INT. MING FAMILY – BACK CORRIDOR – NIGHT
The celebration was long over.
Laughter had faded. The feast was gone. The guests had left.
Yet Seren remained seated alone in the cold kitchen corridor, a chipped porcelain teacup in hand, filled not with tea but with tap water. Her sisters had retired to silk-sheeted beds. Her mother had taken Lianhua to the private spa to "soothe her stress."
Seren?
Seren was forgotten again.
She sipped the lukewarm water slowly, staring at the dim candlelight flickering against the cracked wall opposite her. It wasn't her first time feeling this way. She was used to being left out, invisible — the daughter no one wanted to admit was theirs.
Her status as a "Ming" was only on paper. Born of a concubine with no noble roots, Seren had been raised more like a servant than a daughter. She wasn't allowed to eat at the same table unless guests were around. Her clothes were secondhand. Her books were hand-me-downs.
And tonight? She was handed off like cattle.
She clenched the cup tightly.
"Bride," she muttered bitterly.
Was that all she was?
A tool to fulfil a cursed contract. A peace offering to the infamous Sung clan. And worse, not even by choice. Ares hadn't picked her for love. He picked her because she was quiet. Because she didn't grovel. Because she didn't fake her smile like the others.
It wasn't romantic. It wasn't destiny.
It was survival.
INT. MING FAMILY – LIANHUA'S ROOM – SAME TIME
Lianhua's room was drenched in lavender incense and silk. She stood in front of her full-length mirror, brushing her hair in long angry strokes. Her lips were pursed.
LIANHUA(low, seething)He picked her.
She slammed the brush onto the vanity table.
LIANHUAThat little mistake of a girl. That shadow. How dare he?
Behind her, her younger sister Ming Zhen sat with wide eyes, watching.
MING ZHENBut… but sister, what if he really likes her?
LIANHUA(sharp)No. He doesn't. Men like him don't fall for weak things. He's just playing. Testing the waters.
Her fingers curled.
LIANHUABut I'll remind him where real power lies. I'll make him see.
EXT. MING ESTATE – COURTYARD – NEXT MORNING
The following morning was a performance. Seren was dressed in a pale blue hanfu with silver embroidery — lovely but noticeably plainer than Lianhua's crimson and gold attire.
The Sung family returned, this time to finalize the engagement ceremony.
Dozens of guests gathered, whispering among themselves, watching closely to see which daughter had captured the mysterious heir's attention.
Seren stood to the side like an unwanted vase. Her hands were clasped in front of her, her head lowered. From behind the decorative veil covering her face, she could hear the murmurs.
"That's her?"
"The one he picked?"
"She doesn't look like much."
"No wonder she's hidden in the back."
Her chest tightened, but she didn't flinch. She was used to it.
INT. MING FAMILY – GRAND HALL – MOMENTS LATER
Ares arrived. No entourage. No father. Just him.
He walked in like the shadows followed him, like the air itself parted before his steps. Today, he wore a dark indigo suit, a silver dragon crest stitched on his sleeve. His cursed eye shimmered faintly, but no one dared mention it.
He stopped in front of Seren.
Everyone watched.
ARES(quiet, serious)You ready?
Her lips parted slightly.
SEREN...Do I have a choice?
His brows twitched — surprised at her honesty.
Then he nodded.
ARESNo. Neither of us does.
Before she could respond, Lady Ming clapped sharply.
LADY MINGWonderful! Then let the ceremony begin.
INT. GRAND HALL – DURING CEREMONY
As the ceremonial wine was passed to them, Seren's hands trembled slightly. She took the goblet, heart pounding.
Their fingers brushed. Barely.
The room watched like hawks.
Suddenly—
A SCREAM.
It came from the back.
Servant Girl(trembling)T-the courtyard! There's a snake! In the bird garden!
Everyone rushed out in chaos.
In the chaos, Seren and Ares were separated.
EXT. MING ESTATE – BACK GARDEN – MOMENTS LATER
Seren wandered alone. The noise had spread. But as she passed the side of the estate where no guests were, a hard shove sent her stumbling into the wall.
LIANHUA(smiling coldly)Oops.
Seren turned, wincing as she rubbed her shoulder.
SEREN...What do you want?
LIANHUAWhat I deserve. What you stole.
She moved closer, her red robes fluttering like fire.
LIANHUADo you really think someone like you belongs beside him? You're nothing. A backup. A reject. Mother only let you wear that dress because he picked you.
Seren stayed silent.
LIANHUASay something!
SERENWhat do you want me to say? That you're prettier? Smarter? That you've always been better?
Lianhua blinked, caught off guard.
Seren stepped forward.
SERENFine. You win. You've always won. But you know what?
She pulled off her veil slowly, revealing her face — bare, no makeup, no adornments — just Seren. Real, soft, flawed.
SERENI'm tired of pretending I want what you want. So if he picked me... even for a moment... maybe it's not me you should be questioning.
Lianhua slapped her.
The sound echoed.
But Seren didn't flinch.
???:That was a mistake.
They both turned.
Ares stood there.
His eyes were cold.
His tone, lethal.
ARESTouch her again and I'll show you what curse really means.
Lianhua paled.
LIANHUAI—I was just—
ARESLeave.
She did.
Ares turned to Seren.
ARESAre you okay?
She blinked.
Then, something broke — maybe the weight of being voiceless for so long. She let her guard down for the first time in years.
SERENNo. I'm not. But I will be.
And for the first time since he met her…
Ares smiled.