Ashveil slowly loosened his arms and let go of Elowen. She lifted her face, offering him a faint smile—calm and gentle, yet impossible to truly decipher or understand completely. Neither of them knew exactly how long they had stood locked in that embrace; time seemed to slow down and lose all meaning in that quiet moment.
"Please forgive me," Ashveil whispered softly, his voice barely audible. "I really should not have acted so impulsively or crossed boundaries like that."
Elowen simply shook her head gently.
"There is absolutely nothing to forgive, Ashveil."
She turned slightly toward the grand hall, where bright lights and joyful sounds of celebration still echoed loudly.
"I must go back now. The nobles and guests are definitely beginning to wonder where I have gone."
Ashveil nodded slowly in understanding... yet he remained exactly where he stood, motionless and rooted to the spot. It felt as though there were still so many words deep inside his heart that he desperately wanted to say, yet struggled to find the courage to speak aloud.
"Elowen..." he called softly.
She paused and looked back toward him curiously.
"Could I... ask that you please do not accept the love or affection of any other man?"
The question slipped out unexpectedly, before he even had the chance to think or filter his own words properly.
Elowen stared at him for a brief moment—surprised, certainly, yet there was no trace of anger or annoyance visible anywhere upon her face.
"I honestly do not know for certain yet," she replied truthfully and sincerely. "But... I promise you this—I shall certainly try my best to keep that wish in mind."
Her answer was enough to silence Ashveil completely, leaving him with a mixture of relief and nervousness swirling inside his chest.
Together, they walked back inside the great hall. Just as Elowen expected, several nobles immediately approached her the moment she returned, eager to speak with her or offer their greetings. Her expression instantly changed back into her usual flawless, graceful and charming smile—perfectly composed, as though nothing unusual or emotional had happened just moments ago.
Ashveil stood quietly a short distance away, watching her closely, remaining ever faithful and close at hand—silent and unnoticeable, just like a shadow that never leaves its owner's side.
Meanwhile, in another quiet corner of the hall... Charles slowly released Celestia from his embrace, his heart still beating rapidly and heavily against his ribs. All those feelings and words he had hidden silently inside his heart for so long... were no longer secrets. Everything was finally out in the open between them now.
Celestia looked up at him softly, her eyes warm and gentle.
"Charles..." she spoke quietly. "Come, let us go back inside together. I think my sister must be looking for me by now."
"Of course, Your Highness," Charles answered simply, though his gaze remained firmly fixed upon her, unwilling to look away even for a single second.
They returned together to the crowd, and it wasn't long before Celestia spotted Elowen among the guests.
"Elowen!"
Without any hesitation or shyness, Celestia ran forward and wrapped her arms tightly around her older sister from behind.
Elowen let out a soft, quiet sigh.
"Celestia... can't you see clearly that I am currently speaking with important guests?"
"I can see perfectly well," Celestia replied casually and cheerfully, completely unbothered. "But the fireworks display is about to begin very soon. Why don't we go and watch them together, just the two of us?"
Elowen paused for a moment... then a gentle smile spread across her face.
"Alright then, of course we shall."
As the night grew darker and deeper, Elowen and Celestia stood side‑by‑side on the large open balcony, accompanied by a number of distinguished nobles and guests. The sky above was pitch‑black and vast... until suddenly, brilliant bright lights exploded right above their heads.
BOOM!
Fireworks blossomed magnificently across the dark sky, painting the heavens in vibrant colours and sparkling patterns, breathtakingly beautiful to behold. It was a scene of pure beauty, peacefulness and harmony—as though the whole world was completely innocent, and absolutely no dark secrets or dangerous threats existed anywhere at all.
Celestia looked sideways toward her sister, her expression soft and sincere.
"Elowen... I truly hope that we shall always remain together, just like this, forever and always."
Elowen returned her younger sister's gaze warmly.
"You know we always will, Celestia."
Yet deep within the darkest corner of her heart, those words felt strangely heavy and much more difficult to say or believe than usual.
After the fireworks display ended and the colours slowly faded away into darkness, everyone returned back inside the brightly lit hall. Suddenly—
"Your Highnesses! Your Highnesses!"
The master of ceremonies came running hurriedly toward them, breathing heavily and looking visibly panicked and alarmed.
"Calm yourself immediately," Elowen instructed him calmly and steadily. "Why are you rushing around in such a frantic manner like this?"
"T‑there is... there is someone who urgently requests an audience and wishes to meet both of you immediately," he stammered nervously.
