March 1st, 2012 — 2:32 PM
Asura Academy — Under-Pavilion Workshop 4
Perspective: Rose Valentine
The scent of oil, heated metal, and ozone hung thick in the air.
I stood at the entrance of the workshop, watching the sparks fly from a massive forge.
Class A had many talents, but the dwarfs were the backbone of our practical utility.
Mathew, Figga, Samanthia, and Doran were clustered around a copper workbench, arguing loudly.
"If we increase the pressure, the conduit will crack!" Mathew yelled, waving a wrench.
He was the motion & dynamics specialist, always moving, his uniform sleeves rolled up to reveal muscular, soot-stained arms.
Samanthia slammed a heavy iron plate on the table, her braided hair whipping. "Then add 3 layers of lead-crystal! It absorbs the mana feedback!"
"And throw the spatial alignment off by 2 centimeters?" Figga countered, adjusting his thick magnifying goggles. "No thanks. I like my fingers attached to my hands."
Doran, the fluid systems expert, merely grunted, polishing a brass valve with a dirty rag.
They were energetic, technical, and good melee fighters when the situation demanded.
But here, they were engineers.
I stepped forward, my boots clicking softly on the stone floor.
"Mathew. Figga. Samanthia. Doran."
The 4 dwarfs froze. They turned, saw me, and immediately stood straight.
"Class Representative!" Mathew saluted, his soot-stained face beaming.
"We're just refining the pressure ratios for the next test." Samanthia explained, wiping her hands on her leather apron.
I nodded, but my eyes drifted past them.
Vyora Deepstone sat on a high wooden stool in the corner of the lab.
Her ash-colored hair was tied in a messy, high ponytail, held by 2 brass pins. Her ash-colored eyes were heavy with sleep, staring blankly at a blueprint.
She wore the academy uniform, but her jacket sleeves were cut off at the shoulders, showing grease-stained arms. A heavy leather tool belt was strapped over her pleated black skirt.
In her ears were a pair of small, silver wireless ear buds, humming with a faint rhythm.
She was the leader of the Class A dwarfs.
I knew her record. Vyora had finished the highest level of dwarvian engineering and scientific courses before even arriving at the academy.
She was an engineering and science genius who possessed intense magic. A true jack of all trades.
In the 1st monthly exam, we could not utilize her skills because she was not aware of the advantages of using technological gadgets in that specific setup. But after Elfina's outstanding scores, it was clear that magic alone was no longer enough.
Vyora plucked 1 ear bud out, letting it dangle by a thin copper wire.
"Well, look who decided to visit the basement." Vyora said, a lazy smirk on her face. "The Princess herself."
"I need Class A's engineering team ready for the next trial." I said.
"The next trial? You're thinking too far ahead, Princess."
"Planning ahead is why Class A leads. I want a custom combat gadget for our groups."
"Custom gadgets cost materials. Materials cost gold. What is the budget?"
"A 15 percent increase in your research allocation, paid directly from the class treasury."
"Make it 25, and I'll consider turning the forge on."
"20, with the 1st delivery on the 9th of March, when the exam is announced."
"The 9th? That is 3 days after Founders' Day on the 6th of March. You expecting us to work through the festival?"
Founders' Day.
The red banners of the Valentine dynasty. The silent, suffocating dinners with my father.
There is no time to waste on festivals.
"Founders' Day is a holiday for the empire, not the academy."
"You're a harsh boss, Rose. But I like the focus."
"I want a portable dynamic energy storage unit. Something that absorbs physical impacts and converts them into mana reserves."
"An impact-to-mana converter? No formal engineering license, yet you're applying basic thermodynamics like a pro."
"It is simple physics. If you store the energy in a localized matrix, the user gains endurance during prolonged combat."
"It is simple on paper. In practice, the magical stabilization requires a stable catalyst. We'll need solid cores."
"Then we secure solid cores. You have the skills to stabilize the matrix."
"Flattery doesn't work on me. But if I build this, I have conditions."
"Name them."
"I skip the mandatory physical drills. All 5 of us do. We work better in the lab."
"Granted. But I want a functional prototype by the end of the week."
"Done. Now, are we targeting Class B in the next exam?"
"Class B has become... loud. They are planning to take down Class A's leadership."
"Let them try. But if we're going to win, we need to counter Class C's technology before anything else."
"Class C? You mean Elfina's device?"
"Exactly. The thing she used in the dungeon exam. Mathew, explain it."
Mathew stepped forward, pointing to a sketch on the blackboard. "It is called Lumina! It is an aether-signal relay!"
"It maps the dungeon layout in real-time by emitting high-frequency mana pulses," Figga added, tapping his goggles. "Then it sends the data straight through the solid stone layers using electromagnetic waves."
"It is basically subterranean sonar," Samanthia chimed in. "It bypassed the dungeon's spatial shielding to communicate with the evaluation room from deep underground."
