The palace was quiet—too quiet.
After the downfall of Celestine, Seraphina expected unrest, maybe even celebration. Instead, she returned to cold marble halls and murmurs that trailed behind her like ghosts.
She was Empress, yes. But still a villainess in many eyes.
Even her own.
As she stood before the throne, running her fingers over the engraved symbols—dragons, eclipses, forgotten gods—she sensed someone behind her.
"You've grown dangerous."
She turned slowly. The voice belonged to Kael, one of the Three Male Leads from the original novel. The war general with eyes like burnished gold and a tongue sharp enough to slit throats.
He'd never once bowed to her.
Until now.
He dropped to one knee, sword drawn. "I was wrong. About everything."
Seraphina blinked, stunned. "You—believed her too, didn't you?"
Kael looked up, guilt shadowing his chiseled face. "I thought you were the tyrant. I didn't see how well your mask hid... the burden."
He stood, stepped closer. "But I see now. I see you."
His hand brushed her cheek—but Seraphina flinched.
He let it fall. "Do you still not trust me?"
"I don't trust anyone," she whispered. "Not even myself."
Silence stretched between them.
Suddenly, a loud explosion cracked the air.
A divine beast seal has been broken.
Seraphina raced to the balcony. A black fissure tore through the western sky, and from within it, a serpent-like creature emerged, massive and gleaming with obsidian scales. Its roar shook the castle walls.
Kael cursed. "That's from the forbidden zone. The one the former Empress sealed—before her death."
Seraphina's hand went to her throat, where the old seal still glowed faintly.
The past wasn't done with her yet.
Behind her, Lucien, her ever-faithful shadow and loyal assistant, appeared without sound.
"I felt it," he said darkly. "One of your soul fragments was disturbed. That beast might be guarding what you forgot."
More memories.
More buried truths.
And possibly… the reason why she was meant to die in seven years.
Seraphina turned to them both.
"Prepare the hunting party. We leave tonight."
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