《Descendants of the General Sorcerer》 Chapter 1 My father was the most skilled fortune-teller in the world. His predictions were never wrong. The most famous instance was when the capital city endured three days of continuous rain. My father predicted that on that very night, a fire would break out in an alley on the eastern side of the city. Nobody believed him. In fact, many bet against his prediction, using their money to prove him wrong. The ten households in that alley joined forces. They extinguished all lanterns, avoided lighting candles, and were determined to discredit my father¡¯s reputation. But as the hour of midnight approached, just as the third watch of the night was announced, a massive fire erupted at the end of the alley. Fortunately, everyone had prepared for the worst, so a major disaster was averted. It was later revealed that the incident stemmed from a romantic affair. A young lady had arranged a secret meeting with her lover at midnight. Normally, the two relied on the light from lanterns hanging under the eaves. But since all the lights were extinguished that night, they lit their own lantern to see each other. A strong gust of wind knocked over the lantern, and the fire quickly spread. The lover fled, leaving the young lady disgraced and heartbroken. Rumors and gossip spread, tarnishing her reputation completely. In her despair, she came to my father. At first, my father thought she was there to confront him, but instead, she came with a generous gift to thank him. She said his prediction allowed her to see the true nature of her unfaithful lover, saving her from a life of suffering. That was how my father first met my mother. They spent over a decade together, deeply in love and completely trusting one another. During those years, my father gave up fortune-telling, refusing to make predictions for anyone, whether they were powerful officials or extraordinary individuals. But when I was ten years old, my mother passed away suddenly from an illness. It struck like lightning on a clear day. Before the medicine brewing on the stove could even be finished, she was gone.This narrative has been purloined without the author''s approval. Report any appearances on Amazon. On her deathbed, she left the four of us sisters with eight words of advice: ¡°Do not be consumed by schemes; do not be enslaved by magic.¡± Among the four of us, three inherited the gift of fortune-telling, except for our youngest sister. After our mother¡¯s death, my father became a completely different person. He fell into deep despair for half a month before returning to his old profession of reading fortunes for others. For over a decade, my father¡¯s name had faded into obscurity. Yet now, he carried himself with an arrogance that surpassed anything from his past. He didn¡¯t just foretell the future; he dared to proclaim life and death. He often said that such knowledge was a divine secret, not to be shared. I began to suspect that my father no longer cared about his own survival. For five years, he built his reputation as the greatest seer alive, leveraging the lives and fates of countless people. And then, at the end of those five years, the man he had been waiting for finally arrived. The man was around fifty, with piercing eyes and a heavy fur-lined cloak draped over his shoulders. A retinue of attendants followed close behind¡ªstoic, sharp-featured individuals with deliberate, calculated movements. Each one carried an air of importance, their focus unshakable. The man spoke with authority: ¡°The kingdom is in turmoil, the court riddled with schemes and intrigue. Can you divine who will claim the throne when all is said and done?¡± My father laid four coins on the table and said, ¡°The destiny of the crown lies with one of these four.¡± There was little in the world that my father did not know. When my mother was alive, he used his talents only to amuse her. She¡¯d ask him about trivial matters¡ªthe price of grain, the timing of rain, or the first snowfall of the season. He¡¯d chuckle softly, shaking his head, and ask, ¡°Why don¡¯t you ask me something more significant?¡± But she would just sit under the porch, watching snowflakes flutter, her hands warming over the hearth, and reply: ¡°What is significant? Should I care who becomes the next king?¡± One day, as a child, I was running through the courtyard with a branch of blooming plum blossoms in hand when I overheard my father¡¯s reply: ¡°Fair enough. Many have asked me the same. The future king will be one of these four: Prince Alaric, Lord Chancellor Corwin, General Elias, or Duke Rowan.¡± Five years later, my father repeated those very names. And that prophecy became our doom. The one who ordered our imprisonment was none other than the reigning king himself, a man who demanded one answer alone: his son, the Crown Prince. The king accused my father of spreading treasonous lies to sow unrest and decreed our family¡¯s execution. But under the cover of darkness, the king himself crept into the dungeons. He demanded my father reveal the name of the rightful heir to the throne.
