Rin, second-born daughter of the empire.
Born with elegance rivaling her elder sister, yet she never chose silk, court life, or scholarly magic.
She chose the sword.
From a distance, she watched Aiya.
Always.
She admired her… envied her… but never hated her.
To Rin, becoming like Aiya meant becoming **closer** to her.
So she trained in the shadows.
While nobles slept, she practiced footwork.
While knights rested, she copied sword swings she had secretly observed.
While Aiya trained under generals, Rin trained alone.
Yet no matter how hard she tried… she couldn't reach her sister.
What she didn't understand back then… was **why** Aiya worked harder than everyone.
Rin saw two versions of her sister.
The unbreakable general before others.
And the girl who sat alone… silently… shoulders trembling.
Rin wished, just once, her sister would lean on her.
But that never happened.
Until the day Aiya disappeared.
Rin's world collapsed.
She searched.
She begged.
She refused the reports.
"They didn't find her body."
"She's alive."
She repeated it like prayer.
Time passed.
Rin trained harder.
At eighteen, she became the **second youngest General** of the emperor's personal unit.
But even then…
She waited.
She never stopped believing.
And then—
Her sister returned.
And broke again.
---
Three weeks had passed.
The palace was silent.
Servants walked carefully.
Guards spoke in whispers.
Even the air felt heavy.
Aiya had locked herself inside her chambers.
No one could reach her.
Not even the emperor.
Rin pushed open the door gently.
"Hey… big sister."
Aiya sat near the window.
Still. Quiet.
Her eyes looked distant.
"I know you're still hurting…"
No response.
Rin stepped closer.
"You isolating yourself… it's hurting everyone."
Silence.
"Enora hasn't left her room since that day."
Aiya's fingers twitched slightly.
"She thinks she caused everything."
Still no reply.
Rin reached into her sleeve and pulled out a folded paper.
"I… wrote this down."
She placed it gently inside Aiya's drawer.
"These were the last words he said before disappearing."
"I don't know if it was meant for you… or me."
"I don't understand the language."
She stepped back.
"But… I thought you should have it."
Rin turned and left.
The room returned to silence.
---
Three weeks later…
The door opened.
Aiya stepped out.
The maids froze.
One covered her mouth.
Finally… she's back.
The palace slowly breathed again.
"Greeting, my lady," a maid bowed.
"Hello… where can I find Enora?"
The maid hesitated.
"The young lady… hasn't left her room since you shut yourself in."
"She blames herself."
Aiya nodded.
"Take me to her."
---
Enora's room was dim.
Curtains closed.
She sat curled on her bed.
Messy hair.
Red eyes.
Pathetic.
Aiya felt something soften in her chest.
"Enora."
The girl looked up.
Her eyes widened.
"…Sister…"
Then she broke.
"I'm sorry!"
Tears burst uncontrollably.
"I caused everything… I made him leave… I hurt you—"
Aiya stepped forward and hugged her.
"It wasn't your fault."
Enora froze.
Aiya smiled faintly.
"You're still just a child."
"You didn't do anything wrong."
She stroked her hair gently.
"Let's… just forget about him."
"Focus on family."
Enora nodded weakly, still crying.
Later that day, the three sisters stood before the emperor.
"I wish to resume my duties as General," Aiya said calmly.
The emperor shook his head.
"No."
She blinked.
"You will begin learning… to become Empress."
Silence filled the chamber.
The nobles murmured.
"You've grown enough as a warrior," he continued softly.
"But now… I must prepare you as ruler."
Rin widened her eyes.
Enora looked confused.
Days passed.
Training replaced with governance.
Strategy replaced with sword drills.
Politics replaced with battlefield maps.
Then—
The nobles called a meeting.
The council chamber filled.
"Your Majesty," one elder spoke.
"You cannot make Princess Aiya empress."
The emperor's eyes narrowed.
"Our laws forbid it."
"Only a man may rule as emperor."
Murmurs of agreement followed.
"History proves this."
"Emperor Gishan Kushan was not of royal blood."
"He married the princess, only daughter of Emperor Leon."
"That is how she became empress."
The noble stepped forward.
"If you wish Princess Aiya to rule…"
"…marry her first."
Silence.
The emperor slammed his hand on the armrest.
"This is outdated nonsense!"
"She is a Demi-God!"
"She protects this empire!"
Another noble spoke.
"Power alone does not define rule."
"Tradition must be respected."
Some even stepped forward.
"My son is worthy."
"My family line—"
"I offer my heir—"
The emperor's expression darkened.
But politics moved like iron.
Unyielding.
Eventually—
The nobles won.
The meeting ended.
That night, the emperor summoned Aiya.
He hesitated.
Then spoke.
"The nobles… demand you marry before succession."
Aiya closed her eyes briefly.
She sighed.
"…I see."
"You don't have to accept this," he said quickly.
She shook her head.
"For the empire… I will."
Her father looked at her carefully.
"Is that truly what you want?"
She smiled faintly.
"I'll do anything… for the empire."
A Demi-God.
Powerless before politics.
She could force the throne.
No one could stop her.
But she didn't want fear.
She wanted love.
Not a tyrant.
But a ruler… chosen by her people.
And so—
The search for her future husband began..