A mapping array that transmits through solid stone. Elfina's brain is indeed dangerous.
I turned back to the ash-haired girl on the stool.
"So it is a real-time mapping and communication array..." I said.
"Radio and electromagnetic waves aren't my field. But Class B has their own version."
"Is there someone in Class B who poses a threat?"
"Xeno."
Mathew shuddered at the name. "Xeno Feynman. The guy is a monster."
"He is a master of 4 major fields at just 15," Figga explained. "Electrical engineering, quantum electrodynamics, macromolecular thermal synthesis, and fluid-system dynamics."
Samanthia nodded. "At the age of 13, he solved society-scale problems. He built a wireless electromagnetic power grid for the outer districts and a thermal-fusion water purification network. For magitek, he engineered the volcanic seismic stabilization cores and the city-wide arcane-shield network. 4 massive achievements. But he still came 2nd best to Vyora in the course rankings."
"He is incredibly ambitious. And envious." Mathew added. "He hates being 2nd. He will definitely target us in the next exam to prove he is superior."
Vyora shrugged, her ash-colored eyes gleaming with quiet confidence.
"Let him try. He can never surpass my science. Nobody in this world can. I am going to be the next architect of Elysium."
"And what about Elfina's device?" I asked, folding my arms.
Vyora leaned back, tapping her fingers against her wooden stool. "I don't do electromagnetic field engineering. That is a different branch of physics entirely."
"Can you build a Lumina?"
"I can." Vyora said, a small smirk playing on her lips. "It is a standard wave-relay system. It uses an aetheric crystal to pulse high-frequency waves, then decodes the reflection map on a receiver. Simple. But..."
She paused, her brow furrowing as she twirled a brass hairpin.
"There are rumors that her prototype ran on diesel and fuel." she muttered, stuttering slightly in disbelief. "Which is... far too primitive. Why would an engineer capable of creating an aetheric wave-detection system in the deeper layers resort to such primitive fuel for a device like this?"
Mathew rubbed his chin, soot smudging his nose. "Maybe Elfina is just a new engineer?"
"If she were new, it would be impossible to make such a thing," Vyora countered, waving her hand dismissively. "Designing the parallel algorithmic logic array for real-time terrain mapping requires years of computing and processor development. You don't just guess wave mechanics."
She stood up from her stool, stretching her arms.
"Class C is dangerous. But I'll make a counter-device that will surpass hers. I won't ever settle for 2nd best."
Mathew, Figga, Samanthia, and Doran cheered in unison.
"After all," Vyora grinned, pointing her thumb at her chest, "we are the Quantum Engineers."
"I will meet you soon." I said, giving them a slight nod.
"Yes, Class Representative!" Mathew saluted.
"We won't let you down, Rose!" Samanthia said, her cheeks flushing slightly at my gaze.
I turned and walked out of the under-pavilion workshop, leaving the warmth of the forge behind.
As I walked down the stone corridor, my mind drifted.
I have doubts that Elfina is the master engineer behind the Lumina.
I've seen her fight—her endless creativity. Science is restrictive, magic is infinite. Elfina isn't the type to hide behind fancy scientific tricks.
Then who could be Class C's scientist? They do not have any dwarfs...
A sudden curiosity gripped me. If I wanted to understand their systems, I needed to learn the basics myself.
I changed my direction and headed toward the academy library.
The massive double doors of the library creaked open, revealing a vast sanctuary of knowledge. Towering wooden shelves stretched toward the ceiling, filled with books on every field imaginable.
"Welcome, Princess Rose," the elderly librarian said, bowing politely. "How can I assist you today?"
A princess searching for engineering topics can go viral.
I should instead find it myself.
"Thank you, but I would prefer to browse the shelves myself." I replied with a polite smile.
I walked deeper into the library, heading toward the outer sections.
A massive glass window stretched across the wall, absorbing the afternoon heat to power the library's lighting system. Solar engineering. The Asura Empire had been updating their systems and approaches, adopting both science and magic.
I scanned the rows until my fingers rested on the spine of a book: 1st Principles of Magitek System Design.
As I pulled the volume from the shelf, a girl's voice echoed softly from a nearby alcove.
"So... which ship are you rooting for, Kaiser? Do you want Crown Prince Marc to end up with Lady Annelise, or the childhood friend, Lady Elina?"
I peeked around the corner.
Kaiser Everhart and Scarlet Hearst were sitting together at a wooden table, a thick romance novel lying open between them.
"None. I want to see all the heroines 1st." Kaiser commented, his face completely deadpan.
Seriously? I never thought Elfina's best friend is into romance.
Now that I think of it, that Valentine dramatic stargazing... he is most likely the candidate she did it for.
