"Be a man, Yuto!" the commander's roar cut through the storm.
Rain poured relentlessly onto Yuto's battered body. She struggled for air, every breath burning as pain throbbed through her limbs. Sweat, blood, and rain blurred together until she could no longer tell which was which. Through her blurred vision, she barely made out a figure shifting in the downpour, preparing for another strike.
I can do this, she told herself.
Gritting her teeth, Yuto clenched her sword and forced herself upright, bracing for the next attack. But the figure moved faster than she could react. A sharp, blinding pain exploded at the back of her neck and the world fell into darkness.
Yuto stirred at the sound of hushed whispers, her consciousness drifting back slowly. She kept her eyes closed, pretending to still be unconscious.
"Yuto has to get stronger. I don't care what method you use but he must become stronger," a woman's voice whispered sharply.
A man scoffed in response. "Might I remind you that Yuto is female, even if you raised her as a boy? Men naturally have greater muscle mass. In physical combat, she will lose sometimes, it's biology."
The woman's voice lashed back, low and dangerous. "Stop saying Yuto is a girl. The walls have ears."
Yuto knew exactly where this was going. With a soft groan, she stirred deliberately, signaling that she had awakened.
As expected, her mother rushed to her side.
Slowly, Yuto opened her eyes.
"Are you okay, sweetheart?" her mother asked anxiously. "Can you sit up?"
Yuto nodded and carefully pushed herself upright. A dull, aching pain spread through her ribs, but she hid it well.
"I'm fine. No need to worry. I'll return to training as soon as possible," she said lightly.
The tension on her mother's face finally eased, and a small, satisfied smile curved her lips.
"That is why I named you Yuto, the brave one. You must honor your name and keep pushing forward. Do you understand?"
Yuto nodded again. Her mother reached out and gently stroked her hair.
"This is for us," she murmured. "Your father must come to recognize your worth, so we can have a better life. Pain is growth, alright?"
Then, suddenly, the warmth vanished.
Her mother's smile fell. Her hand dropped from Yuto's hair. Her face turned cold and expressionless as she faced away from the bed.
And in that instant, Yuto knew whatever came next would not be good news.
"Yuto," her mother said coldly, "you will go to the Kingdom of Valdoria as our representative. You will offer King Kaelith an alliance. Your father fears an impending invasion from the North."
Yuto's heart slammed violently against her ribs.
King Kaelith of Valdoria…The tyrant whose wrath traveled faster than the wind. Entire villages vanished overnight for daring to defy him. Diplomats trembled at the sound of his name alone. A king whose magic was so terrifying he had overpowered his own father at just nineteen.
And knowing all this… she still wants to send me there. And knowing I am a woman.
The negotiations with Valdoria were as deadly as any battlefield. One wrong word, one wrong breath—and death would follow in a foreign land.
Swallowing her fear, Yuto lifted her gaze to the woman she called mother. That stern, unyielding face showed not a trace of doubt.
"I can't," Yuto said quietly but firmly. "Too much is at stake. Please, send Fenric instead."
Disappointment flickered across her mother's face before hardening into irritation.
"This is your chance to prove you are better than your elder brother," she snapped. "If you succeed, your father might finally make you his heir. Are you really going to let this slip? This is the opportunity we've been waiting for."
A bitter, hollow laugh escaped Yuto's lips. "So that's what this is about? Succession?" Her eyes darkened. "I don't want the throne. I want a life without politics, without blood on my hands."
That was when her mother's restraint snapped.
Her gaze burned with barely contained fury as she turned sharply to the silent servant in the corner. "Hugo, out!"
Hugo bowed stiffly and retreated at once, closing the doors with eerie softness.
The mother faced Yuto again—no warmth left. Only steel.
"Do you have any idea what I sacrificed for you?" she hissed. "I lied to the entire kingdom. I raised you as a boy to save your life—and mine. And now you dare defy me?"
Yuto's hands trembled at her sides.
"If you rule," her mother continued coldly, "no one can ever question you. So the decision is made. You leave at dawn."
Yuto paled. "If my gender is discovered..."
"Then you had better be extra careful," her mother cut in sharply.
She turned and walked toward the door. Just before stepping out, she paused and looked back once more.
"And you will rest," she said flatly. "Tomorrow will not be merciful."
The door closed.
And Yuto was left alone with the weight of her fate
The door slammed shut behind her mother.
Yuto sank back onto the bed, staring blankly at the plain ceiling above. A dull ache began to pulse behind her temples. Her thoughts spiraled wildly—too fast, too loud.
So much could go wrong.
The invasion was real. The threat was real. And King Kaelith…Just the thought of him made her chest feel tight. His power was no rumor. Even the aura surrounding him was said to make seasoned warriors hesitate. And when his anger awakened, his very eyes would change color.
A monster in human form.
Maybe… I can make this work, she told herself at last.
She exhaled slowly, exhaustion flooding her limbs. For her mother. For the people. For the kingdom. No matter how terrified she was, she would try.
Her eyelids grew heavy.
And the world faded.
She was no longer in her room.
Yuto stood in a forest bathed in silver light, seated beside a crystal-clear lake. Cool water rippled around her toes as she gently splashed the surface. Laughter—soft and unfamiliar—escaped her lips. A cool breeze brushed through her hair, carrying peace with it.
For the first time in forever… she felt free.
Her blue eyes shone brightly, warm and unguarded.
Then, a hand touched her shoulder.
She stiffened.
"Yuri."
The name was spoken gently by a male voice—low, smooth, and dangerous in the way it vibrated beneath her skin instead of merely reaching her ears. It settled in her chest. In her throat.
For a heartbeat, she forgot how to breathe.
Slowly, she tried to turn—
Her eyes flew open.
Yuto gasped and jolted upright in her bed, her heart hammering violently. The room was dark. Silent. Empty.
Yet the feeling lingered.
"Yuri…?" she whispered into the darkness.
And for the first time since hearing Kaelith's name, fear was not the only thing tightening her chest.