"Everyone, listen carefully."

My father's commanding voice echoed through the grand hall, silencing every whisper.

"Last night, an intruder broke into the royal palace and entered my private archive. This was no ordinary thief. Whoever that man was, he knew exactly where to go and what he was searching for. That alone tells me he did not act without knowledge."

He paused, allowing his words to sink in as his sharp gaze swept across the faces before him.

"From this moment onward, no one is permitted to leave the palace without my direct permission. Every servant, maid, guard, and royal official will be questioned at first light. Until the traitor is found, no one is above suspicion."

A wave of uneasiness spread through the hall.

Without another word, Father climbed the staircase.

As I turned, I saw my mother, Queen Elena, hurrying downstairs. She met Father halfway, and together they returned to their chambers. It was obvious he intended to tell her everything.

I quietly returned to my own room.

Sleep refused to come.

The stranger's every movement replayed endlessly in my mind. He had planned every step with remarkable precision. He knew exactly where to enter, where to search, and how to escape.

Who was he?

Slowly, I walked toward the window and stared into the storm outside. A cold breeze slipped through the opening, sending chills across my skin.

Without hesitation, I shut the window firmly and locked it before climbing into bed.

---

At sunrise, the palace came alive once again.

Everyone had been ordered to gather in the Great Hall for questioning. From my chamber, I could already hear anxious whispers echoing through the corridors.

After getting dressed, I made my way to the Royal Assembly Hall.

One by one, the servants, guards, and maids stepped forward to answer Father's questions.

"Your Majesty," one frightened maid said, trembling as she bowed, "I was in my quarters preparing to sleep when the incident happened. I neither saw nor heard anyone suspicious. I beg you to believe me."

After she finished, another person stepped forward.

Then another.

And another.

Hours passed.

More than fifty people had already been questioned, yet no one claimed to have seen the intruder.

Exhaustion settled over the room.

Even if the traitor were standing before us, would they truly confess?I doubted it.

Just as I was about to excuse myself for a walk through the palace gardens, Father slowly rose from his throne.The hall fell silent.

"There is something every one of you must understand," he began.

"The man who entered this palace last night was no common criminal. He was highly trained, disciplined, and skilled beyond that of an ordinary soldier. Such a man does not act on impulse, nor does he risk his life without purpose."

He paused, his expression hardening.

Father continued,

He looked directly at every guard in the room.

"From this day forward, strengthen the palace's defenses. Double the guards at every gate. Search every corridor, every chamber, and every hidden passage. No stranger is to enter these grounds unnoticed."

Then his voice grew colder.

Father slowly rose from his throne, and the hall immediately fell silent.

Just then, one of the royal guards hurried forward and whispered something into Father's ear.

His expression darkened for a brief moment before he nodded.

"Very well," he said.

He turned his attention back to everyone gathered in the hall.

"You are all dismissed. Return to your respective duties and quarters, but remain vigilant. If you see or hear anything unusual, report it immediately."

Everyone bowed respectfully before quietly dispersing, each person carrying a different expression—fear, confusion, or suspicion.

As everyone began returning to their respective duties, I quietly made my way back to my chamber.

I had barely settled down when I heard a familiar voice call from outside my door.

"Princess Lisa."

I turned immediately.

It was my mother, Queen Elena.

The moment I saw her face, I knew something was wrong. She looked unusually pale, and fear lingered in her eyes—a look I had never seen on her before.

She walked over to me and gently held my hands.

"Lisa," she said softly, "I need you to promise me something."

I nodded.

"There is a dangerous man moving from kingdom to kingdom. Last night, he came to ours. I don't know what he is truly after, but I need you to promise me that, no matter what happens, you will keep yourself safe."

For a moment, I simply stared at her. I had never seen my mother so frightened.

"I promise, Mother," I replied, giving her hand a reassuring squeeze.

A faint smile appeared on her face before she gently embraced me.

"We should head to the dining room," she said. "Your father is waiting."

Together, we made our way to the royal dining hall.

As always, only the royal family dined there.

My father, King Neol, sat at the head of the long table, while my little brother, Ethan, was already waiting impatiently for the meal to begin.

Mother and I took our seats, and before long, dinner was served.