Scarlet pouted, her long green elf ears drooping slightly. "But... Lady Annelise sacrificed her family's magic to save him, while Lady Elina has been waiting for him in the shadows for 10 years! I just want them both to be happy..."
"I've read love stories before, but this author puts twist after twist." Kaiser noted, turning the page. "The prince will probably choose neither and declare he likes men."
What the hell???
"That... that would be so sad!" Scarlet stammered, her face turning pink. "A romance story should have a happy couple at the end, shouldn't it?"
"Only if the author doesn't run out of ideas." Kaiser replied calmly. "Let's read chapter 12 and see if the demon lord eats them instead."
I sighed softly to myself, stepping back into the shadow of the bookshelf.
They're book lovers.
Before I could walk away, footsteps approached the table.
2 girls from Class C, Lucia and Sophia, stopped in front of Kaiser. Lucia glared at him with open hatred, while Sophia looked down on him with a cold, silent disgust.
"Well, if it isn't the class deadweight," Lucia sneered, her voice dripping with venom. "Wasting time on romance novels when you single-handedly ruined our class rank. Disgusting."
Scarlet flinched, quickly standing up. "Lucia, stop. Kaiser did his best in the dungeon."
"His best was 1 credit, Scarlet," Sophia said, her voice freezing. "He dragged Class C's budget down by 75 percent, and now he sits here reading fantasy trash instead of working to make up for it."
Kaiser closed the book slowly, his expression unchanged. "You're right. I'm sorry for being such a burden to the class. Please forgive me, I'll do my best to make it up to you."
"Do your best? You don't have the capacity," Sophia said, turning her back to him. "Looking at you disgusts me."
"Exactly," Lucia spat, crossing her arms. "I hope you get expelled in the next trial. If it wasn't for Elfina, you'd already be gone, you lucky bastard."
They turned and walked away, their heels clicking sharply against the floor.
Scarlet let out a long sigh, sitting back down and looking at Kaiser with worried green eyes. "Are you okay, Kaiser? They... they were so mean to you."
Kaiser is going to be a bullying victim at this rate. Most of the class probably hates him apart from a select few. As time goes on, if he doesn't contribute, it'll get worse and worse. It'll strain him and isolate him, leaving him completely left out.
Kaiser looked up, his expression completely unfazed. "They weren't wrong. I did let them down."
"But Kaiser, you're actually—if you went serious, they'd all shut up!" Scarlet pouted, leaning forward.
Does Scarlet know something?
I leaned closer to the bookshelf, my ears straining to catch every word.
"Don't shout, Scarlet. You'll wake up the librarian." Kaiser said, tapping the romance novel.
Scarlet's face instantly flushed red. She shrank back into her chair, tugging at her green elf ears in embarrassment. "Sorry... I forgot we were in the library."
"But still..." Scarlet looked at Kaiser with a curious gaze, "What is your perspective on love?"
"I'm clueless." Kaiser replied, turning another page. "I'm just a kid."
"Even if I'm older, love is so complicated!" Scarlet exclaimed softly, her voice hushed but intense. "Like, how can we even tell?!"
"We probably can't." Kaiser agreed. "That is why they write so many novels about it."
My hands formed a fist slowly against the wooden shelf.
Love.
The first beings to love us when we're born are our parents, yet do they love me? Father and mother?
"Then... what about men and women?" Scarlet asked, her eyes searching his face. "Which do you think is superior?"
It's obvious. All boys think their own gender is superior, while girls think of their own. It's a never-ending war, and only a few can look past the discrimination after long maturity and enlightenment.
"Neither. Both genders are equal co-dependents," Kaiser said calmly. "But history has spent thousands of years trying to prove otherwise."
"Really?" Scarlet tilted her head, her green eyes wide with curiosity. "But in the human empires, men rule almost everything, while the elves have a strict matriarchy. It feels like 1 side always has to dominate the other."
"That's because society was designed around male ego and control," Kaiser explained, his voice quiet but steady. "For a long time, women were forced into a state of dependency—what the philosopher KarlMarx called 'sex parasitism.' They were stripped of active, conscious social labor and reduced to the passive exercise of childbearing and sexual functions. They were domestic fixtures, trophies worth showcasing, while men conquered nature and wrote the laws."
"Sex parasitism... that sounds horrible. Did human laws really treat women like that?"
"Worse. Under the old human law of coverture, a married woman's legal identity was completely erased. Her body, her property, and her wages legally belonged to her husband. And if she tried to study, doctors like Regiomontanus in 1624 literally wrote books claiming that higher education would divert energy from a girl's pelvis to her brain, causing her uterus to shrivel up and make her sterile."
"Her uterus would shrivel?!" Scarlet stammered, her hands flying to her mouth in shock. "That is impossible! How can that be?!"
