"Dad, no, please!" Stella's tears flowed freely as she clutched her father's hand, her desperation palpable. "I can't do it, don't make me!"
Radius closed his eyes, his heart aching at his daughter's anguish. But he had no other choice. Time was of the essence, and desperate times called for desperate measures. Bloom's suggestion, though initially unnoticed by Stella, seemed like the only viable option in the face of imminent danger.
"Why can't you see, Stella? This isn't what I want either!" Radius's voice cracked with emotion. "But I have to protect you. You're everything to me."
Stella struggled to catch her breath, the weight of her father's decision bearing down on her. Forced to marry someone she didn't love, and worse yet, her best friend's boyfriend, Sky Eraklyon, Stella felt trapped in a nightmare. With Solaria's stability teetering in the aftermath of the queen's death, Radius knew they had to act swiftly to prevent further unrest. Stella was yet trying to understand the power of the moon and gain its control to strengthen her planet. But she needed time, at least a couple of months. Meanwhile Radius was aware Renoux would act quickly and ask for Stella's hand in marriage.
Before Luna's passing, Renoux had sought Stella's hand in marriage, a proposal that was vehemently rejected by her parents. But now, with Solaria's vulnerability exposed, Renoux saw his chance to seize power. And Radius, burdened with the responsibility of safeguarding his people, found himself with no choice but to consider the unthinkable.
As Stella's eyes welled with tears and her hands trembled, Bloom stood by, her own heart heavy with sorrow for her best friend. Eraklyon and Domino's strained relations added to the tension, with Diaspro's relentless pursuit of Sky casting a shadow over their future. As King Erendor too was starting to like the idea of his son marrying Diaspro for Eraklyon's sake. She had thought about this solution before but it wasn't Stella who was going to be the candidate to marry Sky. It was Aisha, back when she didn't want to be with Nabu because she didn't know him. But right now they were getting along just fine and their parents too were happy with their children's relationship.
Bloom's mind raced with a solution she had considered before—a plan to avert Stella's forced marriage. A plan that, if executed properly, would spare both Sky and Stella from a fate they didn't deserve.
Aisha was an option Bloom saw as a risk, considering that she had a crush on Sky before Nabu. But Stella, she had met Sky and they were two good friends. Stella would never do anything to betray Bloom's trust. But unfortunately she didn't have time to speak of the plan before the King. And Stella was just figuring out that her father was making her marry her best friend's boyfriend. Biting her lip Bloom walked closer to Stella and hugged her while whispering slowly to her ear so the guards won't hear anything; "It's a plan, Stell. We didn't have a chance to tell you before, but trust me. It's not a real marriage."
Stella's body tensed with realization, her gaze locking onto her father's. A plan? Radius nodded, attempting to offer a reassuring smile amidst the chaos.
Relief flooded over Stella as she hugged Bloom tightly, clinging to the hope that this scheme would spare her from a fate worse than death. Whatever this plan entailed, Stella vowed to herself that she would not go down without a fight. If things are not going to work as planned, then she would do whatever it takes to reclaim control of her destiny.