Chapter 2 My father sat on the cold stone floor, his face hidden by his disheveled hair, his frail body as thin as a withered branch. ¡°My daughter, the one who carries my blood, can predict the fate of her future husband,¡± he said. After speaking, he closed his eyes for a long time, as if coming to some grim decision. The king looked around and asked, ¡°Which one of you is his daughter?¡± In the dim prison, my eldest and second sisters remained calm, unshaken. I sat in a shadowy corner, my mind slightly adrift. Beside me, my youngest sister clung to my arm, trembling. ¡°Third sister, I don¡¯t know what to do,¡± she whispered, her voice barely audible. She was only fifteen, freshly of age, timid since childhood. Ten years ago, when my mother and I were descending from a temple after offering prayers, rain poured suddenly. A beggar child chasing a stray dog slipped into the mud, blocking the path of our carriage. At a single glance, I urged my mother to help. That child became my youngest sister, and since then, she had been closer to me than anyone else. I cupped her face and made her look directly at me. ¡°Trust me. You¡¯ll be fine,¡± I said firmly. ¡°Really?¡± I squeezed her hand gently to reassure her. ¡°Of course. You know I wouldn¡¯t lie.¡± We were brought before the king. ¡°So, that¡¯s it,¡± he mused, eyeing us with mild amusement. ¡°Four names, and it turns out he has four daughters.¡± My father¡¯s surname was Myles, and he¡¯d named us simply after the seasons: Spring, Summer, Autumn, and Winter. The king questioned each of us in turn, asking our names and the nature of our gifts. The first to answer was my eldest sister, Myles Spring. ¡°I can see the goodness or wickedness in people¡¯s hearts,¡± she said. The king scoffed. ¡°Good and evil? Even if you claim to know, how could anyone prove it?¡±Stolen content warning: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences. Next was my second sister, Myles Summer. ¡°I can foresee how long a person will live,¡± she replied. Intrigued, the king leaned forward. ¡°Then tell me, how long will I live?¡± She bowed her head respectfully. ¡°Your Majesty, you will live forever in glory.¡± Unimpressed, he frowned. ¡°You dare not give me a real answer? Then look around this chamber and point out the one whose death is nearest. Let¡¯s see if your claim holds any merit.¡± Straightening her back, she scanned the room before slowly raising her hand to point toward a corner. ¡°Him,¡± she said. The king followed her gaze and furrowed his brow. ¡°Him?¡± It was an unremarkable guard, pale and visibly shaken as he dropped to his knees. His hands trembled, his face drained of color. I knelt beside my sister and glanced toward the man. The sight stunned me: his hand was creeping toward his boot, where a dagger was hidden. The king began walking toward him, but before he could get close, the guard leapt to his feet, a flash of steel in his hand. ¡°Assassin!¡± The chamber erupted into chaos. Acting on instinct, I grabbed a handful of dirt from the floor and hurled it into the man¡¯s face, momentarily blinding him. Seizing the king¡¯s sword from its sheath, I thrust it into the assassin¡¯s chest with both hands, driving it straight through. The man¡¯s eyes widened in shock, blood dripping from the blade as his body slumped to the ground. It was the first time I had killed someone. I drew a deep breath, trying to steady myself, then turned to face the king. Before I could meet his gaze, my eyes caught my youngest sister¡¯s expression¡ªwide-eyed and horrified. She was clinging to the king as if to shield him, trembling uncontrollably. By contrast, my eldest and second sisters, who were closer to the scene, remained composed and still. Their calmness helped me regain my own. I dropped the sword and returned to my knees. The king glanced at my youngest sister, clinging to him, then coldly pushed her aside and approached me. ¡°What is your name?¡± he asked. ¡°Myles Autumn,¡± I replied. ¡°Do you know how to fight?¡± ¡°No, Your Majesty.¡± He crouched closer, his sharp eyes boring into mine. ¡°Then what was that just now?¡± I raised my head to meet his gaze. ¡°I have a gift, Your Majesty. I can foresee death. When I look at someone, I see the moment of their demise.¡± The answer clearly caught him off guard. I extended my hand, blood dripping from a deep cut made by the blade. ¡°This was my first time wielding a sword. I simply acted on instinct.¡± The king studied my wounded hand, then picked up the bloodied sword, turning it slowly in his grip. ¡°If that¡¯s true¡­ can you also see how I will die?