were placed everywhere.
Musicians were playing traditional songs.
Royal guests from different Empires had arrived.
The palace was filled with servants, guards and nobles.
Everyone was excited.
Well...
Almost everyone.
Inside the bridegroom's chamber, Kim Raizel was sitting nervously.
Today was supposed to be one of the happiest days of his life.
His marriage had been arranged with Jeon Trisupi, the youngest daughter of Jeon Emperor Krechi.
Trisupi was six years younger than Raizel.
Although their marriage was arranged, Raizel had accepted it peacefully.
In fact, he had secretly started dreaming about his married life.
He wanted to have someone beside him.
Someone whom he could protect.
Someone whom he could care for.
He wanted to shower his future wife with love and make her feel safe.
He even imagined spending peaceful evenings with her in the royal gardens.
But right now, he was sitting alone in the groom's chamber, nervously adjusting his royal clothes.
Raizel: 😮💨 Why am I so nervous?
He looked at himself in the mirror.
Raizel: It's just a marriage...
He paused.
Raizel: ...A royal marriage.
He sighed.
Raizel: Okay, that's worse.
Suddenly—
BANG!
The door opened violently.
Raizel jumped from his seat.
Raizel: 🥲 WHAT THE HELL IS WRONG WITH YOU?!
Justin rushed inside.
He was breathing heavily.
His face was unusually serious.
Raizel stared at him.
Raizel: 😐 Why are you running like someone is chasing you?
Justin looked at his brother.
Justin: 🥲 Brother...
Raizel: What?
Justin swallowed nervously.
Justin: Trisupi is missing.
Raizel blinked.
For a few seconds, he didn't understand what Justin had said.
Raizel: ...What?
Justin: Trisupi is missing.
Raizel stared at him.
Raizel: Don't prank me. I am not in the mood. 😅
Justin looked offended.
Justin: 😐 You think I will prank you about this?
Raizel's smile disappeared.
Justin: Brother, understand. I am serious. Trisupi is nowhere to be found.
Raizel slowly stood up.
Raizel: What do you mean "nowhere to be found"?
Justin: Everyone has been searching for her.
Raizel: What about her family?
Justin: They're searching too.
Raizel: Kainze?
Justin: He's also searching.
Raizel's expression changed.
His heart began beating faster.
Raizel: Where is her phone?
Justin shook his head.
Justin: Switched off.
Raizel went completely silent.
All the excitement he had felt that morning suddenly disappeared.
He had dreamed about this day for so long.
He had imagined meeting his bride.
He had imagined taking her hand.
He had imagined building a life with her.
And now...
She was missing.
On their wedding day.
Raizel walked out of the room.
Outside the Groom's Chamber
The moment Raizel stepped outside, he saw complete chaos.
Servants were running around.
Guards were searching every corner of the palace.
Several members of the royal family were talking among themselves.
The Kim family looked worried.
The Jeon family looked even worse.
Raizel immediately noticed his father, King Kim Ajin, standing with the Jeon Emperor, Krechi.
His mother, Friead, was crying quietly.
Kainze was checking his phone repeatedly.
Raizel walked toward them.
Krechi immediately noticed him.
His face was filled with guilt.
Mr. Jeon Krechi: 🥹 Raizel...
Raizel stopped in front of him.
Mr. Jeon: I am sorry.
Raizel didn't answer.
Mr. Jeon: I don't know what is happening here. We saw Trisupi around 6 AM.
He looked toward the palace corridor.
Mr. Jeon: But when we searched for her later, she was nowhere.
Raizel's eyes lowered.
Raizel: Did anyone see her leaving the palace?
Mr. Jeon: No.
Raizel: Did she tell anyone anything?
Mr. Jeon: Nothing.
Raizel clenched his hands.
King Ajin stepped forward.
Mr. Kim Ajin: 😔 Don't worry, son. We will search the entire Kim Empire if necessary.
Raizel looked at his father.
Mr. Kim: We will find Trisupi.
Friead couldn't hold back her tears.
Mrs. Kim Friead: 😭 My poor son...
Raizel looked at his mother.
Raizel: Mother, please don't cry.
Mrs. Kim: How can I not cry? Your wedding day has turned into this!
Kainze suddenly spoke.
Kainze: We have another problem.
Everyone looked at him.
Mr. Kim: What is it?
Kainze held up his phone.
Kainze: Her phone is switched off.
Everyone became silent.
Kainze: We can't track her location.
Mr. Kim: Have the guards checked the palace gates?
