[24 Hours Ago]

Inside the throne room of Elvania, tension thickened the air like fog.

Dozens of candidates stood below the empty throne, their robes and armor immaculate, their expressions a mixture of arrogance, calculation, and suppressed excitement. The polished white-stone floor reflected the colored light streaming through the stained-glass windows, and the high vaulted ceiling made every whisper echo.

Then the news arrived.

"Princess Erica... is here...!"

The words crashed into the hall like a thunderclap.

Shock rippled through the gathered elves. Eyes widened, jaws clenched, and fans or gloved hands froze mid-air.

How?

How had she made it here alive?

The Grand Elder of the royal court, Dominic Valtor, stood near the base of the throne. He was an elderly elf with grey hair combed neatly back, sharp green eyes, and a bearing that carried decades of authority. He had served the royal court longer than anyone present and held considerable power throughout the kingdom.

He swept his gaze across the nobles.

Some looked annoyed, their lips thinning with displeasure.

Some appeared indifferent, as if nothing had changed.

Some, strangely, looked faintly relieved.

Dominic caught those subtle reactions and smiled inwardly.

’At least they still know what’s good for them,’ he thought. ’They’re not completely stupid.’

The guard who had rushed in dropped to one knee.

"Grand Elder, what are your orders?" the guard asked, breathing heavily. "Should we attack them?"

Dominic did not answer immediately.

Instead, his eyes shifted toward one side of the hall.

There, standing among the candidates, was a blue-haired woman with striking, refined features. Her long hair shimmered like clear lake water, falling in waves down her back. She wore a form-fitting dark coat lined with silver, a sword resting at her hip. Calm, sharp eyes observed everything with detached interest.

Sakura Takahashi.

Beside her stood an elven girl with blond hair and brown eyes, her beauty youthful and fresh. Her hair was styled neatly, and she wore light armor adorned with the emblem of a powerful house.

Even at a glance, both women radiated strength and confidence.

Their appearance alone drew countless gazes.

Their presence made everyone cautious.

Dominic’s eyes met Sakura’s.

Both of them smiled faintly.

’Just as that woman foresaw,’ Dominic thought. ’Erica has found support. Someone actually chose to back the losing horse... I’m very interested to see who it is.’

He turned back toward the guard.

"Let them enter," Dominic said calmly. "Inform everyone not to engage in combat with anyone accompanying Erica."

The guard’s eyes widened.

"She remains a member of the royal family until her legitimacy is disproven," Dominic continued. "Until then, we shall treat her as a contestant as well."

The hall fell silent for a moment.

Then startled murmurs erupted.

This went against everything they knew about Dominic. By nature, he despised disruptions. Any nuisance that reached his notice was usually crushed immediately.

And yet now, he was allowing Erica to enter openly.

The guard did not question it. He bowed and hurried away to relay the orders.

The nobles exchanged glances, their curiosity growing.

’Whose backing has she gained to walk into the royal palace like this...?’ many of them wondered.

Moments later, the heavy doors of the throne room swung open.

Erica Lysindra Lunaris, the first princess and only child of the former king, stepped inside.

Everyone knew the official story: Erica, a fallen princess, had spent the last year on the run, living a life of poverty and struggle, hunted by those who called her a bastard and a usurper.

But the girl who entered the hall now looked nothing like a beggar.

She wore a beautiful dress of deep midnight blue that faded into silver at the hem, embroidered with patterns resembling constellations. The fabric hugged her slender frame gracefully, flowing like liquid starlight. A silver ribbon cinched her waist, and a cloak the color of dawn mist trailed behind her.

Her long silver hair, once remembered as messy and unkempt, now cascaded smoothly down her back, partially tied with a sapphire-studded ornament.

Her blue eyes shone brightly beneath her lashes.

On her shoulder sat a small green-haired fairy—Luna—her legs crossed and wings fluttering softly. Her emerald hair was tied into loose twin tails, and her bright eyes darted around the hall with open curiosity.

For a moment, even among elves known throughout the world for their beauty, many simply stared.

Their gazes were drawn to Erica’s presence—the way she carried herself, the quiet confidence in her steps.

Her charisma and aura were on an entirely different level compared to the other candidates, who now seemed somewhat dull by comparison.

Dominic’s lips curved into a sharp smirk as his eyes met Erica’s.

He was about to step forward and greet her—

Then he froze.

Three more figures entered behind her.

To Erica’s right walked a boy with black hair and beautiful crimson eyes. His features were refined to the point of seeming almost ethereal, his pale skin contrasting against the dark, simple clothing he wore—a fitted black coat and trousers that somehow made him appear both elegant and dangerous.

A crow with black feathers tinged with red perched upon his shoulder, its eyes glinting with intelligence.

Behind him came two women.

