The grand estate of the Justinian family. The bastion of one of the world's most powerful families, my family, now crumbling in flames, and I was witnessing it all so young. Our grand halls, our beloved decorations, and our grand ornaments – all of it scorched and smoldered into nothingness. The whoosh of the raging flame and the crackling of burning wood bellowed in my ears, drowning out my mother's desperate cries.

Amid everything, I saw him. He stood there, motionless, like many of our marble statues. His head was hung, as he was staring at something that was obscured by the smoke and debris.

Suddenly, he snapped his fingers, and I saw a flash of light, and then everything went white. When I opened my eyes again, I was on the ground, my ears were ringing, my head was spinning. I thought I heard the sound of my grandfather screaming but I was not conscious enough to tell. I stood up slowly, trying to regain my balance. The moment I was on my feet, I looked back in the man's direction. He was staring right at me. Frozen, I stared right back. Our gazes stayed unmoved for a few seconds. I noticed that the lower half of his face was obscured by some fierce-looking mask. But what was far more distinguishable were his eyes, so full of hatred and disgust. He glanced down at his feet and held his stare with distant and unfeeling contempt.

I didn't know what to feel. I simply stared at him until he abruptly turned away and disappeared into the smoke.

That was ten years ago. Now, the ashes were buried beneath the foundation of the newly rebuilt estate. It was the day of the grand reopening and many who escaped and survived the blaze were eager to return to their ancestral home. A project that took more than a decade and the blood, sweat, and tears of my uncle, it was a symbol of the foreboding return of the nation's most powerful family.

I walked down the polished stone paths, paying no heed to the gossip of haughty noblemen and women. Such gatherings were often beacons for the elite to relate their frivolous and lavish lifestyles to each other, and oftentimes, their discussions will be incredibly dull. The more I stayed away from it, the less time I would waste. Then, as I was close to reaching the entrance, a voice called out.

"Lady Elara!"

I tried to ignore the voice but a hand on my shoulder forced me to entertain whoever just called me. A woman in a fine dress greeted me with a smile. Her garb was finer than even most nobles could afford. Her clothing was colorful and bold, though intended for outdoors, it was still far more opulent than it needed to be. Her fingers sparkled with individual jewel rings that shined in many colors, whose unique craft betrayed her foreign heritage. Yes, I knew who this was. Princess Halimah Bint Hasan Al-Farhad, heir apparent to the monarchy of Diriyah. The presence of a foreign aristocrat was not surprising as the Justinian family had far-reaching connections, so their return to prominence was bound to attract celebrants from overseas. But a visit from the heir apparent of Diriyah was an interesting development, it was true that my father traces his roots to their house but from what I knew those ties were faint and tenuous at best.

"Princess Halimah, Your Royal Highness," I curtsied for her, and she returned the greeting in kind. "To what do I owe the pleasure?"

"The pleasure is all mine." She smiled at me. "I simply came to give you and your family my well-wishes on your return to prominence."

"The well-wishes of an esteemed lady are appreciated greatly." I bowed my head. "Especially those of the heir apparent to the Diriyah throne."

"No need to be so formal, your father was a beloved and esteemed member of House Al-Anbar. After the loss of our beloved kin in Carolingien, it would be remiss of me to not give our good wishes to his daughter and heir apparent to the Justinians."

"Heir apparent... You flatter me, Your Royal Highness." I smiled, lightly brushing aside her comment. I glanced aside at the door, where many servants were waiting to accommodate the family. "If it is alright with you, I shall take my leave. I have had a long journey and desire to retire to my new quarters."

"Of course, I look forward to speaking with you some more," She smiled as we curtsied at each other and went our way. As soon as I turned, my smile immediately wore off.

Hmph, "heir apparent to the Justinians", how presumptuous. Under conventional rules of succession, she might have been correct. My mother was the eldest child of the family, meaning I was the closest to the hypothetical throne. But there was no crown, and therefore no divine right that validated the line of succession, which meant that the power to rule over the Justinians would not come so easily to those who theoretically had a stronger claim to it. The politics surrounding this was... complex. Halimah's vocal support would hopefully prove to be useful someday.

Stolen novel; please report.

I approached the grand noble estate, noticing the grandeur of the structure. Nearby servants offered to take my luggage, and together we navigated the vast land. The estate is sprawling, with expansive grounds that seem to stretch on for miles. I walked up the cobblestone path leading to the main entrance, surrounded by lush greenery and beautifully manicured gardens, each one more vibrant and colorful than the last.

