POV: Anna
My eyes widened the moment I opened them and saw him—the man with golden eyes.
His arms were around me, holding me as if I weighed nothing. His gaze was steady, unblinking, as though he was studying every trembling breath I fought to keep steady. For a heartbeat, neither of us spoke.
I blinked twice before tearing my eyes away, heat rising to my cheeks.
He gently set me down, his touch unexpectedly careful.
"Are you okay?" he asked.
His voice was deep, warm… nothing like Shou Feng's sharp, terrifying tone.
Before I could answer, he turned his attention toward William, who was standing rigid nearby.
"What are you doing, Your Highness? Hurting a girl?"
The golden-eyed man's tone dropped into something colder.
William said nothing. He only stared, jaw clenched.
"I hope this does not happen again… will it?"
Still silence. William turned away and walked off, retreating without a word.
The man exhaled softly, then looked back at me. His gaze softened so suddenly it startled me.
"I apologize for his behavior," he murmured.
"No—no, it's fine," I said quickly. "It's his fault, not yours."
He nodded. "I am Kazan."
"Oh… I'm Anna," I replied awkwardly.
"I know," he said, and I felt my heart skip.
I stared at him, shocked. "How… Do you know me?"
"I was the one who wanted Shou Feng freed," he explained, "and I ordered Kiyoshi to assign someone for it. Kiyoshi told me about you."
I nodded slowly, though something in me twisted painfully. My chest felt tight.
Kazan's brows drew together. "What's wrong?"
"Shou Feng killed over a thousand people," I whispered, my hands curling into fists. "A child died… right in front of me. And you wanted him free? Why? Why!"
He didn't flinch. He only smiled—gentle, almost proud.
"He is the God of Destruction and Darkness. It is his duty to take revenge when he is dishonored."
"It's not their fault he lost!" I snapped. "He lost because he was weak."
Kazan raised his eyebrows, amusement flickering in his golden eyes.
"We shall see," he said softly. "I think you will enjoy the ceremony tonight."
And with that, he turned and walked away.
Ceremony? What ceremony?
I spun around just in time to see Kiyoshi stepping out of a classroom.
I hurried to him. "Hey!"
He smiled immediately, his usual softness returning. We spoke for a while—his laughter filling the hall like sunlight. When I asked about the ceremony, his smile faded.
"The one who loses the war has to cut his hair," he said.
I froze. My chest tightened again… but this time, with something darker.
I didn't care. I wanted revenge. I wanted Shou Feng to feel even a fraction of what that little girl felt. I wanted to stab him myself.
"But… Shou Feng doesn't deserve the hair-cutting," Kiyoshi said suddenly.
"And why not?" I snapped.
"Because he didn't lose the war out of weakness."
He looked around and lowered his voice.
"He lost because he was betrayed. By God Tomika."
I still went. Betrayal.
It echoed inside me like a wound reopening.
"Who is God Tomika?" I whispered. "And why does no one talk about it?"
"Everyone knows," Kiyoshi said quietly, "but there is no proof. Prince Shang took help from Tomika to defeat Shou Feng. And the worst part—Tomika was Shou Feng's best friend."
My breath hitched. I thought of my sister. I crushed the memory down.
"Does Shou Feng know?" I asked.
"Yes," Kiyoshi whispered. "He knows."
✦ ✦ ✦
Night time…
The grand hall blazed with light below—powerful nobles filling the marble floors, while students crowded the upper balconies. The whole place glowed like glass: white marble walls veined with gold, pillars reflecting the flames of hundreds of lanterns.
Kazan entered and sat upon the throne at the center.
His eyes scanned the hall—searching—until they found me in the corner.
His gaze lingered.
Drums thundered.
The gods stepped aside, and Shou Feng appeared.
He stood tall, aura suffocating, shadows curling around him like a storm. His eyes swept the room—cold, dangerous, devastatingly calm. Every person fell silent, fear tightening every spine.
"We are gathered here," Kazan announced, "for the Ceremony of Fallen Crowns."
Whispers stirred instantly.
"Lord Feng didn't lose—he was betrayed—"
"Yet Lord Kazan still holds the ceremony?"
"And where is God hitoko… why isn't he stopping this?"
God Tomika stood among the gods trembling, staring at Shou Feng—
but Shou Feng never once looked back.
Masked attendants approached hesitantly, hands shaking as they tried to force him to kneel.
I turned to find Kiyoshi—he was gone.
Panic prickled through me. I pushed through the crowd, escaping onto the balcony.
There I saw him—Kiyoshi speaking to another man.
The man had long dark hair tied high with a gold clasp, strands falling around his sharp, elegant face. His features were refined and coldly beautiful, his posture straight with quiet authority. He wore layered dark-blue robes embroidered with intricate patterns, and at his side hung a sword with a golden hilt, his gloved hands resting calmly over his arms.
He looked powerful. Untouchable.
I didn't want to disturb them.
So I stood there then turned around..
I turned to leave the balcony when a voice called out behind me—light, sweet, almost musical.
"Hey!"
I stopped and turned.
The man who had been standing beside Kiyoshi now jogged toward me, a cheerful smile lighting his face. His eyes were bright, warm—so different from the coldness filling the hall.
"You must be Anna," he said, a gentle excitement in his voice. "I'm Yuvan."
I nodded slowly. "Anna."
Kiyoshi walked up beside him and smiled.
"Yuvan Hoshigawa," he introduced. "Prince of the Hoshigawa Empire — and my close friend."
Yuvan laughed softly and waved his hand. "Close friend? More like your savior who drags you out of messes every single day."
Kiyoshi rolled his eyes playfully. "Don't listen to him. He exaggerates."
Their banter eased the tightness in my chest, and soon we were talking—softly, comfortably.
Yuvan asked where I was from, how long I had been here; he listened carefully, smiling like everything I said mattered. For a moment, I forgot about the chaos inside the hall.
Then Kiyoshi's expression shifted—serious, determined.
"Anna," he said, "I need your help with something. Another mission."
I straightened, curiosity and unease mixing in my stomach.
"What mission?"
Before he could answer—
A scream ripped through the air, echoing out of the grand hall.
A student's voice—high, terrified.
Without a second of hesitation, the three of us ran back inside, pushing past the frozen crowd and down the stairs.
My heart hammered painfully as I stepped into the hall again.
And then I saw it.
My eyes widened, breath choking in my throat as the scene unfolded Before me—
To be continued...