¡± ¡°You will live a long and prosperous life, Your Majesty,¡± I replied. The king gave a faint, skeptical smile, his gaze shifting toward my youngest sister. Panicked, she dropped to her knees. ¡°Your Majesty¡­ I....I¡­¡± My eldest sister stepped forward. ¡°Your Majesty, she is our youngest. She was adopted and has no talent for prophecy.¡± The king tilted her chin up with the tip of the sword, forcing her to look at him. ¡°So, she¡¯s here just to fill out the numbers,¡± he muttered with a smirk. Chapter 3 My youngest sister, Winter, struggled to her feet, trembling so violently that her voice quavered. ¡°Y-Your Majesty,¡± she stammered. The king¡¯s cold gaze swept over my eldest sister, Spring, and my second sister, Summer, before settling on me. ¡°I don¡¯t believe you,¡± he said, his voice sharp. ¡°If you are truly as gifted as you claim, tell me this: will I kill her?¡± Of course not. From the very first moment I met Winter, I had foreseen her death. In that vision, she was dressed in the robes of a queen, her face twisted with rage as she lunged at another woman with a dagger. But before the strike could land, an arrow came from nowhere, piercing her chest. She collapsed to her knees, and the other woman, as if expecting the moment, pulled a hairpin from her crown and drove it into Winter¡¯s throat. Keeping my expression calm, I replied, ¡°You will not kill her, Your Majesty.¡± The words had barely left my lips when the blade plunged into Winter¡¯s chest. She gasped, clutching at the wound, her fingers slick with blood as it seeped through them. Falling to her knees, she collapsed forward onto the cold stone. The king withdrew his sword, wiped the blood from his hands, and spoke with icy finality. ¡°Take her to the palace and see that she¡¯s treated. If she dies, kill the rest of them as well.¡±
Two months later, my sisters and I were summoned to the palace. Rumors swirled that Winter had fully recovered and now served at the king¡¯s side day and night. It was even said she had clashed with one of the royal concubines. Today, the king had not only summoned us but also the four men my father had once predicted would contend for the throne. He intended to arrange our marriages. At the far end of the grand hall, four men sat in a row, each exuding nobility and confidence. Tall embroidered screens divided the space, but through the gaps, we could glimpse their faces. From left to right sat two young men¡ªthe Crown Prince and a general, both around eighteen or nineteen. The general had a commanding presence, while the Crown Prince was composed and regal. Next was the chancellor, a sharp-featured and handsome man. Lastly, at the far right, was the king¡¯s half-brother, Duke Rowan, older and more reserved.Stolen novel; please report. Spring and Summer whispered to each other, leaving me alone. They had kept their distance from me for years, treating me like an irredeemable sinner. Soon, the king entered, taking his seat at the head of the hall. ¡°I want to see which of you sisters has the best eye for character,¡± he declared. Winter followed closely behind him, dressed in finery. Spotting us behind the screens, she quickly ran to my side. ¡°Autumn,¡± she whispered, clutching my hand. I took her hand in mine, using the moment to feel her pulse. Her injury had indeed healed completely. A wound that severe should have claimed half her life, even for someone trained in combat. ¡°Autumn,¡± she murmured, leaning in close, ¡°the king is letting us choose first.¡± She glanced nervously at me. ¡°But if we let Spring and Summer choose first¡ª¡± I cut her off. ¡°We must let them go first. That way, we¡¯ll learn what we need to know.¡± She hesitated. ¡°You mean whoever Spring chooses will have good character, and whoever Summer chooses will live a long life. But doesn¡¯t that mean the ones left for us will be wicked or doomed?¡± I turned my gaze to the four men across the hall. ¡°Wicked men can still triumph, and short lives can still leave lasting legacies. What matters is knowing your strengths and weaknesses.¡± Winter fidgeted, torn between impatience and fear. She wanted to choose first but lacked the insight to know whom to pick. ¡°Trust me,¡± I told her. Spring was the first to stand. Taking a jade token from the servant¡¯s tray, she walked around the screen and presented it to the Duke, Rowan. The hall murmured in surprise. The Crown Prince, renowned for his kindness and humility, seemed the obvious choice. Three years ago, he had personally led relief efforts in the southern provinces, even slaughtering his own horse to feed the starving. Yet Spring had chosen the Duke, a steadfast supporter of the Crown Prince but known for his reserved and calculating nature. Her choice spoke volumes: the Duke was a man of integrity. That was all I needed to remember. The Duke accepted the token, a flicker of surprise crossing his face before he composed himself. His wife, already a duchess, would have little reason to be concerned about an additional bride. Next was Summer. She chose the Crown Prince. That meant he was destined to live the longest. She placed her token on the table before him, but the Crown Prince did not even raise a hand to accept it. His face remained stoic, as if the exchange had never occurred. It was my turn. As I rose, Winter clung to my sleeve, her voice breaking as she knelt before me. ¡°Sister, don¡¯t go! What should I do? Please, tell me¡ªwho will have the best fate?