RHEIN'S POINT OF VIEW
"Tag, you're it!"
"No, you're it!"
Two little girls chased each other across the grass in front of me—one dressed in white, the other in black. I was certain they were twins. No matter how I looked at them, they were mirror images of each other.
Wait. Why am I here?
"Girls," I called out, but they didn't seem to hear me. "Girls," I tried again, louder this time, yet they continued to ignore me.
Then, a man and woman stepped toward them. Their presence was striking, regal, as though they were a king and queen draped in elegant robes. The children froze.
"Dear," the lady whispered, kneeling in front of them. She caressed their cheeks gently. "You are princesses. You must act like royals."
"But we are, Mother!" chirped the girl in white. She bounced on her toes, giggling. "We're just having fun!"
"Oh, you are adorable."
The girl in black frowned as their mother smiled at her sister. "What about me, Mother? Am I cute, too?"
"Of course, sweetheart. You're twins. If she's cute, then you are as well."
Suddenly, the entire place spun. The scene twisted, warped—and when it steadied, I found myself standing in a vast hall.
The Assembly Hall.
My breath caught. What am I doing here?
The massive double doors on my right creaked open. Two young women entered, both about my age. Recognition jolted me—it was them earlier, the twins, only older now.
"If I had known Father would hand you the special mission, I would never have helped you with the last one," the girl in black snapped.
Her sister reached for her hand, but she pulled it away. "I said I was sorry. I told him you helped me—"
"And what happened? He still gave it to you!" Her laugh was bitter, sharp. "Well, of course he did. You're the favorite child, after all."
She stormed out. Her sister hesitated, then followed, her face stricken with helplessness.
The world dissolved again, melting into darkness.
"Hello?" My voice echoed like I was trapped inside a cavern. "Hello?"
Suddenly, the sound of classical music filled the air, accompanied by claps and cheers.
I tried to take a step forward, but froze when the voices began.
"Long existence, Mnarra! Long live, Rah and Nhar!"
"Hwizta Princess! Hwizta Princess!"
"The Hwizta Princess will be the next ruler."
"I agree. A deore mnarillaza must never rule Mnarra."
The voices multiplied, circling me though I couldn't see a single soul.
"Hwizta Princess! Hwizta Princess!"
"Deore mnarillazas are pests that destroy this world!"
"I don't even understand why our queen herself carries deore blood."
"Hwizta Princess! Hwizta Princess!"
Why?
"This is the destined day to choose the next ruler of Mnarra."
"Hwizta Princess! Hwizta Princess!"
But I am not part of the Deorcanen Clan . . .
"On this final day of my reign, I hereby declare Princess Flora Erlontt Luoxegeime as the next ruler of this world!"
"Long existence, Mnarra! Long live, Rah and Nhar! More blessings, Hwizta Princess!"
Why don't you want me?
"Mother, Father, why? It's clear I'm stronger than my twin. Why can't I rule?"
"My child . . . "
"You love her more, don't you? It's always her."
"My child . . . "
"Is it because of my deore blood? How do you endure living in a world that despises deore mnarillazas like us?"
"Dear . . . "
"Their eyes . . . I can't bear to look at them. I try to help them, but they still despise me. They treat her with kindness, but me—like I'm a monster!"
"Florida . . . "
"They fear me! They whisper that if I become ruler, Mnarra will be destroyed. That I'm a threat."
"Calm down."
"No, Mother. Tell me—are we monsters?! Why did you have to be born from that cursed clan? If you can endure it, I can't. I don't belong here."
"You can't leave, my child."
"I can. From this moment on, I, Florida Erlontt Luoxegeime, am no longer royal. I renounce my title as princess."
"Florida, where will you go?"
"To hell, Flora. Don't follow me. You'll be the ruler now. You have reached your dream. Don't interfere."
"Please . . . don't be like this."
"Like what? If I disappear, if I burn in some abyss, it will no longer concern you. Leave me be."
"I care! You're my sister!"
"Enough, Flora! I'm sick of being compared to you, sick of shrinking in my own shadow. Please—just let me go."
"Florida . . . you hurt me. I know your temper, but I also know your heart. You are kind. Don't let it end like this."
"It already has. Can't you see? I destroyed everything. And I will never take back my words."
"There's still hope. Come back with me."
"I'm too tired. But . . . congratulations. I'm happy for you."
"F-Florida . . . "
"You'll rule Mnarra with majesty, Flora. Good luck. I'll be watching."
The voices overwhelmed me, battering my ears until I squeezed them shut. Still, they rang inside my skull, endless, merciless.
When I opened my eyes, I wasn't in the hall anymore.
A figure knelt on the grass a few meters away, sobbing. The moonlight revealed her trembling shoulders, her tears glinting as they fell.
The hood slipped from her cloak, and my throat turned ice.
Her?!
"Mother? H-how . . . ?"
She wiped her cheeks and shook her head. "I'm not her. I'm your aunt, Rhein. Your mother's twin."
I couldn't recall Mother ever mentioning that they're twins. If that was the case, then the ones I had seen in my dream... were truly them.
She let out a soft laugh, perhaps at my confused reaction. "You're right. I was the one responsible. Those were my memories in your dream. That was the only way I could think of to explain myself to you more quickly. I'm running out of time."
"W-why? Why are you speaking to me? Why do you even need to explain all this to me? What exactly are you planning? You're part of the Deorcanen Clan, aren't you?" My voice trembled with fear, yet I forced myself to ask.
"Child, I never once dreamed of fighting against my twin sister. I never chose to betray Mnarra. I was only trapped in a situation." She rose to her feet, wiping the tears from her eyes.
But how did she end up in the clan? Why did she join them?