The estate itself was a sight to behold. The building was a magnificent blend of architecture from a bygone age, with towering columns and ornate stone carvings that seem to reach up to the heavens. The entrance was adorned with massive wooden doors, intricately carved with delicate designs that told a story of the estate's rich history.

As I stepped through the doors, I was greeted by the warm glow of flickering candles and the gentle scent of freshly cut flowers. The interior of the estate was as grand as I remembered, if not grander. The walls are lined with exquisite paintings and tapestries, each one telling a unique story of the estate's illustrious past.

I walked through the estate, escorted by two servants, who guided me toward my quarters. As soon as I immediately recognized the placement "This was where my mother's room used to be."

"Duke Aurelius spared no expense in ensuring his sister's quarters remained as it was for her eventual return, it was only fair for him to let you have it."

I opened the door and walked inside, taking in everything as I gazed around the room. The furniture was ornate and meticulously crafted, the fabrics rich and sumptuous to the touch. Every detail has been carefully considered, from the intricately patterned carpets to the sparkling chandeliers that hang from the ceiling. These details by themselves were unremarkable and instead reflected the painstaking detail that the builders went through to replicate this place. The servant certainly was not exaggerating.

"Alright then, you may both take your leave, I desire to rest for the day."

"Of course milady. Before we take our leave, we must remind you, your uncle has organized an evening reception for the family and its guests, will you be attending?"

"Yes, I will." I nodded at them, and they bowed and left the room. I immediately moved to lock the door and close the curtains before unpacking my luggage. I left the clothes folded on my bed for the servants to place in my closet, and left other essentials to be organized eventually. I then reached my hand into a hidden compartment, pulling out a wig, glasses, and a maid's uniform.

I glanced around before entering the privacy of my changing room. I gazed at my reflectioninn the full-body mirror. My profile was that of a young noblewoman with intricately styled lavender hair, and dark, unblemished skin, wearing a finely tailored dress. I had to change that if I were to leave the mansion without inviting attention or suspicion.

First, the wig. My hair and its color were easily the most recognizable part of my appearance and would give my identity away even in the most immaculate of disguises. Wearing it over my head, I carefully tucked my hair under it until no traces of it showed. Examining my profile closely, I deemed it well-crafted enough to escape scrutiny.

The rest of the steps were fairly straightforward. I removed my clothing, carefully folding and placing each piece of clothing and folding it neatly on a nearby chair, and putting my accessories into a jewelry box.

Then, I took up the uniform and began to dress. The fabric was rough to the touch, but I had worn far worse. I buttoned up the front of the dress, fastening each button with care. Next, I tied the apron around my waist, making sure it was straight and neat. Finally, I secured the cap over my hair, tucking any stray strands inside.

As I finished dressing, I surveyed myself in the mirror once more. This was satisfactory enough to at least allow me to leave the mansion's premises. I took a deep breath before leaving the changing room, rummaging through my luggage again and throwing a few more pieces of clothing from the hidden compartment into a nearby clothes hamper. I picked up the clothes hamper and stepped out of my quarters. The halls outside were empty, as all the other arriving nobles were likely still touring the rest of the estate. I checked my watch, and it was about to turn noon. I locked my door and left a note that I was sleeping hanging to deter any of the house help from attempting to enter.

Though this was my first time being in the manor, I had access to many maps and architectural plans that gave a layout of the entire estate. The laundry was due to be picked up by a specialized service at noon at the back of the central manor, though this was only for clothes belonging to the nobility. Commoners were expected to wash their own on their own time, so no one was going to suspect anything from a maid leaving the house with a hamper in her hands. Security screened my cargo and found no issues. Soon, I eventually made it outside of the estate premises and into the city proper.

Stepping into a cleaning service, I placed the hamper down and pulled out the pieces of clothing I threw in there prior. Leaving the hamper behind, I discreetly entered a nearby comfort room. The pieces of clothing were in fact, veils intended to cover the wearer's face.

The veil I chose to wear was black, and it felt soft as I draped it over my head. It covered my entire face, except for my eyes, which were still visible. I adjusted the veil and tightened it before leaving the comfort room and the launderette. I walked until I came upon a streetside eatery that served ramen. Walking towards it, I sat on one of its high chairs, next to a dark man in a brown trenchcoat. He was eating his noodles with clear relish as my sudden presence did not seem to alarm him.

Without looking, he took out an envelope from his coat pocket and handed them to me.

"Here are the files on every Justinian as requested. Hope you appreciate it because getting it was neither cheap nor easy."

"I very much do," I replied while staring at the folder. "Any information is appreciated when your task is to undermine a whole dynasty."