The wind slipped through the tall window curtains, playing with her long golden hair.

Irene sat in her favorite chair by the glass, her hands folded in her lap, eyes gazing at the stretch of cloud-covered sky.

Silence was her companion, but she was not alone... In her mind, the battle had begun long ago.

Her hair flowed softly down her back, shimmering like strands of pure gold under the sunset light, and her blue eyes carried that look hard to decipher... a blend of wisdom and mystery.

Her face was calm, her features delicate and composed, yet she resembled no one in this family-as if she had been sculpted from another world.

A gentle knock broke her reverie. The maid entered with a polite bow:

"My lady... dinner will be served in fifteen minutes. The entire family will be present."

Irene nodded without looking at her, her eyes still fixed on the clouds beyond the glass.

When the maid left, she exhaled slowly, then stood, combing her hair with her fingers and turning toward the door in quiet steps.

---

The royal dining hall was more of a political stage than a family table.

The long table stretched from one end of the hall to the other, adorned with gold-plated dishes and crystal-clear goblets, with a massive chandelier above casting its glow on the gathered faces.

King Arxen sat at the head of the table, his cold presence and thunderous silence dominating the space.

To his right sat Reynold, the crown prince, cloaked in heavy silence beside his composed wife, then Elian and his stern-featured spouse.

To the king's left sat his three queens, each in her customary place:

Queen Elvira, the first-commanding and dignified, mother of Reynold, Selena, and Elian.

Queen Melanie, the second-sharp-eyed and precise in her words, mother of Dimitri, Adeline, and Avin.

Queen Lauren, the third-the youngest, radiating a bold beauty and extravagant taste, mother of Nuria, Liana, and Eric.

 (avin ,eric, Dimitri, Liana, Nuria) were absent, each in a different province, bound to separate political alliances.

Present in the hall were only:

First queen two sons and their wives and their sister Selena-sharp-eyed and overly confident.

And Adeline-the cool, quiet one who hid her observations behind a small smile.

And at the far end of the table sat Irene.

Distant, yet present. Silent, yet alert.

She knew this banquet was not like the others... Her heart was bracing itself.

---

Dinner began, and the queens exchanged chatter about palace affairs and upcoming events, before the conversation slowly twisted-as always-into veiled rivalry.

The second queen said sharply as she eyed the first:

"The party you hosted last night was... a bit over the top, don't you think? I believe royals don't need such theatrics."

The first queen smirked:

"Oh, sorry if the guests' dresses offended your modest taste. But at least they left with a smile."

The third queen laughed sweetly, her voice laced with mischief:

"What's wrong with a little show? Isn't our whole life just one long performance?"

Stifled chuckles, smoldering glances... And Irene watched in silence, delicately breaking off a small piece of bread.

Elvira then intervened with her calm, steady voice:

"Perhaps we should focus on what truly matters... We have daughters who've reached the age where marriage becomes a duty, not just decoration for parties."

Melanie said with a provoking smile:

"Indeed, Seven of the children are already married... but there are still those whose fate remains uncertain, right?"

Selena shot a direct look at Irene, then suddenly spoke:

"Oh, that's right. Irene... You're nineteen now, aren't you?"

Irene didn't respond. She simply looked at her sister calmly, as if she were listening to music that didn't concern her.

Adeline added softly:

"Strange ...i never saw her even talking to a man"

Elian's wife laughed and said:

"Maybe no one's proposed yet... or maybe she's waiting for a fairytale prince."

Selena added:

"Or maybe she simply... doesn't suit anyone."

Quiet laughter slipped around the table, while Irene's face remained unmoved-like marble.

She did not speak, nor did she show a flicker of tension.

Only that steady gaze... as if she were watching them all through a pane of glass.

---

A brief silence fell, before the king suddenly spoke, his deep, cold voice cutting through the air-a voice that hadn't addressed Irene in months:

"The first Queen is right."

Irene lifted her eyes toward him, her expression unreadable.

"I've thought it over. It's time you prepared yourself. I may summon you soon for a matter related to this."

Then he added, eyes fixed forward:

"Be ready."

Silence fell again, and all eyes shifted between the king and Irene, as if waiting for some reaction... a tremble, a rejection, a glance of defeat... but there was nothing.

Irene raised her head steadily, met her father's gaze with a look made of frost, and replied in a calm, regal tone:

"As you command, Your Majesty."

Then, after a heavy pause, she added:

"I will rise to whatever you ask of me, as I always have."

No one noticed how her fingers had briefly tightened around the rim of her glass... just for a moment... then relaxed again.

Inside her, there was no fear.

Only calculation.

This was the moment she had been waiting for...

---

Inside her, something else stirred.

Something no one could hear.

"At last... the game begins." 

inside her mind, Irene was placing her first stone on the board of revenge.

"Tonight... was the beginning of the end."

---