Days passed like a breeze, and, before I was able to prepare myself, the day had come. The Festival, which I enjoyed as a small kid, had a deep meaning related to the first saving of our Empire. The day when the Gods saved our Empire was a day that every citizen celebrated. Preparing delicious foods and gifts, everyone knew the importance of those offerings.

As the Imperial Family, we always celebrated this festival by gathering every citizen to a big fest, where food was abundant, where children would roam free around the Palace. Once the clock strikes midnight, everyone will raise fly lanterns to the sky, and, on those lanterns, they will write small messages of gratitude. 

This year, my father, the Emperor, announced that the fly lanterns would be raised to the sky in the big Forest of Wishes, not at the Imperial Palace. He then proceeded to inform everyone that, before midnight, I will reveal my true powers. 

Now, here I was, standing in this forest, between the line that separated the living from the dead, surrounded by a crowd of people I couldn’t even count. There were some Imperial Soldiers who raised their torches so that everyone could see me, and there were commoners who grabbed onto their fly lanterns tightly. 

As I searched for familiar faces in that crown, I spotted Princess Sophie, whose smile I found annoying, stood surrounded by her soldiers. When she noticed that I was staring at her, she raised her hand and waved. 

I acknowledged her presence with a quick nod and my eyes glazed upon the middle of the crowd, where my father and Haruki stood on two chairs that resembled the throne. Haruki leaned the board onto his left side, his eyes sparkling with joy. 

When my eyes moved onto my father, I was surprised at how the look on his face was so different from the one he showed me not too long ago. His eyes followed every movement I made, he frowned in anger and there wasn’t any smile on his face. Upon seeing his look, I felt small, as if I could be swallowed by the whole crowd. 

He then cleared his throat, raising his cup of wine, drawing everyone’s attention. 

‘My dear citizens, we are gathered on this beautiful day to celebrate the long-lasting gift that the Gods have blessed us with: our Empire. As a gratitude for those who spared our ancestors and Empire, we celebrate this day once again. Yet, this year, I want it to be more meaningful, as we are the only generation who was blessed with a daughter that will save our lives!’ 

A moment later, the crowd started applauding. There were people cheering, people that started, and people that only waited for this to be over. Yet my father did not care how those people reacted. He pursued with his statement.

‘Today, we will witness a part of the gift that the Gods offered to us: my daughter will open the portal to the world of the dead and bring us proof of her powers! Please, a round of applause!’ 

The forest echoed with the sound of applause, and I could feel my whole body burning as I looked around the line that separated the two lands. 

Will I truly be able to pass through that portal? 

This question bothered me so much that I did not even hear when my father called out my name to make my statement. I looked around, but, as if a veil was put on my eyes, I couldn’t see anything. From the crowd, I noticed someone coming towards me. As I raised my head, K stood next to me. His eyes looked softly at me, and only by looking at his expression did I snap out of my state. My voice cracked when I spoke my first word, and I tried to hide my mistake by coughing. 

‘My dear citizens, we are gathered here to see another blessing of the Gods. We may not know what kind of disaster is written in the fate of this Empire, but I swore before your eyes that, as long as I am alive, I will fight and protect everyone. No one will ever die under my eyes. So, please, trust me as I shall rule this Empire in a time of peace.’ 

The crowd got silent for a moment, then, here and there, although shy at first, people started clapping their hands, as if they were cheering for me. 

‘Now, please look closely at the power of Gods!’ my father’s imposing voice was heard loud and clear 

He stood up from the throne, together with Haruki, and bowed their heads in front of me. The crowd followed their movements and I knew it was time for me to step forward. 

Yet, At that moment that I turned my back and took the first step beyond the barrier, nothing changed, and At that moment, the crowd started to murmur. 

‘What’s this? Nothing happened! Have we been lied to?’ a voice broke out the silence