One possessed long crimson hair and matching crimson eyes, her expression lazy yet sharp, as though she were bored but prepared to kill at any moment.

Elizabeth Crimson.

She wore a dark dress lined with red patterns, a long coat draped over her shoulders, every movement radiating quiet danger.

The other had soft pink hair and calm gray eyes.

Yuna Akatsuki.

She wore light armor accented with pale blue cloth and carried a sword at her side. Her aura was subtle yet heavy, like a blade still resting in its sheath that could cut through anything once drawn.

Both appeared to be in their early twenties.

Both radiated dangerous pressure.

The elves throughout the hall tensed.

They understood immediately.

The black-haired boy and the crimson-haired woman were not ordinary people. Their scent, their aura, and the faint pressure of their bloodlines all screamed one word.

Vampires.

But the most astonishing thing was that they walked beneath the sunlight filtering through the stained glass as if it meant nothing. Their skin remained unburned, their movements completely casual.

They walked through the colored beams of light as though they owned them.

Sakura’s eyes narrowed slightly.

She measured Arthur from head to toe.

’It’s astounding no matter how many times I think about it,’ Sakura thought. ’Even as a system user, his growth is too abnormal. He’s already B-rank... so quickly...’

As if sensing her gaze, Arthur turned his crimson eyes toward her.

Their gazes met across the throne room.

For a heartbeat, silence fell between them.

Both smiled.

As if they had already known they would meet here.

Beneath those calm smiles, killing intent faintly leaked from both of them before vanishing just as quickly, like a blade returning to its sheath.

The blond-haired elven girl standing beside Sakura suddenly stepped forward.

Her brown eyes flashed with indignation.

"Grandfather," she said sharply, turning toward Dominic, "how can you allow her inside? She’s been on the run for a year. None of us even know whether she truly possesses royal blood. What right does she have to participate?"

Dominic sighed inwardly.

’This granddaughter of mine is truly impatient...’

He looked at her with a hint of irritation.

"Miss Freya," Dominic said firmly, "here, I am not your grandfather. Address me as Grand Elder."

Freya clicked her tongue softly.

"And whether she has the right to participate or not," Dominic continued, "is for me to decide. Not you."

Freya clenched her fist, swallowing her retort before stepping back beside Sakura.

Sakura lightly placed a hand upon her shoulder.

"Don’t worry," Sakura said quietly. "You’ll get your chance."

Erica stepped forward.

"Grand Elder," Erica said, her voice clear and steady, "I have come here to prove my legitimacy and claim the throne. This competition is no longer necessary."

Dominic chuckled.

"My, my, Miss Erica," he said. "You seem rather conceited."

His gaze sharpened.

"You have spent a year on the run," he continued. "You have not fulfilled a single royal duty during that time. The people hate you. The nobles despise you."

A low murmur of agreement spread throughout the hall.

"That is why I arranged this competition," Dominic said, raising a hand to silence them. "For the future of our kingdom, which has grown weak. I cannot simply hand you the throne, even if you possess royal blood."

He raised his chin.

"If you are capable," Dominic declared, "then prove it among these candidates. Take the throne with your own hands."

The nobles erupted.

"Grand Elder Dominic is right!"

"For the kingdom!"

"Only the most capable should rule!"

They began chanting his name, some genuinely supportive, others eager to stand beside whichever side appeared strongest.

Arthur watched them with half-lidded eyes.

’What an annoying old man,’ Arthur thought. ’He’s not going to make this easy...’

Upon his shoulder, the crow ruffled its feathers.

"Caw... caw..." Black muttered.

Arthur tilted his head slightly.

"Are you serious?" he whispered.

"Caw. Caw."

Black replied with complete certainty.

Arthur’s lips twitched.

"Well," he muttered, "that actually sounds like a good idea."

Yuna and Elizabeth glanced toward Arthur and Black.

To them, it looked like an idiot and his equally idiotic bird having a private discussion.

Yet Yuna couldn’t deny it.

She was enjoying this situation more and more, even while standing in enemy territory.

As she watched Arthur, a strange feeling rose within her chest.

’No matter what happens... it feels like he’ll never fall,’ Yuna thought. ’As though he always has everything under control.’

The thought surprised her.

Elizabeth smirked faintly.

"I know what you’re feeling," Elizabeth murmured. "I can’t fully explain it either. No matter how bad things look, it always feels like he has everything in his hands."

Yuna remained silent, refusing to comment on her lazy disciple’s intuition.

Erica looked around the hall filled with enemies and rivals.

She took a slow breath.

"All right," Erica said. "I will compete with everyone."

She had barely finished speaking when Arthur stepped forward.

He walked past Elizabeth and Yuna, past the whispering candidates, and stopped directly in front of Erica.

Then, in one smooth motion, he knelt like a knight from an ancient tale.