¡± I froze, caught in her desperate plea. I couldn¡¯t tell her. Chapter 4 From the first glance, I didn¡¯t see their faces¡ªI saw their deaths. It was both terrifying and strange. As the four men sat conversing, I saw it all: One would die of starvation, the scene staged to look like a hanging. Another would be run through with a sword from behind. One would perish amidst the mournful cries echoing through the royal palace. And the last would be poisoned, forced to follow the king to the grave. I couldn¡¯t speak of it. Just as I couldn¡¯t tell Winter that one day, I might be the one to kill her. How could I say such a thing? Especially since, in every vision, I was always there when they died. Yet here, in this moment, if I didn¡¯t speak, she wouldn¡¯t relent. Even the palace attendants had started to take notice, though they didn¡¯t interrupt. I understood¡ªit was what the king wanted. ¡°Stop crying. I¡¯ll tell you,¡± I said after a long pause, my resolve firm. ¡°Choose the chancellor, Corwin.¡± Her sobs ceased immediately. Her voice turned icy. ¡°Autumn, should I trust you?¡± She wiped her tears with the back of her hand, her expression blank as she stood tall, took the jade token, and turned to leave. She moved quickly, as if trying to claim my turn before I could stop her. I reached for her sleeve, but she slipped away, and two attendants stepped between us. ¡°His Majesty has granted Lady Winter the right to choose first,¡± they said. It all became clear. From the moment she sat beside me, she had calculated her move to deceive me and win my trust. She had played me perfectly. Winter didn¡¯t believe me. She didn¡¯t choose the chancellor. Instead, she gave her token to the young general, Elias. Elias stiffened the moment she approached, his fingers twitching slightly. He neither accepted the token nor looked at her. His gaze moved past the screen, locking on me, his expression unreadable.Unauthorized duplication: this tale has been taken without consent. Report sightings. He was the only one of the four men not yet married. He cared for me. The ancestral home of Elias¡¯s family was in the eastern district of the city, abandoned for years. When I was ten, I¡¯d climbed the wall chasing a parrot that had escaped its cage. That was when I first met him. He climbed a tree and caught the bird for me. Three years later, after my mourning period ended, we met again. It was summer, by the lake. Amidst the vibrant green leaves and crimson blooms, he rowed his boat toward mine and handed me a lotus flower. The pale pink petals quivered gently, a beauty that left me breathless. If not for Winter¡¯s schemes, I had planned to choose Elias. I picked up the jade token, tracing its smooth edges with my fingers. After hesitating, I rose and stepped out. As I passed the Crown Prince, he lifted his teacup and spoke. ¡°Those who have been chosen may also choose again.¡± His meaning was clear¡ªhe wanted me to pick him. Since my father¡¯s death, my sisters and I were the last of the seers, and my unique gift made me an invaluable ally. If I pledged loyalty to the Crown Prince, I could become his most trusted advisor. Across the hall, Elias accidentally bumped the table, making a small noise. If I chose Elias now, the world would think it was because I had calculated his destiny as the future king. That would only put a target on his back, marking him as a threat to the royal family. But choosing the Crown Prince would tie me to Summer¡¯s abilities, making any lie I told harder to sustain and pulling me into dangerous court intrigue. I walked past them both, stopping before the chancellor, Corwin. He sipped his tea, his gaze steady as he glanced up at me and silently accepted the token. I had chosen him. A choice neither remarkable nor damning. The king arranged our marriages one by one. Elias refused several times, earning the king¡¯s scorn before finally agreeing. Spring and Summer were made secondary consorts. Winter became the general¡¯s wife, and I was named the chancellor¡¯s concubine.
