At st, the day that the entire Empire had been eagerly anticipating had arrived. Every er of the Empire was adorned with vibrant and dazzling fgs, while the roads were lined with the most exquisite golden iris flowers. These flowers, with their striking red petals adorned with shimmering golden ats, resembled a red iris dusted with golden glitter. They grew only in a region that had once been part of the Abyss but was ter quered through the relentless efforts of humanity and the gods. Thus, these flowers came to be known as the ‘Rise of Hope.’ Siheir discovery, they have bee a powerful symbol of hope, widely embraced by the royal family to wele new members as the bringers of hope for the world. The unique st of these flowers was said to calm the heart, and they were also used medially to treat ailments of the mind.

  Most subjects were overjoyed at the sight of the little princess, whose birth seemed ter a divine phenomenon. However, there were others who sought to exploit this event for their own gain. Some even spread false rumors, g that the first prince had used unventional methods to cause the heavenly occurrence. As both praise and joy spread, so too did baseless rumors about the little princess. In bustling ers of the streets, whispers could be heard.

  "Have you heard? The princess’s birth triggered a heavenly phenomenon that blessed our people and nd. I heard that a sick child in my neighbor’s family was cured.""That’s nonse must have been the prince. Why would a girl's birth bring such wonders?""It was ihe princess’s birth that caused the heavenly phenomenon. I heard it from my cousin, who works as a maid in the pace. But some cim the prince offered tribute to the Abyss instead.""Don’t be ridiculous. The prince is our hero, saved us from the vile creatures of the Abyss. If it were the sed prince, maybe I’d believe it.""You see, the little princess has mismatched eyes. Don’t you think that’s a bad omen?""Hold your tongue! If any of the royal guards on patrol hear this, they’ll cut off your tongue and feed it to the stray dogs."

  Mrs. Garcia, a renowned dressmaker who had designed hundreds of outfits for people of all ages and genders, was initially thrilled when the emperor’s attendant, Sir Morari, summoned her to create attire for the little prind princess. She eagerly anticipated the opportunity to dress the young royals, especially the little prince, who, without any fuss, wore the fiailored suit chosen by the Empress and the sed prihey had a particur pent for seleg the most luxurious fabrid designs for him.

  However, things became far more plicated when it came to the little princess. Mrs. Garcia’s initial excitement turned into apprehension. She remembered vividly how the princess’s parents had given her sleepless nights wheing their wedding attire, their meticulous demands and high standards being nothing short of terrifying. Now, she feared dressing the princess would be an eveer ordeal. Surprisingly, the challenge did not e from the parents this time but from the child herself.

  The little princess dispyed an uny awareness of what colors were shown to her, an unusual trait for a child her age. While most children would happily wear whatever their parents selected, the princess reacted with visible disdain. Every time the first prince or the Iron Lady chose a light pink tutu dress or a pale yellow frock, the child’s expression seemed to say, "You will never catch me dead in one of those monstrosities" et this disgusting thing out of my sight."

  As frustration mounted and options dwindled, Mrs. Garcia found herself at her wit’s end. She finally decided to try o dress—one she never imagined would suit a child. It was a striking bd-red gown adorned with golden irises and bck butterflies. To her amazement, the moment the princess was dressed in it, the room seemed to hold its breath. The little princess looked stunning, as though the dress had been crafted solely for her. She exuded an aura that was regal and otherworldly, leaving everyone in awe.

  The most relieved of all were her parents, who had secretly dreaded wearing matg pink or yellow attire to plement their daughter’s outfit. The first prioo, sighed inwardly, silently thanking the gods and his perceptive little daughter. He thought to himself, "Oh, thank goodness! Thank you, my little cupcake. If not for you, Dad would’ve died of embarrassment. I’ll get you anything you want as a reward for this!"

  When the ceremony started various guests were present, even the ed prince of the Northern Empire along with his wife and a few months old son. Their very presence was dreadful for the entire empire. When sir Morari sent an invitation to the northern kingdom he didn’t expeybody to e from their in his opinion the invitation itself was just a way for save their fad because whetle prince was born they sent an invitation to the Empire but no o so he wasn’t expeg anyone from their empire. Back when the Northern Empire sent an invitation the Emperor himself told sir Morari that “Giving something after taking something is no god doing it’s a devil disguised as a god. I pity the child who was never given a choice but to take another’s life and fate to live it’s life.”

