The next morning, sunlight spilled across the palace courtyard as Lior adjusted his headband one last time and headed toward the charity event grounds. His steps were steady, but his mind was still replaying last night’s chaos.At the entrance, a tall security guard blocked his path with a stiff arm.“Invitation?” the guard asked, expression unreadable.Lior reached into his pocket and pulled out the golden card Governor Marcus had given him. The guard’s eyes widened slightly.“Oh… my apologies, sir. Please, go right in.”Lior nodded and walked through the gates.Inside, the charity venue buzzed with nobles, merchants, and collectors. Tables gleamed with artifacts, each covered with velvet cloth. Lior scanned the crowd until he spotted Governor Marcus and his daughter, Sophia, speaking quietly near a display.Sophia noticed him first. “Father, look—Mr. Lior is here.”Marcus turned, his face brightening. “Ah! Lior, I’m glad you could make it.”Lior bowed slightly. “Thank you for invit

The broken statue lay in pieces on the floor. Everyone was staring, waiting for Lior to explain why he had smashed it.Lior bent down and pointed at one of the shards. His voice was steady. “Look here. This stone isn’t ordinary. It’s a moon stone, a very rare one. Normally, it brings long life and prosperity. But this one was cursed with something called the shadow plague. That curse flips its power—it turns blessings into disaster. Instead of giving a long life, it shortens it. Instead of prosperity, it brings ruin. That’s why you’ve been feeling so sick, Prime Minister.”Selene’s eyes widened. She stepped forward, her tone sharp. “You destroyed my father’s gift! How dare you—” But Prime Minister Alaric raised his hand, stopping her. His voice was weak but firm. “Selene… relax.” She froze, confused. Alaric’s breathing steadied. His pale face began to regain color. He sat taller, his eyes clearer than before. “I… I feel different,” he whispered. “Stronger. The heavines

Lior hurried down the busy street, his mind fixed on Emerald Hospital. Today was the day Lisa’s mother would undergo her operation, and he couldn’t afford to be late. His steps were quick, his eyes scanning ahead, but fate had other plans.Two young women approached from the opposite direction. Both were strikingly beautiful, their presence drawing glances from passersby."Are we really supposed to do this?" one asked, her tone hesitant. "We should have bought from any luxurious shop. Do we have to come all the way to this creepy place?""Come on, Wendy," the other sighed. "Today is Grandpa’s birthday—and mine. I want to make sure I get him a gift he didn’t expect. This is the best place to find it."As they were about to branch into a shop, Lior, rushing past, accidentally bumped into Wendy. His hand brushed against her chest. She froze, then slapped him hard across the face."Pervert!" Wendy shouted. "Do you know who I am? How dare you touch me!"Lior bowed quickly, his voice steady

The king’s court was alive with murmurs when Lior stepped inside. Nobles shifted uneasily, advisors leaned forward, and the guards straightened their stances. The king himself rose from his throne, his voice carrying both authority and gratitude. "Once again, Lior, I am indebted to you," he said. "This time, for saving the life of the queen. Speak your wish, and I shall fulfill it." Lior bowed, his tone calm but resolute. "I have one wish, sire. Please reinstate Seraph, a maid who was exiled long ago from this palace. She lives in Ravenshire now." The king’s brows furrowed. "Why Seraph? Why ask for her?" "She was a good friend of mine," Lior replied. "And she is a good person. She deserves better than exile." The king leaned back, fingers tapping the armrest of his throne. Lior’s requests were always unusual—never riches, never titles, but always tied to people or places. "What is it about Ravenshire?" the king thought. "The Prime Minister has suddenly grown fond of t

While covering for Lior, Kara had barely finished polishing the first shoe when she heard footsteps echoing down the corridor. Heavy, confident, unmistakably royal footsteps.Her heart dropped.“Oh no… oh no no no—” she whispered, frantically looking around for somewhere to hide. But the corridor was wide and empty. The only thing nearby was a decorative vase and a broom.The footsteps stopped right behind her.“Kara?” Prince Frederick’s voice cut through the silence.Kara froze like a statue.Slowly… very slowly… she turned her head.“P‑Prince Frederick!” she squeaked.He stared at her, then at the shoe in her hand, then at the polish, then at the half‑cleaned corridor.“What,” he said flatly, “are you doing?”Kara panicked.Her brain scrambled for an excuse.Any excuse.She grabbed the nearest thing — a piece of bread Frederick had left on a tray earlier — and stuffed it into her mouth.“Mmph—” she mumbled loudly, pointing at the bread. “Ah wath twying to theal your bwead!”Frederic