Seraphina stood at the edge of the royal gardens, her eyes fixed on the horizon where the sun was beginning to set, casting an orange glow over the palace grounds. The divine beast had led her here, its cryptic warning still echoing in her mind: Not all truths should be uncovered. But the more Seraphina thought about it, the more determined she became to uncover the mysteries surrounding her family's history, especially the truth about her bloodline.
She had already learned so much about her past life as the villainess. But now, the stakes were higher. The divine beast had revealed to her that her bloodline was tied to the kingdom's original rulers, long forgotten by most of the current generation. Her father, who had died under suspicious circumstances, had been a key player in the kingdom's founding, and his death had led to the rise of the Empress. However, Seraphina's father wasn't just any nobleman. He had been part of an ancient line of rulers whose magic was tied directly to the fate of the kingdom.
With these new revelations weighing heavily on her, Seraphina decided it was time to visit the ancient archives hidden deep within the palace. The archives were forbidden to most, their contents known only to a select few, mostly the royal family and high-ranking sorcerers. However, now that Seraphina knew her true heritage, she couldn't let anything stand in her way.
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The air was thick with silence as Seraphina made her way to the hidden chambers beneath the palace, the dim light of the torches casting long shadows along the stone walls. Her footsteps echoed in the empty hallways, and her heart beat faster with every step.
When she finally reached the chamber, she found the door, once heavily guarded, now unprotected. The security was lax, as if the kingdom itself was unaware of what had been locked away.
She pushed the door open, revealing shelves of ancient scrolls and books, their spines covered in dust, some of the text faded with age. Seraphina knew the history of this place had been kept from her, from everyone. She couldn't help but wonder how much of it had been altered over the years, how much of it was hidden deliberately.
She approached the largest scroll on a pedestal at the center of the room. As her fingers brushed against the parchment, the room seemed to grow colder, as if the very air around her recognized her presence. With trembling hands, Seraphina unfurled the scroll.
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The words written were in an old dialect, one she could barely understand, but the symbols were unmistakable. This was a bloodline history, and it described her family's deep connection to the magical forces of the land. It revealed that her ancestors had once ruled as the kingdom's true rulers, wielding light and dark magic in harmony. But there had been a betrayal — a rival faction within the kingdom had sealed her ancestors' power, fearing their strength. This faction had secretly manipulated history, creating the false narrative that Seraphina's ancestors had been cruel and unjust, which had led to their fall.
The scroll spoke of a prophecy — a child born from the bloodline would one day return to restore the kingdom and undo the chaos that had plagued the land for centuries. This child would possess the power to control both light and dark magic, a balance that had been lost with the fall of her family.
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As Seraphina read the words, she realized something even more shocking: the prophecy spoke of her. She was the child of the bloodline that had been lost to time, the one destined to restore the kingdom. But this revelation only raised more questions. If she was truly the chosen one, why had her family been destroyed? And why was the Empress now so intent on keeping the truth hidden?
The divine beast's warning made more sense now. There were forces at work that did not want Seraphina to uncover these truths. But she had no choice. The fate of the kingdom — and her own — depended on it.
Suddenly, a rustling sound broke her from her thoughts. She spun around, her heart racing. Standing in the doorway was one of her male leads — the tech genius who had been a constant source of mystery. His sharp eyes scanned the room, taking in the scene with quiet intensity.
"I see you've found it," he said, his voice low, almost amused.
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Seraphina didn't respond immediately. She was still processing the revelation that she was the key to the kingdom's future. The tech genius had been one of the few people who had shown unwavering loyalty to her, but she wasn't sure if she could trust him completely. There were still so many unknowns.
"What's the next step, then?" she asked, finally meeting his gaze.
He stepped closer, his expression serious. "Now, we prepare. You've learned the truth, and you know what must be done. But there are those who won't let you succeed without a fight. The Empress is just the beginning."
Seraphina nodded, her resolve hardening. She had a new purpose now. The kingdom, her family, her bloodline — everything she had learned so far had led her to this moment. There was no turning back. The real battle had just begun.
As the divine beast's warning echoed in her mind, she knew one thing for certain: the truth she had uncovered was just the beginning of a much darker, more dangerous journey.
And Seraphina was ready to face whatever came next.
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End of Chapter 19
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