________
Lucina
I was sitting in the grand, opulent room, still trying to process the incredible news. Gillai—the so-called genius of the palace—had actually offered to teach me how to read! My heart skipped a beat at the thought.
Across from me, my mistress—the woman whose hair was the purest white, catching the light like silk threads—looked utterly stunned. Her eyes sparkled with surprise and delight, and I couldn't help but notice the small, almost imperceptible twitch of her lips as she tried to contain her excitement.
"Oh my goodness! I can't believe that genius offered to teach you!" she exclaimed, her voice full of a joyful tremor. The sheer delight on her face made me want to grin from ear to ear.
I shifted slightly in my chair, still bubbling with excitement. "Gillai said that he would teach you how to read?!" she continued, leaning forward, her hands clasped together. "Oh my goodness! I don't think there's anyone in the entire palace who knows more than him! I—I'm so jealous!"
Her sweetness made me feel both warm and self-conscious. I knew she was genuinely happy for me, yet her words carried a weight that made my chest tighten in gratitude.
"Is he… a genius?" I asked, lowering my gaze slightly.
Her eyes softened with earnestness. "Of course!" she said firmly, then allowed a small smile to curl her lips. "He taught himself the official language when he was six, and by the time he was fifteen, he could read every script on the continent. A true prodigy."
I stared, wide-eyed, caught between awe and disbelief. The idea that someone so brilliant would take the time to teach me felt almost surreal, like a scene from a fairy tale. I pressed my hands together, a spark of grateful hope igniting in my chest.
"Do you want to study as well?" I asked impulsively, the thought of sharing this new journey with her taking hold of me.
Her expression softened, touched by something unspoken. There was a fleeting shadow of melancholy on her face, and she fiddled nervously with her fingers. "Hehe… I never really had the chance to study…" she admitted quietly. "...I was too busy working to pay for my younger siblings' tuition."
A wave of understanding and compassion washed over me. I knew too well what it meant to sacrifice for family, to work tirelessly while dreaming of something more.
"Why don't we learn together?" I suggested, smiling genuinely.
Her head tilted slightly, her gaze lifting to meet mine. There was a warmth in her eyes that made my heart thrum. "I'd rather study with you than study all by myself," she said, and the sincerity in her voice made it feel like a promise.
The idea felt perfect, like a puzzle piece falling neatly into place. "That would be great! Serving you is one of the best things that has ever happened to me. Thank you!" I blurted out, moving to embrace her.
She returned the hug with equal warmth, and for a moment, all the grandeur of the palace seemed to fade away. It was just the two of us, sharing a quiet, joyful connection. When we finally pulled apart, we were both smiling, hearts light, ready for the adventure ahead.
"Okay!" she affirmed brightly.
"Let's do our best!" I cheered, feeling a rush of motivation and anticipation.
From the corner of my eye, I saw Gillai walking away, his long, dark hair flowing behind him like a shadow of mystery. A genius, a mentor, and now… our teacher. The future suddenly felt bright, alive with possibilities.
---
"We'll meet up once a week!" I declared happily to my maid, Titi, who seemed to glow with excitement. She grinned, practically bouncing on the balls of her feet, her joy contagious.
"I want to learn the official language first," I explained, a plan forming in my mind. "Titi doesn't know it very well, and I want us both to be able to read fluently."
"Let's do our best!" she echoed, pressing her cheek against mine in a gesture of shared determination.
I couldn't help but feel a rush of warmth. Studying together, supporting each other—it was more than just learning; it was a bond forming in the quiet moments between lessons.
Earlier, I had told her, "I'd rather study with you than study all by myself." The idea had been hers, but the joy of shared effort made it feel like ours.
"That would be great!" Titi had exclaimed. "Serving you is one of the best things that has ever happened to me. Thank you!"
As our plans solidified, Gillai walked away silently, his steps almost inaudible against the polished floors.
---
Gillai's Perspective
STEP… STEP…
I walked down the hallway, the echo of my boots bouncing off the high ceilings. The conversation I'd just had played over and over in my mind.
I guess… it won't be difficult to teach her, I mused, a small smirk tugging at my lips.
The truth was, my generous offer wasn't entirely selfless. I had a reason—one I hadn't shared. Glancing down at the purple fabric of my garment, I let the thought sit in my mind.
…She has the power to heal, and if I stay close to her…
The strategy behind my actions crystallized in my mind, cold and precise. I offered to tutor her not out of simple kindness, but because it was the best way to stay near her.
…Then perhaps I might even get the chance to run away with her.
I shook off the thought, feigning casual composure as I approached the next room, pushing open the ornate doors with a slight CREAK.
