MOONLIGHT PROMISES

Carina smoothed the pleats of her blue dress as her hands trembled with anticipation. Today was the day she had awaited since her thirteenth birthday-the day she would first step into the royal palace. A week earlier, an invitation arrived, stamped with the palace's golden icon. Once a year, a selected group of young scholars, artists, and musicians is invited to showcase their talents before the royal court of Axum. Carina, now thirteen, had been chosen for her gift of poetry.

"Remember to speak respectfully, my daughter. You know the king treasures intelligence but humility is worth more than gold," her mother had advised.

"I know, Mama," Carina replied softly, though her heart pounded in her chest. It was not only the king she longed to impress but also the prince. The mere mention of his name made her shiver-his tall stature, deep brown eyes, and natural grace were qualities she had admired from afar during royal festivals. Prince Zayn, known for his shy manner and love for literature over battle, remained an enigma to the public. Would she simply be another face in the crowd or might she have the chance to speak with him?

As the palace gates loomed, guarded by men in shining silver armor, Carina's breath was taken away. She and the other guests entered a magnificent building adorned with golden chandeliers hanging from lofty ceilings, walls decorated with paintings of historic battles and triumphs and an air scented with jasmine and smoldering incense. The group was led into the grand hall where the monarch sat on his throne, and beside him stood Prince Zayn, his expression mysterious.

One by one, the young invitees stepped forward to display their talents. Carina exhaled deeply, gripped the small parchment in her hand and advanced when her turn arrived. In a calm yet gentle voice, she began, "My king, I have composed a poem about the beauty of our land and the strength of its people." Her words painted vivid images of golden fields and flowing rivers. In that moment, Carina stood before the king and the attentive audience, reciting the verses she had perfected over weeks of practice. When she finished, a hush fell over the hall before applause burst forth. She stole a glance at Prince Zayn and noticed that he watched her with genuine interest rather than indifference. In that moment, Carina realized that her life was about to change. His gaze lingered on her longer than expected and the world outside the grand hall seemed to fade away. She felt a mixture of triumph and uncertainty, aware that her performance had forged an invisible connection with someone equally mysterious.

After the ceremony, as the invitees mingled in the palace gardens beneath a twilight sky, Carina wandered along hidden pathways lined with blooming roses and ancient statues. The cool evening air was filled with the soft chirping of crickets and murmurs of hushed conversations. The gardens were a welcome contrast to the formality of the court-a place where nature and history spoke quietly to one another.

In a secluded corner of the garden, Carina noticed a solitary figure leaning against a marble column, lost in thought,she wondered who it might be. As the figure drew closer, she soon recognized him-it was Prince Zayn. His eyes, illuminated by the gentle glow of lanterns, held both wonder and a trace of melancholy. Gathering her courage, Carina approached him, her voice barely above a whisper.

"Your Highness, I hope I am not intruding," she said.

Zayn turned to her, his gaze softening as he smiled slightly. "Not at all," he replied. "I was simply reflecting on the beauty of this night, your words and the serenity of the garden." Their conversation flowed naturally, punctuated by comfortable pauses, Carina learned that behind his regal exterior was a thoughtful soul who cherished simple pleasures-books, nature and genuine conversation. In turn, she shared her dreams, the struggles of her humble beginnings and her hope that one day her words might change the world.

As the night deepened, so did their connection. It felt as if the palace itself had conspired to bring these two kindred spirits together-a meeting orchestrated by fate. Carina realized that this encounter was more than a brief moment of admiration; it was the beginning of a journey filled with growth, challenges and the bittersweet pain of first love. When the evening drew to a close. Carina prepared to leave the garden, she stole one last look at Prince Zayn. In that lingering glance, she sensed a silent promise-that this night would not be forgotten and that the spark ignited under the twilight would continue to glow even as the palace doors closed behind her.

Walking back through the corridors, with the distant hum of the royal festival echoing in her ears, Carina's thoughts raced with excitement and expectation. The palace visit had been more than an opportunity to display her talent; it was her first step into a larger world-a world where destiny was written not only in ink and parchment but also in the quiet moments shared between two hearts.

In the days that followed, as she returned to her village, the memory of the palace visit remained a constant reminder. Every whispered breeze and every ray of sunlight seemed to echo that magical night. Deep within her, a seed of hope was sown-a hope that one day fate would conspire once more to bring her and Prince Zayn together, weaving their destinies into an extraordinary tale of love, heritage and renewal.