Marshall Clark Schlosser
Aria Perspective
Aria observed her sister across the polished dining table, her gaze drawn to the familiar flicker of sadness hidden in Harmony’s eyes. Though the others in the room saw only the composed princess, Aria could see the silent rebellion, the barely restrained longing beneath Harmony’s calm exterior. Harmony was the epitome of royal perfection, her every movement measured, every glance calculated. Yet, Aria had always been able to read her older sister’s heart, like a secret language spoken only between them. It was a connection they shared, unspoken yet undeniable, one that allowed Aria to see past the princess façade into the young woman who yearned for something more.
Harmony had always been the strong one, the one who carried the weight of the family’s expectations with grace and dignity. But Aria knew better. She could see the cracks in the polished surface—the way Harmony’s shoulders would sag just slightly after each long session with their father, the subtle way she avoided eye contact when their mother’s voice rang with praise. Aria had always been keen at picking up on the small things, the tiny signs that spoke volumes. And today was no different. Harmony’s mask of composure was in place, but the shadows in her eyes betrayed the truth. Behind the carefully constructed veneer of duty, Harmony was suffocating.
Aria’s fingers curled into fists beneath the table, the motion so subtle that no one else would notice. She resisted the urge to slam her hand down, to break the silence that hung over the room, to demand something more—something real. How could their father not see what Harmony was going through? How could he expect her to thrive in this gilded cage, a life built on ceremony and subservience? Aria’s chest tightened with a mixture of anger and sorrow. She knew that her sister was so much more than this life allowed her to be. Harmony was a force, a bright flame that had been smothered under the weight of royal expectations.
She glanced around the table, noticing the way their father sat at the head, his voice steady and commanding, as always. King Emery’s words were measured, calculated, like everything else about him. He spoke of alliances and treaties with the same tone he used for everything else—distant, detached, as though he were reading from a script that had been written long before he was even born. To Aria, her father’s words were nothing more than empty noise, the repetition of ideals that felt increasingly irrelevant. Earth’s position in the galaxy, the importance of maintaining strength and unity, the necessity of appearing perfect—all these things mattered more to him than his own daughters’ happiness.
As Aria’s gaze fell back on Harmony, her resentment deepened. How could anyone expect her sister to flourish in a life defined by protocol and obedience? Harmony had always been different, even as a child. She had a curiosity that extended beyond the palace walls, a need to learn, to explore, to understand the worlds that lay beyond Earth’s capital. It was this untamed spirit, this insatiable thirst for knowledge and adventure, that made her so remarkable. And yet, it was the very thing that trapped her here, bound to a life she had never chosen.
Aria’s fists tightened again. It wasn’t fair. Harmony deserved so much more than this suffocating existence. But what could Aria do? She was just the younger sister, the one who could get away with breaking a few rules but had no power to change the system. She was no diplomat, no future queen. And yet, the thought of Harmony living the rest of her life under the thumb of their father, of being forced into a future she had never asked for, was unbearable.
The weight of their father’s expectations pressed down on Harmony as he spoke of the upcoming diplomatic events. Aria watched her sister’s face closely, noting the slight stiffening of her posture, the way her eyes seemed to glaze over, just for a moment, as though she were somewhere far away. Harmony had perfected the art of listening without truly hearing, responding without ever truly engaging. But Aria knew. She could feel it in the way Harmony’s jaw tightened and the way her fingers curled, her nails digging into her palms in silent frustration.
Aria couldn’t help herself. A rush of emotion surged through her—fury, protectiveness, and a deep sense of helplessness. She wanted to shout, to demand that her sister be freed from this cage. But she knew it wouldn’t do any good. Her voice, as important as it was to their family, would never have the same weight as Harmony’s. And so, Aria did what she always did—she remained quiet, her emotions a wellspring of frustration beneath the surface.
After the luncheon, when the formalities had been completed and the guests had begun to disperse, Aria trailed behind her sister, watching her walk with the practiced grace that had been instilled in her since birth. Harmony’s posture was perfect, her head held high, her every step an embodiment of regal composure. She looked every bit the princess she was expected to be—but Aria saw the weariness beneath the mask. She could see the way Harmony’s shoulders slumped just slightly as they turned the corner, the way her eyes seemed to focus on the ground rather than the path ahead.
Aria followed silently, staying a few paces behind, allowing Harmony the space she needed. There was no need for words; the silence between them was a language all its own. It was in the way they shared knowing glances, the way their paths always seemed to cross in the vast expanse of the palace. Even in moments of quiet, when the world seemed to be pressing in on them, Aria knew her sister understood. Harmony had always been the strong one, the protector, the one who held everything together. But now, it was Aria’s turn to protect her.
A resolve bloomed within Aria, slow at first but gaining strength with each passing step. She wasn’t going to let her sister live like this forever. Harmony’s spirit deserved to be free—to breathe, to explore, to live without the suffocating weight of royal expectations. Aria didn’t know how she would do it, but she knew that she would. She would find a way to help her sister escape this life, to give her the freedom she deserved.
When Harmony turned a corner and disappeared from view, Aria felt a sharp pang of loss in her chest. But it was quickly replaced by something fiercer—determination. Harmony didn’t deserve this life, this cage. Aria would do whatever it took to break those chains.
Even if it meant bending the palace’s unbreakable rules. Even if it meant taking risks she’d never considered before.
For Harmony, she would do anything.
As the last echo of her sister’s footsteps faded into the distance, Aria stood there for a moment longer, her heart racing with a new sense of purpose. She wasn’t alone in this. They had each other. And together, they could change everything.