𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐊𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐝𝐨𝐦 𝐨𝐟 𝐑𝐨𝐬𝐞 [𝐭𝐚𝐞]

1.

Y/N's POV↺

    "Ready for another night of awkward conversations and unmet family expectations?" Leung-Si asked, her voice barely escaping the constriction of her corset, a sentiment I mirrored as my own corset was tightened with equal vigor by my seamstress.

    I couldn't help but grimace at the discomfort. "No, but I did request some Tequila, so that should help," I replied, my fingers gripping the corners of my dark oak vanity, which stood parallel to my bed.

    "Do you know if The Seven plan to attend—"

    "They should maintain the distance they've always kept from our kingdom," I interjected, running my hands through my straight hair as the main seamstress made adjustments to my dress. I scrutinized my reflection, trying to muster some positivity.

    Leung-Si almost chuckled at my abrupt response. "Looks like Y/N is alive and kicking tonight," she teased, her curls bouncing as she patted her hair.

    "May I have a moment alone with my sister, please?" I requested, keeping my gaze fixed on my reflection. The head seamster and his assistants promptly gathered their materials and left my bedroom.

    The walls were painted in a soothing shade of tan, except for the chocolate brown wall behind my bed. My tall, white bed was centered against that wall, and long, flowing drapes framed it, giving the illusion of a larger sleeping area. Tall bookshelves made of recycled birch flanked my bed, housing a collection of antique artifacts and novels, with small potted plants filling any empty spaces.

    "May I ask you something?" I inquired.

    Leung-Si smiled and nodded. "Of course."

    I walked over to my birch, horseshoe-shaped desk, overlooking the vast garden through the window. It was adorned with decorations for tonight's masquerade, with bright white covers and tents providing shade from the afternoon sun. I adjusted my dress and settled into my soft white chair made of cotton; I could never bear to sit on anything made of real animal fur. Even among the Royals, it was widely acknowledged that the trend of using taxidermy and animal products for clothing or décor had faded before the war. "How did you manage to move on?" I asked.

    She frowned, carefully walking to the foot of my bed. She pushed aside the drapes, then lifted her dress just as I had. "Move on from what?" she inquired as she took a seat.

    "From the anger I feel towards The Seven. Did you use some sort of spell?" I asked.

    Leung-Si giggled, which made me blush in embarrassment. She tucked her curled locks behind her ear, her bangs framing her face perfectly.

    "I'm serious! How did you come to terms with their deaths?" I pressed.

   She took a deep breath, her gaze distant as she recalled her memories. "There's no spell, at least not that I know of. I suppose I went through the usual grieving process," she shrugged.

    "I've already done that. I know our mother is dead, and I know my brother was tortured and killed. They both sacrificed themselves to protect the rest of us," I stated. "But what about The Seven?"

    She simply smiled at me. "I couldn't prove they were responsible. There was no evidence on the battlefields, no trace of where they might have taken Hyunjin. The Seven weren't the only group present, and everything was practically obliterated in those battles. So, I asked myself: 'Why hold onto anger towards those who are innocent until proven guilty?' You're expending your energy on them, Y/N—"

    "Someone among them must have done it. Our family was as powerful as any before the First War of the World. Patriarchy was abolished, and power shifted to us in this new world we've chosen over the toxic and deadly technological world. The criticism against all of us was just a trend from the Old World."

    "I know, Y/N. Then came the competition for global dominance—"

    "And maybe that's when The Seven united to eliminate their competition. With our network of allies, our mother was a prime target," I suggested.

    "Then explain why my half-brother's body was found battered in a random river that wasn't even on our territory?" she challenged.

    I pondered for a moment, considering various possibilities. "Maybe he got in the way and tried to protect Mom—"

    "You do realize they were on different battlefields simultaneously, right?" she pointed out. "It would have been impossible for him to attempt to protect Mom."

    "Well—"

    "I understand what you mean, Y/N, I really do. But it's been two years, and you need to understand how unlikely it is that The Seven specifically targeted our family. There are plenty of other families with nearly as much power as us, each with members possessing unique abilities," she stated, rising to her feet. She chuckled at herself. "I mean, I'm sure there's another kingdom out there with a witch like me," she mused.

    She had a point. After the two Wars of the World, mystical creatures had emerged from hiding, and fantasy had become reality. A few years after I was born, my parents had tried for another child. My father had faced difficulties, and we assumed her father must have been some kind of wizard to explain Leung-Si's powers. Or perhaps the mystical abilities had skipped Hyunjin and me, passing to her through our Auntie.

    I often wondered what it would be like to wield magic, to transform into different creatures, or to levitate and fly using one's own power. Those who possessed such abilities might take them for granted, but they probably never considered the perspective of those without magic. Perhaps I shouldn't have sought shelter from the Atomic Rain during the war. Most people gained powers from the intense radiation exposure, though many had also perished.

    "You're lost in thought again, aren't you?" Leung-Si interrupted my reverie.

    I looked up to see her smirking. I smiled back, feeling somewhat embarrassed. "I sometimes forget you're a Witch of the Body," I admitted.

    "I often wonder what it's like to not have powers," she confessed.

    "No way, why?" I asked, genuinely curious.

    She sighed. "More freedom and normality. If I didn't have control over my powers like I do now, I'd likely have been executed. Despite greater acceptance for supernatural beings, life without powers or magic is simpler. Powers are like long hair: when you have it, you want to cut it short, but when it's short, you miss the length and start growing it out again."

    I was taken aback. "I've never considered it that way," I admitted.

    She stood up with a smile, fluffing her long dress, which was an unusual choice for formalwear. It was blue with a silver wallpaper design, and it stopped at her shoulders, adorned with gold trimmings. She looked stunning in it, though I knew it wasn't her typical style. "Do you think I should have gone with a suit instead of a corset?" she asked.

    I smiled with pride. "Choose whatever makes you happy."

    She smirked. "Yeah, I might go for a suit next time. Much lighter than this thing," she laughed, gesturing at the weighty frame beneath her dress.

    I giggled, getting up from my seat. "I know what you mean," I said, walking over to the mirror on the wall and scrutinizing my features once more, trying to find something to appreciate.

    "Well, I hope you find someone soon, or else Dad will be even more frustrated with you for rejecting suitors," she teased.

    I gaped at her and playfully slapped her arm. "I do not!"

    "Sure, sure! But you better find someone, or you might end up marrying one of The Seven. Since we're one of the few powerful kingdoms, we're automatically 'eligible' to marry one of them," she remarked.

    "Unfortunately, you're right," I sighed, glancing down below to see a crowd of people arriving at the palace on horseback or in carriages. Among the sea of colors, I spotted a dark cluster: seven stallions. It couldn't be The Seven, as they hadn't received an invitation, but my heart skipped a beat when I saw a dark gold mask. I knew nothing about the man behind it.

    But I couldn't help but smile to myself. I could always find out during the party.