Not long after the excitement surrounding the birth of the princess subsided, the second prince's wife gave birth to a boy. The Empress was deeply disappointed; had the boy been born earlier, he might have had higher prospects in the line of succession. To make matters worse, the boy lacked an extraordinary fate. The fact that no one came to visit her grandson added to her frustration.

Consumed by jealousy and ambition, the Empress retreated to her chambers. There, she activated a communication array, and a holographic image of a man clad in dark attire appeared before her.

“You liars!” she snapped. “Weren’t you the one who assured me that Abyss would take care of that little nuisance? Where is your Abyss now? Not only was the child born, but she possesses an extraordinary fate as well. What will happen to my son and grandson? How will they ever claim the throne?”

The man in black smirked sinisterly. “Why fret over the child’s extraordinary fate? Isn’t it better for us? We can simply take it and transfer it to your grandson. After all, what good is an extraordinary fate for a girl? At best, she’ll use it to pick the right husband someday.”

The Empress’s mood lifted at the suggestion. That’s right, she thought. Why should such a fate belong to a girl? It’s better suited to someone who can truly use it.

Meanwhile, upon hearing that his second son had also been blessed with a child shortly after the birth of his granddaughter, the Emperor summoned both sons to the royal study with their children.

The moment the Emperor laid eyes on his granddaughter, his face brightened. “Do you realize, little one, that you are the first girl to be born as an Arcane? Don’t disappoint me.”

Attendant Nicolas, standing nearby, noticed the happy child wide awake in her father’s arms and sighed. “I wonder how many hearts she’ll break with her beauty.”

Frederick Morari, standing behind the first prince, overheard the comment and chuckled. “Given her parents’ temperaments, I doubt she’ll be breaking hearts—more likely bones. She’s already smashed her brand-new crib.”

The Emperor laughed heartily. “Such a troublemaker! I hope you’ll astonish me in the years to come.”

While the family’s attention remained focused on the princess, the Empress, unable to contain her jealousy, raised her voice. “Your Majesty, why do you ignore your grandson? He feels neglected.”

The Emperor turned to the sleeping boy in the second prince’s arms. The child was striking, with dark hair and an innocent face accentuated by a mole near the corner of one eye. “My grandson is not bad either,” he admitted.

Buoyed by the Emperor’s remark, the Empress said smugly, “Don’t you think he’ll make an excellent crown prince once Zelus ascends the throne?”

The Emperor’s expression hardened as he glared at her. “What do you mean?”

The Empress hesitated but pressed on, “Isn’t it natural to name Zelus the crown prince? After all, he’s the only one with a son.”

The Emperor’s anger flared. “Nonsense! How many times must I tell you? The crown prince is chosen based on contributions and capability—not who has a son. I won’t tolerate such foolishness again.”

Seething with venomous intent, the Empress bowed stiffly. “Forgive me for my ignorance, Your Majesty. I shall not repeat such remarks.”

"Zelus, how is Helen doing? I heard she faced some issues during the delivery," the Emperor asked, his tone laced with concern.

Zelus replied politely, "Nothing major, Father. After struggling to put him to sleep, she’s resting now."

The Emperor nodded. "Oh, that’s good to hear. Nicolas, make sure Helen receives some medicinal soup made from Errapel grass."

Turning to Prince Alexander, the Emperor inquired, "And how is Agatha? Is she doing well?"

Prince Alexander glanced lovingly at his daughter before responding, "Yes, Father. She wanted to come and see you, but I insisted she rest."

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"Good, good. Let her rest as much as she needs," the Emperor said with a satisfied smile. Then, addressing Nicolas, he added, "You know what to do."

Nicolas bowed deeply. "Yes, Your Majesty. I’ve already instructed the kitchen to prepare two medicinal soups for the princesses."

The Emperor said, "In any case, the naming ceremony for the children will take place in five days. I expect both of you to discuss with your wives and agree on suitable names." Turning to Nicolas, he added, "Make the arrangements. It should be grand—grander than anything we've done before."

"Yes, Your Majesty," Nicolas replied with a respectful bow.

After everyone had taken their leave, Alexander returned to his chambers. Agatha, who had been sleeping, stirred awake and immediately reached out for their daughter.

“How’s my little cupcake doing? Did you miss Mommy? Oh, my precious baby,” she cooed, cradling the infant lovingly.