He placed his right hand over his chest and bowed his head.

"My queen," Arthur said, his voice calm and clear, "just give the order."

Erica blinked.

’What is he talking about...?’

On her shoulder, Luna’s eyes widened.

"Maybe he got scared after seeing all these people," Luna said loudly. "He’s asking for permission to run away."

She spoke in her usual loud, unrestrained voice.

Unexpectedly, her words carried throughout the throne room.

For a moment, silence reigned.

Then laughter exploded.

"Hahaha! The black-haired boy is a coward!"

"So that’s all he is!"

"Begging to run away already!"

Erica’s heart clenched.

She looked at Arthur.

For a moment, her eyes lowered.

’Maybe Luna is right...’

’This was hopeless from the beginning.’

’Why would anyone risk their life for me...?’

’It’s over.’

She looked at Arthur again.

There was no anger.

No resentment.

Only quiet, tired acceptance.

Luna glared at Arthur, her wings buzzing furiously.

’You better not run...’

Believing Arthur was asking permission to flee, Erica exhaled slowly.

"Yes," Erica said. "You have my permission."

Inside her heart, a quiet voice whispered:

’It’s over.’

Dominic saw this and slowly shook his head.

’So the boy is a coward after all.’

On the opposite side of the hall, a chill crawled down the spine of a brown-haired girl standing beside Sakura.

Olivia.

Her hair was tied into a neat bun, and she wore a scholar’s robe.

"Lady Sakura," Olivia said quietly, her voice tense, "we should leave. All predictions have become meaningless."

Sakura frowned.

"What do you mean?"

Olivia stared at Arthur, who still remained kneeling.

"He’s going to overturn the board," Olivia whispered.

At that exact moment, Arthur lifted his head.

His eyes met Elizabeth’s.

Elizabeth’s lips curled into a dangerous, excited smile.

"Night Sanctuary."

The words were like the opening of a gate.

The world changed.

Darkness erupted from Elizabeth like a tidal wave, surging in every direction. It swallowed light, color, and sound.

A vast dome of pitch-black energy expanded from the center of the hall, engulfing the throne, nobles, candidates, guards—everything.

The stained-glass light disappeared.

The throne room drowned in darkness.

"What—?!"

"It’s a domain!"

"Get ready to attack!"

Dominic’s voice thundered through the chaos.

"Attack!" Dominic roared. "Kill them all!"

His own domain exploded outward, a storm of crystalline light colliding against the spreading darkness of Night Sanctuary.

The clash sent ripples of power crackling through the room.

For everyone else, the world became chaos.

──── SCHLK ────

The sound of steel piercing flesh.

Someone screamed as a limb was severed.

"Aaagh! My arm!"

──── THUD ────

A body struck the floor.

Another person tried to flee.

"Stay away! Stay aw—"

A whisper of movement.

Then silence.

Nobles hurled spells blindly into the darkness, panic twisting their voices.

"Protect your candidates ! they are the key!"

"Kill the vampires!"

Blades flashed.

Magic exploded.

The floor cracked beneath the pressure of clashing domains.

For those trapped inside Night Sanctuary, it was like fighting blind within a nightmare. Shadows moved where nothing should move. Footsteps came from every direction.

Sometimes a cold hand touched a shoulder for just long enough to freeze the heart before a blade found the throat.

──── CRACK ────

A pillar shattered.

──── SPLASH ────

Blood struck stone.

It felt like an eternity.

In reality, barely a minute had passed.

When the darkness finally receded, the throne room was unrecognizable.

Bodies lay scattered across the once-polished floor, some groaning, others forever silent.

Blood ran in thick streams down the steps leading to the throne, pooling in dark, reflective patches.

Broken weapons, shattered armor, and remnants of spells still flickered weakly in the air.

Upon the throne sat a figure.

Arthur.

He leaned casually against the high backrest as though it had been made for him. One leg rested slightly higher than the other.

Erica sat sideways across his lap, unharmed but stiff with shock, his left arm loosely supporting her so she would not fall.

Blood covered Arthur’s hands, splattered across his sleeves and dusting his cheek like war paint.

His crimson eyes glowed faintly.

He inclined his head toward Erica.

"My lady," Arthur said calmly, as though reading a report instead of sitting amid a massacre, "as per your order, the rebels have been cleared."

Erica stared at him, speechless.

Her mind struggled to catch up.

’What... just happened...?’

On one side of the room, Dominic stood hunched over, his chest heaving, his robes torn and stained with blood. He clutched his staff, his eyes fixed upon the throne.

In front of him stood Elizabeth.

Not a scratch marred her body.

Her crimson eyes gleamed.

The game for the throne of Elvania had just been overturned in the most brutal way possible.

And everyone still alive understood one thing.

The girl who had spent a year on the run was no longer alone.

And she no longer needed to run.