Waking up to a pristine, bright scene, the faint echo of Arianna's embrace lingered in my arms; Atlan Tissa and Nymphae had completely vanished.

  A noble lady, like a Queen, sat gracefully beside me. Her fair skin was striking, her silky black hair cascaded down to her waist, and she wore a long, layered, discreet black dress.

  She carried a black umbrella with a curved shape and long crystal strands that concealed her face and body, vaguely revealing her sharp, captivating dark purple eyes. Black butterflies clung to her dress, and her dark lips curved into a slight smile as she bowed to me.

  "Dahlia, why have you come to see me at this time?" I murmured softly.

  "Why not? But Mother seems to forget quite a lot," Dahlia replied, her voice sweet and enchanting.

  “Your embrace, though different from mine, shouldn’t be taken too lightly.”

  I flinched, suddenly remembering Arianna’s warm embrace, a pang of sadness washing over me, my hands clenching and unclenching repeatedly. Taking a deep breath, I looked at Dahlia, who was calmly gazing at me in this stark white space.

  “I didn’t intentionally forget, Dahlia, she hugged me first.”

  “Ha… just teasing Mother, I came here to tell you some interesting news.”

  “Be careful, it’s something special.” Dahlia laughed happily, her laughter as sweet as honey.

  Sometime later, what I heard truly surprised me to the core. My wings flapped wildly, my feathers and plumage standing on end like a frightened bird.

  “You… you’re telling the truth?”

  “Yes, absolutely, not a single word missing. If you have any questions, just ask Queen Selena.”

  “Alright, I’ll ask her later.”

  With that, Dahlia turned to gaze at the surrounding scenery, raising her hand as if chasing after something from the past, carefree enjoying the space.

  “This place has her color, Maria… she’s everywhere…”

  “…Come back to me, you who left in these arms, in this embrace…” Dahlia sang an impromptu song.

  『 White Butterfly Maria, this girl is truly loyal, it’s been almost a hundred years. 』

  『 But, if Maria returns too soon, that would be frightening. 』 I shuddered slightly.

  The beautiful scene faded away, and I returned to Arianna's embrace. Everyone's gaze remained the same, and I breathed a sigh of relief; thankfully, no one knew anything.

  "Thank you, I feel much better now."

  "Don't blame yourself too much, Princess Celeste…" Nymphae smiled cheerfully; her laughter made me feel much more at ease.

  “…Actually, I just risked my life to tell you for the sake of friendship between the two races.”

  Atlan Tissa said, lowering her head. I smiled gently at her. Nymphae patted Tissa's back to comfort her, and the group laughed together, dispelling the sadness that had enveloped the space. They all happily left the arena.

  "By the way, how do you plan to resolve the division among the people?" Tissa asked.

  “It’s not difficult, but it has to be done at the right time. I’ve had a plan to deal with it for a long time now.”

  “Really? What is it?”

  Tissa and Nymphae asked at the same time, but Arianna didn’t answer, only smiled slightly and gestured for them to keep it a secret.

  Elsewhere on the sea, Stephanie and Charlotte strolled through the city, bathed in the gentle afternoon sun and sea breeze.

  A pungent, fishy smell wafted by, both soothing and playful, echoing in their ears as powerful waves crashed against the shore.

  “That assassin ranking system, it’s all about money, constantly changing ranks just because it’s so effective.”

  “But if that’s the case, shouldn’t we be at a higher rank?” Stephanie joked as they walked, while Charlotte paid little attention.

  Charlotte glanced around and replied,

  “Focus, our enemies are everyone here.”

  “If it’s just those same old lines, I’m tired of hearing them.”

  “There’s no shortage of people who hate Diva.” Charlotte sighed softly.

  Back at City Hall, Luna sat at the reception desk, leisurely reading the tabloids she'd picked up, a few snippets of stories making her smile slightly.

  "Sister Luna, I'm back and I have a friend."

  Charlotte's voice suddenly brightened, surprising Stephanie, who lightly tapped her friend's arm as a signal.

  『She's my cousin, the boss's eldest daughter.』

  "You're back? You've been gone a while, Charlotte. What a surprise, Stephanie's here too?" Luna folded her newspaper and greeted them both with a cheerful smile.

  "Greetings, Princess Luna. It's an honor to meet you."