Alexander watched his wife and child with adoration. “She’s beautiful, isn’t she? She has your red hair and my silver hair, your sky-blue eyes and my purple ones. She even has your lips and my nose. Don’t you think she’s absolutely stunning—just like her mom and dad?”

The maids standing in the corner couldn’t help but chime in. “Yes, yes! Our princess is so pretty—prettier even than the little saintess of Damarius.”

Smiling, Alexander turned to Agatha. “Do you have a name in mind for our little cupcake? We have five days to decide.”

Agatha’s eyes sparkled with excitement. “What about the name I mentioned before? Isn’t it perfect?”

Alexander’s expression softened, his eyes shining with a mix of sadness and affection. “Yes, it’s amazing. It’s a name truly befitting the granddaughter of an extraordinary woman.”

Agatha could see the emotions welling up in her husband’s eyes, a poignant blend of sorrow and love.

In the following days, the little princess became the talk of the Empire. Everyone wanted to know how the new princess looked, while the palace maids were astonished by her calm demeanor. The princess never fussed, instead making cute cooing sounds that drew her mother’s attention, earning her the admiration of all. The First Prince, utterly smitten with his daughter, refused to leave her side for even a moment. At times, Agatha could be heard grumbling, “Men are always like this—once they see a younger and more beautiful girl, they forget about the old one.”

As the days passed, the restless Empress once again contacted the man in black. "Tomorrow is the naming ceremony. What should we do?" she asked.

The man in black handed her two small brooches. “When the ceremony begins, give these as gifts to the children. Red is for the girl, and green is for the boy. Once they wear them, the exchange of fate will commence.”

The Empress hesitated. “What if they find out I harmed the girl?”

The man in black smirked. “Don’t worry. The magic in these brooches is untraceable. They’ll assume the child died from some sudden illness.”

With that, the man disappeared into the shadows. The Empress clenched the two brooches tightly, her laughter echoing through the dimly lit room as she thought, I’ll send your granddaughter to you as soon as I can.

The current Empress was once the daughter of a lowly baron, dreaming of wealth and power. Her rise to prominence began through her friendship with the previous Empress, a wealthy and kind-hearted woman who treated her as a true friend despite her humble origins. The previous Empress took her under her wing, but Evelyn’s greed and jealousy consumed her. She envied the Empress’s fame, particularly her well-known talent for hunting Abyssal creatures.

Fueled by envy, Evelyn sabotaged the Empress’s equipment during a hunt. However, fate had other plans—around that time, the Empress met and fell in love with the Emperor, the future ruler of the empire. When Evelyn witnessed their marriage, her jealousy boiled over, and she began scheming to take the Empress’s place. With the help of the Apostles of the Abyss, she orchestrated the Empress’s downfall. After the birth of Alexander, the Empress’s son, Evelyn succeeded in eliminating her and usurped her position.

Evelyn’s hatred then turned toward Alexander, the embodiment of everything she despised about her predecessor. When her own son, Zelus, was born, she believed he would surpass Alexander and cement her dominance. Yet Alexander’s exceptional talent exceeded anything she could have imagined, thwarting her plans. Evelyn shifted her focus to the next generation, seeing her grandchild as her last chance for victory.

When a heavenly phenomenon marked the birth of the little princess, Evelyn was initially devastated, fearing her significance. However, learning that the child was a girl brought her some relief. Now, with the Apostles of the Abyss at her side, Evelyn believes she can reclaim her glory. To her, the end justifies the means—whether her victims are children or adults, nothing will stand in her way.

"Emily, arrange for one of the maids to place these brooches in the gift boxes I am preparing for the children. Put the red brooch in the red box and the green brooch in the green box," the Empress instructed, her voice calm but laced with quiet malice.

Emily bowed deeply, her tone reverent and submissive. "Yes, Your Highness. I will arrange everything. You need not worry."

The Empress allowed herself a sly smile as she contemplated the days ahead. The thought of her children flourishing while the newborn little princess faced hardship filled her with satisfaction.

From the moment I saw that child, I was reminded of her—a woman I loathed with every fiber of my being. Though I cannot act directly, I will take great pleasure in ensuring that her legacy crumbles, piece by piece. Watching it all unravel will be as sweet as the finest wine.