There was no way she was visible; she had even passed guards in the past. How did this happen? If she became visible here, she would be in trouble; her people can’t use magic. Whoever interrupted her is now holding her down on her back, her hands in the tight grip of his—she thinks it is a man as she can see from the corner of her eyes. Her stomach on the grass, Elysia struggles hard, trying to break free. Every attempt of hers, however, is useless.“Princess?” he sounds amazed. It’s him! Her spell must have stopped working. She struggles harder. “Get off of me!!!”He loosens his grip, but he bends down and whispers, “No.” His warm breath tickles her ear.“What do you mean “No”?” While she is furious, she still notices his body heat which is almost enveloping her.“So you have a little secret. I don’t think this is usual for you people to have this type of trick.”“Let me go! Do you want everyone to see us in this state?!” Elysia

He wakes up with a headache after a restless sleep. He remembers he had a strange dream, but can’t recall what it was about. Getting down from the bed, he notices he is wearing nothing. There across the bed and the floor, his clothes were scattered around. He doesn’t remember removing his clothes, and wonders why he has done so in his sleep. He opened the window; the dawn had not arrived. Yesterday morning, even earlier than this, something caused him to jolt from his sleep in the tiny room near the kitchen. Despite the complete darkness and total silence at the moment, he immediately knew someone else was inside the room with him. The door had no lock; however carefully it had been opened, he must have heard it, and that must have woken him up. Something came to touch his chest, an

When the morning of that day comes, unexpectedly the king’s messenger arrives in the Purple Garden, not only for Consort Sumerie who receives summonses regularly but also for Elysia, the youngest princess whom the king has overlooked for many years. Elysia does not remember the last time she was invited to the court. Even for the announcements such as about the newest consort, apparently, Issaharic has not considered her relevant. This surprise makes Elysia anxious: she can’t help worrying if the king has found out her secret because of her recent activities. What is more unusual is this is not a regular court meeting, as the summons hardly gives them any time to prepare before they set off to the king’s castle. Along the route to the palace, followed by their guards, both Elysia and Sumerie are silent, which is out of character for the latter and thus makes her even more anxious. Upon entering the cavernous throne room, their guards remaining outside, Sumeri

The head that was rolling a while before it finally stopped, the blood splashing all over the stage, the royals delighted by the blood and the cruelty, and the entire city watching the scene like a performance; still everything flashing in her mind, Elysia swallows down the bile that is still rising in her throat, despite being back in the place where she should feel safe and at home.Behind her, the gargoyles are growling at their handler, refusing to go to their stable. Elysia stretches her wings and takes off into the air, heading straight to her chambers, instead of going inside the tower and taking the stairs. Everything that has happened causes her to remember twelve years back when she had to start drinking the potion.“Why don’t we just escape, mother? We can live in the forest.”“We can’t do that.”“Why not?”“You are only 7 years old, my child, too young to under