Leticia closed the door behind her and pressed her back against it, her chest rising and falling as she tried to steady her breathing. She closed her eyes, letting the memories flood back, unfiltered and vivid.

“How could I forget this?” she whispered, voice barely audible as she clenched her hands into fists.

The prince's visit had been a carefully guarded secret; it was even hidden from the court—and the purpose was to obtain the Divine Egg.

The Divine Egg, a powerful relic rumored to hold immense magic, was said to be hidden somewhere within their own kingdom’s borders. An artifact of legend, it could bend fate itself if it fell into the right—or wrong—hands. And if anyone else had discovered this, it might have passed as a mere myth.

Her fists clenched as she remembered. “If only it had stayed hidden.”

But fate had a cruel sense of irony, and somehow that ancient relic had been found by Lyria—by chance or destiny, it ruined her brother's life. Lyria hadn’t known its value or the delicate magic contained within its fragile shell. In her curiosity, she’d accidentally shattered the egg, releasing a pulse of ancient energy that signaled its destruction across both the kingdoms.

Leticia clenched her fists as she remembered the aftermath. 

“An accident,” they had called it, but the Kingdom of Lorianthia hadn’t seen it that way. 

To them, the destruction of the Divine Egg was an unforgivable act, an insult that demanded retribution. It wasn’t long before their outrage escalated into something far worse—and the Drakemorne family had paid a heavy price.

Leticia remembered the day her brother returned from battle, his face gaunt, his eyes hollow—and his left arm gone, sacrificed in the clash. The mighty and proud Sebastian, once the unshakable defender of their family, is now crushed and broken. And while others pitied him, murmuring sympathies that only deepened his shame, he spiraled into despair.

Leticia clenched her fist. 'They didn’t blame Lyria. In fact, they coddled her, sheltered her, and called her the victim—all while my brother paid the price for her mistake.'

Leticia, her mind replayed the image of her once-proud brother, reduced to hiding in the shadows, struggling to find a reason to go on. How many nights had she held her breath outside his chamber, hoping he wouldn’t follow through on his whispered threats to end his own life?

Her eyes burned, and she lifted her head with fierce determination. “Not this time,” she vowed, her voice low and fierce. “I won’t let him suffer again. I’ll change his fate—if it’s the last thing I do.”

Just then Elena knocked on the door, "Miss, it's me."

Leticia opened the door in hurry. "Elena, I need to go out," Leticia said, not waiting for a moment’s pause.

Elena blinked in surprise, her brows knitting together as panic rose in her voice. "Hold on, Miss. Let me inform the butler; he'll make sure you have proper guards and—"

"No," Leticia interrupted, her tone firm. "I need to go alone."

The urgency in Leticia's voice made Elena hesitate, her expression shifting from confusion to outright alarm. "Miss, you cannot go unescorted! Duke would be furious if he knew you left without—"

"Please, Elena." Leticia placed a gentle but pleading hand on Elena’s arm. "It has to be this way. I promise I’ll be careful, but I can’t have anyone follow me. There’s something I need to do—something I need to see for myself.”

Elena shook her head, visibly torn. “But, Miss, if something were to happen to you—"

Leticia met her gaze steadily, her voice soft but resolute. “That’s a risk I’ll have to take. This... this is just something I need to handle alone.”

There was a silence as Elena weighed her options, chewing her lip nervously. She had always been fiercely loyal to Leticia and knew better than anyone how stubborn she could be when her mind was made up. Leticia’s eyes held a fierce determination that left little room for argument.

Finally, Elena sighed, her shoulders dropping in resignation.  Finally, Elena sighed, her shoulders dropping in resignation. "I wish I could help you, Miss, but the butler and the other servants would never allow it. They’d raise an alarm the moment they saw you trying to leave alone."

Leticia pressed her lips together, realizing Elena was right. The household staff was as protective as her father, and any attempt to slip out during the day would only result in chaos. Her father, she knew, would summon half the guards in the kingdom if he found out she had left the grounds unescorted. 

She glanced back at Elena, a glint of determination in her eyes. "Then… I’ll go at night.”

Elena’s eyes widened, and she glanced nervously over her shoulder as if someone might overhear. "Miss, you’re serious? Sneaking out at night... that’s—"

"Risky," Leticia finished for her. "But it’s the only way. I can’t wait for the right moment or permission. There’s something I need to find, Elena, and it can’t wait."

Elena’s expression was torn between worry and a reluctant understanding. She took a step closer, her voice lowering to a whisper. "If you’re going to do this, then I’ll help, Miss. I can leave the side door unlocked for you and make sure the guards don’t pass by that hall tonight.”

Leticia’s face softened, and she clasped Elena’s hands gratefully. "Thank you, Elena. I promise I’ll be careful. And… I’ll be back before dawn.”

Elena gave a tight nod, biting her lip. "Just... be safe, Miss. I’ll be waiting for you here.”

Leticia, the weight of her decision, settles around her like a heavy cloak. But a surge of determination surged within her chest. She clenched her fists, the spark of her resolve igniting into a fierce flame.

This time, I will change his fate. Brother Sebastian will not suffer again.

She drew in a slow, measured breath, her gaze fierce. The memories of her brother's despair, his desolate eyes after the war, and his constant battles with the darkness that followed losing his arm flooded her mind. She couldn't let it happen again. Not now, when she had power to stop it.