Kainze: Yes. No one saw her leave.
Justin: Then where did she go?
Nobody had an answer.
The tension in the hall increased.
Shirish's Brilliant Idea
The entire hall became quiet.
Nobody knew what to do.
Then suddenly, Shirish, Trisupi's second elder brother, slowly raised his hand.
Everyone looked at him.
Shirish: Can we call elder sister?
There was complete silence.
Mrs. Jeon slowly turned toward him.
Her eyes widened.
Mrs. Jeon: 😱 Do you want to die?!
Shirish immediately lowered his hand.
Shirish: 😨 I was just asking!
Krechi stared at his son.
Mr. Jeon: What the hell is wrong with you?!
Shirish: I thought she might know where Trisupi is.
Mr. Jeon: Your sister will kill you before you can even finish explaining!
Shirish: 🥲 That sounds like a valid concern.
Mrs. Jeon glared at him.
Mrs. Jeon: Mandhagini doesn't even like this marriage!
Shirish: I know.
Mrs. Jeon: She was against it from the beginning!
Shirish: I know.
Mrs. Jeon: And you still want to call her?!
Shirish thought for a moment.
Shirish: 😐 When you say it like that...
Everyone sighed.
Krechi rubbed his forehead.
Mr. Jeon: Mandhagini is already angry about this marriage.
He looked toward Raizel.
Mr. Jeon: She doesn't like Raizel.
Raizel remained silent.
Ajin continued.
Mr. Kim Ajin: She didn't even come to attend the wedding ceremony.
Friead wiped her tears.
Mrs. Kim: She completely opposed the marriage.
Krechi nodded.
Mr. Jeon: That's why I don't want her to know what happened.
Shirish looked confused.
Shirish: Why?
Everyone turned toward him.
Shirish: 😓 What?
Mr. Jeon: Because if Mandhagini finds out that Trisupi disappeared on her wedding day...
He stopped.
Everyone imagined Mandhagini's reaction.
Silence.
Justin slowly leaned toward Kainze.
Justin: 😨 Brother...
Kainze: What?
Justin: I think we're in trouble.
Kainze: Why?
Justin looked toward the Jeon family.
Justin: Because if Mandhagini comes here...
Kainze's face became pale.
Kainze: 😨 We're finished.
Shirish frowned.
Shirish: 😐 You two are acting like she's some kind of demon.
Everyone slowly looked at him.
Shirish immediately corrected himself.
Shirish: 😰 I mean... a very respectable elder sister.
Mrs. Jeon narrowed her eyes.
Mrs. Jeon: You'd better stop talking.
Shirish: 🥲 Yes, mother.
Raizel's Heartbreak
Raizel stood quietly in the middle of the hall.
He looked around.
The beautiful decorations.
The flowers.
The wedding stage.
The guests.
Everything had been prepared for his marriage.
But the bride was missing.
He looked at the empty place beside the wedding stage.
His expression became sad.
Raizel: I had so many dreams about today.
Everyone became quiet.
Raizel: I thought I would meet her properly.
He smiled sadly.
Raizel: I wanted to take care of her.
Friead looked at him with tears in her eyes.
Raizel: I wanted to make her happy.
He looked down.
Raizel: I wanted to give her all the love I had.
Justin's expression softened.
Raizel: But now...
He took a deep breath.
Raizel: I don't even know where she is.
No one knew what to say.
Then Justin quietly approached him.
Justin: Brother...
Raizel looked at him.
Justin: We will find her.
Raizel nodded.
Raizel: I know.
He looked toward the palace entrance.
Raizel: We have to find her.
Suddenly, a royal guard came running toward them.
Guard: YOUR MAJESTIES!
Everyone turned.
The guard was breathing heavily.
Mr. Kim: What happened?
The guard looked nervous.
Guard: We found something.
Raizel immediately stepped forward.
Raizel: What?
The guard hesitated.
Guard: We found Trisupi's belongings outside the palace.
Everyone froze.
Kainze: What belongings?
The guard looked at Raizel.
Guard: Her wedding shoes.
Everyone's eyes widened.
Raizel's heart dropped.
Raizel: ...Her wedding shoes?
The guard nodded.
Guard: Yes, Your Highness.
Justin looked at Raizel.
Justin: 🥲 Brother...
Raizel stared toward the palace gates.
Something was clearly wrong.
And nobody knew where Trisupi had gone.
But one thing was certain.
The wedding was no longer the biggest problem.
Finding the missing bride had become the priority.
To be continued.