Elowen and Celestia exchanged quick, confused glances with one another.
"Very well. Lead the way then."
They followed him straight back toward the centre of the main hall, and there... waiting calmly for them, stood a lone figure.
It was a woman.
Her hair shone bright golden‑yellow, falling softly and smoothly down to her shoulders. Her eyes were clear blue—crystal‑like and beautiful, yet cold and piercing, hiding something dangerous beneath their surface. She wore an elegant red gown trimmed with striking black stripes—beautiful and refined, yet somehow giving off a silent warning to anyone who looked closely enough.
The woman bowed respectfully and gracefully before them.
"Greetings, Your Highnesses. My name is Alice."
For a heartbeat... Elowen felt as though the whole world around her froze and stopped moving completely. Her breath caught sharply in her throat, her heart pounding painfully fast against her chest.
This woman...
This is exactly the very same woman...
The one who had once beheaded and killed my dragon in my previous life.
Why on earth is she here? Why now?
"Oh! Alice..." Celestia smiled warmly and innocently, completely unaware and oblivious to the terrifying truth standing right before her eyes. "That is truly such a lovely and beautiful name."
"Thank you very much, Your Highness," Alice replied softly and politely. "I only wished to meet you both properly and offer my respects. I honestly never imagined I would actually get the opportunity to meet you personally during tonight's celebration."
"We greatly appreciate your kindness," Elowen answered calmly, her voice steady and composed despite the chaotic storm of thoughts and fears raging wildly inside her mind. "Is there anything else you wished to discuss or tell us?"
Alice smiled sweetly.
"Not for the moment... at least, not yet."
Her bright blue eyes scanned slowly around the crowded hall before finally returning their full attention back toward the princesses standing before her.
"I also happened to hear... that your official coronation ceremony has been postponed?"
Her tone sounded light and casual—yet her question was far too precise, far too accurate and perfectly targeted to be accidental or innocent.
Elowen met her gaze unwaveringly, refusing to show weakness or fear.
"Yes. We decided together that it was best to delay it for now."
"I completely understand and agree with your decision," Alice answered softly, smiling confidently. "And I have absolutely no doubt... that one of you two sisters will surely become a truly magnificent and wonderful Queen of Wonderveil in the near future."
Her smile remained beautiful, charming and sweet—far sweeter than it should be, Elowen thought warily.
Then slowly, Alice turned away from them, preparing to leave.
And just at that exact moment... Elowen caught sight of something standing quietly directly behind her.
A massive grey wolf.
Its eyes were sharp, intelligent and piercingly bright; its body large, powerful and intimidating. Somehow... Elowen instinctively realised the creature wasn't merely accompanying its owner obediently—it was watching everyone present, analysing everything, observing and listening attentively, as though gathering information.
Alice walked away gracefully, the huge beast following closely beside her, her steps calm, composed and relaxed as if her sudden appearance was nothing more than pure coincidence.
But Elowen knew better.
She realised instantly—this was definitely no coincidence at all.
This... was only just the beginning.
.................................
The morning at the Palace of Wonderveil felt unusually quiet and calm, as though everything that had happened the night before—the colourful fireworks lighting up the sky, the music echoing grandly through the great hall, the joyful laughter of nobles and guests... and the mysterious woman dressed entirely in red—had been nothing more than a vivid dream.
Sunlight streamed softly through the curtains of Elowen's private room, casting warm gentle rays across the peaceful space. She had been awake for quite some time already, yet her body remained stiff and unmoving, lying straight upon her bed. Her gaze was fixed blankly at the ceiling above her head, yet her mind was racing rapidly, filled with endless thoughts and worries.
Alice...
That single name kept echoing and repeating itself continuously inside her mind, refusing to leave her thoughts alone. It belonged to the very same woman who, in her past tragic life, had single‑handedly beheaded her powerful dragon guardian—a creature known for being fierce, mighty, almost invincible and impossible to defeat, yet ultimately struck down and killed by just one ordinary human being.
"How exactly... did she possess such immense strength and terrifying power?" Elowen whispered quietly, her voice barely audible, swallowed instantly by the heavy silence filling the room.
She let out a long soft sigh, slowly forcing herself up and out of bed. Her feet carried her naturally toward her office chambers, just as they always did every morning. And exactly as she expected, Ashveil was already there waiting and working hard.
He stood busily sorting through stacks of documents and invitation letters spread all across his table, his expression serious, focused and attentive as always.
"What exactly are you busy doing here, Ashveil?" Elowen asked softly as she walked toward him.
