Queen Elara was standing alone in a big room at night. She had a glass in her hand and was slowly drinking from it.
Then the door of the room opened. Elara quickly placed the glass on the nearby table and saw her father standing in front of her. He looked weak and tired, but slowly came inside the room.
"Elara, you should pay attention to something."
Elara ran to him, held his hand, and asked,
"Father, are you okay now?"
"Yes, my child, but there is a promise… that you will complete."
"Elara: A promise? What kind of promise?"
"Daughter, don't refuse. I made this with my friend."
"Elara: You tell me, I will definitely complete it."
"I had promised your engagement with the son of the King of the Dravaria Empire, Draelon the Second, when you were a child. But after a few days, the news came that his son had died. Now his son has returned."
Elara was shocked to hear this. She stepped back and said,
"No, I cannot marry. I do not like being tied down."
"Daughter…"
"Elara: No, Father, you are wrong."
"Okay… think about it. He is now a strong spiritual master. He will be with you in every step and will make your every dream come true."
"Elara: No, Father, I am capable myself. How can you do this?"
"I do not know why you want to live like this, dear daughter. But he will soon come to our kingdom. Act like a guest in front of him."
"Elara: I do not want to be a puppet. I am a queen… a queen."
Saying this, she left the room proudly.
Elara's father groaned in pain and placed his hand on the nearby table. The wobbly table made the glass fall—the same glass that was in Elara's hand a while ago.
Seeing the wine spill on the floor, he murmured,
"When did she learn to drink this? Is she living just for show?"
The whole Everila Empire was filled with happiness. People believed that everything was now safe — that there was no such thing as the Dark World anymore. There were celebrations in the markets, and relief could be seen on everyone's faces.
Still, it was surprising that some people were caught stealing and robbing in the name of the Dark World — fear and greed never truly end.
It had been only seven days since Yuar was captured, but her name still echoed quietly in people's minds.
On the other side, in the Dravaria Empire, there was no peace — a dark plan was growing. Wearing black clothes, Draelon the Second was having a secret meeting with his minister Veron and his commander Malrik. The room was dimly lit with torches, and seriousness could be seen on all their faces.
Inside Draelon's mind, a cruel conspiracy was forming — to destroy Elara and take over the Everila Empire. His plan was evil and terrifying. He said, "First, I will trap her in my love. I will tie bells to her feet and make her dance to my tune — then, with the strike of my whip, I will make Everila my own."
Minister Veron trembled — not only with fear but also with helplessness. He was a great scholar and knew Elara's strategies very well. But fear kept him standing there like a silent witness.
Draelon the Second leaned close to his commander Malrik and whispered, "Tomorrow, I will leave for the Everila Empire. The preparations and management are your responsibility."
Commander Malrik bowed his head in fear and replied, "Yes, our prince."
That single decision left the cold night filled with the sound of a dark conspiracy.
In the Everila Empire, that night, Queen Elara ordered two of her soldiers to capture a young man. The soldiers brought the young man tied up in a sack and left him in a room before the Queen.Those two soldiers were Queen Elara's most trusted men.
With a small gesture of her hand, Elara told the soldiers to leave. They quietly stepped out of the room. Then Elara opened a bottle of wine and poured it into her glass. After that, with another wave of her hand, she used her spiritual power to lock the door.
She took a slow sip from her glass and walked toward the sack. When she opened it, there was a young man inside — trembling with fear.
He screamed, "I didn't do anything! Please let me go!"
Elara whispered softly, "Don't be afraid, you are very lucky."
A few moments later, the door opened again. Elara came out — her face completely expressionless. She signaled to the two soldiers with her hand.
The soldiers went inside, lifted the young man's lifeless body, and quietly carried it out.
Moments later, they threw him into the river that flowed beside the royal palace — the dark water swallowed the truth of that night forever.