Evelyn's fingers traced the edge of the pages as she read on, her thoughts swirling.
Evelyn: "To think they actually revered these words,"
Evelyn murmured, her voice low and cynical.
Evelyn: "What a bunch of fools."
Evelyn muttered, her voice laced with mockery. But underneath it, there was something hidden in her tone—a trace of bitterness or perhaps even a faint hint of something unknown. She couldn't quite place it.
Her laughter was mocking, but it quickly faded, and her gaze grew distant as she resumed reading, each word seeming to carry a weight heavier than before.
[ Reinelle de Aristynne is remembered as both the cruellest and greatest queen in Aristynne's history. Even after two centuries, her name commands respect.
She strengthened Aristynne militarily, politically, and economically, making it an empire feared by all.
Other kingdoms dared not attack, not only because of her terrifying knights, but also because Reinelle herself was a Grandmage—second only to the Mage Tower Master in power.
However, everything changed 185 years ago when the queen fell ill with a unknown disease. Greedy empires watched closely, waiting for her death.
Reinelle had no heir, never marrying in her lifetime. After her passing, the crucial Ruler Seal—required to ascend the throne—disappeared mysteriously.
With no ruler and no heir, Aristynne was vulnerable. The kingdoms prepared to attack.
But then, two ancient scrolls were discovered in Reinelle's chamber—left behind, it seemed, in anticipation of this chaos.
Using the scrolls, the professors of Aristynne Academy and mages of the Mage Tower sealed Aristynne behind powerful ancient barriers, making it vanish from sight. Only those who possessed an invitation could now enter the Academy.
Aristynne is still sealed even after a whole 184 years. It is said that only the owner of the Ruler Seal has the power to break the seal. Countless powerful empires and rulers have attempted to lay claim to Aristynne, hoping to uncover the secrets buried within its land, but all have failed. The impenetrable barrier surrounding it recognizes neither armies nor strength—it awaits only its rightful ruler.
Legends whisper that once the seal is undone, Aristynne will not only return to its former glory but will also bestow unimaginable power upon its sovereign. Some say the Ruler Seal is lost forever, others believe it has already chosen its master, hidden away, waiting for the right moment to resurface.
Thus, Aristynne remains a silent, sleeping giant—a kingdom frozen in time, holding within it both the weight of its bloody past and the hope of an unshackled future.]
––––––––––
Evelyn closed the book and let out a deep sigh. She stared at the cover for a moment, an inexplicable feeling stirring within her. Shaking off the sensation, she pulled herself together and gave a wry smile.
Evelyn: Hah... Just as I thought...
With a soft exhale, she placed the book aside and stretched both arms, rolling her shoulders before massaging her neck. Hours of reading had left it sore.
Evelyn: Ah... I'm so tired after reading such a long book. I need a good, long nap.
She stood up from the couch, made her way to the bed, and, without hesitation, flopped onto the soft mattress. The warmth of the sheets embraced her as she closed her eyes, and before long, she drifted into a deep, peaceful sleep.
For the next seven days,
Evelyn spent her time in quiet solitude, alternating between reading, eating, and sleeping. Her routine was simple, almost serene, but there was a shift in the air, a quiet anticipation building within her.
In the afternoon, she finished her lunch and, after a thoughtful pause, looked over at Cassy, who was standing nearby.
Evelyn: "Cassy, tell everyone to gather at the hall."
Cassy: "Yes, Your Highness."
With a respectful nod, Cassy left the room to carry out Evelyn's command. She hurried through the palace, summoning the servants to the grand hall. Evelyn, once done with her meal, descended the stairs gracefully, her steps deliberate. When she arrived at the hall, she stood before the gathered servants, her presence commanding the space as though she were a ruler addressing her subjects.
Evelyn: "Do you know why I called for you all here?"
The servants exchanged uncertain glances, their heads down.
The servants: "No, Your Highness..."
Evelyn's gaze swept over them, her voice steady yet carrying a subtle weight.
Evelyn: "Then let me tell you. You've all been here with me, staying in this palace, for quite a long time, haven't you?"
The servants: "Ye... Yes, Your Highness."
Evelyn: "Good. Now, tell me truthfully, what do you think of this palace?"
The room fell into an uncomfortable silence. The servants exchanged confused looks, unsure of how to respond, each one silently questioning what was happening with the princess. Evelyn, her patience fraying, spoke once more, her voice still calm but tinged with irritation.
Evelyn: "It looks old, dark, gloomy, scary, and isolated—exactly like a haunted palace, doesn't it?"
No one answered. The silence deepened, and tension began to rise, as if each servant feared the consequences of speaking out of turn. Evelyn's expression remained unchanged, but the unease in the room was palpable.
Evelyn: "Does it look like what a princess's palace should be like?"
Again, silence. The servants dared not speak, their nerves visible in the subtle tension of their bodies. Evelyn's eyes narrowed slightly, the edge of her temper now clear in her voice.
Evelyn: "I have a limit to my patience. Answer before it breaks down."
The servants, now visibly nervous, spoke in unison.
The servants: "N-No, Your Highness."
Evelyn's expression softened ever so slightly, but the authority in her words was undiminished.
Evelyn: "Good. So, now tell me, what should we do? We must transform this old, dark, gloomy, and scary palace into something sparklingly new and beautiful—something worthy of a princess's residence."
The servants stared at her, stunned. Their reaction was a mix of confusion and awe. What was the princess thinking? What had caused this change in her demeanor?
Evelyn repeated, her voice firm and commanding.
Evelyn: "So, start doing what you ought to do now. Go."
Without another word, the servants scrambled into action. They didn't fully understand what had come over their princess, but there was no mistaking the shift in her presence. It was undeniable. Her aura was no longer that of a passive, distant princess; it was that of a leader, one who commanded attention without the need for words.
They began their work, moving with a sense of urgency and focus that had never been present before. The palace, once a gloomy and neglected place, would begin to change, transformed by the will of a princess who now stood as a force to be reckoned with.
If it had been before, they would have dismissed her orders or ignored her requests without a second thought. But now, with her presence as strong as it was, they knew they could not afford to. She felt different, and they couldn't ignore the power that radiated from her, even if they wanted to.
For the next few days, Evelyn stood silently, observing the progress of the work herself. Under her meticulous orders, the servants had cleaned every corner of the palace, from the kitchens to the guest rooms. It was as though every inch of the place had been revived, scrubbed clean, and refreshed.
The servants, puzzled by the sudden interest the princess had taken in the state of the palace, exchanged quiet whispers. What had caused such a shift in her behavior? Why was she now so insistent on the upkeep of the palace, a place she had once seemed indifferent to?
Evelyn, however, remained focused. She had instructed them to trim the dead roses and cut back the overgrown bushes that had blocked the pathways leading to the palace. But there was one thing she wouldn't allow them to do. As they reached for the thorns, Evelyn stopped them.
Evelyn: "Roses are beautiful, yet their thorns give them resilience. Without them, they'd be as defenseless as a cat without claws, a lion without its roar, or a snake without fangs. It's the balance of beauty and protection that allows them to thrive, reminding us that true strength often lies in what shields us. The thorns grant not only allure but the strength to endure in a world full of threats, making them even more captivating."
Following her instructions, the garden surrounding the palace transformed.