"It was. But millions of girls grew up wondering if they were clinically insane just because they didn't want the prison of marriage," Kaiser noted. "Imagine Annabella, the fictional sister of the famous writer. If she tried to write, she was discouraged, beaten, or driven to self-destruction. The world simply offered no safety net for a woman who stood alone."
"It sounds like a cage... but how do we even escape that cycle?"
"The cage is maintained by both sides. Toxic patriarchy conquers and exploits, while toxic matriarchy forces mothers to police their own daughters out of fear of social rejection. Even some modern movements focus on revenge and hostility, which just makes young men defensive and eager to rebuild the old cages. True progress only happens when we accept our shortcomings and work in tandem."
"Working in tandem... like partners?"
"Exactly. Look at the high elves. They successfully created a form of egalitarianism by letting women lead in elvian magic while men supported in development, though even they have ancestral discrimination to overcome. The Asura Empire is trying to update its systems by adopting both science and magic in harmony. Celestine, on the other hand, has a lot to learn to escape its traditional patriarchy."
A magicless boy from an orphanage... speaking of social structures and history with such depth.
He knows history, far too deeply.
"I never thought about it that way," Scarlet said, staring at him in wonder. "You speak as if you want everyone to be happy."
"I want to see a world where girls aren't alienated and subjected to horrific rejection just because they want a different future." Kaiser murmured, his blue eyes softening slightly.
"If we achieve true egalitarianism, we don't just solve social disputes; we double our species' collective power. Imagine solving diseases and engineering magic twice as fast because we aren't running on half an engine. Women deserve a future to be happy, too."
"You're truly someone special, Kaiser!" Scarlet said, a warm, soft smile gracing her lips. "I've never met anyone who thought like you. But... what about when you grow up? Do you want to have a harem or multiple partners like the nobles do?"
"No. I believe a man should be loyal to a single partner," Kaiser said without hesitation. "Multiple partners just multiply the drama and divide the trust."
Loyal.
If only my father had been like that. Maybe then I would have had siblings, instead of half-siblings who only want to eliminate me for the throne.
"Loyal... that is so beautiful!" Scarlet whispered, her eyes drifting back to the book. "In this book, the leads were kissing because the prince finally chose Lady Annelise. I've never had my 1st kiss, and I wonder what it's like. What about you, Kaiser?"
"I already had mine." Kaiser said.
Scarlet gasped, sitting straight up. "You had yours?! Who? When?!"
"It was Elfie, of course. When we were little. She heard from 1 of the caretakers in the orphanage that kissing is the highest form of love, and she demanded a kiss when she was just 8 years old, or she'd pout and make an angry face."
Scarlet's face flushed with a sudden, tense irritation. She squeezed the corner of the book, her fingers pressing so hard the page crumpled.
"That must have been wonderful. And you let her?"
"Yeah. Can't say no to her." Kaiser replied with a small shrug.
Those 2 sure have a weird relationship. A celestial star like Elfina obsessed with a magicless boy.
Suddenly, a loud slam of the library doors echoed through the hall.
Elfina rushed inside, her pink hair swaying as she ran toward their table. "Kai! I've been looking everywhere for you!"
I smiled faintly, turning my back to them and walking toward the exit.
Today, I have to face my own family.
I stood in the center of my room, staring at the gold-threaded dress draped over the vanity.
It was a magnificent piece. A gold corset with intricate filigree details sat tightly against the form-fitting fabric, designed to highlight a slender waist. Off-shoulder gold straps fell in delicate loops, and a matching gold necklace collar rested on my collarbones. The grand, layered skirt was a cascade of cream and gold, decorated with trailing floral embroidery and thin golden chains that wrapped around the hips. Gold cuffs adorned my wrists.
I was known as Miss Perfect at the academy, but wearing elaborate formal dresses was never my specialty. It had taken me hours just to get ready.
I raised my right hand, focusing my mana. A ripple of illusion magic washed over my body, hiding the gold dress behind a plain dark outfit and a heavy hood.
I could not walk the capital streets looking like a royal ornament.
Stepping out into the night, the wind brushed against my face. The sky was clear, indicating it would not be raining today, though it had been raining a bit too much lately.
It was 8:00 PM.
The capital streets of Asura were bustling with life under the glow of aether-lamps.
As I walked, my eyes drifted to a large construction site. A new plaza was being built. Dozens of male workers were carrying heavy stones and welding metal frames. A few blocks away, I passed a bright, glass-walled cafe. Inside, mostly female waitresses were carrying trays and serving tea.
Kaiser's words from earlier echoed in my mind.
Both genders are equal co-dependents. But history has spent thousands of years trying to prove otherwise.
I pulled my hood lower.
His way of thinking was something I was not used to, yet it was so true. The roles in our society were carved out so cleanly, so systemically. We accepted it as the default state of the world, never questioning the design.
I related it back to my own family.
In the Valentine dynasty, royal logic was cold and transactional.
