PART 13 :-
CONVINCE BY THE HELPER
Iras perspective :-
[In a large room, looking through some papers.]
"I can't find anything that can help my lady. What should I do? I have to think of something before it's too late."
"Ca… ca…"
[A crow suddenly started pecking at her head.]
"What is this bird doing here?? Wait a minute… this isn't ordinary. It's coated with Aura."
[She followed the bird to the large window.]
"What is that man doing out there?? Calling me like that when he can enter here anytime."
[Iras went to the back side of the palace wall to meet Sagurd.]
"Hey, Iri, what's up??"
I immediately punched him in the face.
"Don't talk like everything is normal between us."
"Ouch… that hurts, you know."
"What do you want??"
"Why do you think I want something? Am I not allowed to know how you're doing?"
"A person who hasn't interacted with me for years, yet can easily enter this palace without anyone noticing, suddenly calls me here just to ask how I'm doing?? No… I know you better than anyone here."
"Smart. That's why I love you."
"Don't think I've forgiven you for what you did. So many things happened between us. Don't act like you care about me. Now tell me what you want."
"Look, I don't want anything. But they do. I hope you've already noticed them."
[He pointed toward those kids.]
"They want to meet that girl."
"Hell no. I can't allow that. My lady is already in so much trouble. If someone finds them with her, things will get even worse."
"Hey, kids, leave us alone for a moment."
Hearing his words, they left immediately.
"Look, do you really think the council will favor a woman? There is zero chance she's going to win that veto."
"I know. That's why I'm trying my best to protect her."
"That's exactly what I'm saying. You're trying your best, and even then you're not sure it's enough. That kid wants to help too. What if he can actually do something? Just let him meet her."
"But he's only fifteen years old. What could he possibly do?"
"There was a person who once told me that our generation has passed. We have to trust the next generation. We have to bet on them."
"Don't throw my own words back at me."
"See? You're smarter than me. You understand the situation better than I do. And you believe in them more than I ever could."
"Hey, Sagurd… what changed you? Why did you decide to teach him?"
"You know my past better than anyone. He walks the same path I once did—the path of revenge. I don't want him to suffer the way I did. If he keeps going like this, he'll lose everything he has now. I'm not immortal, nor will I live as long as they will. So before I die, I want to at least correct my mistakes and change the fate that kid carries."
"There are many juniors walking that path too. Why him?"
"Because he reminds me of myself. He said the exact same thing I once told you."
"And why that other kid?"
"He's Violet's son."
"What!!!"
"After realizing that, I just couldn't ignore him anymore. He suffers because of others, and one of those people is me. Because of my ego, I lost her. I don't want her son to die as well. And if you think about it deeply… he's family to me too."
"And why Bright?? What do you and Chiron see in him?"
"He has something… I'll tell you later. But you know, he sees everything differently. We all accepted things the way our elders taught us, but not him. He's like a miracle. If you listen to his words, you might understand. They are all going to surpass us. They'll achieve things we never could."
"Why do you believe in them so much?"
"Because they're just like us… except they won't repeat the same mistakes we did. The bonds they share—I don't want them to end up like ours. I'll make sure that never happens."
"I wish you had changed sooner. Maybe then you wouldn't have lost everything."
"Well… I still have you."
"How long has it been since we talked like this?"
"It feels good, doesn't it?"
[His crow called the kids, and they arrived immediately.]
"I'm going against my duties for this. And I'm warning you—no matter what happens, you must stay hidden from everyone in the palace."
"Yeah, yeah, we understand."
"Now follow me."
Before I left the place—
"Hey, Sagurd… it's really good to see you like the old days again. I hope you're right. I hope they won't repeat the same mistakes we did."
He stood there smiling. It had been a long time since I last saw that smile. The smile I loved.
The smile that once made me fall for him. Maybe in another life, things would have gone the way we wished.
....
PART 14 :-
REMEMBERING THE PAST
Minidra perspective :-
What should I do?? I won't win if I can't go out and find something that can help me. Iras is trying, but it's still not enough. I haven't even seen Bright for so long. What is he doing now? I want to meet him… talk with him.
I have to win. He saved me before, and now I have to win on my own.
Those days were difficult, but I'm glad they happened, because during that time I was able to meet him.
[Minidra past memories]
[Minidra at the age of six. In her bedroom.]
"Wake up, my lady. It's already morning."
"Ummm… but I want to sleep more, Iras. Why does the night disappear so fast?"
"Because the sun wants to shine. Now get up. You have your morning classes."
[In a training room.]
"My lady, you did it wrong again. You have to focus. You possess a very powerful boon. If you're unable to control it properly, it may cause you pain."
"But I've been doing this for an hour already, and after this I still have to attend behavior class, which is so boring."
"I can hear your heartbeat," Mini said while concentrating.
"That's good, my lady."
"What am I able to do with this gift, Iras?"
