Lumina stepped through the shimmering veil of the Celestial Realm’s border like mist parting before dawn.

The air changed at once crisp, carrying the faint chime of starlight on wind that tasted of silver and memory.

For the first time in years, she walked without darkness pressing against her eyes. No counting of steps. No world reduced to sound, scent, and the echo of footsteps.

She could see fully and this made her a bit satisfied. The realm unfolded before her in breathtaking, towering spires of translucent crystal that caught and refracted moonlight into rainbows, gardens suspended in mid-air where blossoms glowed with their own inner light, paths of polished moonstone that shimmered under her bare feet. 𝘧𝑟𝑒𝑒𝘸𝘦𝘣𝑛𝑜𝘷𝑒𝓁.𝘤𝘰𝓂

Colors she had forgotten existed rushed back deep skies, through everything like living light. Her heart stuttered.

The last time she had truly seen this place she had been a child, clinging to her mother’s hand while assassins pursued them through these very gardens.

The memory clawed up her throat screams, the wet sound of steel meeting flesh, her mother’s blood warm on her face. Pain bloomed fresh behind her ribs, sharp enough to steal her breath.

She forced herself forward anyway. Each step felt both sacred and profane.

She was no longer the frightened girl who had been sent away blind and broken.

She was something else and now she is here for a reason nothing is breaking her anymore.

The Beauty of the realm no longer soothed; it mocked her. The guards at the inner archway froze when they saw her.

"Princess..." one began, bowing low even though it was clear he wasn’t ready to show any sort of respect.

His lips sealed mid-sentence. Lumina’s silver gaze flicked toward him calm, unblinking and his throat seized.

He clawed at his neck, eyes bulging, unable to draw air. The second guard stepped forward, hand on his sword hilt. "You carry the stench of Drakonis on you, and at the same time the king never told us you will be coming here so you cannot..."

She glanced his way and his words choked off. His sword clattered to the moonstone.

Both men dropped to their knees, gasping, faces purpling. Lumina walked past without slowing, the hem of her star-silk cloak brushing their bowed heads like a dismissal.

The grand hall of the Celestial Palace was alive with the murmur of nobles gathered for a late-night council.

Crystal chandeliers floated overhead, casting soft prisms across silk robes and jeweled coronets. The moment she crossed the threshold, every voice died and heads turned toward her.

Whispers erupted like sparks.

"She is here... the princess."

"What must have happened?"

"Did the Drakonis realm cast her out?"

"That would be a disaster for the alliance.."

King Ryler sat on the raised throne of white opal, crown of living starlight resting on his brow.

His silver-blue eyes, mirrors of her own, widened fractionally. He lifted one hand and silence fell like a blade.

Lumina walked the length of the hall alone, head high, every step deliberate.

She stopped before the dais and sank into a perfect, formal curtsy deep enough to show respect, shallow enough to remind everyone she was no longer a child to be commanded.

"Father," she said, voice clear and steady. "Or should I say, Your Highness."

The king leaned forward, stunned. "Lumina. Why have you returned? The King of Drakonis sent no message of your arrival."

She rose smoothly. "I am not here because I missed home. And I am not here because you believe I have committed some wrong." Her gaze never wavered. "I am only here for an important reason." She paused at once.

"Lumina... whatever you might have been here for must have been so important for you to come to me directly."

Lumina nodded her head with a small smile as she couldn’t help but stare at her father and wonder why her father hated her.

"I demand you issue a decree dissolving my marriage to Ashen, the last prince of Drakonis. Immediately."

A collective gasp rippled through the hall and at once "Abomination!" one noble cried.

"Unheard of!"

"The alliance... this is a big disadvantage to us!""

"Silence," the king commanded. His voice was steel wrapped in velvet. He studied her for a long moment, then rose. "Go to your chambers. We will speak there. Alone."

"Father.."

"I said you should go now! We will speak alone!" his voice boomed and Lumina bowed once more.

As she turned to leave, she lifted her chin and let a small, cold smirk curve her lips.