  Stephanie immediately bowed, her left foot stepping back slightly, her left hand gracefully adjusting the wide hem of her dress, her right hand crossed over her chest in a charming manner.

  “That’s impressive, Diva Stephanie’s signature greeting style.” Luna bowed, adjusting her skirt, and slightly tiptoed in return to Stephanie.

  『A characteristic greeting of their clan, how interesting, I’ll learn it later,』 Stephanie thought to herself.

  This tale has been unlawfully obtained from Royal Road. If you discover it on Amazon, kindly report it.

  “By the way, Charlotte, I asked the receptionist about the guards…”

  “…And I realized that the guard who signaled to us was a dragon who likes to imitate.” Luna said softly, mimicking the gesture, and Charlotte and Stephanie burst into laughter.

  As they were both smiling, the sound of a door being pushed open and clogs clattering on the stone floor echoed. A lady stepped out, causing Stephanie to stop laughing immediately. She quickly took Charlotte and Luna’s hands and stood neatly in a corner.

  『She’s so beautiful! Celeste would absolutely love that outfit if she were here.』Luna thinking.

  『Wait, this is Ciel? Really, Stephanie?』 Charlotte's eyes widened in surprise.

  She had a majestic face, her dark eyes, lined with sharp red eyeliner, exuded an air of arrogance.

  Her long, lustrous black hair was loosely tied back, part of it styled into a bun adorned with two noble golden lotus-shaped hairpins.

  Her dress was modest, magnificent, and majestic, like that of a powerful queen. The intricate embroidery was delicate and elegant, like birds and flowers of life frolicking in the spring.

  Seeing Charlotte, Luna, and Stephanie, who were standing speechless, a faint smile played on her lips. She lightly waved her hand in the air, and her attendants behind her immediately retreated.

  “Allow me to introduce myself first. I am Princess Luna Sylphid, now known as the renowned painter Ciel Hikari,” she said softly but majestically. She bowed slightly, and Charlotte and Luna immediately followed suit.

  “I am Princess Luna Sylphid, and this is my cousin Luminous Twilight. You may call her Charlotte.”

  “Meeting you here is a great honor for me. Initially… I hope you will forgive me.” Luna hesitated briefly.

  After the formalities, everyone left the reception desk. In the spacious and private Grand Hall, once settled, Luna briefly summarized the story for Princess Luna.

  “Is that so? I feel very sorry for that girl, but everything is already over.”

  “As for the Council, what I’ve heard is no different from the court during my reign.”

  Many times before, in the Council meeting room, shrouded in dark green, Aurelina – the leader of the Mermaids, Basilika – the Serpent Queen, and Langrey Garran – the leader of the Water Dragons were all present at the table, except for the Sea Unicorn.

  “What is this? You dare to disrespect me? Where is the rest?” Wang Zhaojun shouted.

  “We didn’t mean that,” Garran replied, his voice deep but majestic.

  In the meeting room, Wang Zhaojun glanced at all the leaders, and quickly, Basilika caught her eye.

  『 This must be the daughter of the serpent from Wazlteinstein. Excellent. 』

  “Let’s get straight to the point. You two are trying to start a war, aren’t you?”

  “Quite the opposite. We are expanding our territory and ensuring stability,” Aurelina said.

  “Hmph, a sophistry. You’re just profiting from the situation.”

  With just a few words, Aurelina and Garran glared at each other. Basilika watched them both angrily, her snake tail swaying rhythmically as if toying with prey. In an instant, both fell silent, not daring to utter another word.

  『 Interesting. Just one sentence brought down two at once. 』 Basilika thought to herself.

  “You see, this place is currently in internal crisis, with factions and infighting,” Basilika replied cheerfully.

  “My mother is plotting something big out there, but I can say with certainty…”

  “…It’s not about starting a war, but about dividing the pie.” As soon as he finished speaking, the other two swallowed hard.

  『 This girl is interesting. 』 Wang Zhaojun chuckled softly.

  Wang Zhaojun reached into his sleeve, and a scroll was pulled out, spread out on the ground. The ink painting and the monster in the center aroused both fear and curiosity in Aurefina and Garran.

  “Then explain this ‘thing’ to me.”

