Unbelievable!
I couldn't sleep. The events of yesterday haunted me like a ghost, swirling endlessly in my mind. My meeting with Crown Prince Charles Evermore, followed by the sudden appearance of Marquis Valen Lucras Draconia, made everything feel like part of a mysterious game I didn't understand.
After the meeting ended, Countess Adeline left abruptly, leaving me only brief instructions:
"We'll continue the lessons tomorrow… at Marquis Valen Lucras Draconia's palace!"
Shock surged through me. Why at his palace? Why now?
Countless questions overwhelmed my mind, and each attempt to understand only deepened my helplessness.
Elsewhere, in one of the grand palaces:
Marquis Valen Lucras Draconia stood before a massive window overlooking the vast gardens of his estate. The moonlight reflected in his silver eyes, giving them a mysterious gleam. He appeared deep in thought, though his features carried a hint of hidden amusement, as if playing a role he knew all too well.
"Milord," one of his loyal guards said softly, interrupting his thoughts.
"I've looked into it. It seems the Emperor had a hand in this arrangement."
A crooked, unsettling smile formed on Valen's lips, followed by a soft chuckle.
"Just as I expected…" he said calmly, his tone laced with satisfaction and challenge.
"What would you have me do now?" the guard asked hesitantly.
Valen turned slowly, his piercing gaze slicing through the man before him. He spoke in a low, commanding voice:
"Watch the new princess. Don't miss a thing… especially while she's in my palace."
Elsewhere:
The royal garden was bathed in soft moonlight. Blooming flowers released their scent into the cool night air.
I sat on a stone bench near the fountain, trying to gather my thoughts, when I heard soft footsteps behind me.
"I don't think sitting here alone is a good idea, especially at this hour."
I recognized the voice instantly. Turning slowly, I saw Crown Prince Charles Alexander Evermore standing there. His brown eyes sparkled in the moonlight, and his black hair fell gently across his forehead, giving him a regal yet familiar look.
"Are you here to make sure I don't get hurt?" I asked with a faint smile, though my heart was pounding.
"Perhaps. Or maybe I just wanted to enjoy your company, away from prying eyes."
He stepped closer and extended his hand. "May I have this dance?"
"A dance? Here?" I asked, glancing between his outstretched hand and the grass-covered ground.
"Afraid you'll be hurt by the grass?" he teased with a smirk, then added warmly,
"Seraphina, in this moment, no one sees us. There are no rules. Just you and me."
I hesitated for a moment before placing my hand in his. It was warm, steady. He led me with calm steps to the center of the garden, beneath a blooming cherry tree.
He began to move my hand gently, as if we were dancing to a hidden melody only we could hear. The cold air wrapped around us, but his closeness made me forget everything else.
"You know, something about you intrigues me, Seraphina," he said, looking into my eyes.
"What is it?" I asked, my voice barely a whisper.
"How can someone seem strong and fragile at the same time?"
He smiled as he twirled me, making my dress flare like a blossoming flower.
I couldn't respond. The words caught in my throat, but my heart spoke louder than anything.
"You're a mystery, like a book I want to read over and over again, and never get enough of."
He added in a low, almost confessional tone.
"And maybe you won't find all the answers you're looking for," I said, trying to sound confident, though I felt I was losing balance—not from the dance, but from his gaze that said more than words.
He suddenly stopped, looked at me deeply, then whispered:
"Maybe I don't need answers… if your presence is enough."
In that moment, I felt as if we were alone in the world. But a strange feeling made me quickly turn to the other side.
Someone was watching us.
I felt the gaze without seeing a face. A shadowy figure stood among the trees, hidden in darkness like a silent ghost.
I looked at Charles, but his expression remained calm, as if he hadn't noticed anything.
"Did you feel that?" he asked, concerned, though he still held my hand.
"No… probably just my imagination." I replied hesitantly, trying to sound natural. But inside, I was swirling with questions.
Oh no, I think I'm late. Amelia must be worried by now…!
"I couldn't let myself get swept away any further when I'm still scared… of myself, of my truth!"