The nobles shrank back from that look. She walked out with Stella at her side, the maid’s hand trembling on her elbow not from fear of the realm, but from the storm she sensed building in her lady.

They reached Lumina’s old chambers which had been unchanged since childhood, and even till now. The walls of pale quartz veined with starlight, a bed draped in moon-silk. The door had barely closed when pain exploded in her chest.

A brutal, open-handed strike slammed into her chest. She staggered, then fell hard to the marble floor.

Stella screamed ready to attack. "How dare you hurt my lady!"

A second slap cracked across Stella’s face, snapping her head to the side.

Queen Mireya stood over them, resplendent in silver and amethyst robes, face twisted with fury. Her handmaidens flanked her like vultures.

"Watch your tongue, girl," Mireya hissed. She rounded on Lumina. "Why can I not reach my daughter? Why are you back instead of her?"

Before Lumina could rise, another slap landed harder, splitting her lip. Blood bloomed on her tongue. She looked up, eyes blazing.

For the first time, she truly saw Mireya’s face, sharp cheekbones, cold beauty, the same silver eyes that had once belonged to her real mother.

Rage ignited as Lumina rose slowly, blood trickling from the corner of her mouth. Her gaze shifted to the handmaiden who had struck her, her eyes met with her and then she snickered quietly.

"Beat her," she said quietly. "Until I am satisfied."

The handmaiden froze at once and without hesitation, she turned on Mireya.

Mireya’s eyes widened. "What is happening? I am your queen!"

The other handmaidens moved as one. They seized Mireya by the arms, dragging her backward. She screamed, thrashing. "Get back to your senses!"

They did not listen. One maid struck her across the faceopen palm, ringing a slap. Another grabbed her hair, yanking her head back. A third drove a knee into her stomach. Mireya doubled over, gasping. They forced her to the ground, pinning her shoulders and wrists.

Blows rained down slaps, fists, sharp-nailed scratches. Mireya screamed curses, threats, and promises of punishment.

"You ungrateful things! You should have been dead!"

"I will have you all executed!"

Her voice cracked higher with each strike. Blood trickled from her nose, her lip split, one eye swelling shut. Her perfect silver hair tangled and matted with sweat and tears. She clawed at the marble, nails breaking, sobbing now.

"You will pay... all of you..."

Lumina watched, arms folded, expression calm. Stella stood beside her, eyes wide with a mixture of shock and fierce satisfaction.

"Enough," Lumina said at last.

The handmaidens stopped instantly. Mireya lay curled on the floor, face swollen and bruised, breathing in wet, ragged gasps.

Lumina stepped forward and crouched beside her. She leaned close enough that Mireya could feel her breath.

"You bitch," Mireya rasped. "I will make sure you suffer for this."

Lumina smiled slowly, dangerously. "Make me pay." She laughed softly, the sound chilling in its lightness. "How? Are you sure you can do that?"

Mireya’s rage flared brighter, but her body trembled. "You should watch, my daughter. I am very sure she will attain the high position you will never be able to attain in your future years."

"Oh please," Lumina continued, voice dropping to a whisper. "Not even you or my father can save your daughter from her current predicament."

Mireya’s good eye widened. "What have you done to my daughter? Speak! What did you do?"

Lumina straightened. She turned her back, dismissing her. Mireya lunged wildly, desperate but Lumina raised one hand. The handmaidens seized Mireya again, holding her fast.

"Mireya," Lumina said, using her name like a blade. Mireya flinched as though struck.

"I came back here on purpose," Lumina continued, "because I know you are the mastermind behind my poison. If you do not give me the antidote soon enough then I will not only make your daughter see hell, I will make sure you regret ever taking my mother’s place."

She turned fully then, silver eyes burning.

"Also, get this into your head I am here to take that throne. And nothing will stop me."

Lumina’s smirk returned, sharp and certain.

She walked past the broken queen without another glance, Stella at her side, leaving Mireya on the floor surrounded by her own silent, obedient handmaidens.

"Take her out." She ordered and with that they all pulled her out of her room.