The very next day, the Headmaster summoned Magda and informed her, "You'll be accompanying me somewhere this afternoon. Prepare yourself." Magda nodded hesitantly, unsure of what lay ahead.
That morning, a teacher in the Headmaster's office gave her a crash course on court etiquette. "This is how you greet an Archmage," the teacher explained, demonstrating a precise curtsy. "Remember, the Emperor is one as well."
After lunch, Magda joined the Headmaster and two elder male students as they made their way to the royal palace.
The grandeur of the imperial palace took her breath away, its magnificence unlike anything she had ever seen. Fidgeting nervously in the waiting room, she caught the attention of one of her companions.
"I'm Lysander Valmont," the boy introduced himself, his tone proud but friendly. "Top student on the honor roll."
He explained that this was an afternoon court session where the best students from each year got a chance to meet the Emperor.
Magda's confusion deepened. "But… I'm not even a student yet. I haven't taken any tests," she mumbled, her brows furrowed.
Lysander chuckled. "Well, your entrance exam scores must have been something extraordinary."
-----
Soon, they were called inside. The grand court hall loomed vast and majestic, its banners and murals depicting great battles and imperial triumphs. Magda followed the Headmaster in a file, her small frame hidden behind him as they walked toward the throne.
The court was filled with high nobles, courtiers, military generals, and other luminaries. The size of the hall made Magda feel insignificant, as though they were ants in the eyes of those seated in the plenary sections. She dared not look directly at the figure seated at the end of the hall.
"Remember to bow respectfully," the teacher's earlier words echoed in her mind. "You're here as a mage, not just a subject."
Magda bowed alongside the other students, her heart pounding in her chest. The Headmaster began introductions. Magda glanced sideways, hearing nobles whispering about each student.
When her turn came, the Headmaster gently pushed her forward, unlike the male students who introduced themselves from their spots.
He led her closer to the throne, addressing her as the best student discovered in the entrance exam.
"Her mana levels dwarf those of the Empire's three Archmages. Her name is Magda Featherfield, a prodigy beyond compare," he declared.
Magda stood silently, her head bowed as her teacher had instructed.
The room suddenly hushed. Magda's heart raced as she heard footsteps approaching. A deep male voice broke the silence.
"Please, look up."
Magda obeyed, her crimson eyes meeting the face of a man who seemed almost a reflection of herself. He was tall, his ink-black hair cascading over his shoulders, and his crimson eyes mirrored her own. Magda's breath caught. She had never seen anyone so strikingly handsome.
"How old are you?" he asked gently, his voice resonating with both authority and warmth.
Magda fumbled, "Fifteen… no, sixteen!" she corrected quickly, recalling the Academy's age requirement. She didn't want to be sent back to the Featherfield estate.
The man's lips curved into a faint smile. "Don't worry," he reassured her. "You'll be sixteen on the seventh day of next month."
Magda's eyes widened in surprise. "How do you know my birthday?" she blurted, forgetting her decorum. The man's smile turned bitter, and for a fleeting moment, she thought she saw unshed tears in his eyes.
He turned away, his voice hoarse with unspoken emotions. "Court is adjourned," he announced.
Only then did realization dawn on Magda: she had just met the Emperor.
The Headmaster led the students back to the Academy. Magda's mind swirled with questions, but she didn't have the courage to ask them aloud.
Soon afterward, an imperial edict arrived, bearing the Emperor's seal. It officially recognized Magda as the Emperor's only biological daughter and proclaimed her the Imperial Princess. The edict also declared that the former Imperial Princess, Flora, had been adopted into the imperial family.
-----
Magda was soon brought to the palace, though the grandeur of it all felt overwhelming.
She quickly found solace in a cozy corner of the palace library, surrounded by tomes and magic theory. It was everything Magda had ever wished for, a sanctuary amidst the overwhelming opulence.
Unbeknownst to Magda, this corner had once been her mother Celeste's secret hideout.
The Emperor often observed his daughter from afar as she immersed herself in spells and runes. Her mannerisms were an uncanny mix of his and Celeste's, a bittersweet reminder of the love he had lost.
He had read about Magda's life in Featherfield, and his heart bled knowing he had failed her. For nearly sixteen years, he had numbed himself into becoming a machine, devoid of feeling. Finding Magda allowed him to reconnect with his emotions, to grieve for Celeste and their lost years, and to seek redemption.
Determined to make amends, he showered Magda with lavish gifts. Magda accepted them all with reverence, but their exchanges remained distant.
Once, when the Emperor assigned her a personal mage squad for protection, Magda was visibly shocked. She sent the squad away, except for the head mage, who stayed behind as her retainer.
-----
To ease Magda into court life, the Emperor planned a grand debut for her. The event was scheduled for the Summer Solstice, just after her sixteenth birthday. Traditionally reserved for auspicious occasions like imperial marriages or military honors, the day underscored Magda's significance as the Imperial Princess.
The Summer Solstice was a celebration of unity and prosperity, a symbol of the Emperor's unwavering rule. With parades and tributes from vassal states.
The Emperor personally oversaw every detail of the preparations.
Magda's gown was crafted from crimson silk of the Western Desert, adorned with pearls from the Eastern Isles, and lined with fur from the Northern Wastelands. Her tiara, a masterpiece of twelve Southern artisans, crowned her transformation into royalty.
When Magda descended the grand staircase, the court herald announced her as the Imperial Princess, a title unused for years.
Gasps of awe rippled through the crowd as nobles noted her striking resemblance to the Emperor. Her crimson eyes and inky black hair mirrored his so perfectly that none could doubt her lineage.