  When both sets of pareered the ba hall with their children, all eyes turoward the little princess and her parents, dressed in striking bd red clothing adorned with golden jewelry. The bold choice of attire was captivating—not a color typically seen at a naming ceremony. bined with the radiant presence of the beautiful couple holding their equally enting child, they became the ter of attention.

  Prince Evan Ruez of the Northern Empire couldn’t help but notice the angelic little girl cradled in her father’s arms. Yet, when his gaze fell on her, what he felt was not admiration but hatred, inexplicable and deep. To his shock, the child met his gre with an iy that mirrored his own. It was the first time in his life that fear gripped his heart—and it was caused by a newborn.

  As their eyes locked, a chilling realization dawned upon him. He felt the Abyss stirring within him, g at the edges of his mind, its darkness yearning to e the child. The sheer presence of the princess awakened a hunger within the Abyss that he could barely suppress. A twisted smile crept across his face as he summoned a bck messenger bird with a flick of his hand. Whispering a message, he sent the bird s out of the hall with urgency.

  The Empress, simmering with rese as her vishly dressed grandson failed to draw the crowd’s attention, noticed the bird heading toward the garden. Curiosity piqued, she discreetly followed its path. When she reached the garden, the messenger bird was waiting, clutg a note in its cws. Retrieving the message, she read its tents with a growing sense of unease.

  Although the message's meaning eluded her, she found it troubling. It seemed nonsensical at first gnce—impossible to a at the moment. Yet, she couldn’t ighe gravity of its in. The person who sent it would never rey something trivial or baseless. She itted its words to memory, unsure of their significe but certain they would prove important iime.

  The Northern prind the Empress weren’t the only ones seething inside; many others in the ba hall harbored their own reasons for despising the peaceful little girl cradled in her father’s arms. Some were old rivals of the first prind princess, while others were longstanding enemies of the royal family. Malicious gazes verged on the newborn, their owners brimming with ill i. Yet, each time someoared at her with hostility, the little princess returheir gaze with an iy far beyond her age, as if daring them with her eyes to "Do you dare?"

  Amidst the animosity, there were also those who genuinely wished to see the child, ented by how much she resembled the first prince. Among them were the Duke and Duchess from the Shadow Realm, apanied by their own little girl and little boy, the Duke and Duchess of Damarius, and the priests and priestesses of the holy temple. These individuals gazed at her with fondness and admiration.

  In respohe princess seemed to soften. She looked at them with wide, curious eyes aowed upon them small gestures—tiny waves, clumsy reaches, and endearing smiles—that only amplified her charm. In those moments, she was every bit the adorable baby she appeared to be, captivating the hearts of those who held no malice toward her.

  When the ceremony began, the Elder Priest stood at the ter of the altar, with both sets of parents and their children positioned on one side. He enced ting prayers to the gods of Ausra Nevaeh, his voice eg with reverend solemnity. As his prayers cluded with a plea for blessings upon the children, sparkling golden stardust desded from the heavens, enveloping the two newborns in a radiant golden glow.

  The priest then instructed the prio write the names of their children and pce them into the golden chalice set before the altar. Ohe names were pced inside, a sudden, divine fme desded from the heavens, ing the paper. Moments ter, a powerful voice resounded from above:

  "We, the gods of Ausra Nevaeh, bless Athena Alexis Are, daughter of Alexander Quinn Are, and Ayden Lucas Are, son of Zelus Are. May the guidance of the Orue Beih you."

  As the celestial procmation ehe fire within the chalice extinguished, leaving the room bathed in awe and silence.

  came the gifts from the guests. The first to present was Archduke Philip Beltrix, who gazed at his only granddaughter with awe and delight. “My dear little angel, you will always be cherished. Grow up healthy and be proud of your parents and grandparents.” The little princess cooed and ughed, her joy lighting up the faces of the Archduke and Duchess.

  After the Archduke’s heartfelt words, many others stepped forward to give their presents.

  Then, the Emperor himself rose to announce his gift. “I have prepared a Lucasta stone for the prince.”

  Lucasta stones are an essential part of the awakening process. The higher the tier of the stohe greater the probability of awakening multiple seals. While most stones share the same gss-like appearance, each tier is distinguished by its unique color. When the chest taining the stone ened, a collective gasp rippled through the pace. Inside was a Bck Tyrant Tier Lucasta Stohe rarest and most powerful of its kind.

