["Reinelle de Morvane 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 kingdom feared by all."
"Other kingdoms dared not attack, not only because of its terrifying knights, but also because Reinelle herself was a Grandmage—second only to the Mage Tower Master in power."
"However, everything changed 207 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. But 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 207 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."
—
Astra closed the book and let out a deep sigh. She stared at the cover for a moment, an inexplicable feeling stirring within her. She frowned slightly, then shook her head as if to scatter the feeling away, forcing a wry smile onto her lips.
"Hah... Just as I thought..."
With a soft exhale, she placed the book aside and stretched both arms overhead. Her shoulders rolled once, then twice, before she reached up to massage the back of her neck. Hours of uninterrupted reading had left a dull ache there.
"Ah… I'm exhausted. Reading such a long book really takes it out of you," she muttered.
"I need a good, long nap."
Rising from the couch, she crossed the room and flopped onto the bed without ceremony. The mattress yielded beneath her small frame, warm sheets wrapping around her like an embrace.
Her eyelids fluttered once—then closed. Within moments, she slipped into a deep, peaceful sleep.
The days that followed passed quietly.
Astra ate, read, and slept—nothing more, nothing less. The routine was simple, almost serene, yet beneath the calm surface, something subtle was changing. Like the hush before a storm, a quiet anticipation gathered, unseen but undeniable.
One afternoon, after finishing her meal, Astra wiped her mouth neatly and lifted her gaze toward Cassia, who stood nearby as always.
"Cass," Astra said calmly, "tell everyone to gather in the hall."
Cassia straightened. "Yes, Your Highness."
It's time, Astra thought.
She was done hiding behind silence.
If this palace reflected who she used to be—then it was time for it to change.
Just as she had.
With a respectful nod, Cassia left the room to carry out Astra's command. She hurried through the palace, summoning the servants to the grand hall.
Astra, once done with her meal, rose and descended the stairs gracefully, her steps unhurried yet deliberate.
When she reached the hall, she stopped before the assembled servants. There weren't many—only about twenty or thirty in total. To think a princess's palace could be so sparsely staffed…
Her small frame stand straight, her presence commanding the space as though she were a ruler addressing her subjects.
"Do you know why I called all of you here?" Astra asked.
The servants exchanged uncertain glances, then lowered their heads.
"No, Your Highness…"
Her eyes swept across them, sharp and assessing.
"You've all been staying in this palace with me for quite some time now, haven't you?"
"Y-Yes, Your Highness."
"Good." Her voice remained calm. "Then answer me honestly. What do you think of this palace?"
The hall fell into an uncomfortable silence.
Uneasy, heavy silence.
The servants exchanged confused looks, unsure of how to respond, each one silently questioning what was wrong with the princess suddenly.
Astra, not liking talking much still spoke again, her tone still composed, though an edge had crept in.
"It's old. Dark. Gloomy. Isolated. Scary," she said flatly. "Like a haunted palace, don't you think?"
Still no answer.
The silence deepened, and tension began to rise, as if each servant feared the consequences of speaking out of turn.
Astra's expression remained unchanged, but the unease in the room was palpable.
"Does this look like a palace befitting a princess?"
Again, silence.
The servants dared not speak, their nerves visible in the subtle tension of their bodies.
Astra's eyes narrowed slightly, the edge of her temper now clear in her voice.
"I have a limit to my patience," she said quietly. "Answer before it runs out."
The servants, now visibly nervous, spoke in unison: "N-No, Your Highness!"
Astra nodded, a faint softness returning to her gaze—but the authority in her words was undiminished.
"Good." She clasped her hands behind her back. "Then what do you think you should do? You will change it. You must transform this old, dark, gloomy place into something bright, beautiful, and worthy of a princess's residence."
The servants stared at her, stunned. Confusion and disbelief mingled on their faces. What was the princess thinking? What had caused this change in her demeanor?
"I want to see a sparkling, beautiful new palace in ten days."
The servants gasped. Ten days?
"So," Astra continued firmly, "start doing what you ought to do. Go."
"If in ten days I don't see it then—"
That single, unspoken threat hung in the air.
Without another word, The servants immediately sprang into action, scattering throughout the palace with urgency they had never shown before.
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, had 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.