Several days had passed since my visit to the mage tower. I had been cautious, careful not to touch the power I had glimpsed. My lessons with the prince continued steadily—reading, writing, etiquette, and dance—but my mind often wandered to the mage tower, to the glowing circles and the incredible surge of elements I had felt.
That day started like any other. I had spent the morning with the prince practicing reading, and afterward, I was free to wander the castle. I decided to visit the maids' quarters to see June, July, and Skylar. They greeted me warmly, which made me smile despite the lingering tension in my chest.
As I was leaving the maids' hall, I heard voices and laughter from the courtyard below. Curious, I walked closer to the balcony and looked down. A group of visiting nobles had arrived—young ladies from other kingdoms, all eager to catch the prince's attention. Their colors were vivid: emerald green for the Grass Kingdom, golden yellow for the Sun Kingdom, soft white for the Air Kingdom, delicate pink for the Flower Kingdom, and a few others with darker hues from lesser-known countries.
My stomach twisted as I overheard one of the green-haired girls sneer, her voice loud enough for me to hear.
"Look at her," she said, pointing with a perfumed hand. "Red hair… from the Fire Country. Do you know what that means?"
Another girl, with golden strands from the Sun Kingdom, laughed cruelly. "They say the Fire Country was destroyed fourteen years ago. Her family is… extinct. She shouldn't even be here."
I felt my face heat up. My hands clenched at my sides. Red hair isn't a crime! I thought. The Fire Country was destroyed, yes, but why are they treating me like a freak?
The whispers became taunts. "Do you think she knows magic? Should we be worried?" one of them hissed.
A sharp anger, a real, burning fury, surged through me. My chest tightened, and the warmth started spreading through my arms and fingertips. I felt it coil like a living thing inside me. My short hair bristled slightly, and my fists shook with energy.
And then it happened.
A burst of fire ignited from my hands, curling upward into the air. Sparks flew along the courtyard below. A small gust of wind followed, lifting petals and flinging them like confetti. The visiting nobles screamed, stumbling backward in fear, their colorful dresses fluttering chaotically in the wind.
"What is she doing?!" one of the green-haired girls shrieked, glaring at me as if I had just summoned the apocalypse itself.
I backed away from the balcony, my hands glowing faintly with uncontrolled elemental power. The fire and wind swirled around me, as though responding to the anger that had taken over my mind. My heart raced—I hadn't even spoken an incantation, hadn't planned this.
Then, a splash of cold water hit my arms, snapping me out of the haze. My eyes widened as I saw the prince standing a few steps away, his own magic swirling around him. Streams of water from a fountain had risen and twisted in midair, forming a barrier between me and the courtyard.
"Elara! Stop!" he commanded, voice calm but firm. He extended his hands toward me, and the water wrapped gently around the fire, quelling the flames and dissipating the wind.
I stared at him, wide-eyed. "I… I didn't mean—"
He didn't answer me. His face was unreadable as he gestured toward the nearest guard. "Bring her to her room," he said, voice low but commanding. "Lock the door."
Before I could speak, the guards were at my side, guiding me away from the balcony and the astonished nobles. I tried to explain, to apologize, but the prince didn't look back. The water magic dissipated, leaving only the echoes of his presence, and then he was gone.
My hands were still tingling as I was led through the halls. When we arrived at my room, the guards opened the door, shoved me inside gently but firmly, and closed it behind me. The lock clicked. I was alone.
I sank to the floor, heart pounding, anger still simmering, and tears threatening to fall. I didn't mean to! I whispered to myself, but the memory of the nobles' cruel laughter and the sudden, uncontrollable surge of magic made my stomach twist.
I had crossed a line. And the prince… he hadn't even spoken to me after stopping me. Just the command, the guards, the locked door. It was a clear message: control yourself, or there will be consequences.
I leaned against the wall, closing my eyes. The magical energy in my veins was both frightening and intoxicating. I had felt it rise from anger alone, without incantation, without intention—and the prince had had to stop me. If I lost control again… I shivered at the thought.
But even through the fear and frustration, a small flame of determination flickered in my chest. I would learn to control it. I would not be a danger to anyone—or worse, to myself.
