Chapter 2: Cursed Kingdom

I’m sure I can finish this mission quickly. It seems fate is also in favor of my plans. I easily infiltrated the group of royalties. All I need is to gain their complete trust so I can get closer to the king and queen. I’ll use them like me and Mother planned. I won’t have any trouble with this mission because I’m already sure I can easily manipulate them.

Hmm...

Who among them would be the easiest to deceive?

Even if I want to use the princess of Creus, it’s not possible. Ivy might be hard for me. I can’t just break her easily because I can’t fake being nice to her. Maybe before I can even use her, I’ll already have killed her. I can finish her off after my mission, but for now, I still need her. A bitch like her is too tough to use.

I need an innocent one, like an angel.

"Angel, huh?" I smirked. Of all of them, she’s the easiest to break. Too bad for her, but not all angels were lucky. They’re easy to manipulate and use.

Angels are pretty stupid.

I smiled to myself.

While sitting in front of the mirror in my room, I took off the mask I was wearing. Only half of my face was covered by the mask. My face was perfectly made. I’m different from everyone, even from my Cadieusian kin. But Mother said I was cursed by the gods and goddesses. My long curly hair and eyes are purple. Only a few truly know my appearance and identity. And only me and Mother know my power.

I don’t know how I got into Caelum Academy. Every palace and academy of different kingdoms has a barrier against us Cadieusians. And Gideon told me that Caelum Academy has the strongest barrier because it houses different races and kinds of Caelumians.

I’m sure all of this is Mother’s plan. We Cadieusians are studying how to break barriers to invade them, but until now, we’re still struggling to break them, so Mother took action. She used her power to make it look like I was a victim. The mask Mother gave me helped me hide my true identity. When I wear the mask Mother gave me, my eyes and hair turn blue. When I take it off, I go back to my original appearance. Only Cadieusians have the power of snow. She said I had to pretend I escaped the cruelty of my own kingdom.

No Cadieusian can enter and leave the barrier created by the king and queen of Caelum unless our hearts and minds despise the kingdom of Cadieus, our own kingdom.

So how did I get into this Academy? I feel anger and hatred for this world. All I want is to destroy them and take revenge on them. They weren’t fair to us. I hate them.

This is the first time Mother allowed me to leave our kingdom. All my life, I did nothing but train the power I have. All Cadieusians study at our kingdom’s academy to strengthen our forces.

The king and queen cursed our kingdom. They killed my father. They forgot us, the kingdom of Cadieus.

I will never forgive them.

I will make sure they pay. I will take everything that is rightfully ours.

She’s to blame for everything. The queen of Sataria. She took everything that should have been Mother’s. If not for her, Mother would have been the queen of Sataria. The king of Sataria, he murdered my father. It’s all their parents’ fault. I’ll make sure you suffer, Angel. You’ll pay for everything.

I opened the window of my room and looked out. The wind blew and immediately hugged my skin. Our unit is on the top floor of the dormitory, and from here I can see the vast and bright Caelum Academy. Students are scattered all around, seemingly oblivious to the things that could happen. How ironic, while our kingdom is suffering, they are free to do whatever they want. It’s so unfair. I looked up and stared at the sky. This is what I always do when I feel lonely. Even though I had my mother and friends, it feels like nothing. I can’t feel anything but emptiness.

I closed my eyes and took a deep breath. Even if the world wasn’t fair to me, I will do everything to get what’s rightfully mine.

I smiled and raised my hand like I was reaching for a star to stop myself from crying. The stars don’t shine and they aren’t bright enough to provide light in the night of darkness. But when I see them, they lighten my mood.

I remembered the book I read in the secret passage of our palace.

In ancient times, the stars didn’t fade when morning came. Because the light they brought had no brilliance. There was a princess who was brought into the world, and like a shining star, everyone looked up to her. She was the princess in the prophecy. But in an unexpected turn of events, everything changed. Fate became reckless with her.

I didn’t finish reading that book because Mother forbade it.

I want to know what happened to the princess, because since the tragedy happened, the stars have lost their sparkle and light. They only appear at night to remind everyone of the princess’ presence, but many have forgotten her.

Where could she be?

I was startled when hot tears ran down my face.

I quickly wiped my face with my hand to stop the tears from flowing. I didn’t notice I was crying.

I took a deep breath to calm myself down.

I jumped in surprise when someone knocked on my door. The royalties aren’t here now because Headmistress called them. I heard they have an unexpected visitor and they need them there.

I immediately went to the bed where my mask was and quickly put it on before going to the door.

I forced myself to smile and immediately opened the door wide.

When the serious and cold gaze of the man in front of me greeted me, I was startled.

“W-why?” Gosh! I suddenly feel nervous. I don’t know why I’m nervous about his gaze. My heart is beating so fast.

“Come with me,” he said coldly and turned his back on me.