What made me even angrier was that, more often than not, her plan worked. However, what saved me at these times was that I had inherited her stubbornness and strong genes. If I decided I wasn't going to do something, I'd kick my heels in and really not do it.

And as if that wasn't enough, there was still the problem of the kingdom that I would have to face if I decided to take part in this selection - which, by the way, I didn't want to do at all. After all, it was no secret that the revolutionary group, which emerged from the lower castes, hated our kingdom.

This situation became even more evident when the individuals in that group, fed up with the injustices and oppression of the caste system, decided to rebel against the Kingdom of Altheon, fighting for equality and better living conditions.

As if everything she's forced me to do against my will wasn't enough, now she comes up with this nonsensical idea of sending me to a kingdom literally at war, all because of a few crumbs we could receive just for my participation.

Sometimes I get the impression that my mother doesn't care much about me. After all, if she really cared, she wouldn't have sent me to a place that was frequently attacked. Like all of us, she saw the brutal and violent attacks that the members of the revolutionary group launched against the palace.

As if that wasn't enough, we also witnessed their atrocities in Delphis. There, they unleashed a series of events that resulted in a devastating wave of destruction, creating a scene of chaos that shook the entire region. A clear example of this was Colonel Renaud's house, which was completely consumed by the flames of the fire.

On the one hand, I didn't agree with the violent attacks that the revolutionary group had employed in Delphis, where lives were destroyed and chaos reigned. But on the other hand, a part of me understood their motivations, especially after the rumors circulating around the city. It was said that during the attacks, the group had freed a family man, unjustly imprisoned by the regime, and his wife, who was pregnant.

The rumor detailed the unjust imprisonment of the couple: he, a simple man, had been detained for rebelling against the inhumane working conditions his caste faced; she, a woman in poor health, was carrying a child in her arms and another in her womb.

It was said that she cried silently every night, fearing that the stress and conditions of the prison would harm the life growing inside her.

When the revolutionary group stormed Delphis prison, they not only freed the couple, but also ensured that they had medical care and safety as they fled the devastated region. The news spread like wildfire, fueling both hope among the lower castes and hatred among the rulers.

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As much as I disapproved of violent tactics, it was impossible to ignore the impact of an action like this, which gave back dignity to those the system had taken away.

Even with all the threats around me, I couldn't stop thinking about the selection, and every time I did, I felt my heart squeeze even more. It was as if an essential part of me had been torn away, and I didn't know how to fill it up again.

It didn't matter how many times I tried; with each passing day, it became harder and more suffocating to hide my smile. Whenever the thought that my mother's plan might go wrong crossed my mind, an almost involuntary smile formed on my lips.

My mother didn't know it, but those few moments when it happened were the only ones when my smile was genuine, making me question everything I would lose if I agreed to take part in that selection.

I was already aware that the selection could be a great opportunity for both me and my family. However, my conscience and the uncertainty of knowing that I would completely lose my freedom made me uneasy.

To make matters worse, I would have to become engaged to someone I didn't know and didn't like. That wasn't fair to me. I would have to forget the person I really loved in order to be with him, while he would be forced to fall in love with a complete stranger who had come into his life out of pure interest.

While my mother said a multitude of things that, quite frankly, I wasn't listening to anymore, she noticed my disinterest and decided to resort to her secret technique, the one she always used to make me feel bad.

Usually, this consisted of using my father as a sort of guinea pig in her plans, and most of the time, her tactic worked, especially because I always ended up giving in due to my soft heart.

In addition to all the dangers that surrounded me - both the imminent threat of war and the constant pressure from my mother, who was forcing me to join this team - just thinking about it made my heart ache more and more.

"Livia, I know these days haven't been easy for you..."

My mother began to speak, pausing briefly before continuing what she was saying.

"However, you also can't forget how cruel these last few years have been to your father."

If there was one thing I really hated, it was when my mother resorted to this tactic. Whenever she couldn't convince me to do what she wanted, she insisted on the same point: she used my father, my weak point, to manipulate me.

My father, who hadn't uttered a single word up to that point, was still focused on the newspaper.

The disappointment on my mother's face was evident as she continued:

"If you really cared about your father, you'd think more about his well-being."

My mother only said those things because she believed I didn't care about either of them, but she was completely wrong. I really wanted to help my father; what daughter wouldn't want to see the one who brought her into the world well?

I didn't just want to help my father; I also wanted to support my brother Galen, my sister-in-law Elara and my mother. However, in order to do that, I would have to sacrifice my own freedom.