A few hours later, two guards arrived at my door. Their expressions were unreadable, but the firmness of their grip left no room for argument. They escorted me through the palace halls in silence. The echo of our footsteps on the polished floors sounded louder than usual, as if the castle itself was holding its breath.
We entered the throne room, and my heart immediately began to race. The towering doors swung open, and I was once again standing before the king and queen, just like the first day I had arrived. The memories of that first meeting—the fear, the uncertainty, the strange new world that had swallowed me—flooded back.
The king sat rigidly on his throne, his sharp eyes fixed on me. The queen was beside him, calm, green-eyed, her gaze almost analytical. The room seemed colder than usual, or perhaps it was just the weight of anticipation pressing down on me.
"Lady Elara," the king began, his voice low but carrying across the vast chamber. "Have you used a mana core circle?"
I froze, my stomach twisting. I knew I couldn't lie forever, but my pride—and my determination—would not allow me to give them the full truth. I said nothing.
The king's gaze sharpened. "Answer me." His tone was sterner this time, and I could feel the tension in the room spike.
"Yes," I admitted, my voice steady despite the fear curling in my chest.
"Do you understand what you've done?" he asked, his fingers drumming lightly on the arm of his throne. "That kind of circle can only be used once. To misuse it is… dangerous."
I nodded carefully, keeping my expression neutral. I knew exactly what he meant, but only I knew the full extent of my power.
"Tell me the truth," he continued, leaning forward slightly. "Which elements can you control?"
I swallowed hard. I could feel the magic humming faintly beneath my skin, just thinking about it. The truth… it was far too dangerous to tell. I let my lips curve into a small, controlled smile. "Five," I said quietly. "Fire, water, grass… and two others I do not fully understand."
The king's eyes narrowed, but he said nothing further. He seemed to be processing, calculating. I could feel the weight of his scrutiny, but I refused to reveal more. Not yet. Not until I knew why.
"Did you use an incantation earlier?" he asked after a long silence.
"Yes," I replied, trying to keep my voice firm.
The king's expression stiffened. "The prince was present when it occurred. He did not hear any incantation."
I met his gaze steadily. "I… whispered it. Perhaps he did not hear it clearly," I said, keeping my voice even. It was a half-truth, enough to satisfy his question without giving away the real secret.
I could sense the tension in the throne room. The queen's green eyes flicked between the king and me, unspoken questions hanging in the air. I refused to meet the king's gaze fully, focusing instead on a point just above his shoulder. I would not give them my truth. I would not hand them the power of knowing my abilities.
The king leaned back in his throne, his sharp eyes still fixed on me. "There are things you do not understand, Lady Elara. Knowledge can be dangerous. Power can be dangerous."
I let a small breath escape my lips, silent and almost imperceptible. And so can secrets, I thought. I will keep mine, just as I will keep theirs. There is something here that could put him—and this whole palace—in danger. I will not be used or limited because of it.
The queen's gaze softened fractionally, though her eyes remained sharp. "You understand your position, I hope," she said quietly, her tone neutral but firm.
"Yes, Your Majesty," I replied, my voice calm. Inwardly, I clenched my fists. I understood perfectly. But understanding did not mean surrender.
The king finally leaned forward again, his hands resting on the arms of his throne. "Very well. You may go… for now. But know this: your actions, your power, your very knowledge… it must remain contained. If it is not, consequences will follow."
I inclined my head, hiding the flicker of defiance in my expression. "Yes, Your Majesty," I said.
As the guards escorted me out, my heart still pounding, I felt the weight of the throne room and the king's gaze lingering behind me. I had lied. I had concealed my power. And I would continue to do so until I understood what secrets they were hiding—what truths they feared.
Once safely inside my room, I sat on the edge of the bed, letting the silence of the chamber wash over me. My hands tingled faintly with residual mana, a reminder of my power, my defiance. They cannot control me. They cannot know what I am capable of. Not yet.
And deep in my mind, a plan began to form: I would learn to read everything, every secret, every book in the castle. I would learn to master magic, even in secret. They would not be able to stop me. Not the king, not the prince, not anyone.
I leaned back, staring at the ceiling. The weight of the throne room and the king's stern words pressed against me, but beneath it, a fire burned—a fire of determination, of curiosity, and perhaps a little rebellion.
They will not control my fate. I will not be silent. I will not be powerless.