Another day in this golden prison, another day just like the others. I'm sick of this empty life, of this cursed blood that binds me to a fate I don't want. I read book after book, looking for a way to escape this infernal cycle, but what for?

Soon one of the maids will come to announce that my father wishes to see me, probably to introduce me to another nobleman with whom he has made a pact for my hand, in exchange for who knows what favors.

And then, when he has obtained what he wanted, he will reject the suitor on my behalf, with some cheap excuse. I do not understand how a man so blind and so dastardly has been able to stay in power so long.

I would not be surprised if any day a horde of bloodthirsty nobles burst into the palace, ready to cut off his head and put on the throne one of my more stupid brothers. But what can one expect from those fools with delusions of grandeur? Maybe that's the reason my father is still king: he's the dumbest of the dumb.

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The door rings and the maid enters, Carmela I think her name is, although I'm not sure. I only know that she is one of the many daughters of nobles who have been sent here to try to establish some link with the royal family.

-Good morning, your majesty, are you ready to meet your father? - she says in a honeyed voice.

-Good morning. Yes, of course, I'll be right there. I don't want to keep you waiting,- I reply as indifferently as I can pretend to.

As we walk to my father's office, I ask him for news from outside, that is one of the few pleasures I have left in my day-to-day life.

-What's new out there? - I ask curiously.

-The usual, your majesty. The knight school is recruiting new students, a new unimportant magic has been discovered, and the nobles are still squabbling over who will be their father's heir,- he tells me bored.

- But I hear an interesting rumor circulating through the eastern kingdoms like a bird of ill omen. A gold magician has emerged,- the maid tells me with some mystery.

-A gold wizard? - I ask intrigued.

-Yes, it is said that he is the son of a merchant who sold his soul to some demon god in exchange for wealth. Since then, he can turn everything he touches with his cursed fingers into gold,- he explains to me with fascination.

-Really? But if that were true, there would already be magicians who would have captured him and studied him thoroughly,- he replied skeptically.

-That's the surprising thing. Magic doesn't seem to affect him. They say that everyone who has attacked him has turned to gold and that he has used that ability to accumulate more and more power,- he continued excitedly.

-They say that he turned the ruler of his city into gold and threatened the king of his country, telling him that if he did not grant him an imperial title with great privileges, he would go to the castle and turn the king himself into gold - she adds dramatically.

-How sure are you of this rumor? - I ask curiously.

-Your majesty, it's probably just a story invented by the merchants to entertain us, but that doesn't take away the interest in the rumor - she answers me with a smile.

The narrative has been illicitly obtained; should you discover it on Amazon, report the violation.

-Yes, you're right,- I say with a slight smile. At that moment we arrived in front of my father's office door.

I entered his office and found him there, with his unkempt beard and his air of arrogance. -Good morning, I hope you are ready to meet the Marquis of the House of Mirror," he says to me indifferently. His copper mines are the largest in the kingdom. I can hardly contain a gesture of disgust. -Yes, Father, do you want me to act in some way or say something? - he asked resignedly.

- No need, just be yourself. The Marquis doesn't care how you behave, only that you have a pretty face - he answers me with disdain.

- Well, Father, what time is the meeting? - he asked impatiently.

- Right now. The Marquis is in the guest room. Go there at once - he orders me without further ado. He doesn't even let me reply. His butler takes me out of the room and leads me to the room where the marquis is supposed to be. I knock on the door and hear a surprisingly feminine voice. But the butler doesn't seem to mind. He pushes me inside and closes the door behind me. There I see a beautiful woman sitting on a sofa as if she owned the place.

- Excuse me, I think I have the wrong room - I say confused.

- No, my dear. The marquis had to leave earlier on urgent business. Maybe destiny wanted us to meet, crystal princess. Or would you prefer me to call you by your name? But that would be very rude of me, we've barely introduced ourselves - she says with a smile.

- Either option is fine. And may I ask who you are and what you want from me? - I say cautiously.

- You see, I recently came into this world and was shocked by the number of horrible things I saw while walking around the city - he tells me with an almost palpable sadness.

- So I decided why not pick one of the royals to change that. First I went to see your brothers, to observe them, but I was disappointed to see that they were nothing more than pretty faces and at best pretty faces that know how to use them - he continues with contempt.

- That led me to you, a wilted flower in a garden of thorns. And I thought: why not, what better candidate to improve the kingdom than the princess with hidden potential? - she says to me with an intense gaze.

- Madam, as much as you flatter me, I would like to know how you intend to change this situation. Because so far I have heard nothing but words that, if heard by another, would bring you a sentence for treason and blasphemy against royalty - I tell her firmly.

- Forgive me for my previous words if they seemed to you like I was overstepping my bounds. I forgot to introduce myself. I am Justice, at your service. One of the Tarot's envoys - apologizes with a slight bow.

- I don't remember hearing your name or what you call Tarot. But you still haven't answered my question: how do you intend to do what you said? - I ask impatiently.

- That's where you're wrong. I don't plan to do anything. You will. You see, although I would like to use all my power to solve the injustices of this world, certain beings would not be very happy to see that happen - he explains to me with an enigmatic smile.

- That's where you come in. I can support you from the shadows to give you the possibility to change this kingdom - he offers me with a seductive voice.

- And what kind of support would you be willing to offer me in case I consider your offer? - I ask her cautiously.

- If you accept my offer, I could give you a way to access some of my power. Which in layman's terms would be something like magic capable of enforcing laws. As long as it's a law you respect, you can enforce it, punishing those who break it - she reveals to me proudly.

-Although I am extremely tempted to accept this offer, it seems too good an offer to be true - I say with a mixture of doubt and desire.

- Sure, this power has a price, but for you, it will be insignificant. A few years of life, in exchange for which those who are punished with magic will be transferred to me, depending on the severity of their fault - she tells me with an evil smile.

- Madam, if the conditions are the ones you put to me, I will be more than happy to accept your proposal - I tell her with determination.

- How wonderful. Then let's not waste any more time - he says as he holds out his hand to me. As soon as I take it, I see a mark on my hand with symbols that I don't recognize, but it disappears almost instantly.

- It was a pleasure to meet you, your majesty. I hope to hear news of your exploits soon - she says as I watch her fade away.

What a strange experience, but with this new power in my hands I think it is time to rid the kingdom of some fools.