The morning arrived cloaked in mist.
Not the gentle kind that kissed the earth and faded with the sun—but something heavier. Watchful. Waiting.
The royal hunting grounds stretched endlessly beyond the palace gates, a dense forest whispered to hold both beauty and danger. Tall trees loomed like silent judges, their shadows swallowing the narrow paths that twisted deep into the unknown.
Roseline stood at the edge of it all, her fingers tightening around the reins of her horse.
This was no ordinary trial.
It wasn't about elegance, or wit, or courtly grace.
This was survival.
A horn sounded in the distance.
Low and haunting.
"Let it be known," the royal announcer's voice echoed, "the Second Trial shall test not only skill—but courage, instinct, and judgment. Each candidate will enter the hunting grounds alone."
A murmur rippled through the gathered nobles.
Alone?
Even the most seasoned hunters rarely ventured into these woods without a party.
Roseline's gaze flickered briefly to the platform above.
Kingston was there.
Watching her.
His expression unreadable, but his eyes… locked onto hers with a quiet intensity that said everything he couldn't speak aloud.
Be careful.
She exhaled slowly.
"I will."
—
One by one, the candidates entered.
Some rode in confidently, armed with bows and finely polished arrows. Others hesitated, their fear poorly masked behind forced smiles.
When it was Roseline's turn, the forest seemed to grow quieter.
She urged her horse forward.
The moment she crossed the threshold—
The world changed.
The air felt colder. Sharper. Alive.
The sounds of the palace faded, replaced by rustling leaves, distant animal calls, and the unsettling sensation of being watched.
Roseline dismounted after a while, choosing to proceed on foot. Her instincts told her something important:
This wasn't just a hunt.
It was a test of perception.
A glint caught her eye.
A ribbon—deep crimson—tied loosely around a low branch.
A marker.
She stepped closer, examining it.
Not placed randomly.
Deliberate.
A path?
Or a trap?
She hesitated.
Then moved on—ignoring it.
—
Hours seemed to pass.
The deeper she went, the more the forest shifted.
At one point, she heard a cry—sharp and panicked.
It was from one of the candidates.
Roseline froze.
This was the true test.
Would she prioritize herself… or others?
Her jaw tightened.
She turned toward the sound.
—
She found her near a ravine.
One of the noble ladies—Eva—clung desperately to a root, her footing lost, her body trembling above a steep drop.
"Help… please…"
Roseline didn't hesitate.
Dropping her bow, she rushed forward, lowering herself carefully.
"Hold on," she said firmly. "Don't look down."
"I can't—my hand—!"
Roseline stretched further, gripping Eva's wrist.
For a moment—
Everything hung in balance.
Then—
With a sharp pull—
She dragged her back onto solid ground.
Both of them collapsed, breathless.
Eva stared at her, stunned.
"You… you could have left me."
Roseline shook her head.
"No. That wasn't an option."
But as she said it, something in the forest shifted again.
A distant horn.
Different from before.
Higher and Sharper.
Signaling something.
Roseline's eyes narrowed.
This wasn't just about hunting animals.
This was about choices.
And she had just made one.
—
Meanwhile—
Hidden within the deeper parts of the forest—
Eyes watched.
Not animal.
Not entirely human either.
A shadow moved silently between the trees.
And somewhere far beyond the visible paths…
A trap had already been set.
Not for the weak. Not for the fragile and weak minded.
But for the one they were truly testing. The one who deserves the Queen throne.
—
Back at the viewing platform—
The Queen leaned slightly toward the King.
"She chose compassion," she said softly.
The King nodded.
"As expected."
But Kingston…
Kingston wasn't watching the other candidates.
His fists were clenched at his sides.
Because he had noticed something the others hadn't.
The signals.
The shifts.
The pattern.
"This isn't a trial," he muttered under his breath.
"It's a setup."
And Roseline had just walked deeper into it.
—
Back in the forest—
Roseline stood slowly, helping Eva to her feet.
"We need to move," she said.
But before they could take a step—
A low growl echoed through the trees.
Not far.
Too close.
The air stilled.
Leaves trembled.
And from the shadows—
Something emerged.
Not just a beast. It was something trained.
Roseline's grip tightened around her dagger.
Her pulse steadied.
So this was it.
The real trial.
She stepped slightly in front of Eva.
"Stay behind me."
The creature's eyes gleamed.
And then—
It lunged.
—
Read my other book too, the Untainted.
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