Grace had barely settled into her room when a soft knock echoed through the silence.
A servant stepped inside and lowered his head.
"Miss Grace... Elder Arulines requests your presence."
Grace let out a tired sigh.
"Do these old men ever take a break?"
She stood from the bed, straightened her clothes, and headed toward the council chamber.
Before entering, she took a slow breath.
The annoyance on her face disappeared instantly, replaced by the calm and respectful expression expected of a future leader.
She pushed the door open.
Several elders were already seated around the long wooden table.
At the head sat Elder Arulines, the highest-ranking elder in the organization.
Grace bowed politely.
"You wished to see me, Elder Arulines?"
Arulines nodded.
"Come. Sit."
Grace quietly took the empty chair before him.
Without saying another word, Arulines slid a thick file across the table.
"This contains every official record from the previous year."
Grace glanced at the heavy stack of papers.
"It belonged to Jackson during his term as leader."
"I want you to study it carefully."
"Understand how he governed."
"Learn from both his successes... and his mistakes."
Grace picked up the file.
"I understand."
Arulines folded his hands.
"There is something else you must know."
"You are not the only candidate."
Grace raised an eyebrow.
"...I'm listening."
"After the one-month trial period..."
"An official election will be held."
"Jackson intends to run again."
"And anothe
Grace remained seated, quietly flipping through the thick stack of documents Arulines had handed her.
Instead of opening them, she slowly looked back at him.
"There is... one thing I want to ask."
Arulines folded his hands.
"Go ahead."
Grace hesitated for a moment.
"My mother..."
"They always said she protected this realm through a ritual marriage."
She frowned.
"But I don't understand."
"How can simply getting married protect an entire realm?"
The room fell silent.
The other elders exchanged brief glances before Arulines finally spoke.
"It isn't the marriage itself that protects the realm."
"It's the ritual performed during it."
Grace listened carefully.
Arulines continued.
"Every realm is surrounded by a protective barrier."
"That barrier was originally created by your mother's power."
"But no power lasts forever."
"With time, it weakens."
Grace slowly nodded.
"So the ritual restores it?"
"Exactly."
Arulines stood and walked toward a large map hanging on the wall.
"The ritual combines the spiritual energy of two compatible individuals."
"When their powers resonate perfectly..."
"A new layer is woven around the realm."
"Think of it as repairing cracks before the wall collapses."
Grace narrowed her eyes.
"Compatible?"
"What does that mean?"
"It means your powers must synchronize."
"If two people possess incompatible abilities..."
"The ritual fails."
"And in the worst case..."
"Their powers destroy each other."
Grace looked surprised.
"So not everyone can perform it?"
"No."
"Very few can."
Arulines turned back toward her.
"Your mother's power belongs to one of the rarest bloodlines."
"And..."
"You inherited that same power."
Grace remained silent.
Arulines continued.
"Based on our records..."
"Only two people currently possess spiritual signatures compatible with yours."
"Kael..."
"...and Jackson."
Grace blinked.
"Only them?"
"Yes."
"If, in the future, the barrier weakens again..."
"You would have to perform the ritual with one of them."
The words echoed inside Grace's mind.
Kael...
Jackson...
She slowly lowered her gaze.
"I see..."
Arulines smiled gently.
"Don't overthink it."
"That day may never come."
"But a leader should understand every responsibility carried by the throne."
Grace stood.
"Thank you."
Arulines pointed toward the stack of files.
"Read those carefully."
"They contain everything Jackson accomplished during his term."
"If you truly wish to surpass him in the upcoming election..."
"You'll need more than strength."
"You'll need wisdom."
Grace gave a small nod.
"I understand."
Without another word, she picked up the files and left the meeting room.
A few minutes later...
Grace pushed open the door to her bedroom.
The moment she entered, she dropped the heavy files onto her desk.
They landed with a loud thud.
She threw herself onto the bed and stared at the ceiling.
"What a tiring day..."
Her eyes drifted toward the pile of documents.
"I'll read them later."
She rolled onto her side, resting her head on one arm.
But instead of thinking about leadership...
Only one name echoed through her mind.
"Kael..."
Grace lay silently on her bed, staring at the ceiling.
The room had grown quiet.
Only the soft wind drifting through the open window disturbed the silence.
The thick file Elder Arulines had given her lay abandoned on the floor.
She glanced at it for a moment before looking away.
"...Later."
Her thoughts were somewhere else.
They kept returning to one name.
"Kael..."
She slowly sat up.
"If the barrier weakens..."
"I'll have to marry either Kael... or Jackson."
A small smile appeared on her lips.
"Jackson isn't even an option."
She barely knew him.
Kael...
He had trained her every day for months.
He understood her strengths and weaknesses.
He was the only person who had always believed she could become stronger.
Her fingers unconsciously tightened around the bedsheet.
"...But there's Larissa."
The smile slowly disappeared.
Grace lowered her head.
"I hate her..."
"...yet she always stays beside him."
She remembered the countless evenings when Larissa brought food and drinks to the training grounds.
The way she treated Kael
The way Kael smiled naturally whenever she was around.
An uncomfortable feeling settled inside Grace's chest.
She couldn't explain it.
She only knew...
She hated seeing them together.
Her eyes slowly narrowed.
"If Larissa disappears..."
"The problem disappears too."
The thought crossed her mind so casually that even she paused.
Several seconds passed.
Then...
A faint smile returned.
"No..."
"Not yet."
"I'll become the leader first."
"After that..."
"I'll decide what to do with her."
She stood and walked toward the window.
The moon illuminated the peaceful town below.
People laughed.
Children ran through the streets.
Families enjoyed the cool evening together.
Grace quietly watched them.
"They'll all obey me soon."
"No one will question me."
"No one will dare oppose me."
A knock interrupted her thoughts.
"Miss Grace?"
A servant's voice came from outside.
"Dinner is ready."
Grace returned to her usual calm expression.
"I'll be there."
The servant left.
Grace took one last look at the moonlit town before leaving her room.
Far away...
Outside the mansion...
Kael stood beneath the night sky beside the stable, gently feeding his horse.
Larissa approached with two cups of warm tea.
"I thought you'd still be sleeping after spending a week in the city."
Kael laughed.
"I slept enough on the journey back."
Larissa handed him a cup.
"So..."
"Did you enjoy yourself?"
Kael nodded.
"It was fun."
"But..."
He looked toward the brightly lit mansion.
"I feel something has changed."
Larissa quietly lowered her eyes.
"The town has changed."
"So have the people."
Kael noticed the worry in her voice.
"What happened while I was away?"
Larissa forced a small smile.
"...Nothing."
But deep inside...
She knew that wasn't true.
Something had begun to change.
And she feared...
It was only the beginning.