♪♫Happy birthday to you. Happy birthday to you. Happy birthday. Happy birthday. Happy birthday to you.♬♪" Akana tried really hard to be cheerful while singing.
It's her 18th birthday and its also the birthday of her twin sister, Ara.
Today is supposed to be their debut. They will open the palace to everyone. All the members of the monarch even those from other kingdoms and countries were invited.
They will be formally introduced to the society. And the whole kingdom will celebrate their debut because atlast the princesses' can now officially choose a spouse, get married and produce an heir to the throne.
But all the festivity won't be possible for her twin sister, Princess Ara. More than a decade ago her sister fell into a coma.
She was a bubbly girl. Full of life. But on their 10th birthday they both fell mysteriously ill. They survived but her sister never woke up. She's the only one that was able to fully recover. Her sister remains in a coma till now.

"Happy birthday sis." she blew the candle for her. She tried her best to greet her with a smile. After she put the cake on the table she bring out a little rectangular box. She opens it.
"I know you love flowers, so when i saw this pin with cherry blossom design i thought of you right away and bought this." She took out the gold hairpin from the box and carefully put it on her sisters hair.
"Remember, you have plans of travelling to Japan because you wanted to see those Sakura trees in person. I have not lose hope that one day you will be able to do that. So please gather up all your strength and wake up." She held her sisters hand and kissed it softly. And just like every year she can't help but cry.
"Please Ara wake up. You still have lots of unopened gifts. Our parents are still waiting for you to wake up. Once you're awake we will go and travel the world. Remember you said you also want to go to disney land and meet all those disney princesses. Please Ara." She begged. Hoping that her tears, longing and desperation will miraculously wake her up.
But her desperate plea is of no used. Ara remained motionless, her life slowly withering away.
"Your highness its time to prepare for the ball." informed her personal maid. She's one of the few who knows about her sister's condition.
Everybody thought she already passed away because of a new measles variance. Little do they know that Ara is just here inside the palace, hidden away in this grandiose room filled with all the luxury money can afford.
"I'm not going to go to the ball." She said.
"But princess the ball is for you. You cannot not be there." the maid pleaded. But she ignored her. She doesnt want to leave her sister's side.
"Akana why aren't you preparing yet? The party is in 3 hours." Her mother entered the room in an obvious hurry. She's been busy the whole week preparing for the party.
"I told you last week that i don't want a grandiose party. Why do you keep insisting on this? You think I could pretend to be happy infront of everyone?"
"Akana stop making things hard for us. Why can't you just cooperate?"
"I've been cooperating with you for years by shutting up. You keep telling everyone its measles. You told everyone she's already dead. When the truth is she's here barely alive and in a coma. And you expect me to celebrate? Are you this indifferent? She's my sister, your daughter." her voice quivering from frustration and anger.
"So what do you want me to do? Wallow in self pity? Do what you do? Wait for her to wake up?"
"At Least I'm not waiting for her to just die."
She saw the hurt in her mothers face. And she felt guilty right away. "I will pretend that I didnt hear that. Now be an obedient daughter and do as I say." she then turned around and walked away as if nothing happened.
"Princess?" the maid asked again. This time she calmed herself down, said goodbye to her sister then followed her maid to prepare for the ball.
She used to love party as a kid. She and her sister walk around the palace watching everyone's preparation. Everything was just perfect and beautiful. But everything changed on the day of their 10th birthday.
She and Ara were playing hide and seek when she heard something from her fathers study . She thought it was her sister hiding in the closet. So she slowly walks toward the door so as not to startle her. That's when she saw a man coming out of from the closet door.

A stranger inside the palace? Hes carrying something, a baby. She was about to call one of the maids when he saw her father walked towards the man then bow down to him. A king bowing down to a man wearing a white dirty shirt and jogging pants.
"Its time for you to pay your debt. I need the vessel." The stranger said. Her father is a very wealthy man. Why would he owe anyone anything? She wonders.
Normally she would run towards her father to embrace him even if theres a visitor around but not this time. The stranger's aura feels dangerous. Her instinct is telling her to leave. She followed her instinct. She walks backward very slowly without making any sound away from the door and their view.
Once shes confident she wont be seen or heard she started to walk very fast. Thats when she sees her twin running towards her.
"Akana i've been looking all over for you. Is father in his office? lets go and greet him."
But she stopped her. "No, he got a visitor. Theyre discussing something important. I'm hungry lets just eat." she dont know whats going on but something tells her to stay away and protect her sister."
"Okay." her twin agreed. She took her hand and run towards the dining room.
Akana didnt pay much attention to that particular incident. Afterall its her birthday and her focus the whole day is to just celebrate.