  He looked at everything, his brush moving gracefully in the air, painting the two characters 『 Open Seal. 』 Immediately afterward, a rough, gnarled hand emerged from the painting along with a thick, black stream of ink.

  『 This is… interesting, Scylla, is that the Holy Spirit ? Essence? 』Basilika laughed with delight at the sight before her.

  “Why… why did you bring the monster in? Soldiers…?”

  As soon as Aurelina finished speaking, a troop of dozens of Water Dragon soldiers rushed in, surrounding Scylla, who had just emerged from the ink painting. Her enormous, slimy form intimidated everyone, except for Basilika, who was enjoying herself carefree.

  “Disrespectful! Retreat!”

  Wang Zhaojun shouted, followed by the growling of Garran. The soldiers immediately obeyed, raising their weapons and hands to their sides in unison before leaving.

  “My body may be a monster, but I still have consciousness,” Scylla said, her voice even but difficult to understand.

  “I want to clarify something. The Serpent Queen Basilika tried to help me, but couldn’t.” Scylla turned to Wang Zhaojun and said, who nodded in acknowledgment.

  “The rest have never once cared about me, especially her – traitor.”

  Scylla pointed her rough hand at Aurelina, shouting those two blasphemous words like a spear piercing her heart, like a thunderclap in her ears.

  Immediately, all eyes turned to the Mermaid leader, a faint click of the tongue could be heard, barely audible, along with the sound of teeth clenching together.

  『 Excellent, the truth has come out. 』 Basilika chuckled to herself.

  “Lydia is weak and lacks conviction; her departure is only natural.”

  “For years, we’ve only known compromise and neutrality. What will become of our tribe in a few decades?”

  “Throughout our lives, the Mermaid tribe has only known subservience and weakness, and we will inevitably be eliminated. If I don’t do it, a hundred others will.”

  Wang Zhaojun listened in silence, not saying a word in return. The room fell into an endless silence, filled with a bitter taste on the tongue.

  Aurelina’s anger gradually subsided, though her rage remained. Scylla was slowly withdrawn into the painting. When all the hatred had settled, Wang Zhaojun slowly spoke, her voice filled with sadness.

  “I was once a beauty in the palace, a royal princess, surrounded by concubines.”

  “Until one day, simply because I refused to tolerate the evil of a lowly painter.”

  “With just one command from the king, with just one painting, I was banished from the palace, and the entire court regretted it endlessly.”

  Wang Zhaojun spoke as if reenacting the scene from that day. Aurelina listened, struggling to control her emotions. Basilika had fallen silent, and Garran simply listened quietly.

  “That day, birds flew wildly to bid me farewell on my journey. Luo Yan, He Shen—it was all because of me.”

  “Aurelina, I’m telling you this to tell you a few things…”

  She paused briefly, gazing at everyone’s faces before continuing:

  “Decisiveness is good, pride is valuable, national pride is even more commendable, but you must not use personal vendetta to harm the nation.”

  “You should think carefully before acting. A single impulsive order can lead to eternal regret.”

  She looked at Aurelina with kindness. Her words, though like poetic advice, weighed heavily on Aurelina’s heart. Tears had already streamed down Aurelina’s cheeks.

  “For all these years, thanks to Lydia’s weakness, the country has been peaceful and prosperous; compared to our time, how precious that is.”

  “Both of you have what your other half needs; you have weakness without strength, and strength without weakness.” The speaker spoke gently.

  “I’m so angry, so resentful! Lydia knew her own weakness, yet she refused to yield the throne.” Aurelina gritted her teeth, seething with pain.

  No one spoke further at the meeting. Only Aurelina slumped in pain and bitterness, Garran was consumed by sorrow and unspoken feelings, and Basilika silently left first.

  “I will leave everyone to think alone. The court is adjourned.” Queen Zhao Jun turned her back and left with her entourage.

  In the Great Hall, after hearing the story, everyone fell silent. Luna’s face showed both admiration and disbelief. Charlotte and Stephanie had been silent for some time, both displaying sadness on their faces.

  “Don’t be sad for me, be sad for them.”

  Wang Zhao Jun placed the half-empty glass of water on the thick glass table, as light as a feather, in complete silence. No one else was around.

  “Is all… true? Is it from that era?” Luna asked, her voice still filled with disbelief.

