Katarina's resolve tightened. "I don't have a choice, do I?" Her gaze drew Liliana and Lucifer closer, their shared desperation palpable.
"What else is there to do but die... and rise again?" she murmured, her voice steady despite the weight of her decision.
"But where is Juliet?" The sudden thought struck her like a lightning bolt.
Liliana hesitated, her eyes downcast. "She... is nowhere to be found," she finally admitted. "Perhaps she is already..."
Katarina didn't need Liliana to finish the sentence. Her heart clenched. Had Juliet met the same fate? The possibility hung over her like a shroud.
"Well, let's do it," Katarina said, her voice resolute. "Lilliana, you must pretend to capture me and present me in front of Liam. When he tries to kill me, I will take my own life first. After I die, you know what to do, right?"
Liliana nodded, her eyes filled with determination. "But how will I identify you?" she asked.
"That's a good question," Katarina replied, surprising herself with her calm demeanor. For someone facing imminent death, she wasn't acting like one.
Katarina held each of Liliana's and Lucifer's hands in her own. She whispered an ancient spell, and the power from her body flowed out in the form of golden light and mist. The energy enveloped the three of them. Releasing Liliana's hand, Katarina touched Lucifer's left shoulder, and a flame-shaped mark suddenly appeared there. Then she released Lucifer's hand and placed one hand on her heart and the other on her left shoulder. Within seconds, a unique and beautiful flower emerged.
"The flame will be his birthmark," Katarina explained, her voice unwavering. "And this flower will be mine."
"His... you mean his highness Lucifer will also have to die?" Juliet asked, confusion etching her features.
"Yes," Katarina affirmed. "There is no other option. Do you understand, Lucifer?" She turned to her young brother, who nodded solemnly.
As the plan unfolded, Queen Katarina found herself dragged toward the sacrificial altar—the ominous beginning of what was touted as the "Golden Era," a promise few believed would materialize.
Her insides burned with anger—not at her ex-fiancé, who now occupied the throne, but at another face standing beside him. A face she recognized all too well.
Bitter laughter escaped her lips as she was forced to kneel before Liam. "Oh, I finally understand now... what a pleasant surprise, Juliet."
Juliet's eyes blazed. "Oh, you understand? Were you secretly relishing the thought that I might have died?"
"What do you mean by 'relishing'?" Katarina asked, her confusion genuine.
"Don't play innocent," Juliet snapped, her temper flaring.
Before Juliet could continue, Liam intervened. He strode toward Katarina, lifting her chin to meet his gaze. His smile was chilling. "Ah, you have no idea how long I've waited to see you like this."
. "Let's get down to business." Liam said . With that, he released her face, harsh and dismissive. Raising his hand, he invoked the ancient curse—a malevolent force that drained her power and transferred it into him.
Katarina's screams echoed as her people circled her. The pain was unbearable, shaking the very foundations of the Northern Realm. But after what felt like an eternity, Liam withdrew his hand, gasping for breath. "Let's take a break," he declared, staggering back to the stolen throne.
Yet, just as he was about to sit, a sudden commotion erupted. Soldiers were thrown to the ground, and Katarina defied gravity, hurtling toward the edge of the realm. In a shocking twist, her brother, Lucifer, leaped after her.
The onlookers were stunned. "What?" Liam managed to utter, his arrogance shattered.
Katarina's resolve remained unyielding. "I will be back," she vowed, her eyes locking onto Liam's. "No matter how long it takes, I will return."
As she plummeted, her golden hair turned to brown, and her once-blue eyes darkened. A single tear escaped, marking her descent into a deep slumber