Birdsong echoed from beyond the bedroom window as a young girl stirred from her slumber.
"Hoammm~~"
"Serena, are you awake, dear?" Her mother called from the kitchen.
"If you're up, come help me cook."
"Alright~~." The little Serena quickly got out of bed, went to the bathroom, and washed her face.
She ran to the kitchen, where her mother was preparing an enormous amount of food.
Curious, Serena asked, "Mom, why are you cooking so much today?"
Before her mother could answer, someone entered through the back door—it was her grandmother.
"A Duke will be visiting our region. They want to see how our agriculture has flourished," her grandmother said in a serious tone.
"After this, we're going to the fields. Serena, you'll come along, won't you?" Her grandmother's sharp gaze fixed on her.
Serena frowned, slightly disappointed. She didn't want to do such hard labor again. She had grown too lazy for it.
"Grandma, why don't we have the luxuries like other noble families?"
"Aren't we nobles too?" Serena asked with curiosity.
Her grandmother fell silent for a moment, then gave a faint smile.
"One day, when you're older, you'll understand. But for now, just remember—your mother and I will always be with you, no matter what happens."
Serena remained curious about her grandmother's answer, but she knew that her grandmother always avoided the question.
---
Serena's family lived a simple life for nobility. They were the rulers of a small town, sustaining themselves through farming. Unfortunately, due to their lineage as descendants of a former emperor's concubine, their family was constantly looked down upon by other nobles.
From a young age, Serena realized that their family was despised by the aristocracy. No noble sons wanted to marry into their family due to their status as concubine descendants. The only way for their bloodline to survive was to let noblemen impregnate the women of their family.
Serena refused to accept such a fate.
"Mother, is it true that all the women in our family are nothing more than tools to bear children for the nobility?" Serena asked, her face filled with anger.
Her mother remained silent, sorrow written all over her face.
"That is our fate, my dear. There's nothing we can do."
Serena clenched her fists. No! She would never accept such a fate!
From that moment on, she vowed to change her destiny. She devoted herself to studying magic at a young age, hoping that one day, she could rise to the top and bow to no one.
Year after year passed, and Serena's abilities grew stronger. Just when she started to feel hopeful, disaster struck.
---
Demons attacked their town.
Screams echoed from all directions, houses burned, and people ran for their lives. Serena, with all her strength, fought desperately to defend her home.
"I won't let you destroy my home!" she roared, unleashing devastating magic upon the demons.
Through sheer determination, she managed to drive them away. But the damage had been done. The once-peaceful town was left in ruins, with countless casualties.
As everything crumbled, the highest authority intervened.
"Serena, you are indeed talented. But no matter how strong you are, you cannot defy the existing system," a high-ranking noble sneered.
Serena bit her lip. She knew what was coming.
And she was right.
As "punishment" for opposing the hierarchy, she was forced to submit to the supreme ruler. She was turned into a puppet princess—a title without power, a mere political tool for the kingdom's benefit.
Serena wanted to resist.
But she knew that if she did, her family would be destroyed.
With a heavy heart, she accepted her fate as a puppet princess.
---
Years passed...
Inside the palace, shocking news spread rapidly.
"The Crown Prince has been cursed!" a servant screamed.
Serena, sitting on the balcony, gazed at the sky with empty eyes. The news didn't surprise her. She knew just how filthy this world was.
"And... the royal princess has been kidnapped by a group of mysterious mages!" panicked voices echoed through the palace.
Serena closed her eyes, a faint smile forming on her lips.
The world was finally beginning to change…
Perhaps this was her chance to be more than just a puppet. She was determined to seize power, and the opportunity came in the form of a dangerous expedition—one deemed a suicide mission.
"I will lead this expedition!" Serena declared before the council.
The officials looked at her with skepticism. "Princess Serena, this is not a task suited for a royal princess. Let the Duke's family handle it."
"No! I am more than just a puppet princess! I have trained for this! Let me prove my worth!" Serena's voice was filled with passion and determination.
Reluctantly, they allowed her to go.
The journey was a battle for survival. Serena led her team through poisonous forests, faced monstrous beasts, and overcame deadly traps. She was wounded but never gave up. When all seemed lost, she used her magic to save her team from annihilation. In the end, they succeeded.
But upon returning to the capital, she was met with a cold betrayal.
"We extend our gratitude to the Duke's family for the success of this expedition," a council member announced.
Serena froze. "What do you mean? It was me! I led this mission! I risked my life!"
"Princess Serena, that is enough. You are merely a puppet princess. There is no need for you to be involved in such matters."
Serena's blood boiled. "You bastards! I will not stay silent! I fought for this! I risked my life! And now you're handing the credit to the Duke's family?!"
The council remained unmoved.
Serena tried to resist, but the royal family's power was too great. She was put on trial and declared a rebel. Her punishment: six months of imprisonment.
---
Months passed, until the devastating news arrived. Her grandmother had passed away.
"NO!" Serena screamed, struggling against her restraints. Tears streamed down her face. She had to go to her grandmother's grave! She had to!
That night, she tried to escape, taking advantage of the guards' distraction. She almost succeeded, using her magic to bypass their defenses, but at the last moment, the royal guards caught her. They dragged her back to her cell.
Serena screamed, cried, and pounded on the cell door repeatedly. "Let me go! Please! My grandmother... My grandmother is gone... I have to see her! Please...!"
But no one cared.
For days, she wept in despair.
---
A month later, when she was finally released, Serena ran to the cemetery with her weakened body. She fell to her knees before her grandmother's grave.
"Grandmother... I was too late... Forgive me... Forgive me..." Her sobs echoed in the cold air.
The rain poured down, drenching her trembling body. She clenched the earth beneath her, crying out in grief. "I swear... I will change everything... I will not let this continue... I will take back what is rightfully mine..."
Her tears mixed with the mud, but her heart burned fiercer than ever.
Serena would not stop.
---
The story closed with a crimson curtain.
"Serena... Serena!... Serena!"
Who...? Who was calling her?
"Serena, you're finally awake." Her mother's tears fell onto Serena's sleeping face.
Serena slowly opened her eyes, struggling to sit up with what little strength she had.
Arthur entered the room, carrying a bucket of water to cool her fever. He froze upon seeing Serena awake.
Without realizing it, he dropped the bucket, water spilling everywhere as he ran toward her and embraced her tightly.
"You're awake... Thank you... Thank you for not leaving me..." Arthur's face was soaked with tears.