Kael followed the maid through the stone corridors, the echoes of their footsteps bouncing off the walls. Servants stepped aside respectfully as he passed, some whispering. News traveled fast in the castle; if the Emperor himself had arrived, everyone knew it meant something significant.
They reached the grand entrance hall. Kael slowed his steps as he spotted his mother—Duchess Selara—standing near the main doors. Her posture was composed, elegant as always, but he could tell from the tightness in her jaw that she was tense.
When she saw him approaching, her expression softened.
"You came quickly," she said, brushing away a stray lock of his hair. "Good. You are here; the Emperor may come at any moment. Be ready."
Kael nodded. "Do we know why he's here?"
Selara hesitated. "I don't know either. But he sent a letter ahead of time… requesting that you be present."
Kael blinked, surprised. The Emperor rarely traveled. If he specifically asked for Kael, then this meeting was not just a casual visit.
Before he could ask more, a deep horn echoed from outside the gates.
The Emperor had arrived.
The massive doors of the castle were pulled open by guards, and an impressive carriage rolled to a stop—black with gold accents, pulled by four warhorses. Soldiers in polished armor surrounded it, their movements disciplined.
The first person to step out was the Emperor himself—Emperor Aldric Valerius, sovereign of the entire empire. Tall, broad-shouldered, and radiating authority, he carried the dignity of someone born to rule. His golden hair was streaked lightly with silver, but his blue eyes remained sharp as blades.
Right behind him stepped a small figure—a young girl around Kael's age. She had long blonde hair tied with a red ribbon, her steps graceful. Her eyes—deep blue like a vast ocean—scanned everything.
The Emperor's youngest daughter. She was regarded as the least capable princess in the empire, with a scar on the left side of her face. Yet in the future, she would become known as the witch who would kill her oldest sister and be hanged in front of the crowd. A minor villain, like me.
Princess Seraphina Valerius.
Kael's mother curtsied deeply. Kael bowed as well, hand over his chest.
"Your Majesty," Selara said. "It is our honor to welcome you to the castle."
The Emperor nodded once, acknowledging the greeting, before turning his gaze toward Kael. His eyes flickered briefly—measuring him.
"So," Emperor Aldric said, voice resonant, "this is the prodigy who broke through the Apprentice Rank at nine."
Kael straightened his posture and answered in a steady tone. "Yes, Your Majesty."
A smile touched the Emperor's lips.
"You resemble your father more with every passing year."
Kael felt his chest tighten at the mention of his father. The Emperor looked at him for a long moment before shifting aside and gently guiding the young princess forward.
"Seraphina," the Emperor said, "this is Kael. The boy I spoke of."
The girl stepped forward, her eyes locking onto Kael's. She offered a polite curtsey, delicate and refined.
"Hello," she said while watching Kael. Her voice was timid.
Kael nodded back, unsure whether to speak first.
The Emperor clasped his hands behind his back as soldiers and attendants began to move into the castle.
"There is much to discuss," he said. "Let us go inside. This matter concerns the future of both our families."
Valerius's POV
As I observed the young boy, the son of my niece, memories came rushing back. I had seen a boy like him once before—the one who had come to me seeking Selara's hand. That boy had carried the same fire in his eyes, the same sharpness in his features. Kael looked remarkably like his father: the same intense gaze, the same noble bearing.
I had heard tales of him long before seeing him in person, but nothing compares to witnessing it firsthand. I hope I have not misjudged him with the task I am about to entrust. The weight of this decision presses on me, but I sense the boy may be different from others.
Seraphina's POV
Two days earlier
When I look into the mirror, the scar across my face glares back at me—a constant reminder of what I try to hide. I cannot bear to see it, cannot bear the reflection staring back. Most days, I let my hair fall over half of my face, a curtain to shield others from my abomination. Yet I hear whispers everywhere—the cruel murmurs about how hideous it looks.