I pulled my hand away quickly and stepped back as far as I could.
My steps were heavy as I walked away from the garden. I left behind the cherry tree that had witnessed a moment I never thought I'd live. The moonlight followed me, but I felt another shadow trailing behind.
I tried to calm my racing heart after that dance with Charles. His words, his warm hands, his gaze… everything felt like a storm that shook my soul and left me confused.
As I neared the gate leading to the long corridor, I stopped and glanced back one last time.
He was still there, standing where I left him, silently watching me. I couldn't read his expression, but it held something that told me this wasn't just a goodbye.
With a faint smile, I nodded and turned away.
As I walked down the dark path toward the palace, silence surrounded me. Even the wind seemed to vanish, as if nature itself was waiting.
But an eerie feeling crept over me… as if I wasn't alone.
I turned quickly, seeing only shadows of trees dancing in the moonlight.
"Just illusions…" I whispered, trying to calm my racing heart.
When I reached the back door of the palace, it suddenly opened. Amelia stood there, her eyes full of worry.
"My lady! I was looking everywhere for you. Why did you go out alone?"
"I needed some fresh air," I replied softly, though my voice lacked conviction.
She looked at me for a moment, then said cautiously:
"Alright… but please, don't do this again. The night isn't a safe time to wander."
I nodded in agreement, though my heart was heavy with questions. I felt like I'd just walked out of a strange dream—one that left a mark I couldn't explain.
As Amelia closed the door behind me, I felt eyes still watching from the same place. I didn't turn, but the feeling followed me until I reached my room and shut the door.
---
The Next Day
At the Marquis's Palace…
In Seraphina's room:
I sat on my perfectly arranged bed, staring at my reflection in the mirror. Though I hadn't been here long, I felt trapped between two worlds.
Why was I sent to the Marquis's palace?
Why does everyone around me seem to be playing a game I don't understand?
I clutched my long dress tightly.
"Have I become nothing more than a pawn in a game I don't understand?" I muttered quietly.
Despite all the questions tormenting me, one thing was certain:
This is no coincidence.
---
Just before departing to the palace…
The sky was gray, light rain tapping against the window of the swaying carriage that carried me away from everything I knew.
I am Seraphina—or so they call me—but I still don't understand what makes me so important in this strange world I've been thrown into.
Each passing day, I feel like a puppet pulled by invisible strings. Endless training, questions without answers, as if madness itself is inching closer with each breath.
"My lady?"
Amelia's soft voice—my loyal maid—pulled me from my spiraling thoughts. I looked at her and felt guilty for letting her see my distraction again.
"Is the carriage uncomfortable, my lady? It was sent specifically by House Draconia."
I glanced around the lavish carriage with its golden carvings. It felt more like a cage than a means of transport. Even the velvet cushions annoyed me.
"The carriage doesn't matter," I said quietly, though I knew my words didn't reflect what I truly felt.
The physical discomfort from the rocking ride was nothing compared to the weight crushing my soul.
What really scared me was that I didn't have the strength to say no.
This helplessness—being like a leaf in the wind, carried to places I don't want to go—is what made my chest tighten more and more.
Amelia bowed her head respectfully, though her concern was clear.
"Whatever burdens you, my lady, please know I stand by your side. Even if you don't have the strength now, you have something others don't… a heart untouched by greed."
Her words, simple as they were, touched something deep within me.
But I wondered—can a pure heart survive in a world ruled by strength and cunning?
The carriage rolled on through a forest veiled in light fog, taking me toward a fate I had no choice but to face.
Will I find the answer to who I am? Or will I remain lost, surrounded by forces hunting for a Seraphina I don't even know?
As I sank deeper into my thoughts, I felt a strange movement in the carriage. Suddenly, one of the silk cushions slid off my seat and hit the floor.
"My lady! Be careful!" Amelia cried as she tried to fix the cushion, but her hurried movements caused her to lose balance and sit on it instead.
"Emilia, what are you doing?" I asked, placing a hand over my mouth in a desperate attempt to stifle my laughter.