The long dining table was already prepared. A delicious feast of roasted meats, warm pastries, colorful vegetables, fresh fruits, and sparkling glasses of wine filled the table. The rich aroma drifted through the room, but despite the inviting meal, my heart still felt too heavy to enjoy any of it.

The dining hall was unusually quiet.

I slowly lifted my eyes and glanced at my younger brother, Ethan.

My twelve-year-old brother sat innocently in his chair, happily cutting pieces of meat onto his plate, completely unaware of the storm gathering over the kingdom. His bright smile made my heart ache. He was still just a child. How could someone so young possibly understand the terrifying truth that threatened to destroy everything we loved?We didn't say anything to Ethan.

The following morning, I sat quietly before my vanity while Hannah carefully brushed my long hair.

Hannah was far more than a maid to me.

She was like the sister I had never had, someone close to my own age whom I had grown up with. Years ago, her parents had died in a tragic accident, leaving her with no family to care for her. With nowhere else to go, she was forced to beg on the streets.

By fate, my mother, Queen Elena, happened to see the young girl one afternoon. Unable to leave an innocent child to suffer, she brought Hannah to the palace, where she was raised alongside the royal servants.

Although Mother never treated her as a servant, Hannah insisted on helping the palace maids out of gratitude for the kindness she had received. Her loyalty and gentle heart earned the respect of everyone in the palace.

Just then, a gentle knock sounded at my door.

"May I come in, Princess Lisa?"

A smile immediately spread across my face.

"I know that voice! Come in."

The door opened, revealing Princess Victoria of the Kingdom of Veloria.

"Victoria!" I exclaimed happily as I hurried over to embrace her. "What a wonderful surprise! I wasn't expecting you."

She laughed warmly as we hugged.

"It's good to see you too, Lisa."

"How have you been?" I asked.

"I've been well. And you?"

"I've missed you," I admitted.

Victoria smiled.

"Life is full of surprises, isn't it? You never know what tomorrow will bring."

I nodded in agreement before turning toward Hannah.

"Hannah, would you please bring us a bottle of wine?"

"At once, Your Highness," she replied with a respectful bow.

Before Hannah could leave, Victoria stood up.

"I'll go with her. We'll be back in a moment."

The two of them left together, leaving me alone with my thoughts.

I hoped they would become friends one day.

Whenever I asked Hannah whether Victoria had been kind to her, Hannah would sometimes admit that Victoria had spoken harshly to her. Other times, she simply smiled and refused to answer.

"I don't want to cause problems between two princesses," she would always say.

I knew Victoria had a kind heart, but she often failed to realize that servants deserved the same respect as everyone else. More than once, I had reminded her that kindness was a true mark of royalty.

A few moments later, the door opened again.

Victoria returned carrying the wine while Hannah followed behind with two crystal goblets.

As Hannah placed everything neatly on the table, Victoria sighed.

"You've spoiled her too much, Lisa. She's so slow."

I smiled gently.

"No, Victoria. Hannah is hardworking and loyal. Everyone has slow days. She's only human."

Victoria shrugged.

"If you say so."

She poured wine into both goblets before suddenly holding out her hands.

"Look at my nails! Aren't they beautiful?"

I examined them carefully before smiling.

"They're lovely."

A sudden thought crossed my mind.

"Victoria... did anything unusual happen in Veloria two nights ago?"

Her cheerful expression disappeared instantly.

"There was a terrible storm," she answered quietly. "The winds were so violent that everyone thought Damon had finally come."

I frowned.

"Damon? Who is Damon?"

Victoria stared at me in surprise.

"You mean you've never heard of him?"

I slowly shook my head.

She leaned closer and lowered her voice.

"Damon is feared throughout the neighboring kingdoms. People say he is the greatest threat our lands have ever known. Many believe our kingdoms are his next targets."

A chill crept down my spine.

"My family was attacked two nights ago," I confessed. "Someone broke into the palace and searched my father's private archive. We tried to stop him, but he escaped before anyone could catch him."

Victoria's eyes widened.

"Then it may have been Damon..."

She paused.

"Or someone working under his command."

Curiosity quickly replaced my fear.

"What do people know about him?"

"Very little," Victoria replied. "Even if Damon walked through a crowded marketplace, most people wouldn't recognize him. His true appearance is known only to a handful of people."