The emperor maintained multiple concubines and consorts for the sole purpose of producing heirs. More offspring meant more political assets, more bloodlines to bargain with, and a wider net to secure the succession. But it also turned the palace into a nest of vipers.
Growing up, I was never close to my father or mother.
I doubted I even had one picture with my father anymore; it had been so long. Yet he had been so close to his other consorts and their children. My mother was ever-busy with politics and power, an unyielding pillar of the empire. I rarely got to speak to her.
It was the quiet, suffocating life of a neglected daughter.
Up ahead, near a cobblestone alley, 2 children were playing. A 5-year-old girl and a 6-year-old boy.
They were laughing as she ran after him. Suddenly, she tripped over a raised stone and fell, scraping her knee on the hard ground.
She immediately burst into tears.
I stopped, watching them from the shadows.
"Jonas! Wait for me!" Mia cried out, holding her scraped knee.
Jonas spun around, his face filling with worry. He ran back and knelt beside her. "Keep up, Mia! The magic train is leaving the station!"
"Ow! My knee... it hurts so much, Jonas!"
"Hey, hey, don't cry, Mia. Look, it's just a little scrape. See? I'll blow on it, and the pain will fly away," Jonas said, gently blowing on the scratch.
Mia sniffled, wiping her eyes with her sleeve. "Is... is the magic train gone?"
"No, the train is just waiting for its favorite passenger! Let me wrap my handkerchief around it. There, all clean." Jonas replied, carefully tying a clean white cloth around her knee.
Mia smiled through her tears, looking up at him. "It still stings a little... can you carry me?"
"Of course! Hop on my back. I'll carry you all the way home." Jonas grinned, offering his back.
Mia wrapped her small arms around his neck, and Jonas stood up, carrying her down the street with a bright laugh.
A hollow ache bloomed in my chest.
Sisters function as safety nets in a chaotic world, and a brother is a built-in protector. But when they are not there, the world feels much larger, colder, and more dangerous.
Missing a sibling you never had is its own very specific kind of loneliness.
Growing up, there was no safety net for me. No built-in protector to stand in front of me when the shadows crept in. It was always just me, pulling myself up, patching my own wounds. Never had anyone come to protect or save me.
It had always been my responsibility.
If I had a true brother by blood... would he be walking beside me today? Would he stand between me and the suffocating weight of the imperial throne?
I shook the thoughts away as the towering walls of the royal palace rose before me.
Reaching the grand gates, I waved my hand, dispelling the magic illusion. The dark cloak dissolved into sparks of mana, revealing the gold-threaded princess dress and my long blonde hair.
The guards immediately dropped to 1 knee, their armor clinking. "Imperial Princess Rose Valentine!"
I walked past them without a word, entering the grand foyer.
The palace was a masterpiece of extraordinary architecture, built from polished obsidian stone and gold leaf, with grand arches that combined magic and magitek engineering. Cold nostalgia washed over me as I walked past tapestries of Valentine ancestors, their painted eyes staring down with silent judgment.
I was heading toward the Chamber of Golden Dawn.
It was the private reception hall where the royal family conducted their most confidential discussions.
My parents had summoned me first, before the start of the Founders' Day festival, to evaluate my progress at the academy.
Taking a deep breath, I pushed the heavy doors open.
The Chamber of Golden Dawn was a cavernous, high-ceilinged reception hall constructed from polished obsidian stone. Floor-to-ceiling arched windows overlooked the capital, showing the dark, windy expanse of the city at 8:00 PM. Gold filigree arches traced the vaulted ceilings, emitting a soft, low aether-glow that cast long shadows across the dark marble floor.
Emperor Noctis Valentine and Empress Rosaline sat on plush, high-backed velvet chairs. Noctis wore a simple, tailored dark coat, his presence heavy and absolute, warping the local atmosphere with a subtle gravitational weight. Rosaline sat beside him with effortless, magnetic grace, slowly sipping a chilled, crimson nectar from a gold-rimmed crystal glass.
I stood before them, my hands clasped in front of my gold dress, feeling like an outsider in my own home.
"You took your time getting here, Rose. We expected you 2 hours ago." Noctis said, his analytical blue eyes tracking my posture.
"I apologize, Father. Getting prepared took longer than I anticipated." I replied, keeping my voice even.
"A Valentine should never keep the throne waiting, Rose. Appearance and punctuality are tools of dominance, not optional tasks." Rosaline noted, setting her glass down on the armrest.
"I understand, Mother. It will not happen again."
"Tell us of your progress at Asura Academy. The reports I receive are filled with bureaucratic summaries, not the real state of your development," Noctis said, his voice flat.
"My studies are going well. I have secured the position of Class Representative for Class A, and our engineering division has recently made significant breakthroughs in magitek containment fields." I explained, presenting the facts of my performance.