The sudden presence of a figure at the threshold stopped me cold.
FREEZE.
"Where were you, Gillai?" a sharp, commanding voice asked, slicing through the quiet air. My face betrayed nothing, but inside, my mind raced, caught completely off guard.
---
I felt a surge of warmth and delight as Titi and I embraced.
"I'd rather study with you than study all by myself," I said, cherishing the rare moment of pure joy and anticipation.
Titi returned my words with a heartfelt hug, her soft voice filled with sincerity: "That would be great! Serving you is one of the best things that has ever happened to me. Thank you!"
We finalized our plan to study together, excitement buzzing between us.
"We'll meet up once a week!" I declared, already envisioning our study sessions. "I want to learn the official language first. Titi doesn't know it very well."
Her gaze softened as she recalled her own lost opportunities. She had told me she never got the chance to study, having spent her youth working tirelessly to pay for her younger siblings' tuition fees. Now, finally, we could both learn together.
"Let's do our best!" Titi cheered, pressing her cheek against mine once more. The warmth of our shared determination filled the room, and for a moment, I felt a calm certainty that this small, simple joy was ours alone.
Gillai's Perspective
STEP… STEP…
I walked away from the Queen's quarters, the echo of my boots swallowed by the vast, polished hallway. The light caught the rich purple fabric of my open robe, highlighting the smooth, deliberate folds as I moved.
I allowed myself a small, cynical smirk. I guess… it won't be hard to teach her, I mused inwardly.
The offer of tutelage had served its purpose. My true goal lay elsewhere—on the white-haired mistress herself.
…and she has the power to heal, so if I stay close to her…
The reasoning behind my actions crystallized, cold and precise. Staying near her wasn't kindness—it was strategy.
…then I might get the chance to run away with her.
That thought, though pragmatic rather than romantic, reinforced my resolve. That's why I had offered to teach her. Nothing more, nothing less.
Reaching my destination, I pushed open the heavy, ornate door.
CREAK.
FREEZE.
Standing in the doorway was a stern-faced woman with dark hair, her gaze immediately locking onto me. The air seemed to thicken, her presence a cold shock against my calculated calm.
"Where were you, Gillai?" she demanded, sharp and commanding.
I entered, keeping my expression neutral, and immediately spotted another figure: a frail, white-haired woman lying weakly in the bed. The question was no longer about my whereabouts—it was about my intentions.
"What is… Adar doing inside the Queen's palace?" I asked, narrowing my eyes as panic flickered behind the facade. According to law, Adar, the former Queen, should have remained under the care of the King's mother.
The dark-haired woman—the current Queen—smirked, her voice dripping with controlled malice. "The former Queen should look after the King's mother. That's the law, isn't it?"
"That may be true," I conceded, my jaw tightening, "but you haven't looked after her for ten years. What made you change your mind…?"
Her face twisted into an expression of malicious pleasure. "Adar has returned to her senses."
T-That means… My pulse quickened as the implication sank in.
She cut off my thoughts with a small, chilling smile, producing a tiny bottle and a dish. "Don't worry," she said softly, yet with unmistakable menace. "I got a drug specifically for that reason."
Leaning closer, her whisper was harsh and deliberate. "Your black magic causes people to see horrifying illusions, but they forget them once it ends," she said, nodding toward Adar in the bed. "But Adar chose to endure it for ten years without giving in."
She chuckled, a sound that made my stomach twist. "That must be how she developed some sort of resistance. I think she remembers what we did." Her eyes gleamed with a dark satisfaction, sharp and knowing.
I swallowed hard, a tight gulp lodging in my throat. The horrifying reality was settling in: my past actions, my black magic, the illusions I thought were long buried—they weren't gone. And now, the stakes had multiplied.
I had to get Adar out of here. And I had to protect the white-haired mistress—the one with the power to heal and whose presence I found myself inexplicably needing.
_______
Gillai
The dark-haired Queen continued to watch me, her smirk tightening into something sharper, more dangerous. I realized then that I had walked straight into a carefully laid trap.
"Where were you, Gillai?" she demanded again, her tone slicing through the tension in the room.
I looked from her to the frail Adar, lying weakly in the bed. "What is… Adar doing inside the Queen's palace?" I asked, my voice betraying a thin veneer of tight control over my growing alarm.
"The former Queen should look after the King's mother," the Queen replied, her movements calm, almost deliberate. "That's the law, isn't it?"
"That may be true," I said cautiously, "but you haven't looked after her for ten years. What made you change your mind…?"
A chilling smile spread across her face. "Adar has returned to her senses."
T-That means… My heart pounded.
