Song of the Winter Solstice

"Are you somehow an oracle?" How can a trash like me become an ardent leader? "She coughed again, then tightened her grip on the back of the sofa. I see it when I see it. If it doesn't happen, it's my failure. " With her eyes tightly shut, she steeled herself for the impending agony. A breath caught in her throat as she prepared for what lay ahead. Then, a sensation, as if the fabric of reality itself was being woven anew, rippled through her. She gasped, a rush of awe and astonishment surging within her. A delicate touch, cool and gentle as a whisper of wind, brushed against her cheek. And then, like starlight tracing a path, a trickle of tears, silvery and radiant, graced her skin. It was as if the very essence of enchantment coursed through her veins, an ethereal symphony of emotions that left her breathless. Legends whispered that a royal elf's blood held a value beyond measure, a currency of unparalleled significance, worth its weight in the purest gold. And in the same sacred

Witnessing the anguish etched in the depths of his eyes was a torment in itself. The king stood there, a portrait of suffering and animosity, the weight of recent loss heavy upon his shoulders. And before him stood the supposed perpetrator, me, adorned in finery and well-fed, untouched by any visible harm, despite his recent tragedy. I was but the prime suspect, the one to whom the soldiers had traced the path of discarded bloody garments in the woods. Yet, the mere presence of evidence does not a murderer make. While circumstances may align, not every accused is necessarily guilty. But within this complex web of circumstance lay the root of the queen's flight. A pursuit was afoot, a relentless chase that had driven her from her place of power. There must have been a reason, a hidden truth veiled beneath the surface. If survival was to be mine, it was a puzzle I had to unravel. But how could I ever lay bare this convoluted tale? Especially in the presence of the council—a body whose t

I came across the scroll on the worktable at the center of my room. There was one sealed scroll with a golden ribbon tied around it. A royal wedding invitation.There were a lot of possibilities for what my chest might experience first. In all likelihood, there was never any excitement. Anxiety, resentment, and panic set up housekeeping.I suppose it's normal for an elf like me to feel degraded. That I was merely a pawn in the game played by superior creatures. However, my body raised an objection.Just how long will this take? When will we see a change in the system? How soon will the triangle flip? How soon will the triangle's peak move?There was just nothing I could do!three days.It took them three days to come up with all the wedding plans. Then it was set to happen tomorrow. It's very conspicuous how they rush everything for their hidden agenda.I knew what they were after. I may have pretended to be stupid and uneducated in front of the royal court, but my brain didn't recipr

I felt like I was in the middle of a cold war, where all sides had their own agendas. I realized I was being utilized as a chess piece—a movable piece to help another player achieve their goals.Anytime is good for me, because I may be used at any time... by dying.Either I satisfy the intrigue of the council, or I obey the monarch. The king, after all.Prince Killan, because of his reasoning. It's not just a surface-level concern on his part that I'd be bragging about the powers I have.In this case, what might possibly be Lady Montay's motivation? To what does the council look forward?"Princess Idrish, please step it up a notch. Prove your mettle and you will be sent to the winter arena." Montay's actions were rather oblique. I just didn't click with her. If they make me abandon her in the woods, every bone in her body will be broken.I implore your grace to demonstrate your talents. Another whisper reached my ears.When Killan looked at me, his dark eyes met mine. His jaw clenched

The most difficult test ever set before the queen. I was equipped with the queen's gauntlet. Powerful protection for the arms and hands.Throughout the entirety of the journey, I kept paraphrasing what the prince had said to me.I had a sneaking hunch that the former queen of the seventh region had been involved in some sort of covert power transition. Despite the fact that it attracted me, I chose to ignore it because there was no way that a humble elf like myself could ever hope to purchase such a potent artifact from the queen.When an elf is given a power that it is unable to control, the elf's body goes through some kind of change or reaction. It is possible for innocent individuals to become ill, hurt, or even killed when a new leader is unable to successfully wield the reins of power.So why did nothing bad happen to me? What was wrong with me that I only felt my hands get heavier, as if I were holding tons of steel, and nothing else?Why did the queen pick me to be the heir to