"Breakthroughs are expected, Rose. But tell me, how is your standing among the high houses? Have you secured the loyalty of the heirs, or are you still letting Lucas Reinhardt stand alone?" Rosaline asked, her gaze sharp.
"I am working to establish alliances. Lucas is headstrong, but I have ensured the major noble factions in Class A remain cooperative under my leadership." I replied.
"Cooperative? Cooperation is a cheap substitute for control. If they only cooperate when it suits them, you have built weak connections." Noctis countered coldly.
Look at how easily they spend their words and focus on the mechanics of my failures. He hoards his approval like it is gold, but with his other heirs, he is at an abundance.
Noctis leaned back, his gaze narrowing.
"Let us talk about the dungeon exam from last month." Noctis said.
A small spark of hope flared in my chest. Class A had secured the 1st rank. We had won. Surely, he would recognize that. Surely, he would offer a nod of approval.
"You disappointed me, Rose." Noctis stated simply.
My lips parted, the breath catching in my throat.
"Disappointed? But... Class A won the dungeon exam, Father. We came in 1st." I managed to say, my voice trembling slightly.
"You won by luck, Rose. Class A led only because Class C failed to secure points due to a single magicless student dragging down their budget." Noctis said, his tone unforgiving.
"He is correct, Rose. If that magicless boy had not failed so spectacularly, Class C would have easily surpassed you. You did not win; your opponent simply tripped." Rosaline added, her tone cool.
"We optimized our resources and secured the dungeon monsters. The result—"
"The result doesn't matter. You failed to lead them." Noctis interrupted.
"And what of the uprisings between the elves? We heard reports of unrest and division within your own rank. A true Valentine leader does not allow her authority to be questioned by subordinates." Rosaline said.
"You had to bargain and make concessions to keep the peace. That is not authority, Rose. That is desperation." Noctis stated.
"It is sad, really. We expected you to easily take absolute control of Class A, not negotiate with minor houses and foreign races to maintain a fragile peace." Rosaline sighed, shaking her head.
"I did what was necessary to secure the victory for Class A. I thought—"
"You thought like a student, not a ruler. A ruler does not negotiate from a position of equality with those beneath her." Noctis said.
"We expected more from you, Rose. What you delivered was disappointing." Rosaline concluded.
I am back here again, fighting for scraps of affection and attention. No matter how much I achieve, no matter how hard I work, they will never be proud of me. Every victory is just another failure in their eyes.
"I will prove myself in the next trial, Father. I will not disappoint you again." I said, swallowing the lump in my throat.
Rosaline looked at Noctis, a faint, polished smile on her lips. "Have faith in her, Noctis. It is only the start of the academic year, and she has time to adjust her strategy."
She turned her attention back to me. "The Founders' Day party on the 6th of March will be hosted at the Grand Palace Pavilion. It is a vital political gathering, a showcase of the empire's power to the foreign delegations."
She paused, her blue eyes scanning mine.
"You must be present, Rose. The high houses and representatives of the Noble Council will be there, and they will be watching you."
I stood in silence, waiting for my father to say something. I wanted him to ask me to join them.
I wanted him to show that he cared.
Noctis finally spoke, his voice void of warmth. "Ensure your presence, Rose. It is your duty as the princess of this empire. Do not embarrass us."
"I will be there, Father. It is my responsibility." I accepted.
Rosaline rose from her chair, her silk gown rustling softly as she walked over to stand near me. Noctis stood up as well, his imposing figure casting a shadow over us.
"We should take a picture together during the festival, Rose. It has been a long time since we had a family portrait." Rosaline suggested, her voice carrying a rare, gentle note.
A sudden spark of hope flared in my chest. I looked up, my eyes searching my mother's face, hoping for a sliver of genuine connection.
Noctis stepped forward, his cold voice instantly cutting through the air. "If you harbor such ideas, you are mistaken. You are not worthy of such a thing after a disgraceful result like that."
I froze, staring at his cruel, unyielding face.
The hope inside me died, leaving only a cold, hollow numbness.
I was not even worthy of a smile from him.
"Yes, Father." I murmured.
It was the only cold thing I could say.
Why did that scene on the street claw at me so deeply? Why did a stranger's brother carrying his sister home feel like love I was locked out of ever knowing? With my own family, I've never felt so alone.
Noctis and Rosaline turned away from me, resuming their quiet, calculating discussion.
"We should have dinner together tonight, Rosaline. Irena and the consorts have prepared a meal, and the other children are already waiting in the dining hall." Noctis said, adjusting the cuffs of his dark coat.
"A family dinner? How charming. Though I assume by 'family,' you mean to include your consorts and their offspring in the same space as the Empress." Rosaline replied, a cool smile playing on her lips.
"They are part of the imperial household, Rosaline. It is ideal to address the family's dynamics at a single table before the Founders' Day preparations consume our schedules." Noctis stated calmly.