Ashveil lifted his head immediately upon hearing her voice.
"I have personally questioned the guards and security officers regarding the mysterious young woman named Alice who appeared yesterday evening," he reported clearly and calmly.
He paused briefly, looking straight into Elowen's eyes before continuing carefully.
"However... Her name is completely absent from our official guest list and records. She was never formally invited, nor registered anywhere."
Elowen frowned deeply in confusion and unease.
"If she wasn't an officially invited guest... then how was she allowed to enter the palace grounds and pass through security checks freely?"
She stopped speaking for a moment, her mind quickly realising something far more worrying and unsettling.
"...And furthermore... she arrived accompanied by a massive wild wolf?"
Everything about this situation felt wrong and dangerous. Alice had walked straight into the royal palace without facing the slightest difficulty or obstruction at all. It was almost as though all doors had simply opened automatically for her... or perhaps, more frighteningly—there was simply nobody strong or capable enough to stop her even if they tried.
On top of everything else, the master of ceremonies himself had personally come to formally announce her arrival and request an audience on her behalf—making the whole situation seem as though it had all been carefully planned and arranged from the very start.
"Could she have entered alongside one of the noble delegations?" Elowen asked hopefully, though deep down she already knew the answer perfectly well.
Before Ashveil could even reply, Elowen shook her head slowly. No, that would be absolutely impossible. Members of nobility were proud, strict and exclusive—they never allowed unknown outsiders or strangers to simply sneak in and mix freely amongst their own ranks.
"I honestly cannot be certain myself, Your Highness," Ashveil answered truthfully. "But there is one fact I am completely sure of... That woman definitely has her own secret plans, hidden motives and dangerous agenda."
He looked firmly and earnestly into Elowen's eyes, speaking with utmost sincerity and warning clearly evident in his tone.
"I strongly urge and beg you... please be very careful and cautious around her at all times."
Elowen nodded slowly in understanding and agreement. Her mind was still filled with countless unanswered questions and fears. She had worked so hard to change her tragic destiny and chosen a completely different path this time around. She truly believed she had successfully altered the course of history. Yet despite everything... Alice had appeared just the same as before.
Who exactly was it that brought this dangerous woman back into the picture again? And for what purpose?
Far away elsewhere...
An ancient, crumbling mansion stood silently alone right at the very edge of the kingdom's territory. It had long been abandoned and forgotten by everyone; dust covered every corner, whilst deep shadows filled the building, appearing as if they were somehow alive and moving all by themselves.
Inside this desolate building, Alice sat comfortably upon an old worn‑out armchair. Her legs were elegantly crossed, whilst her fingers tapped slowly and rhythmically against the carved wooden handle of her seat. Right beside her, her massive grey wolf companion sat perfectly still and silent—ever loyal, always alert and observing everything happening around him with sharp intelligent eyes.
"I honestly didn't expect to see those two sisters getting along quite so well and close to each other..." Alice spoke softly, yet her voice clearly carried traces of dissatisfaction and annoyance. "To be honest... it makes everything far less fun and entertaining than I expected it to be."
She leaned comfortably backwards into the chair, half‑closing her eyes as a faint thin smile appeared upon her lips.
Slowly, the sound of soft footsteps echoed quietly from the darkest corner of the room. Something moved forward slowly from out of the shadows—furry, calm and silent. It felt as though this mysterious presence had been standing there watching and listening unnoticed for a very long time already.
Alice fully opened her eyes, her smile widening and changing instantly—becoming deeper, colder and much more dangerous than before.
"Fortunately..." she whispered quietly, her voice dripping with hidden meaning, "I still have people I can truly rely upon and trust completely."
"As you always shall," replied the figure immediately and confidently, without any hesitation whatsoever.
Alice stood up gracefully from her seat, the hem of her striking red dress falling smoothly down and dragging lightly across the dusty floorboards. She walked slowly and confidently toward the mysterious figure waiting before her.
"I am entrusting this important task entirely into your hands," she instructed calmly and clearly.
There was no argument, no questioning, and absolutely no hesitation—only a single, silent nod of acknowledgement and understanding.
The mysterious figure slowly turned around and began walking away deeper into the shadows, whilst the giant grey wolf followed faithfully and closely right beside them.
Alice watched them leaving until their figures completely disappeared into the darkness, her eyes shining faintly with dangerous excitement and anticipation.
"This game..." she whispered quietly into the silence surrounding her,
"...has truly only just begun."