At the palace gates, Elias followed after me. Corwin, ever perceptive, stepped aside, allowing us to speak privately. ¡°Autumn,¡± Elias began, his voice strained. ¡°What happened today¡ªit wasn¡¯t my choice. Even if I marry her, I won¡¯t¡ª¡± I cut him off sharply. ¡°General, we are both bound by marriage now. Please don¡¯t say such things to me.¡± He fell silent, disappointment flickering in his eyes. Winter approached swiftly from behind. ¡°Sister, are you worried about my feelings?¡± she said mockingly. ¡°What does it matter if I let you have him? He¡¯s just a man. What I want isn¡¯t him¡ªit¡¯s the future power he represents.¡± Her gaze shifted to Elias, cold and possessive, as though he were a prize she had claimed. ¡°If you want, we can work together. Even if I¡¯m his wife, I won¡¯t overstep my place.¡± Elias turned away, his hand clenched tightly behind his back. ¡°No need,¡± I said, meeting her gaze firmly. ¡°You¡¯re better suited to these games than I am.¡± I had no intention of joining forces with her¡ªor fighting over him. Chapter 5 That evening, I moved into the chancellor¡¯s estate. Corwin and his wife had been married for three years, their bond deep and unwavering. There were no concubines or servants in his household, and it was clear he had no interest in changing that. The king granted a ten-day leave for newlyweds. Corwin visited my room only on the first night. He sat in silence for what felt like half a cup of tea¡¯s time before finally speaking. ¡°I¡¯ve heard about what happened in the prison,¡± he began, his voice measured. ¡°The Myles family, descendants of seers, known for your ability to foresee death. Even the Crown Prince has shown interest in keeping you close. Yet today, you chose me. I can only assume it was out of necessity.¡± I met his gaze calmly. ¡°I¡¯ve made my choice,¡± I said. ¡°If you have something to ask, ask directly. If it¡¯s about a prediction, I won¡¯t refuse.¡± He lowered his head slightly, brushing the froth from his tea with the lid of his cup. ¡°How will I die?¡± The vision struck me instantly: He stood amidst a pool of blood, sword in hand. Before him was a woman, her eyes wild with fury. Suddenly, a blade pierced him from behind, striking through his heart. I hesitated, then answered slowly, ¡°Do you truly wish to know? Once spoken, a fate often fulfills itself.¡± When he didn¡¯t stop me, I continued, ¡°You will die from a blade through the heart.¡± His fingers trembled slightly as he set down his tea. ¡°Who?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know,¡± I replied, lowering my voice. ¡°I only saw the act¡ªsomeone struck from behind, and you weren¡¯t prepared. Perhaps you should be cautious of those closest to you.¡± He sat silently for a long time, repeating my words under his breath. ¡°Those closest to me¡­¡± Then he looked out the window, his hand clenched into a fist. ¡°I have no ambitions to seize the throne. All I want is a quiet life with Arianne.¡± For the remaining nine days, he didn¡¯t set foot in my room again, which suited me just fine. The political landscape was volatile. The Crown Prince held the strongest claim to the throne, with control over the city¡¯s elite guard. Duke Rowan had the support of the royal family and his stronghold in Yenswick, where his private forces were well-trained.This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road. If you spot it on Amazon, please report it. General Elias¡¯s father commanded the northern armies¡ªa force of two hundred thousand soldiers stationed at the border for over a decade. In comparison, Corwin seemed insignificant. Though he came from a noble lineage¡ªhis family a union of two powerful houses¡ªhe lacked military power. However, he had passed the royal exams at a young age, rising as a leader among reformist nobles in the court. With his striking appearance and refined manner, he was the picture of a gentleman. Yet appearances alone couldn¡¯t make him one of the four contenders. Until I met his