I could feel my heart breaking.
It wasn't a sudden, sharp pain, but a slow, throbbing ache that spread through my chest, tightening like a vice. My breath came in shallow gasps, my vision blurred by tears I refused to let fall. Humiliation burned hotter than any flame, searing my pride and leaving me raw.
I had been so foolish.
I'd even gone to our personal tailor, commissioning a dress that would impress everyone at the palace. The pink fabric shimmered, adorned with delicate silver embroidery that caught the light with every movement. I had left the estate with Xue, my heart fluttering with excitement, my smile wide and genuine. I had been so sure of myself, so certain that tonight would be the beginning of something beautiful.
Now, I sat in the grand hall of the palace, my hands trembling in my lap, my dress feeling like a cruel joke. The man who had promised me the world, who had whispered sweet words and pressed passionate kisses to my lips, stood at the front, exchanging bows with another woman.
I couldn't breathe. I couldn't think.
The room was a blur of colors and sounds, the laughter and applause of the guests echoing in my ears like a mockery. I felt sick, my stomach churning as if I might vomit at any moment. The numbness in my limbs was the only thing keeping me from collapsing.
I couldn't stay here. I couldn't bear to watch this.
I stood abruptly, lucky no one else was paying attention to me.
Xue's voice called after me as I fled the room, but I didn't stop. I couldn't. If I hesitated, even for a moment, I would have to face the truth: he knew. Of course, he knew. Xue always knew everything. How else could he explain it?
The absence of my family was a glaring omission, a wound that festered in the back of my mind. The marriage of the crown prince was an event that demanded the presence of every noble house, and every influential name in the empire. It was unthinkable that the Long family, one of the oldest and most respected lineages, would not be in attendance.
The chill autumn air did nothing to soothe me as I stumbled through the palace gardens. My chest heaved with sobs I refused to release, my fists clenched so tightly my nails dug into my palms. I hurried toward the gate, weaving past carriages and guards, desperate to escape.
"Zhelan!"
I froze at the sound of his voice, my heart lurching in my chest. Before I could react, a hand gripped my arm, spinning me around to face him.
"Let me go!" I snarled, yanking my arm free.
Xue stood before me, his expression a mask of concern. But it felt hollow now, a lie I could no longer believe.
"Zhelan, what's wrong?" he asked, his voice soft, almost pleading.
"Don't!" I snapped, my voice trembling with rage. "You knew, didn't you? You knew I was being made a fool of!"
"Zhelan, I swear—"
"Did you have a good laugh?" I interrupted, my voice rising. "Did you and your brother enjoy watching me fall for your lies?"
"Zhelan, please—"
"You make me sick!" I spat, tears streaming down my face. "You call yourself my friend? You were supposed to be the one person I could trust! And you betrayed me!"
He said nothing, his silence confirming my worst fears.
I swatted his hand away, my chest heaving. "Don't ever show your face in front of me again!"
I turned and ran, my feet carrying me blindly through the streets. The city was alive with celebration, the air filled with laughter and music. But to me, it felt like a nightmare.
Perhaps I would regret my words later. Perhaps I would crawl back to Xue, begging for forgiveness. Perhaps he would forgive me,but only if I did something for him. It wouldn't be the first time we'd fought like this.
But for now, the anger felt good. It was the only thing keeping me from falling apart.
The Long family estate wasn't far from the palace. Nestled in the woods, surrounded by towering trees and the endless expanse of the ocean, it had always been my sanctuary. But as I approached the gates, an unease settled in my chest.
The courtyard was eerily silent.
No servants scurried about their duties. No lanterns flickered in the darkness. The air was heavy, oppressive, as if the very world was holding its breath.
My hands began to shake, a cold dread creeping up my spine. Something was wrong.
I stepped through the open gates, my footsteps echoing in the stillness. The courtyard, usually bustling with life, was deserted. The lanterns that lined the pathways were unlit, their glass panes reflecting the pale light of the moon.
The main hall loomed ahead, its doors slightly ajar. A warm glow spilled out from within, but something else caught my eye, a dark, viscous liquid pooling at the base of the door.
Blood.
My heart pounded in my chest as I pushed the door open, the metallic tang of blood assaulting my senses. The sight that greeted me was beyond comprehension.
Bodies.
So many bodies.
They lay sprawled across the floor, their faces unrecognizable, reduced to bloody craters. The pristine white marble was stained crimson, the air thick with the stench of death.
I stumbled forward, my legs threatening to give out beneath me. The faces of my comrades, my family, stared back at me—or what was left of them.
"No," I whispered, my voice breaking. "Please, no."
I waded through the sea of corpses, each step heavier than the last. My parents lay slumped over their thrones, their lifeless eyes staring into nothingness. My siblings, my sweet, innocent siblings, were sprawled at their feet, their bodies broken and cold.
I fell to my knees, my hands trembling as I reached for my little sister. She was only six years old, her face gone, her stomach torn open. I cradled her lifeless body in my arms, my tears mixing with the blood that stained her dress.
"No, no, no," I sobbed, clutching her tightly. "This can't be real. This can't be happening."
But it was real. The pain in my chest was real. The burning in my stomach was real.
I screamed, my voice raw and broken, echoing through the empty hall. The flames of rage and sorrow consumed me, licking at my skin, searing my soul.
I was burning.
The pain started as a dull ache, a prickling sensation at the back of my skull. But it grew, spreading through my body like wildfire. My tears turned to blood, streaming down my face as my vision blurred.
I saw flashes of destruction—flames, smoke, and rivers of blood. Bodies littered the ground, their faces twisted in agony. I felt the warmth of flesh beneath my hands, the crunch of bone as I tore through my enemies.
And then I saw him.
The crown prince, his face frozen in shock as I ripped his heart from his chest. The satisfaction was fleeting, replaced by a searing pain as a sword pierced my own heart.
The last thing I saw was Xue's face, his expression one of horror and disgust.
Perhaps I was a monster. But they had made me this way. They were to blame.
As my vision faded to black, I swore a silent vow: I would have my revenge. Everyone who had a hand in this would pay.
And I would burn the world to ashes if I had to.