~ 4 Days Later ~
I haven't seen even a glimpse of black armor in four days.
I've looked. Every time I walk down a hallway or enter a room, I scan the corners. But Kael is gone. Maybe he's on a mission, or maybe he's just really good at following orders and avoiding me. He does have those super-hearing ears, after all. He probably hears me coming from a mile away and vanishes.
The days have blurred into a strange, quiet routine.
And the "Price"? Well, the System wasn't lying about that part.
I keep having them. The "nightmares."
At random moments—while eating soup, brushing my hair, or tying my shoes—the world tilts.
One second I'm in my room; the next, I'm falling from a cliff, or drowning in a black ocean, or standing in a forest made of bone.
But here's the thing: I'm getting used to it.
I don't faint anymore. I don't scream. When the vision ends and I snap back to reality, I just take a deep breath, steady my hands, and carry on.
See? I thought, flipping a page of my book. I can handle it.
And as for the System's big, scary warning?
[ Do NOT visit the Royal Library without the Strongest Knight Alive. ]
Pfft.
I looked around the Royal Library. Sunlight streamed through the stained glass. Dust motes danced in the air. It was peaceful, quiet, and completely safe.
Grandpa Eldric was sitting at the table across from me, happily polishing his spectacles and reading a medical journal.
I've come here every single day for the past four days with just Eldric as my chaperone. And guess what?
Nothing happened. No assassins.
I leaned back in my chair, feeling a smug sense of victory.
So, I was right. This System is fake.
It's just trying to scare me into doing its bidding. "Tame the Knight," "Don't go to the Library." It's all just a script to force me down a specific plotline.
Well, joke's on you, System. I'm fine.
Visiting the library has actually been the smartest choice I've made so far.
I've pieced together the truth about this world, and one thing is painfully clear: this marriage isn't just a ceremony. It is a desperate geopolitical anchor for both sides.
Humans and Elves aren't just "neighbors." We are ancient, mortal enemies. For thousands of years, our history has been written in blood. Wars for authority, dominance, and territory have never really stopped.
In a world full of different races, Humans and Elves sit at the top of the food chain.
On paper, Elves are superior. We possess the highest affinity for Magic Force, and we live for centuries. But that strength is our downfall. Between the endless wars and the horrific reality of "Elf Trafficking," our population is on the verge of collapse. Our birth rates have plummeted. We are essentially an endangered species.
Humans, on the other hand, are the swarm.
They rank second in magic potential, but what they lack in individual power, they make up for in sheer, terrifying numbers. War doesn't dent them. Famine doesn't stop them. They reproduce rapidly, recovering their numbers within a single generation.
And with that overpopulation comes greed. They need more land, more resources, more fuel for their empire. So they invade. They have been slowly eating away at the Elven Dominion, inch by inch, for centuries.
This marriage... I traced the map of the shrinking Elven borders. It's the only thing stopping the Human Empire from swallowing us whole.
Elves are desperate. They just want to repopulate and keep their race from going extinct. But nature is cruel—their renowned Magic Force has been weakening with every generation.
And Humans? They are thriving.
Not only do they have the overwhelming numbers, but lately, they are birthing monsters. Generational talents like Lucian and Kaelen—mages and warriors with power that eclipses even the ancient Elven bloodlines. The only thing Humans lack is time. They die young.
So, here comes this marriage. A pact of peace.
It's a beautiful PR stunt. It screams: "Look! We are all good now! We can live together, marry, and maybe even produce cute, powerful interracial children!"
Bullshit.
In the last four days, while pretending to read, I've heard the whispers.
When the knights think I'm out of earshot, their voices drop. They hate me. They hate Elves. And honestly? I can't even blame them. Their fathers and grandfathers died in the wars against my people. They lost loved ones to Elven magic. That hatred is deep, blood-soaked, and understandable.
That is why I was given the Azure Concord.
It's not a wedding gift. It's a shield. It's a divine "Do Not Touch" sign given to me just so I don't get bullied—or worse, assassinated—by the very people I'm supposed to rule over.
I slumped back in my chair, staring at the ceiling.
Wow.
I really transmigrated into the most controversial body possible.
I am a magicless Elf Princess, the symbol of a fading, conquered race. And I am marrying the Crown Prince, the strongest mage in human history.
It's not a partnership. It's a flex.
I am a living billboard for the Empire. My existence here says: "See? We Humans are so benevolent. We won't hurt you Elves anymore. Look how well we treat your Princess, even though she is useless in this world of magic."
Only two days remain.
In just forty-eight hours, the Grand Convergence will be held within the Imperial Capital. It's a massive diplomatic summit between the Empire of Eryndor and the Elven Dominion of Elvanyr.
And I am panicking.
I don't know anyone from the Elf side.
That means Cyrina's whole fucking family is coming. Her parents, her siblings, the Elven delegates... I only vaguely recall a few faces from the wedding day, but that's it.
I chewed on my thumbnail, staring at the table.
I can't just act clueless there. These people raised her. They know her mannerisms, her voice, her habits.
And let's be real—my personality is the complete opposite of the original Cyrina. She was likely quiet, submissive, and graceful. I am... well, me.
They will know I'm not Cyrina in five minutes.
My heart started to race. Should I take the System's help? Is there a 'Memory Pack' or something I can buy? Or will that cost me another nightmare?
Before I could stress my thoughts further, the air shimmered.
[ WARNING ]
[ Take my help or not, that is your choice. ]
[ But make sure you DO NOT come to the Library tomorrow if you wish to survive. ]
I stared at the red text.
Tomorrow?
Why tomorrow? I've been here every day for four days and nothing happened.
"I do not trust you," I whispered under my breath. "You lied about the danger before."
[ It is your choice. I am just here to help you. ]
The text faded, replaced by a new, flashing notification.
[ TIP: Get back the Strongest Knight Alive as your Bodyguard before the Grand Convergence. ]
[ You will need him. ]
I sat back, the silence of the library suddenly feeling heavy.
Get Kaelen back?
How am I supposed to do that? The Empress herself banished him.