wife. Arianne, the only daughter of the Duke of Braedon, was a woman of quiet elegance. Her father was not only a founder of the kingdom but also a sworn brother to the first king. He had been granted the rare privilege of maintaining his own private army¡ªa force that would pass to Arianne¡¯s son if she had one. The first time I saw her, she was seated at a desk, her chin resting on one hand as she wrote. A golden bracelet on her wrist caught the light, accentuating her delicate hands. A vision struck me: Flames engulfed the estate, the sky glowing an ominous red. She collapsed at the desk, blood staining her gown. With her last strength, she handed me a letter and removed the bracelet from her wrist¡­ ¡°Are you the third daughter of the Myles family?¡± she asked, snapping me back to reality. ¡°Yes,¡± I replied with a polite smile. Arianne was warm and composed. She spoke to me as if we were old friends, offering me a large box of pearls from the Eastern Sea as a gift. ¡°My husband has always been considerate,¡± she said lightly. ¡°I hope you¡¯ll forgive his coldness after taking you into our home.¡± ¡°It doesn¡¯t matter,¡± I replied. ¡°The chancellor clearly values you. I¡¯ve long since given my heart to another, so I take no offense.¡± She paused briefly before laughing. ¡°I heard from my husband that you caught the attention of both the Crown Prince and General Elias. He said you chose him only out of necessity. I assumed he was exaggerating.¡± I said nothing, letting the silence speak for itself. Noticing her slip, she softened her tone. ¡°Miss Myles, it feels too distant to call you that. Please, call me Arianne.¡± In the days that followed, Arianne treated me with increasing kindness, often inviting me to share breakfast with her. Whenever Corwin joined us, I would quietly excuse myself, finding solace in the uneasy harmony of our lives. Ten days later, Corwin escorted me to the palace. On the way, we crossed paths with the other three couples. Spring and Duke Rowan maintained a formal distance, their relationship more akin to allies than lovers. Summer and the Crown Prince resembled master and servant. Corwin and I appeared cordial but distant. In contrast, Elias and Winter made no attempt to hide their mutual disdain, their rivalry evident in every glance. The king greeted us, asking a few trivial questions about our lives before dismissing our husbands. Only the four of us sisters remained. ¡°Can you guess,¡± he asked sharply, ¡°who will be the next ruler?¡± To protect ourselves, we each declared that the man we chose was destined for the throne. The king erupted into a fit of coughing, furious at our evasiveness. ¡°Get out of my sight!¡± he bellowed, slumping back into his chair. As we turned to leave, his voice rang out once more. ¡°Wait. Winter and Autumn¡ªstay behind.¡± Chapter 6 ¡°The other two are irrelevant,¡± the king said, his tone sharp. ¡°Myles Autumn, didn¡¯t you want to choose General Elias that day?¡± I answered calmly, ¡°Your Majesty, I told my younger sister she should choose Chancellor Corwin. The palace attendants can confirm it. She misunderstood my intentions.¡± Winter immediately retorted, her voice firm and resolute. ¡°That¡¯s a lie, Your Majesty! She tried to trick me into making the wrong choice. The one she truly wanted to pick was General Elias!¡± I lifted my head, meeting the king¡¯s gaze. ¡°Your Majesty, if you believe that a seer would lie, then nothing I say¡ªnothing even my father said¡ªshould ever have been trusted.¡± The king¡¯s brow furrowed. ¡°Why wouldn¡¯t you lie? You clearly said that I¡­¡± A teacup flew through the air, shattering inches from Winter¡¯s face. Shards of porcelain scattered across the floor, and one sharp fragment nicked her cheek, drawing a thin line of blood. She didn¡¯t flinch. Instead, she straightened her posture, dabbing the blood away with a trembling hand before falling silent, realizing she¡¯d spoken out of turn. The king waved her away coldly, and she was escorted out.