"Ideal is a matter of state, Noctis, but mixing the bloodlines at dinner always invites unnecessary court gossip." Rosaline countered, her fingers tapping the edge of her crystal glass.
"The court will gossip regardless of where we dine. I care about stability, not the whispers of nobles who have nothing better to do." Noctis responded, his voice absolute.
"Very well. Let us see if the imperial heir has the stomach for it. Rose, would you care to join us for this mixed dinner, or would you prefer to return to your quarters?" Rosaline asked, her sharp blue eyes locking onto me.
"I am not hungry, Mother. I should head back to the academy tonight." I said, keeping my posture rigid.
Noctis's expression hardened, his voice dropping to a low register. "Why? The carriage is already prepared, and the academy does not resume classes until tomorrow morning."
I felt the invisible weight of his stare press down on my shoulders, making it hard to draw a full breath. I wanted to explain that the palace felt like an iron cage, that the air here suffocated me, but the words died in my throat.
I could not reason with him. I could never find the right words under his gaze.
"Besides, your sister Iris has recently finalized her engagement. She has expressed a strong desire to meet you again before the festival." Noctis added.
Sister.
The word tasted like ash on my tongue.
Iris. Zeus. Seraphina. How could he call them my siblings? They were not my siblings. They had never cared for me, never reached out a hand to help me when the high nobility tried to tear me down. To them, I was simply an obstacle—a golden target they needed to eliminate to rule Asura as the 'true' children of the emperor.
"Do you have an issue with this, Rose?" Noctis asked, his voice cutting through my silence.
I swallowed the bitter taste, keeping my gaze lowered. "No, Father. I will attend the dinner."
I hesitated for a moment, a quiet question burning in my chest.
Before I could stop myself, the words slipped out. "Father, Mother... may I ask a question?"
Rosaline raised an eyebrow, amused. "You may."
"Why am I the sole heir? Why did you never have other children together? Why do I have no true bloodsiblings?" I asked, looking between them.
Rosaline let out a soft, melodic giggle that echoed mockingly in the quiet chamber. "Oh, Rose. Do you actually wish you had a sibling to compete with? Trust me, it is for the best that you do not. A 2nd child from my bloodline would only complicate the succession, turning the court into an active warzone."
"She is correct. From a systemic standpoint, a single primary heir from the Empress ensures stability. After your birth, we agreed that producing another direct heir would only split the faction's resources and invite a bloody civil war for your throne. The consort lines are backups; you are the primary heir. We designed it that way." Noctis explained, his logic cold and administrative.
Rosaline leaned forward, her eyes dancing with a teasing light. "Or perhaps you wanted a big brother, Rose? Someone to protect you? What do you think, Noctis? Should we have provided her with an older guardian?"
Noctis's blue eyes flashed with a cold, warning glare. "If Rose had a brother, he would not be a guardian, Rosaline. He would be her direct rival. Do you truly believe a brother would support her?"
"Yes. If I had a brother, he would have stayed by my side. He would have always supported me." I answered, the words escaping my lips with a sudden, emotional force.
"He wouldn't care about the throne. He would just care about me."
"We would have walked these streets together, and I wouldn't have to face this cold palace alone."
Noctis glared at Rosaline, his jaw tightening before he turned his attention back to me.
"What makes you say that your brother would support you?" Rosaline asked, her lips twisting into a polished smile. "If you did have a brother, do you think he'd be someone special who could fix your problems?"
"I don't need someone special. Just someone who would be by my side. At least he'd be proud of me, and he'd root for me when I do my best..." I confessed, my voice barely above a whisper.
Rosaline gave a subtle smirk to Noctis, her eyes shining as if she knew a secret I was completely blind to.
Noctis stepped closer, his heavy presence suffocating the space between us.
"You are being delusional, Rose. Even if you had a brother, he would not fix your life. Everyone in this palace is unhappy because of you and your mediocre results." Noctis said, his voice cutting like a blade.
"That is why I sent you to the academy—so you could correct your flaws and prove your utility before you attempt to rule this empire. You are incredibly immature."
"Learn to be like your sister Iris or Seraphina. Stop embarrassing the imperial family with this childish, emotional tone."
I forced myself to keep my eyes steady, fighting back the burning tears that threatened to spill over.
"I apologize, Father. I was out of line."
I was asking for too much again...? I was searching for love in a tomb, expecting stone statues to hold me... They do not see a daughter; they only see a poorly constructed vessel... My tears would not move them; they would only serve as proof of my weakness... So I lock it all away, pretending to be the perfect daughter they designed...
Noctis gave me a cold, heavy glare, his blue eyes showing no hint of sympathy. Under the suffocating pressure of his stare, my posture faltered.
I looked down, my eyes fixed on the obsidian floor, unable to maintain eye contact as the silence in the chamber stretched on.
