Night settled peacefully over the mountains.
A cool breeze drifted through the valley, carrying the scent of pine trees.
As always...
Larissa sat alone outside the house with a warm cup of tea resting between her hands. The moonlight illuminated her gentle face as she quietly admired the endless mountains stretching beneath the silver sky.
It had become her daily routine.
A few moments later...
Footsteps approached.
"Hey, Larissa."
Larissa slowly turned her head.
Grace stood a few steps away, her expression unreadable.
"You wanted something?"
Grace crossed her arms.
"Why did you lie to the elders?"
Larissa frowned.
"...Lie?"
Grace gave a cold smile.
"Yes."
"And before you misunderstand..."
"I didn't come here to apologize."
"I came to warn you."
"If you ever speak badly about me to someone again..."
"I won't hesitate."
"I'll throw you out of this organization..."
"...and out of this town."
Silence filled the night.
Larissa simply looked at her.
After a long pause, she finally spoke.
"I've never met someone with a heart as dark as yours."
Grace's smile disappeared.
"You disgust me."
"You don't deserve to become this town's leader."
"If you sit on that throne..."
"I can already see this town falling apart because of your cruelty."
Grace's eyes narrowed.
"...How dare you."
"This organization belonged to my mother."
"Now it belongs to me."
"It would only take me a minute to erase you from here."
Larissa slowly stood.
"Then do it."
Grace fell silent.
For the first time...
Someone had answered her threat without fear.
Larissa took one step closer.
"You've only seen my kindness."
"You've never seen my anger."
"If I ever chose to become cruel..."
"You'd be the one wondering where to run."
Grace clenched both fists.
"You don't know what I'm capable of."
Larissa's voice remained steady.
"Then tell me."
"What can you do?"
Grace couldn't answer.
The silence between them became heavier than any argument.
Finally...
Larissa looked away.
"Go."
"Before you make this night any worse."
Grace stared at her for several seconds.
Then she turned around.
With burning anger filling her chest...
She stormed back into the house.
SLAM!
Her bedroom door echoed through the building
Outside...
Larissa slowly sat back down.
She closed the book resting beside her and took another sip of tea.
A sigh escaped her lips.
"...I said too much."
"I should've stayed quiet."
"But..."
"I couldn't."
A familiar voice came from behind.
"You did nothing wrong."
Emily walked over carrying her own cup before taking the empty chair beside Larissa.
"I'm actually proud of you."
Larissa looked at her.
"I only spoke because I couldn't bear it anymore."
Emily nodded.
"And she deserved every word."
"If I'd known she would become like this...
"I would've never asked Kael to protect her."
Emily stared toward the moon.
"What worries me isn't Grace..."
"It's this realm."
"Tomorrow..."
"She becomes its leader."
"And for some reason..."
"I have a terrible feeling."
"I can already see this place drowning in chaos."
Larissa remained silent.
After a while, she quietly asked,
"...Did you contact Eyrx?"
Emily nodded.
"I did."
"He said he'll arrive tomorrow morning."
Relief briefly appeared on Larissa's face.
"...That's good."
"I hope he comes in time."
---
Inside her room...
Grace lay on her bed, staring at the ceiling.
The conversation replayed again...
And again...
And again.
Every word Larissa had spoken echoed inside her mind.
Her eyes slowly turned bloodshot.
Her breathing grew heavier.
She clenched the bedsheet until her knuckles turned white.
"If I don't force you to your death..."
"...then my name isn't Grace."
A chilling smile slowly appeared across her face.
Outside...
The moon continued shining peacefully.
Completely unaware...
That the first seed of tragedy had already begun to grow
Morning arrived beneath a sky washed in pale blue.
Unlike ordinary days, the entire headquarters buzzed with activity.
Workers hurried through the streets carrying banners, flowers, and ceremonial decorations. Servants rushed between buildings while guards took their assigned positions.
Today was not an ordinary day.
Today, the organization would introduce its next leader.
Grace stood before the mirror in her room, carefully adjusting her formal attire. Every fold of her dress was perfect. Every strand of her hair rested exactly where she wanted it.
She smiled at her own reflection.
"Finally..."
"This day belongs to me."
---
By noon, people from every corner of the realm had begun gathering before the grand stage.
Rows upon rows of chairs stretched across the square, filling with nobles, merchants, soldiers, workers, and ordinary citizens.
Near the stage, Larissa looked around the growing crowd.
"Has Kael returned yet?"
Emily shook her head.
"No."
"He still hasn't come."
At that moment, Grace descended the stone staircase with calm, confident steps.
She stopped before Emily.
"When will they call me?"
Emily glanced toward the stage.
"Once everything is ready."
"I think the elders are waiting for everyone to arrive."
