The kingdom of Hoshihara gleamed beneath the morning sun, its silver towers piercing the heavens like spears of light. To outsiders, the palace was a sanctuary of peace — where nobles in silk whispered poetry, and the royal family ruled with grace.
But behind those shining walls, shadows stretched long. And in those shadows lived Yuki — the daughter no one dared call a princess.
The marble floor beneath her hands was cold, biting against her raw palms as she scrubbed at a stain she hadn't made. Her nails were cracked, her knuckles reddened, yet she worked in silence. Servants walked past without a glance, though a few smirked knowingly.
They all knew who she was. The king's blood ran through her veins. But she was the daughter of a mistress — a truth the Queen ensured could never be forgotten.
"Faster, Yuki!"
The sharp command rang out like a whip. Yuki flinched and looked up. Princess Aika, the Queen's only child, stood in the doorway. Ten years old, yet her arrogance filled the corridor like a storm. Jewels glittered in her golden hair, her silken gown trailing behind her like the feathers of a peacock.
"Yes, Princess," Yuki murmured, bowing her head.
Aika's lips curved in a cruel smile. "Don't call me that. Say 'my lady.' You're nothing but my maid. Remember?"
The words burned, but Yuki swallowed them down and forced a gentle smile. "…Yes, my lady."
Aika tilted her chin higher, pleased.
Moments later, the air thickened with perfume as the Queen herself appeared. Queen Reina was beauty incarnate — ageless, elegant, every step deliberate as though the palace bowed beneath her feet. But her eyes… sharp as shards of glass, glimmered with scorn.
"Still filthy," Reina said coldly, glancing at the floor Yuki had scrubbed raw. "Pathetic. To think His Majesty's mistake still crawls beneath my roof."
The words struck like daggers, but Yuki lowered her gaze. Silence had always been her only shield.
The Queen turned to her daughter, her smile softening only for her. "Come, Aika. Tomorrow you summon your familiar. All of Hoshihara will witness your greatness."
Aika's eyes gleamed with pride. "Yes, Mother. I'll summon the strongest spirit. Then no one will ever doubt I'm the rightful heir."
The Queen's gaze flicked once more toward Yuki, her lips curving in disdain. "Unlike certain children… born from shame."
Their laughter echoed down the corridor, leaving Yuki in the quiet wreckage of her dignity.
Her hands trembled as she reached beneath her plain dress, touching the silver locket hidden close to her heart — the only memento of her late mother, the king's mistress. She pressed it tightly to her chest, whispering into the emptiness:
"I wish you were here, Mother…"
When night finally fell, Yuki escaped to the palace rooftop — her secret refuge where no one cared to look. She sat with her knees hugged to her chest, the wind tugging at her long black hair, her eyes fixed on the endless stars above.
"They say the heavens guide fate," she murmured bitterly. "But if that's true… why was I born to be nothing?"
The stars, cold and distant, gave no answer.
But somewhere far beyond the veil of light, in the forgotten depths where shadows slumbered, something stirred. Something ancient. Something that had waited centuries… for her voice.