She quickly cut me off. "Don't worry, I got a drug specifically for that reason." She held up a small bottle of pink liquid, her eyes gleaming with dark satisfaction. "A sedative, usually given to senile old people."
"If we feed her this, she'll feel drowsy and won't be able to think clearly," she continued, placing the bottle down and tipping some of it into a small dish. "I plan to mix it into all her food from now on."
She leaned closer, her voice dropping into a low, menacing whisper. "Your black magic causes people to see horrifying illusions. Most think they're losing their minds and end up fleeing. But Adar endured it for ten years without giving in."
"That must be how she developed some resistance. I think she remembers what we did," the Queen concluded, caressing Adar's cheek with a touch that made my chest tighten.
A tight gulp lodged in my throat. My mind raced.
"I think we shouldn't use black magic on her anymore," she continued, eyes gleaming with calculation. Then, almost casually, she declared, "I've got a different target in mind now."
My eyes widened in alarm. "W-Who is that?" I stammered, a cold dread washing over me.
"Who do you think?" she countered, her voice sharp. "Lucina, that pathetic human, of course."
"Y-You can't!" I protested, panic rising in my chest. But her sharp gaze cut me off, suspicion glinting in her eyes.
"Are you going to use your heart condition as an excuse again?" she asked, narrowing her eyes.
"T-That's not it…!" I stammered, gripping my hands tightly as a cold sweat broke out across my skin. The thought of Lucina facing black magic—of what might happen if she remembered everything—made my blood run cold. And worse, what if she told Hakan?
The Queen studied me silently, unreadable, before sighing dramatically. "Lucina is far younger than Adar as well. It's going to be difficult to come up with an excuse if that happens."
I looked back at Adar, who now lay under the care of a servant. The Queen commanded sharply, "Leave us." The servant dashed from the room, leaving the two of us alone.
I watched the door close, my mind spinning. "I see your point," I lied, forcing calm into my tone. Gaining her trust immediately was vital.
My plan had just become infinitely more complicated. I had to protect my mistress and save Adar, all while under the watchful, merciless eye of the Queen.
"That was quite a long meeting," I commented, turning to face my companion, the burly, light-haired Garet. We stood in the sunlit hallways of the palace, where golden filigree and intricate carvings caught the morning light, casting a warm glow on the polished floors. The opulence of the space made the weight of our discussion all the more poignant.
"Has my mother settled into the Queen's palace?" I asked, my brow furrowing slightly. The thought of her still weighed heavily on me.
Garet's reply was curt, measured. "Yes."
I let out a soft sigh. "I thought she would stubbornly insist on staying by the Late King's side," I mused, the memory of my mother's persistent grief gnawing at me. The death of the Late King Raikan had sent shockwaves through the court, rippling across the land. "...but she followed Garet without kicking up a fuss this time."
Garet's broad shoulders relaxed slightly. "That's a relief. Ever since she left Korseek, she hasn't had another episode. She's been eating properly as well."
"I suppose it can't have been good for her health, staying so close to a corpse for so long," I admitted, my voice low and thoughtful.
Garet simply nodded. "You're probably right."
_______
Hakan
I pressed for more details about the meeting that had kept us so long. "What about the matter of relocating the Late King's body to Mezaluc? Is that why the meeting lasted so long?"
Garet shifted uncomfortably, the tension in his posture betraying his unease. "I'm sure they were all very shocked. We decided to move Raikan's body to Mezaluc… once a new Guardian Dragon is born."
I ran a hand through my hair, thinking aloud. "There are many who believe that my injury during the purification ritual was a bad omen. Well, they nearly lost their last remaining Guardian Dragon." The whispers, superstitions, and judgmental glances of the court were a constant thorn in my side.
"You're probably right," Garet said again, confirming the gravity of the situation. The concern for the kingdom, the succession, and the future of our people hung heavy in the air.
"I see," I stated, considering Garet's suggestion carefully. He cleared his throat, giving a subtle nudge. "You should visit the palace more often, then."
I let out a thoughtful hum, my gaze drifting outward through the sunlit window. "I'm glad that Lucina has made up her mind… but there's no guarantee that she can safely give birth to my child."
A wave of worry washed over me, shadowing my expression. "I can't act rashly… I want to wait for the results regarding Lucina's health to come out first—"
Suddenly, a new figure strode in. The presence was commanding, the ceremonial mask with horns and a skull-like visage lending an aura of authority and mystery.
"Your Majesty," the figure addressed me firmly, bowing low with the mask tipped toward the floor. "Cleric. I have something to tell you about Lucina."
My eyes widened in alarm, the tension in the room snapping taut.