Grace nodded.
"I'll go to them."
Just then, one of the servants hurried over.
"Miss Grace."
"The elders request everyone's presence."
Emily stood.
"Let's go."
Together, Grace, Emily, and Larissa walked toward the stage.
---
Several elders were already seated.
Among them sat the organization's current leader, Elder Aurelius, an elderly man whose calm expression commanded immediate respect.
Grace approached him.
"Yes, Elder?"
Aurelius gestured toward the enormous crowd gathering below.
"When I call your name..."
"Walk onto the stage."
"Deliver your speech."
"But remember one thing."
He looked directly into her eyes.
"Every word you speak today represents this entire organization."
"So think carefully before speaking."
Grace gave a confident nod.
"I understand."
She sat quietly nearby.
Inside...
A completely different thought echoed through her mind.
"Soon..."
"I'll become the ruler of this realm."
"Then everyone who ever looked down on me..."
"Will regret it."
---
A few moments later...
Elder Aurelius slowly stepped before the crystal microphone.
His voice spread across the entire square.
"People of the Third Realm..."
"Thank you all for gathering here today."
The noisy crowd gradually fell silent.
"We stand at the beginning of a new era."
"As you all know..."
"Our realm has remained without a permanent leader since Lady Isabella's passing."
Murmurs spread through the audience.
"Today..."
"We have chosen someone to inherit that responsibility."
"I understand many of you wished to vote first."
"And under normal circumstances, you would."
"However..."
"We believe every person deserves the opportunity to prove themselves."
"So for one month..."
"This candidate will lead our realm."
"After those thirty days..."
"The final decision will belong to all of you."
"If she earns your trust..."
"You may vote for her."
"If she fails..."
"She will step down."
He paused.
Then smiled.
"Please welcome..."
"Grace."
---
Grace stood gracefully and walked toward the center of the stage.
The instant the sunlight touched her face...
The entire crowd froze.
"..."
"..."
"Isn't that..."
"She looks exactly like Isabella."
"No..."
"She is Isabella's daughter."
The whispers grew louder.
Grace smiled politely before speaking.
"Hello, everyone."
"My name is Grace."
"I'm the daughter of Isabella."
"I hope..."
"I can unite this realm and protect it just as my mother once did."
Silence.
Then...
A voice rose from somewhere in the crowd.
"We don't want another Isabella!"
Another followed.
"She'll become just like her mother!"
"She'll destroy this realm!"
"We don't accept her!"
"We don't want this leader!"
Within seconds...
The peaceful ceremony dissolved into chaos.
Voices echoed from every direction.
"We refuse!"
"Choose someone else!"
Grace's smile slowly disappeared.
She hadn't expected this.
She opened her mouth to answer...
But the noise drowned out her voice.
Elder Aurelius quickly stepped forward and gently took the microphone.
"Silence!"
His powerful voice echoed through the square.
The shouting gradually faded.
"I understand your concerns."
"I know many of you still carry resentment toward Isabella."
"But remember this..."
"A child should never be judged for the choices of a parent."
"Grace deserves the opportunity to prove herself."
"Give her one month."
"At the end of that month..."
"You will decide her future."
"Not us."
The crowd slowly quieted.
Although many faces still showed doubt...
The shouting finally stopped.
The ceremony came to an uneasy end.
---
By evening...
Grace returned to her room.
She kicked off her heels in frustration.
One struck the wall before falling to the floor.
"I thought today would be different..."
She collapsed onto the sofa.
"I thought everyone would welcome me."
"They looked at me..."
"As if I were some kind of monster."
She clenched her fists.
"And Larissa..."
"She was the first person to insult me."
"I'll never forget that."
Just then...
A cheerful whistle echoed through the hallway.
Grace immediately recognized it.
Kael.
She hurried outside.
"Kael!"
Kael turned around with a relaxed smile.
"Oh."
"Congratulations."
Grace crossed her arms.
"Thanks."
"You didn't attend the ceremony."
"I was late."
"So I stayed with the crowd instead."
Grace looked at him curiously.
"Then..."
"How did I look?"
Kael scratched the back of his head.
"You looked..."
"...good."
Grace frowned.
"Only good?"
Kael laughed awkwardly.
"Fine."
"You looked beautiful."
The irritation on Grace's face disappeared instantly.
A small smile formed on her lips.
"That's better."
Kael waved casually.
"I'll get some rest."
"See you tomorrow."
He walked away.
Grace quietly watched him disappear down the hallway.
Then she returned to her room.
Sitting alone on the sofa, she rested her chin on her hand.
A thoughtful smile slowly appeared.
"Kael..."
"He's important to Larissa."
Her eyes narrowed slightly.
"Very important."