Everyone at the table remained in place, frozen, waiting for the king to speak but
King Arkson didn't speak immediately.
He raised his glass slowly. He didn't drink-he simply stared at the swirling surface of the liquid inside
At last, he spoke-low, clear, and slow:
- "There will be a debut ceremony for her So The people will come to know her at first "
The Queens around the table instantly lifted their gazes-swiftly, tensely-but not one dared to speak.
The first queen, Elvira, opened her mouth trying to say something, but a single glance from the king was enough.
Just a look but its weight alone made the veins in her neck quiver. She closed her mouth again as if nothing had happened.
Then he slowly lifted his eyes and looked at Irene directly in her eyes
She froze.
And he said, without blinking:
- "That is enough."
With that, he ended his words and stood to leave.
He left no room for questions. He wasn't seeking approval nor acceptance-he simply issued his orders and walked away, as he always did.
---
Once King Arkson left the hall, it was as though someone had sucked the air from the room. Everyone remained standing for a few seconds
Elvira, the first queen, slowly adjusted her veil and cast a sidelong glance at Irene and she said: "It is disgusting to even look at her "
She stand up and left with anger
But Everyone started attacking irene again with heavy words, while irene was trying to calm herself down
___________
After few minutes
Reinold was the first to walk away with his wife her Leora. His hands were clasped behind his back as she whispered something no one else could hear
Then everyone start leaving after him
But
As for Selina..She didn't move.
She stood still, her gaze locked on Irene like silent arrows of fire.
Then, in a quiet but charged voice, she said:
- "If you think that sitting at this table gives you a place among us... then you're more naive than you look."
Irene didn't respond. She didn't turn. She was still seated, hands clasped in her lap, staring into the space her father had just walked through.
Selina stepped forward, but didn't come too close. She continued:
- "Don't get too excited, Dad won't get confused by a dirty little idiot like you for no reason. "
Then she turned without waiting for a reply and left-her jeweled heels striking the floor with every step loudly
The hall was empty now.
And Irene was left alone...
Sitting in the center, beneath the crystal chandeliers
---
Irene reached her room
She slowly removed her shoes and walked across the cold marble floor before stopping suddenly...
Her eyes went to the small desk in the corner, where she had hidden the most important paper she had ever written.
She approached slowly and pulled open the top drawer.
In the shadows... there it was, folded neatly.
She took it out gently, sat on the chair, and unfolded it in front of her.
It wasn't just a piece of paper.
It was the plan for her own marriage
A short but calculated list.
Names of men she had selected carefully, each with a trait that made him the "perfect husband" for a her secret plan
A reckless man...
Another who lived abroad...
A third who had no interest in politics or parties...
All of them were shields-cover, allowing her to move freely, to observe, gather, and strike.
But now? It was no longer her choice.
The king... her father... would decide.
He would choose the man she'd marry, placing her like a prize on the board of politics.
She looked at the paper again.
Their names were now useless. Her plans crushed without a single chance to resist. None of them was the "empty man" she needed as a decoy for her revenge.
She had imagined it so clearly in her mind: marry a man who didn't care about her, move freely, and carve a path to justice without anyone noticing.
But now?
She clenched her jaw, folded the paper, and threw it forcefully toward the fireplace.
It didn't catch fire-just hit the edge and fell to the floor at her feet.
But the feeling of her shattered plan... burned like flames.
She murmured inside herself, half bitter, half hopeless:
"Seems like fate is one of my enemies now."
All she could do now was focus on adapting her plan to the upcoming marriage.
After taking a long bath with her two maids, Irene went straight to bed.
---
That night was longer than expected.
The fog was thick.
A dull gray swallowed both land and sky. No sound, except for a heartbeat that couldn't be heard.
Irene stood alone.
Barefoot, a cold breeze brushing her skin without touching her gown.
The emptiness around her showed no mercy.
And the silence... pressed on her chest like a heavy hand.
Then... she saw her.
A woman standing in the mist,
Her golden hair swaying slowly in an unseen wind,
Her white gown falling softly to the ground.
Irene didn't need to see her face.
She knew.
It was her mother.
She didn't call out to her.
She didn't take a step.
She just looked at her.
And in her eyes... something unspeakable. A mix of tenderness and betrayal, of hope and fear.
Irene wanted to run to her.
But the ground beneath her feet grew heavy,
As if it clung to her, trying to stop her.
Then suddenly...
A small red spot appeared on the side of the white gown.
Then another.
And a third.
The blood crept slowly. No sound, no scream.
Until the edge of the gown was soaked, white turned crimson.
The mother... didn't move.
Her eyes remained fixed on Irene,
Trembling with something that couldn't be explained-like she wanted to say something... but wasn't allowed to.
Then...
Behind her, deep in the fog,
A tall, black figure emerged-still and faceless.
No sound. Just approaching.
A scream rose inside the dream.
But the mouth did not open.
And the blood climbed the floor, until it touched Irene's feet.
Her mother reached out her hand...
But it didn't reach her.
The fog exploded into bright white light...
And swallowed everything.
---
Irene woke up suddenly.
A sharp gasp.
Sweat on her neck, breath caught in her chest as if she had been drowning.
She sat up, placed her trembling hand over her heart,
And whispered, brokenly:
- "Wait for me... just a little longer, Mother."
---