She hesitated before continuing.

"They say he has dark hair and always wears black. A long scar runs across one side of his face. Strangely enough, despite the scar, people still call him incredibly handsome."

She shook her head.

"But don't let that fool you. He's ruthless... merciless... and completely heartless."

My heartbeat quickened."Why does everyone fear him so much?"

Victoria lowered her eyes.

"They say he's hunting every king, priest, and noble who took part in the murder of his parents."

I stared at her in disbelief.

"Murder?"

Victoria nodded sadly.

"His parents possessed extraordinary Alpha powers. The other kings and high priests became consumed by greed. They performed a forbidden ritual to steal those powers for themselves."

Her voice softened.

"The ritual claimed the lives of both the Alpha King and Queen."

Silence filled the room.

"How tragic..." I whispered.

Suddenly, everything made a little more sense.

No wonder Damon was consumed by anger.

After finishing our wine, Victoria smiled and stretched her arms.

"It's such a beautiful day," she said. "Why don't we take a walk outside?"

"I'd love that," I replied with a smile.

Together, we left the palace and wandered through the royal gardens before making our way into the lively streets of Aurelia. Merchants called out to customers, children laughed as they played, and the pleasant aroma of freshly baked bread filled the air.

For a brief moment, I forgot about the terrifying events of two nights ago.

"I didn't even tell Dad I was leaving," I said with a soft laugh.

Victoria looked at me and chuckled.

"You still tell your father before going anywhere?"

"Of course," I answered. "Dad worries about me."

"You're lucky."

The smile on her face slowly disappeared.

"My Papa doesn't even care whether I leave the palace or not. Sometimes, I don't think he even notices I'm gone."

I looked at her with concern.

"What do you mean?"

She lowered her gaze as we continued walking.

"He always makes me feel like I'm not good enough... as though I'm unworthy of becoming the heir, even though I'm his only child."

I gently took her hand.

"Don't say that, Victoria. You're smart, kind, and stronger than you think."

She gave me a faint smile.

"I wish Papa believed that."

After a few moments of silence, she spoke again, her voice trembling.

"It's been so long since I last saw my mother. Papa took her away from me, and no one will tell me where she is. Sometimes... I wonder if she's even alive."

My heart ached for her.

I wrapped my arm around her shoulders and gave her a gentle hug.

"You'll see her again someday," I said softly. "And until then, you'll never have to face everything alone. You'll always have me."

Victoria looked at me with grateful eyes.

"Thank you, Lisa."

We continued walking through the streets, smiling at the people who greeted us with cheerful bows.

Everything felt peaceful.

Too peaceful.

Suddenly, a terrified scream shattered the silence.

"Help!"

"Oh, heavens! Someone, please come quickly!"

The entire street fell silent before everyone rushed toward the source of the cry.

Victoria and I exchanged worried glances and hurried after the crowd.

When we arrived, dozens of villagers had already gathered in a circle.

No one dared move any closer.

The frightened crowd slowly stepped aside, allowing us to see what lay on the ground.

A White goat.

It was dead.

Its body was covered with deep cuts, and fresh blood stained the road beneath it.

Several women gasped in horror, while others quickly covered their children's eyes.

"This... this is horrible," Victoria whispered.

Just then, one of the royal guards stepped forward.

Using the tip of his sword, he carefully turned the goat over.

A loud gasp escaped from everyone present.

Written across the goat's body in blood were four terrifying words.

"We are coming."

A cold shiver ran down my spine.

Victoria grabbed my arm tightly.

"Lisa..."

Her voice shook with fear.

I couldn't take my eyes off the message.

"This isn't a joke," I whispered.

"No," Victoria replied quietly.

"It's a warning."

Without wasting another second, we turned and ran back toward the palace as fast as we could.

The guards followed closely behind while the horrified townspeople remained frozen where they stood.

By the time we reached the palace, we were both out of breath.

We rushed into the throne room, where Dad was discussing the recent attack with his advisers.

The moment he saw the frightened expressions on our faces, he immediately stood up.

"Lisa," he said firmly, "what happened?"

I struggled to catch my breath before finally finding my voice.

"Dad..."

I swallowed hard.

"They've sent us a message."