In the 231st year of the Benchu Era, Capital of the Kingdom of Light, Holy City Palace
Three days after the joint concert of songstresses, all the songstresses who had performed during the concert gathered in the Holy Music Hall of the Holy City Palace. These songstresses came from various parts of the world, with the majority being from the Kingdom of Light and the Kingdom of Purple. Of course, Kimoon was among them.
A year ago, the royal families of the Kingdom of Light and the Kingdom of Purple jointly announced a blockbuster notice. The two nations would host a massive concert broadcasted worldwide one year later. One hundred lucky songstresses would have the opportunity to perform. Therefore, the royal families of both nations sincerely invited songstresses from around the world to audition in the Crystal City of the Kingdom of Purple. If selected, they would be escorted to the Holy City of the Kingdom of Light for rehearsals to prepare for the final performance. After the concert, the chosen songstresses would also be invited to the palace for a celebration.
Since then, the Crystal City had seen new faces. Songstresses from different countries came and went, each wanting to impress the judges and become one of the fortunate hundred.
A year ago, nineteen-year-old Kimoon heard this news from Seju, her newly appointed manager. Originally, Yoko managed Kimoon's entertainment career. However, after Yoko left, Seju took over her responsibilities and started working with Kimoon. Yoko not only was Kimoon's top-notch manager but also her exclusive composer. Yoko had helped design Kimoon's debut album, making her globally renowned by the age of seventeen. Seju, on the other hand, seemed more interested in red wine than the work of a manager. What Seju was willing to do for Kimoon was limited to handling various business contracts. Therefore, this job seemed more like a pastime for Seju. In her free time, Seju enjoyed immersing herself in the wine cellar she meticulously built in the Ishtar Private Upscale Villa, forgetting time and everything else in the company of red wine.
Kimoon was quite satisfied with Seju. The current Kimoon had become more reserved than before, detesting others approaching her for various reasons. To avoid unnecessary disturbances, Kimoon spent almost all her time locked in the villa, either immersed in music creation, or indulging in a drunken rest with Seju. Seju seemed to have experienced significant emotional trauma as well, and like Kimoon, kept her emotions closed off to outsiders. Thus, the two lonely individuals found solace in each other within the villa, sharing drinks and licking each other's wounds in a dreamlike state.
As artists and managers, both Kimoon and Seju did not have a strong desire to achieve significant success. However, due to Kimoon's natural talent in music and her unique voice, her fame continued to grow despite not releasing any music videos in the past three years, only soundtracks. Fans fantasized about this mysterious songstress. Major top-tier brands are also enamored with this star, who has grown into an unparalleled beauty. They have eagerly invited Kimoon to participate in the shooting of their own global top-tier advertisements. Consequently, Seju stayed busy managing Kimoon's various business contracts.
So when Kimoon first heard about the concert from Seju, she simply smiled it off. She loathed returning to the Kingdom of Light, despising everything in the Holy City Palace, including the Queen of Light, for whom she once willingly gave up her life. Seju, too, preferred avoiding unnecessary trouble and did not pay much attention to it. Despite various prestigious magazines inquiring about Kimoon's participation in the auditions, both of them ignored the speculations and disturbances, finding solace in each other within the villa.
However, when the final list of one hundred names was announced, Seju saw Kimoon's name among them.
That day, the two of them lost inhibitions after drinking, engaged in sexual activities, as usual. After getting drunk, they would unconsciously treat each other as the unattainable love they desired, kissing, touching, entwining, and venting their desires until exhaustion. Seju woke up first that day and checked her phone in boredom, only to find congratulatory messages from major brands and inquiries from numerous magazines about exclusive interviews regarding Kimoon's selection. Seju was suddenly alert and hurriedly checked the official website. Sure enough, Kimoon's name was there.
What was going on?
The two of them, naked and vulnerable, exchanged glances, each with their own concerns. Kimoon felt helpless; it seemed she could no longer escape the manipulation of the royal family. Seju was also troubled; she did not want to go to the Kingdom of Light, her once heartbroken place.
Thus, neither of them questioned the matter of the list, but neither took it lightly. They continued to live in the villa as before, indulging in each other.
Three weeks before the concert.
While they were in the living room engaged in their customary post-drinking activities, a magical circle appeared on the floor. Shortly after, a woman walked out of the circle. It was Yoko. Seeing the two completely naked individuals engaged in an extremely intimate act, Yoko was shocked and quickly took a few steps back. The two also noticed Yoko and stopped their actions, looking at her as if she were a stranger. Yoko quickly approached, pushed Seju off Kimoon, raised her arm, and with a crisp sound, left a clear handprint on Seju's face.
Kimoon and Seju instantly sobered up.
With a look of anger, Yoko scanned the two before turning and heading to the courtyard, leaving them time to compose themselves.
A few minutes later, the three sat down together amicably. Yoko explained her purpose, that she had come to take Kimoon to the Holy City of the Kingdom of Light to participate in the Songstress Concert. Kimoon, only now remembering this matter, was about to refuse when she heard Yoko say in a cold and stern tone:
"This is an order."
Feeling an irresistible authority emanating from Yoko, Kimoon and Seju reluctantly complied. With Yoko's teleportation magic circle, they instantly arrived at the Holy City.
A month later, the concert was successfully held. Kimoon, along with all the songstresses, returned to the Palace in the Holy City. However, this time, she no longer desperately wanted to enter; on the contrary, she hoped to end it all soon and return to the Kingdom of Purple, her sanctuary.
As the doors of the Holy Music Hall's second floor opened, two figures escorted by guards walked out. Dressed in the splendid attire of the Kingdom of Light's royal family, they overlooked the crowd from above. People looked up excitedly, expressing various emotions. Kimoon, too, saw the two figures clearly; they were Yoko, and Shizuru.