Later, I sat outdoors at a wooden table, the sun bright overhead, teaching the two students who had become my focus. The greenery around us—lush, vibrant, almost alive—offered a quiet sanctuary from the palace intrigue.
I looked over Lucina's paper, a smile of mild disappointment tugging at my lips. "I never thought it would take you this long, Lucina. Nine times out of ten, you get the question wrong. Haha."
Lucina, her long white hair catching the sunlight, looked downcast, frustrated by her mistakes. Beside her, the smaller girl, Titi, watched with concern, clearly worried about her companion's feelings.
Titi quickly intervened, her voice shaky but protective. "I-It's her first time learning a language! I'm sure she'll get better in no time!"
I nodded, adjusting my tone to be more encouraging. "I don't know what you're struggling with," I said, flipping through the textbook in my hands. "It's fine. It just means it will take you a little longer than I expected. I only need to show you once…"
My gaze shifted to the third student, whose progress had been remarkable. She was reading the complex script in front of us effortlessly. "I'm really impressed," I continued, nodding in approval. "I only need to tell you once, and you pick up the rest yourself."
I let out a quiet laugh of mild astonishment. "I never thought you'd learn the language this quickly… At this rate, you'll be able to read the official language in a week."
"I see," I replied to Garet, my mind still turning over his suggestion. He cleared his throat, adjusting his stance, the weight of the palace and its golden halls pressing around us.
"You should visit the palace more often, then," he added, his tone measured, though not without concern.
I let out a thoughtful, drawn-out "Hmm…" My gaze drifted, distant, caught between duty and worry.
"I'm glad that Lucina has made up her mind," I admitted, my voice low, shadowed with concern. "But there's no guarantee that she can safely give birth to my child." My hands tightened slightly at my sides, the responsibility pressing on me like a stone. "I can't act rashly… I want to wait for the results regarding Lucina's health to come out first—"
Before I could continue, the golden sunlight of the hall was pierced by the sudden appearance of an imposing figure. A man, tall and authoritative, his face obscured by a ceremonial horned skull mask, stepped forward.
"Your Majesty. Cleric," he announced, his voice firm yet controlled, bowing low with the mask dipping toward the floor. "I have something to tell you about Lucina."
My eyes widened, sharp alarm slicing through my thoughts. The calm of the hall vanished in an instant, replaced by a tight knot of anticipation and unease.
_______
Later, I found myself outdoors in the palace gardens, the sunlight dancing across the grass and flowerbeds, reviewing an exercise book with Lucina and a smaller girl named Titi. The air smelled of blooming jasmine, a rare calm against the backdrop of the palace's intrigue.
"And I never thought it would take you this long, Lucina," I said, a playful smile tugging at my lips as I held up her paper. "Nine times out of ten, you get the question wrong. Haha."
Lucina looked down, cheeks flushing red, embarrassed. Titi, seated beside her, immediately came to her defense, eyes wide with concern.
"I-It's her first time learning a language! I'm sure she'll get better in no time!"
I set the book down and turned my attention fully to them, softening my tone. "...Titi." My voice was gentler now, deliberate. "I don't know what you're struggling with. It's fine. It just means that it will take you a little longer than I expected."
I then shifted focus to the official language, the complex script in front of us. "I only need to look at it once to understand what it means… But I'm confident you'll be able to read the official language in a month. Most people take that long—"
Then, my gaze fell on the work of a third student, her progress startlingly fast. "I'm really impressed. I only need to tell you once, and you pick up the rest yourself." Flipping through her pages, I let a faint laugh escape me, both astonished and pleased. "I never thought you'd learn the language this quickly… At this rate, you'll be able to read the official language in a week."
_______
Gillai
As I spoke, a sudden sharp cry broke the calm.
"Ah!" Lucina's voice rang out, full of surprise and discomfort.
I sprang to my feet immediately, closing the distance to her in a few hurried strides. "What's wrong?" I asked, my tone urgent.
She was rubbing her eye, wincing. "T-There's something in my eye…"
"Don't rub it," I cautioned firmly, reaching out to stop her hand. "You'll only make it worse. Move your hand. Let me take a look."
Gently, I took her hand away and leaned in close, my face only inches from hers as I examined her eye with careful precision. The sunlight glinted off the strands of her white hair, highlighting the tension and vulnerability in her features.
From the corner of my eye, I caught a glimpse of the masked man standing at a distance, watching us intently. His gaze was piercing, almost predatory, and I felt a sudden surge of raw, dark emotion—an instinctive reaction, deep and powerful, a mixture of protectiveness, frustration, and a simmering intensity I struggled to suppress.