"Me? Nothing!" she replied quickly, though she was trying to stand up in a clumsy way, which made her stumble again.
"Oh, it seems the pillow decided to be more comfortable than I am!" she said with a childish pout.
This time, I couldn't stop myself. I burst out laughing—so hard that I felt a few tears gather in my eyes.
"Finally!" Emilia said with a wide grin, brushing the dust off her skirt. "I knew there had to be a way to make you laugh, even if it meant sacrificing my dignity in front of you!"
I laughed again, this time more softly, but warmly. For the first time in weeks, I felt something close to comfort in the middle of all this chaos.
Inside the carriage, as I stared out the window at the fog enveloping the road, Emilia decided to break the heavy silence.
"My lady, have you heard of High Priest Rialua?"
I raised an eyebrow slightly and replied coolly, "Is there anyone not talking about him?"
Emilia gave a sly little smile, full of mischief. "They say he can see the future. That he knows everyone's fate before they're even born."
"And has he told you yours?" I said sarcastically, trying to hide my growing impatience with the endless mentions of him.
"Not yet, but he could—if you wanted. All we have to do is offer a small sacrifice..." she said, lowering her voice dramatically for effect.
"A small sacrifice? What do you mean?"
"Nothing big. Maybe just a chicken, or..." she paused, then smiled wickedly, "that box of candy you keep hidden in your drawer!"
A laugh burst out of me before I could stop it. "Emilia, you know that candy isn't a sacrifice. It's a treasure!"
"A treasure?" she repeated playfully, then sat up straight, trying to look serious. "But honestly, my lady… don't you think Priest Rialua is... a little frightening?"
I fell silent for a moment, then answered more seriously, "More than frightening. He controls everything in my life, as if I'm just a pawn on some giant board."
"Oh, definitely. But maybe he even controls when we drink tea!" she joked, raising her hands like she was casting a spell.
I laughed again, but beneath that laughter was a tightness in my chest. Rialua wasn't just an ordinary man. He was more like a shadow that haunted me wherever I went. Everything I did...
"...was with his blessing—or by his command."
"And yet, I don't hate him. On the contrary, there's something about him… that pulls me in."
The Golden Temple stood tall among towering mountains, its walls lined with gold leaf reflecting sunlight like a shimmer from another world. Inside, the air was thick with the scent of incense that filled the grand halls. Ancient chants echoed through the space, as if the walls themselves were joining in prayer.
At the heart of it all, High Priest Rialua sat upon his throne, adorned with gold and precious stones, surrounded by ancient scrolls and flickering candles. His face was calm, but his dark eyes held a weight—secrets and knowledge no one dared question.
While holding an old scroll etched with delicate script, his personal aide entered with a quick bow.
"My Lord Rialua, the reports from the western border have arrived."
Rialua didn't look up. He continued reading the text in silence. His calmness was terrifying to those who didn't know him, yet awe-inspiring to those who did.
"Place them there," he gestured without speaking further.
The aide set the parchment down beside the scrolls, then added hesitantly, "My lord, about the girl..."
Rialua's hand stopped moving. At last, he looked up. His voice was deep and full of certainty:
"Seraphina is not just a girl. She is the key—and the mystery. It's still too soon to tell which fate she will choose."
The aide stepped back, avoiding his intense gaze.
"Keep watching her. I want no mistakes." Rialua closed the scroll and set it aside. "It's not only about her choice—but how the world responds to it."
He then rose from his seat and stood before a massive window overlooking the mountains. The view was breathtaking—but he saw it with different eyes.
"The shadows are moving faster than I expected. I will not let the world fall to chaos again. Not after all this time."
He paused, then added with a chilling calmness:
"Make sure everyone understands this—those who defy me… will find no place under the light of the Golden Temple."
The aide left swiftly, leaving the High Priest alone in his usual solitude. But in Rialua's eyes, there was certainty—certainty that the game had begun, and that he was the only player who truly knew the rules.
"Support me with lovely comments and tell me—what do you think will happen in the next chapter?":)
✓^^ End of Chapter ^^✓