Chapter 2

“Just wait. I’ll come to you myself to collect what you owe me. I’ll never forget what you did to me,” she said, her voice cold and resolute.

She crumpled the letter and tossed it into the glass of water on her desk before stirring it. The water quickly turned black as the ink bled from the paper until it completely disintegrated.

Gaia rose to her feet and took the hunting knife hanging on the wall of her tent. She drew its blade against a whetstone, sharpening it with steady, practiced strokes.

She had to be ready at all times.

With each passing day, the dangers lurking within Dooms Gate grew greater. More and more people wanted her dead. She could no longer tell who among those around her deserved her trust. In the end, the only things she could rely on were her weapon and her own abilities.

She was still sharpening the knife when Trey entered the tent once again.

“Premier, the two strangers you ordered us to bring are waiting outside,” he reported respectfully.

“Let them in,” she replied without taking her eyes off the blade.

“Yes, Premier.”

As soon as Trey stepped outside, Gaia stood and returned the knife to its sheath.

“Tana!”

The two voices rang out in unison, stopping her in her tracks.

She looked toward the entrance and saw the two strangers standing there, both wearing relieved smiles as they stared at her.

“At last... we’ve finally found you,” said the man she had rescued first.

He started toward her, but froze when Gaia suddenly threw the knife in her hand. The blade buried itself into the ground directly in front of him.

“T-Tana...” he stammered, unable to believe she had thrown a knife at him.

“Who are you, and what are you doing in Forbideria?” she asked, her voice sharp and unwavering.

“Tana, don’t you recognize us? I’m Zeus, and this is Aurus. We’ve come to take you back to the kingdom. We’ve searched for you for so long, and fate finally led us here. Please, Tana, come with us. Let’s leave this place and return to our kingdom. You are the rightful queen of Maleferia, and your kingdom needs you.”

Gaia’s suspicions had been correct.

The two strangers had come to Forbideria because of her twin.

For two years, Tana had lived beside her in Forbideria, and Gaia knew everything her sister had endured outside the kingdom. Tana had also told her about Maleferia’s royal crest, and the same emblem was embroidered on the strangers’ clothing.

“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” Gaia replied. “Leave, and don’t ever come back. I don’t give second chances, so take advantage of the fact that I’m allowing you to leave alive.”

She knew keeping Tana from leaving was selfish.

But she wasn’t ready to lose her yet.

Tana was the only family she had left. If she lost her too, she would once again be alone—with no one to listen to the burdens she had carried all her life.

Even so, Gaia still thought about Tana’s safety. She had no idea how much longer she could hide her sister’s identity within Forbideria, especially now that enemies lurked in the shadows, waiting for the chance to kill her.

“We’re not leaving without you, Tana,” Zeus declared firmly. “We’re taking you back to Maleferia.”

“I know no kingdom other than Forbideria. Whatever kingdom you’re talking about, I don’t belong there.” Her voice remained calm but final. “I’ll say it one last time. The two of you may leave.”

“Tana—”

“She isn’t Tana, Zeus.”

Aurus cut him off.

Since entering the tent, Aurus had not taken his eyes off Gaia. Only now did he speak, having reached the conclusion that the woman before them was not Tana.

Privately, Gaia found herself impressed by the keen perception of the second man she had rescued at the Hell Entrance.

From the moment he saw her, he had realized she wasn’t the twin they were looking for.

She couldn’t afford to underestimate him. His ability to read people and assess situations with such precision was a dangerous strength.

“Now that you have your answer, you should leave. I’m not the person you’re looking for.”

Gaia walked toward the two men.

When she was about a meter away, she bent down and picked up the knife she had thrown earlier. The two simply watched her, seemingly waiting to see what she would do next.

She had no intention of hurting them.

Turning her back on them, she headed for her desk.

“Wait, Tana!” Zeus called after her.

He grabbed her by the arm to stop her.

Gaia reacted instantly.

She seized his arm in return, shifted her weight, and with one swift motion threw him hard onto the ground.

A muffled groan escaped him before she released her grip.

He had no right to touch her.

No one touched her without her permission.

“I’ve been asking you to leave peacefully,” she said coldly. “Don’t blame me for what happens next.”

Then she raised her voice.

“Trey! Get in here!”

The guard entered just as Zeus climbed back to his feet.

“Take these two away and lock them up,” Gaia ordered authoritatively. “Don’t give them any food. Let them go hungry until they’re the ones begging to leave this place.”

“At once, Premier! I’ll call for more guards.”

“That’s not necessary,” Zeus interrupted. “We’ll walk to your prison ourselves.”

His gaze remained fixed on Gaia.

“But first, I want to know why you’re wearing Tana’s face. Who are you? And why are you using her appearance?”

Throughout the exchange, Aurus remained silent, his eyes never leaving Gaia.

“That’s none of your concern,” Gaia answered dismissively. “Take them away, Trey. They’re interfering with my work.”

She turned back toward her desk, but stopped when Aurus finally spoke.

“Do you often feel a tightness in your chest? Do you struggle to breathe?”

Gaia didn’t answer.

Instead, she looked at him.

His face remained completely expressionless. His eyes were calm and unreadable, yet there was unmistakable concern in his voice as he continued.

“If my observations are correct, you’ve been suffering from an unusual illness for quite some time. You need treatment as soon as possible.”

He paused briefly before delivering the final warning.

“If you don’t... that illness will kill you.”