The king descended the steps slowly, his measured pace accompanied by an even steadier voice. ¡°In the prison, I learned what you and your sister have been hiding.¡± He paused, letting the weight of his words settle. ¡°If eternal life were truly possible, I wouldn¡¯t have needed to seek out your father. I won¡¯t ask her again. Tell me, how will I die?¡± A bloodstained handkerchief dropped to the floor in front of me. I looked down at it, my expression calm, my voice steady. ¡°Your Majesty, you should know¡ªI am perfectly capable of lying.¡± I lifted my gaze to meet his, unflinching. The king stopped, his face hardening. Ignoring his reaction, I stood without waiting for permission. ¡°Your Majesty, I demonstrated my ability clearly in the prison. No one¡ªnot even an emperor¡ªis exempt from fate. If you want me to predict your future, it will take more than a simple command. There must be an exchange of equal value.¡±This novel''s true home is a different platform. Support the author by finding it there. I took a step back, watching him carefully. ¡°Of course, you could kill me. Kill my entire family, even. But you won¡¯t get a single truth from my lips if you do.¡± The king¡¯s eyes narrowed. ¡°What is it you want? Speak plainly.¡± I tilted my head slightly. ¡°I want to know how my younger sister¡¯s wound was healed.¡± His expression flickered, surprised at my modest request. After a brief pause, he exhaled and explained, ¡°Her heart is located in an unusual position¡ªnot on either side of her chest, but at the center, slightly higher, near the throat. That¡¯s why, despite the severity of her injury, it wasn¡¯t fatal.¡± I instinctively touched my own throat, murmuring under my breath, ¡°So that¡¯s it.¡± The realization chilled me. The woman in my vision¡ªthe one holding the golden hairpin¡ªwas undeniably me. The king¡¯s gaze turned cold as he studied my reaction. ¡°Now it¡¯s your turn,¡± he said. I raised three fingers solemnly, my voice unwavering. ¡°Your Majesty, I swear on my mother¡¯s soul in heaven, what I say now is the absolute truth¡­¡±
When I exited the hall, Elias was waiting near the door. Seeing me, he immediately approached. ¡°Are you all right?¡± he asked, his tone laced with concern. I shook my head slightly, indicating there was nothing to worry about. Not far away, Corwin stood silently, his expression composed. My elder sisters and their husbands were also waiting, none of them having left yet. Moments later, a court attendant emerged to deliver a message: Winter would be staying in the palace overnight. All three husbands turned to look at Elias. He glanced at them one by one, then shrugged nonchalantly. ¡°Why are you looking at me? I¡¯m not the one staying behind.¡± Corwin glanced briefly at him before addressing me. ¡°You may return to the estate on your own. I¡¯ll leave first.¡± With that, he walked away. Spring and Summer followed soon after, though Summer cast one last glance in my direction before departing. I climbed into Elias¡¯s carriage. The first thing he said was, ¡°My marriage to Winter is purely in name.¡± I lowered my head slightly, my voice neutral. ¡°I know. She belongs to the king.¡± He retrieved an ornate food box, carefully lifting a pastry with a silk handkerchief and offering it to me. ¡°Even if she didn¡¯t, once my father returns from the north, I¡¯ll annul the marriage.¡± I took the pastry from his hand, speaking softly. ¡°Your father is leading the northern army, while you, your mother, and grandmother remain in the capital. Now that she¡¯s married to you, the king will certainly use her to keep you in check. You should limit your correspondence with the north.¡± Elias watched as I bit into the pastry, a satisfied smile tugging at the corner of his lips. ¡°Nonsense,¡± he said lightly. ¡°I¡¯ve heard you and your sisters can predict your husbands¡¯ fates. Is that true?¡± ¡°It is,¡± I replied between bites. He extended his hand suddenly. ¡°Then can you tell mine?¡± I paused, still chewing, and replied casually, ¡°I don¡¯t read palms. But just by looking at your face, I can tell you¡¯re destined for wealth and prosperity.¡± He chuckled, amused. ¡°My father believes in such things too. He once brought me to a seer who said I carried the destiny of a dragon. Do you think that¡¯s true?¡± I set the pastry down, wiping my mouth with a napkin before meeting his gaze. ¡°Destinies are complicated. Even the best seers aren¡¯t always right.¡± He folded the napkin neatly, tucking it into his coat. ¡°Then tell me what you see.