  The room buzzed with astonishment. This graure was a clear dispy of favor, ohat made even the Empress smile with pride as she envisioned her grandson's golden future.

  “This is a Lucasta stone from the royal treasury,” the Emperor decred. “I specifically chose it for my grandson.”

  Inwardly, Sir Morari sighed. More like I chose it, and you agreed without so much as a gnce.

  Despite the admiration for the Emperenerosity, one question hung heavily in the air: What about the princess?

  As if to stoke the fire, Prince Evan Ruez spoke up, his voice sharp with mockery. “Why doesn’t the princess have one? Wasn’t she procimed the hope of the Empire? Or is this btant favoritism? Perhaps the heavenly phenomenon was merely a hoax to deceive the oners and enemies.”

  The Emperor, unbothered by the insult, offered a calm, half-smile as if looking down on Evan’s audacity. “You see,” he began, “the previous Empress—Athena, the princess’s grandmother—left a specific gift for her grandchild. I am merely h her wishes. Nicos, bring the chest.”

  A servant carried over an ornate golde adorned with diamonds. All eyes were riveted to the chest, anticipation thi the air.

  “This,” the Emperor tinued, “is a Lucasta sto by Athena for her granddaughter. I do not know its tier—only Athena khat. This is her blessing, and as her wish, the princess must use this stone during her awakening, regardless of its value.”

  The atmosphere grew tense as the name of the previous Empress was uttered. Her mere mention seemed to chill the air, and all eyes turo the golde, eager to learn its secrets.

  “As you all know, my beloved Athena was araordinary entress,” the Emperor added. “This chest will only opehe princess begins her awakening trial. Agatha, I trust you will safeguard this for your daughter.”

  The mention of the te Empress stirred disfort in Empress Evelyn. Hiddement bubbled to the surface, igniting old insecurities. Even ih, I am still peting with that woman. I thought her demise would bring relief, but she torments me even now.

  Maskiurmoil, Evelyn approached the two infants. “My Lord, I have prepared a gift as well,” she announced. “Maid, bring it here.”

  The guests exged surprised gnces. No one had expected the Empress to present a gift, least of all one for the granddaughter of her predecessor. Evelyn, however, maintained a serene expression, cealing the bitterhat lingered beh the surface.

  Two small boxes were brought forth, each taining a brooch. With delicate hands, Evelyn picked up the green brood approached the little prince. Her face softened with affe as she pihe brooch to the left chest pocket of his tiny suit.

  Without a word or expression, she moved to the princess and pihe red brooch above the child’s heart. Though her as seemed posed, the room could not ighe subtle tension in her gesture—a stark trast to the warmth she had shown the prince.

  The moment the brooches were pinned in pce, an unnatural stillness fell over the hall. Suddenly, the surroundings darkened as ominous clouds gathered above the pace. An eerie, bone-chilling wind began to blow through the ba hall, sending shivers down the spines of everyone present.

  Spooked by the uling atmosphere, the little prince’s cries pierced the heavy air, while the princess’s wide, bewildered eyes searched frantically, her tiny fists ched in panic. The eerie se escated as, without warning, both children were lifted from their parents' arms and suspended in the air. Gasps and murmurs rippled through the crowd as the brooches on the children’s chests began to glhter, pulsating with an otherworldly light.

  Chaos ensued as the parents and guests frantically tried to intervene, yet every effort to retrieve the children proved futile. The more time passed, the paler the little princess became, her disfort turning into visible distress.

  A mage in the crowd suddenly shouted, his voice cutting through the panic like a bde: “This is a dark spell! Someone has cursed the princess and prince!”

  A collective gasp rose from the guests, their shod e palpable. Who could dare it su atrocity against i children?

  The Empress, though wearing a mask of , was inwardly eted to see the little princess struggling. Watg her pn unfold brought her immeisfa. Her eager eyes were fixed on the se, relishing the disfort of the princess as it washed away the bitterness lingering from the earlier mention of the previous Empress.

  As the princess grew increasingly pale, it became clear that her fragile life was slipping away. However, a flicker of fusion crossed the Empress’s mind—why was the little prince also growing pale?