The Emperor himself became her dance partner, guiding her through the intricate steps. Magda, unfamiliar with formal dances, moved hesitantly, but the Emperor carried her with grace. As they swayed, he leaned closer and murmured, "You're doing well, Magda."
Magda's face lit up with a shy smile, her heart swelling with pride.
Just as the evening seemed perfect, Flora arrived late, her golden hair catching the light as she entered.
"Forgive my tardiness," she said with an apologetic smile. "I was helping a lost child reunite with his parents." The court's attention immediately shifted to Flora, their praises flowing freely.
Magda watched from the sidelines as Ethan von Shelb, the eldest son of Duke von Shelb, made his entrance. The room buzzed with admiration for the war hero, his refined demeanor a stark contrast to the rugged image of most warriors.
Approaching the Emperor, Ethan knelt respectfully. "Your Highness, may I dedicate the military medal that was awarded to me this afternoon for a personal purpose?"
The Emperor's crimson eyes narrowed slightly, but he gave a nod of approval. "As you wish."
Ethan turned to Flora, his voice steady and clear. "Your Highness Flora, may I exchange my medal of valor for the honor of a dance?"
He extended a hand, and Flora accepted with a radiant smile. The court erupted in cheers as the pair took to the floor, their chemistry undeniable. Flora's grace and charm captivated everyone, leaving Magda's hesitant replies and reserved demeanor overshadowed.
Even those who had approached Magda earlier drifted away, drawn by Flora's magnetic presence. The Emperor's jaw tightened as he watched Flora steal the spotlight, his anger simmering beneath his composed exterior.
Duke von Shelb stepped forward, his tone diplomatic. "Your Majesty, it is a day of celebration. Surely we cannot fault Princess Flora for dancing?"
Magda struggled with the social complexities, her discomfort plain to see. Quietly, she withdrew from the grand hall, the weight of the evening's events heavy on her.
As Magda left the grand hall, the evening's events weighed heavily on her.
This was the beginning of her struggle to find acceptance in court. Despite her efforts to attend tea parties and social events, she was subtly sidelined by the noble faction.
Meanwhile, Flora thrived under the mentorship of Duke von Shelb, her star rising ever higher.
-----
At eighteen, Magda graduated with honors from the Academy for Special Talents. The Emperor, one of the three archmages of the empire, was immensely proud. He boasted to the Headmaster, also an archmage, that Magda was just like her mother.
Despite his pride, the Emperor noticed Magda's happiness lay away from the court.
His trusted advisor, Dion, suggested that marriage might provide her an escape. Reluctantly, the Emperor considered seeking a non-ambitious, non-political nobleman for his daughter.
The rumors spread quickly through the Court. Duke von Shelb approached the Emperor, proposing his younger son, Micheal von Shelb, as a match.
"Micheal is a top student," the Duke explained, "and at twenty years old, he's graduating this year. He's withdrawn from power games, and as the third son, he has no succession pressures."
The Emperor contemplated the idea but hesitated.
"Would Micheal agree to this?" he asked, concerned about forcing Magda into a loveless marriage.
"He would," the Duke assured him. "Their close ages and shared disposition would make them compatible."
Unspoken, however, were the Duke's motives. He viewed Magda as tactless and unsuitable for the throne. Flora, polished and charismatic, seemed a far better candidate.
For years, the Duke had urged the Emperor to treat Flora lovingly, nurturing her as a future ally for the Shelb family. As Flora matured, her loyalty to the Duke grew. The Duke believed Flora's ascension as Empress would secure his influence.
Magda, by contrast, was too strong-willed and opinionated. While her power might rally the Royalists or Loyalists, her bullheadedness alienated many court factions. Marrying Magda to Micheal would sideline her in the race for the throne, ensuring Flora's uncontested rise.
The Duke believed Micheal's eccentricity and lack of ambition made him an ideal candidate. Assuming Micheal's congenital heart disease rendered him incapable of fathering children, the Duke felt Magda's lineage would pose no threat to Flora's future. Confident in his other sons to secure heirs, the Duke saw this arrangement as a minor sacrifice.
But the novel held a nasty surprise for him. Once deemed infallible, the House of Shelb fell.
The downfall began with Ethan's heroic death, saving Fredrick from a beast tide for Flora's sake. His loss, both unexpected and devastating, occurred at the height of the family's power.
Magda, isolated and consumed by depression, succumbed to a pandemic. The Emperor was led to believe she thrived, reassured by both the Duke and Magda herself, who didn't want to burden him with worry. Only after her death did the truth of her suffering emerge, shattering his trust and fueling his vengeance.
The Duchess, already grieving Ethan, succumbed to her sorrow after Magda's death.
Accusations of treason against the Shelbs grew louder. Adrian, Micheal's second brother, took the blame and was executed as a traitor. His public execution marked the family's decline.
Micheal, weary and physically fragile, returned to intercede for his father. His health deteriorated rapidly, leading to his untimely death.
Shortly after, the Duke was apprehended and executed by Fredrick, Flora's fiancé, in an act of righteous vengeance that sealed the Shelb family's tragic downfall.
Through it all, Flora watched as the Emperor and Fredrick dismantled the family that had raised her.
A year later, Flora presented a sickly infant resembling Ethan, claiming him as Ethan's illegitimate son. This puppet Duke secured her control. Micheal had known Ethan's honor would never permit such a scandal.
Years later, the Emperor, broken by Magda's loss, passed away in despair. Flora, unchallenged, ascended as Empress.
Thus ended the novel's tale: a story of one girl's imperial triumph, built on the suffering of countless others.