The Price of Smiles

On a distant world, a kingdom known for its bright, happy spirit is led by the young Princess Yuki—an earnest idealist whose warmth and innocence are suddenly tested by the realities of rule. As the Empire closes in and the realm’s safety hangs in the balance, Yuki is forced into a position where her most cherished qualities may not be enough.

Across the front lines stands Stella Shining, a soldier of the Empire who keeps her true self hidden behind a carefully maintained façade. As war tightens its grip and that mask begins to slip, the choices she makes could cost her everything. When Yuki and Stella’s lives finally intersect, the clash between nations becomes deeply personal, and the outcome will shape far more than their own futures.