The Mask of Eternal Dawn

ingers brushing lightly over the soft blooms. The evening air was filled with the sweet scent of jasmine and the earthy fragrance of the garden's hidden treasures.

care. There was something magical about these gardens-something that had always felt more alive than the rest of the kingdom. T

ervant, from mother to child. It was said that the prince had been cursed by a vengeful sorcerer, doomed to live a life in torment. By day, he was a statue of stone, motionless, trapped in the form of an inani

he was a monster. Others claimed he was a victim of a cruel fate. But Lyra couldn't help but feel a flicker of compass

s on the gravel path. She stood up and turned, seeing one of

vant said, her voice laced with nervousness. "The prince wil

s, when he made an appearance before the court. But despite the excitement that surrounded his rare visits, there was always an underlying tensi

r mind raced. Perhaps tonight she would finally understand the prince's

f expensive perfume and the sweet aroma of roasted meats. Lyra stood by the far corner, unnoticed amidst the nobility, her dark dress blending i

seemed to radiate from him despite the mask that obscured his features. The mask was a work of exquisite craftsmanship-its golden surface gleaming in the candlelight, intricate patterns etc

emed distant, haunted. He moved through the room with an eerie grace, but there was somet

ldn't l

as she regarded him, her hands clasped tightly together. His father, the king, gave a curt nod, though his expression was unreadable. The prince made n

ove the mask, never show his true face. But standing there in the dim light, she saw somet

g just a moment too long. And in that fleeting instant, she saw something flicker behind the mask-so

nt, time s

he hall, retreating to the quiet solitude of the garden. The cool night air felt like a balm agai

s eyes? What had the pr

she possibly

nt oak tree. It was a relic she had seen before-an artifact passed down through the royal family, a symbol of the prince's curse. She

k hold the key to breaking the curse? Could the artifact she had

fore, Lyra rose to her feet, clutching the ma