  “Yes, it’s all true. Take this as a lesson.”

  Stephanie hesitated, seemingly about to speak but then stopping. She subtly nudged Charlotte with her foot, and Wang Zhao Jun smiled slightly, looking at both of them with amusement.

  『 Go ahead, Charlotte. 』

  『 No, you know her better. 』

  “Say whatever you want to say. There are tough people here, so what are you worried about?”

  『 Well, I’ll go first. 』

  Taking a deep breath, Stephanie pulled out the pistol hidden on her person and placed it on the table. Luna was momentarily surprised; it was cold, elegant, and neat – a beautifully crafted confession.

  “I bear the title of assassin… actually, it’s to protect myself and my family.” Stephanie’s voice lowered, sadness evident on her face.

  “Heaven… is always harsh. Titles are like bullets in a gun, very cold and very distant.”

  “Whether you shoot few or few… someone will always fall… standing at the pinnacle of fame, I understand… the price is very high.”

  Stephanie looked up at everyone, tears welling up in her eyes. She forced a smile – a smile that was heartbreakingly beautiful.

  “No matter where, suffering continues, sometimes, it’s very cruel.”

  “For me, only by standing at the top can I save those below. And what determines everything is purpose.”

  “Stephanie – this Diva Queen… is also crying for heaven.”

  『 And because I want to too. 』

  The entire Great Hall was enveloped in an indescribable atmosphere. It wasn't stifling, but strangely pleasant, exquisitely beautiful like never before, radiant like the morning sun, yet indescribably sad.

  “Ha…, saying it all out loud makes me feel so much better.” Stephanie smiled cheerfully, making everyone laugh along.

  “This girl, really, does she need such flowery language to change the atmosphere?”

  “Thank you so much, Stephanie, I feel much better now.” Luna replied happily.

  The group laughed together, the room filled with playful banter. While everyone was enjoying themselves, Wang Zhaojun glanced out the window; a black butterfly flapped its wings and flew away, heading towards the distant sea.

  “Haha, if we’re done here then…”

  “…We should go to Celeste’s place too, everyone should come along.” Luna cheerfully invited everyone.

  “So early, sister? But it’s okay, let’s go.” Charlotte replied excitedly and energetically.

  Stephanie put away her gun, glancing around. The room was empty, with only a few masked attendants in black surrounding them.

  “Celeste is also from the same hometown as you, she loves fashion.” Luna chatted with Wang Zhaojun as they walked.

  “From the same hometown as me? Looks like I should meet her.” She smiled with interest.

  “I’m sure everyone will get along well.” Luna smiled at everyone.

  “Don’t worry, she’s very easygoing, fun to tease… ouch!” Charlotte had barely finished speaking when Luna playfully tapped her on the head.

  They all walked and chatted happily, sharing everyday stories with each other. At a place by the sea, the evening waves lapped against the shore, creating a melodious song that harmonized with the carefree laughter of the mermaids playing and singing together.

  Lyudmila stood alone, gazing at the distant horizon, the crackling sound of her communication device ringing in her ears.

  “So that’s how it is. The council is a little disappointed, but it’s still advantageous for me.”

  “You haven’t revealed yourself yet, have you? You should withdraw soon; there won’t be anything fun coming.”

  “I know, I’ll withdraw as soon as I can.” Lyudmila switched off the device.

  “Have you heard enough?”

  Lyudmila looked behind her, and immediately, a heavy pressure weighed down on her. Her heart rate involuntarily quickened, her limbs trembled, a chill ran down her spine, and she instinctively hugged herself.

  『 This… this feeling, it can’t be… 』

  『 Why… am I so… scared… 』

  A cheerful, relaxed, yet somewhat eerie laugh echoed. Dahlia walked gracefully, the setting sun further enhancing her mystical beauty – resplendent like a rare black pearl.

  “How disrespectful, dragoness! Speaking like that to the former Queen is a death sentence.” Dahlia smiled at Lyudmila, her smile as dangerous as a snake's venom.

  “What is this… I am a dragon, how could this be…?” Lyudmila trembled as she replied.

  “Confess and I’ll spare you, but don’t spoil my mood.”

  『 This isn’t good, I… I must find a way… to get out of here… 』

  『 Why… Black Butterflies Dahlia here? 』