A quiet knock broke the heavy silence. The door opened slightly, and an imperial guard bowed. "Your Imperial Majesties, the Imperial Consorts and the younger princes and princess have arrived."
Noctis glanced at Rosaline, his expression softening slightly. "It seems they are here. It shouldn't be a problem to have dinner together now."
Rosaline gave a neutral, elegant nod. "Of course. Let them enter."
The heavy double doors swung open fully, and the cold, stiff atmosphere of the room seemed to shift.
Iris stepped in. At 14, she possessed a cool, refined beauty, her long, straight raven-black hair falling like silk to her waist. Her deep indigo-violet eyes lit up the moment she saw Noctis, a brilliant, genuine smile spreading across her face.
"Papa!" Iris called out, running past me without a glance.
She threw her arms around Noctis. Noctis—the man who had just looked at me with absolute contempt—smiled. He wrapped his arms around her, hugging her back warmly.
"I've missed you, Papa!" Iris whispered, burying her face in his coat.
"I missed you too, Iris. You have grown taller." Noctis replied, his voice carrying a warmth I had never heard before.
My chest tightened so hard it felt like my gold corset was physically crushing my lungs. A sharp, burning ache rose in my throat, making it difficult to swallow. My lips parted slightly, my breathing turning shallow and uneven. I stared at them, my eyes wide, watching the easy, natural affection being shared right in front of me.
I clenched my fists, digging my fingernails into my palms until the skin turned white, desperate to force back the tears that threatened to blur my vision.
Then Seraphina entered. At 13, she carried a luminous beauty, her chocolate-brown hair falling in soft waves around her face. Wearing a flowing emerald and gold gown, she rushed forward with a bright, charming laugh.
"I'm sorry we're late, Papa!" Seraphina giggled, reaching out for a hug as well.
Noctis smiled, patting her shoulder gently. "It is fine, Seraphina. Seeing you always makes the day a little brighter."
"I brought some hand-woven ribbons from the gardens, Papa. I wanted to show you." she smiled.
Behind them stood Zeus. At 14, he possessed an athletic, commanding frame, dressed in a tailored dark military-grade coat. He stood tall, offering a respectful bow. "Good evening, Father."
Noctis nodded, his eyes filled with quiet pride. "Good evening, Zeus. It has been a few weeks. You look stronger."
He hasn't seen me in months. More than that... and the moment I arrived, his only concern was finding fault in my being late.
I stood in frozen silence, a golden statue relegated to the background, watching the 3 siblings receive the love and warmth I would never know.
My fists clenched tighter. Iris glanced back at me, her indigo-violet eyes meeting mine, a subtle, devious smile playing on her lips.
She knew. She knew that our father loved her, that he held her, while he had never even looked at me with anything other than cold assessment.
I looked down, unable to watch them any longer.
Why was I undeserving of this...?
Behind every little sister was a big brother who is ready to catch her if she falls, guide her when she's lost, and smile with her through it all. He was the protector and a guide, but most importantly, a true friend... why was I so unlucky to have nobody...?
Those 3 acted like true siblings. They stood up for each other, fought for each other, and protected each other. But I knew the truth. They were only united in their hatred of me, cooperating to gather noble supporters so they could someday overthrow me and cast me out of the palace. The favorite children of the emperor, while I was the neglected daughter he never loved.
Even if I had someone... even if I found a single person to hold dear, my siblings would destroy them. They would show no mercy, tearing down anything I loved just to keep me completely isolated.
Please... if you are out there... come and save me from this loneliness of hell...
What would you have done seeing me cry like this...?
------- -------
Far away from the grand, suffocating walls of the royal palace, the wind howled through the cobblestone streets of Asura.
In the courtyard of the Rustlantern Tavern, a cool gust of wind rustled the leaves of the old oak tree, blowing Kaiser's black hair across his forehead. He stood quietly near the wooden railing, his hands resting on the worn surface as he stared up at the full moon.
Inside the tavern, the faint sound of Cliff Hanger muttering about his bad luck echoed, accompanied by the dry scraping of a cloth against the wooden counter.
Kaiser exhaled a soft breath, his eyes fixed on the silver glow above.
"The night is long..." Kaiser spoke to himself, his voice barely audible over the wind.
He paused, a sudden, heavy tightness settling in his chest. He pressed a hand over his heart, his brow furrowing as a strange, unexplainable ache washed over him.
"Yet... I feel this strange heavy heart." Kaiser muttered, staring blankly into the night.
"Feels like someone I love is crying."
"I don't know your name… but I can feel you. I can feel your tears like they're mine."
"If someone laid a hand on you… if someone made you cry…" His voice dropped, cold and steady, edged with something dangerous.
"The one who made you cry won't get a quick death. I'll make sure they feel every second of what they put you through."