Even my sisters have never been kind. They ridicule me when Father is absent, each comment like a sharpened blade. My eldest sister lost her place as heir after Father caught her mocking me, for no noble family would accept a wife with such a mark. My second sister, the one who reported her, assumed the position instead.
I know that scar marks me as undesirable in the eyes of nobles. So when Father announced his wish to engage me to Kael Ravenor, my heart sank. I did not want to meet him, did not want to face the boy who would be forced to see this flaw. Yet Father insisted, and I had no choice.
When I finally looked at him as he greeted me, I searched for disgust in his eyes. But there was none. Not even curiosity, not even fear. Only… pity. A faint, almost imperceptible pity. It was better than scorn, yes, but not what I had hoped for. I don't want to see pity in people's eyes either.
General POV
The great hall was alive with quiet murmurs as everyone gathered around the massive dining table. Platters of food, abundant and fragrant, were laid out across the polished surface, but no one dared begin eating before the Emperor.
At the head of the table sat Emperor Aldric himself, commanding attention even in stillness. To his left sat Selara, his niece, and beside her, her son Kael. To the Emperor's right rested his youngest daughter, Princess Seraphina, her posture straight and composed.
As the room waited, the Emperor's eyes scanned those present, then turned toward Selara. "Selara," he said, his voice carrying easily across the hall, "where is your husband? I did not see him today."
Selara answered respectfully. "Your Majesty. He has gone to Valemont Duchy to discuss certain matters with Duke Vollemont, though he did not disclose the purpose of his visit."
The Emperor paused for a moment, looking around the hall. His voice remained calm but firm.
"I was going to discuss this with everyone here," he said, "but it seems your husband's presence isn't necessary. You alone are enough, Selara."
Selara blinked, her hands resting lightly on the edge of the table. "Your Majesty… what matter is this?" she asked, trying to keep her voice steady.
The Emperor's eyes softened slightly as they landed on his youngest daughter, then returned to Selara. "I want to engage my daughter, Seraphina, to your son, Kael Ravenor," he said. He spoke slowly, letting the words sink in. "I want to know what you think. Take a moment, consider it carefully, and tell me your honest answer."
Silence pressed down on the hall.
Selara froze, not knowing what to say. An engagement to the royal family… that was an honor most nobles could only dream of. It meant power and influence—all the things she and Darian had gained after their own marriage. Their two houses had risen together, becoming stronger across the empire.
But something like this only worked when both sides had something to offer.
Kael did. He was the heir to the duchy, a sword prodigy, respected across the region already despite his age.
But Seraphina…
Selara's eyes slid toward the girl. Yes, she was a princess—but she had no chance at the throne, no remarkable talent, and that scar…
Selara sighed quietly, feeling almost ashamed for thinking it, but she couldn't stop herself. Is this really a fair match?
And the more she thought about it, the more uneasy she felt. She couldn't decide something this important for her son. Kael was old enough now—smart, serious, and far more mature than boys twice his age.
He deserved the right to choose.
And honestly… Selara doubted he would want this. Why would he? A royal title was nice, yes, but a marriage like this was for life. I'm almost certain he'd refuse… I think.
Her stomach tightened as she glanced at Kael, waiting for him to speak.
What is happening? Why is any of this happening?
Kael kept his posture straight, but inside his mind was a storm.
He didn't remember any engagement between Seraphina and himself from his past knowledge of the story. First the strange situation with his father… and now this? Did I trigger a butterfly effect?
Just by existing as Kael?
No.
A shift this big shouldn't happen just from breathing. Something significant must have changed.
Kael replayed everything.
Ignoring the Valemont girl instead of becoming her pathetic follower… training until he became a "genius"… maybe that was enough for the Emperor to think he was a suitable match for his favorite daughter.
Favorite daughter or not, the Emperor couldn't openly show Seraphina any favoritism—not with her jealous half-sisters, not with the Empress watching everything.
Kael exhaled slowly, lost in thought. He didn't notice his mother watching him until her gaze met his—quiet, anxious, waiting. Waiting for his answer.