¡± Chapter 7 "The first factor is fate itself," I began. "Those with a strong destiny¡ªbalanced traits, a natural alignment with the elements¡ªtend to seize opportunities, making their futures easier to predict. On the other hand, those with weak destinies¡ªimbalanced traits, a passive nature¡ªare much harder to foresee." "And the second?" Elias asked, his curiosity evident. I leaned back, a small smile tugging at my lips. "The second is proximity. Even I can¡¯t predict my own fate. The closer someone is to you, the harder it is to read them accurately." I stood and took a seat beside him, leaning in to meet his gaze directly. "My father once said that the closer a seer becomes to someone, the more they use their abilities for that person, the greater the chance they may alter their fate entirely." Elias seemed caught off guard by my proximity, his eyes flicking to mine. "Like this?" he asked, his voice softer now. I chuckled behind my hand. "Not exactly. Only relationships like parent and child, husband and wife, or blood relatives are close enough to influence fate. For example, my mother¡¯s life was meant to last a century, but my father¡¯s interference cut it short¡ªshe didn¡¯t even live to see thirty." I moved back to my seat and pushed the curtain aside, glancing out at the streets. "This isn¡¯t the right route," I remarked. Elias cleared his throat. "I had them take a detour," he replied, his tone steady but guarded. "Did you ever meet my mother?" I asked, still watching the streets pass by. He hesitated, surprised by the sudden change in topic. "I didn¡¯t, but she must have been a remarkable woman." "Perhaps your father met her," I said lightly, turning to face him. "My mother once lived near your family¡¯s ancestral home. Nineteen years ago, a great fire swept through that area. It caused your family to move. Who knows? Maybe your father crossed paths with her back then." Elias frowned, as if something was on the tip of his tongue, but before he could respond, the carriage came to an abrupt halt. The curtains fell, food tumbled from its box, and I was thrown backward into his arms. Elias instinctively caught me, his hands steadying my shoulders. Stolen from its original source, this story is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings."What happened?" he demanded, glancing toward the door. I shifted away from his grasp, casting a sharp glance at his hand. He caught the look, quickly released me, and retreated to his side of the carriage. A voice called from outside. "It¡¯s the carriage of the Crown Prince¡¯s consort!"
Upstairs at the tea house, I found my second sister, Summer, waiting, but she wasn¡¯t the one who wanted to see me. The Crown Prince, Alaric, sat behind a long stone table, pouring tea with deliberate precision. He slid a cup toward me. "I heard from your sister that my father doesn¡¯t have more than a year left. I want to know who dares to harm him. Tell me who¡¯s behind it." I sipped the tea, lowering my gaze. "You poisoned him." The words hung in the air. Alaric froze, his hands gripping the edge of the table until his knuckles turned white. "Impossible," he whispered, his voice shaking. "I would never do such a thing. How could I¡ª" I glanced around the dimly lit room, clicking my tongue as if in mild disapproval. "Your Highness, there¡¯s no one else here. You should be pleased. Whether you¡¯ve done it yet or not doesn¡¯t matter. If one day you do, it will work." His head snapped up, his darkened eyes meeting mine. Suddenly, he seized the cup and hurled it against the wall, the sound of shattering porcelain ringing out. "I don¡¯t believe you!" he shouted. "My father would never push me to that point!" I watched him carefully. He had already convinced himself¡ªnow he was searching for reasons to justify it. I rose to leave. "Wait." His voice was steady now, quieter but no less intense. "Why didn¡¯t you choose me that day in the throne room? Don¡¯t you believe I can succeed?" I paused mid-step. "That year, during the drought in the south," I said without turning, "you stayed for eight months, leading relief efforts. By the third month, the food stores were empty. By the sixth, you were slaughtering horses to feed the people." I turned to face him, my gaze steady. "Tell me, Your Highness, was it really horses you killed?" The faint light of the room cast long shadows across his face. Alaric stared at me for a long moment, his expression unreadable. A faint, bitter smile tugged at his lips. "The past is irrelevant. I only want to know¡ªwill you follow me if I succeed?" From somewhere in the darkness, the sound of a blade being drawn echoed softly. The flickering candlelight at the door wavered as if in fear. "If you succeed," I said evenly, "then I will follow."
Leaving the room, I ran into Summer by the window. She tilted her head, her expression cold. "I knew you¡¯d be fine," she said flatly. "Such faith in me, sister," I replied, feigning a hurt tone. "You¡¯re so reassuring." She didn¡¯t respond. I sat across from her, taking her untouched tea and drinking it myself. "I know you and Spring have never liked me. Fortunately, I¡¯ve never needed approval. Just take care of yourselves." I didn¡¯t know what lay ahead, but one thing was certain¡ªit wouldn¡¯t be peace.
Half a month later, during the Mid-Autumn Festival, Corwin announced he would take Arianne to the palace to visit his cousin, the Imperial Consort. Bored, I sat by the pavilion, feeding the koi in the pond. Noticing my idleness, Arianne took my hand with a warm smile. "Come with us," she said brightly.