"You can sense anyone around you. You can easily understand their feelings. Not only that, but you can also detect lies, and many other things."
"Hey, Iras… if I master that power, will Papa play with me again?? Ever since my brother was born, he rarely notices me. He stopped looking at me the way he used to. I saw how Lady Mother cares for my brother… I never experienced that before because she avoids me most of the time. It's not like I hate her. I heard she supported Papa after my mother died because of me."
"Oh… my lady, you carry so much pain. Your mother didn't die because of you. It's simply that normal women cannot survive giving birth to a gifted child. But your mother was very happy in her final moments because she was able to bring you into this beautiful world. And one day, you will find someone who loves you exactly the way you are, and you will live a happy life with him."
[At the time Minidra started learning to control her power.]
"That's very good, my lady. Now I'll tell you something, and you're going to tell me whether it's true or not: 'I drink green tea in the morning.'"
"Your heartbeat feels unusual. It feels negative around you… which means you're lying."
"That's great, my lady!" She looked very excited.
"But you still have to improve a lot. This is only the beginning."
"Yeah, yeah, I know. I feel so relaxed around you."
"I'm sure my lord will be very happy when he hears that you can sense people's inner thoughts."
"Hey—I'm going to tell Papa!"
[At the council office.]
"Papa! Papa! I finally mastered it!"
"Did you forget that I told you not to bother me while I'm working? And don't come into the council hall when there are men here besides our family."
Papa doesn't like that…? But why…?
"Woo… she's just a child, but look how beautiful she is. If I were younger, I would marry her."
"Look at her. When she grows up, she'll become a fine woman. I wish I could have her."
"Woo, she looks really nice. If she weren't a princess, I would buy her at any price."
What are those people thinking?! Why are they staring at me like that?! I feel so uneasy… I never feel like this when I'm with Iras.
"My lady, don't think too much about it right now. Just leave this place."
"Iras, you're finally here. I felt so uneasy here."
"I understand, my lady. Let's go."
[In a room where Minidra's father and his wife were talking.]
I wasn't able to speak with Papa much this morning. I'm going to surprise them.
"You have to think carefully about this."
I can hear them even from this distance because of my senses.
"Don't teach her everything."
"But why??"
"Who knows if she decides to claim the head position when she grows up? I don't want my son to suffer because of her."
"She is just a child for now, and you don't need to worry. Daughters exist for the benefit of the clan. She is merely a sacrifice. When she grows up, I'll marry her off to a wealthy prince from a higher clan. She only needs to learn enough so she can stand proudly before the race."
"Do you really think anyone would marry her if they realize she can sense people's inner thoughts?"
"Dear, you don't need to worry. I saw the way men look at her. If she can't give us what we want, then I'll simply sell her. And don't speak badly about her in front of her, or she might understand."
[Minidra couldn't bring herself to enter the room. She stood silently beside the wall.]
Why does it hurt this much inside…?
[Present time]
Those days were really difficult.
"Oi, Mini!!"
I heard Bright's voice. I was so in love with him that I thought I was imagining it.
"Bright!! What are you doing here??" I was shocked to see him, but I was also so happy.
....
PART 15 :-
AT LAST, THE REUNION
MC perspective :-
"I can only take you this far. You have to go on your own now."
"But why??"
"If I stop working and go with you, others will start noticing."
She looked at Bond and said, "You look more intelligent than these two. You guys have to go there. This is my lady's room."
[In the hallway]
"This is the room."
"You guys go in. I'll keep watch and inform you if anyone comes," Dex said.
"The door is locked from the outside. See? I told you she's in trouble. How are we supposed to open it?"
"Don't worry, Lady Iras. Give me the key."
I opened the door, and after a long time, I finally saw Mini.
"Oye, Mini!!"
"Bright!! What are you doing here??"
"I was so worried about you. Are you alright?"
"And frustrated too." I looked angrily at Bond after what he had said.
"What's going on? What's your situation?"
"My family wants me to leave the group, otherwise the Golden Cage rule will be implemented on me."
"What is the Golden Cage!?"
"When a family thinks their daughter is getting out of hand, they treat her like a prisoner. The girl can eat and do whatever she wants inside the house, but she can't meet anyone from outside, nor can she leave the place."
"That's so inhuman! Who the hell do they think they are—"
"Bright, stop. Tell us everything."
"I refused because I want to stay in the Machimoi group. So I opposed them, and that made me a criminal in their eyes. But using my knowledge, I filed a Veto where I can demand my freedom from my family. Since it's included in the law, they have no choice but to accept it. But my family doesn't want to take any risks, so they locked me here so I can't find anything that could convince the council to grant me freedom."
"I understand now. That means you just need to win the Veto—"
"It's not that simple, Bright. No woman has ever won against the council, except for a few rare cases."
"You don't need to panic. We'll always be with you. We'll figure out something that can help you. Isn't that true, Bond?"
"Yeah."
"I'm glad that you care about me, but it's my fight. I have to fight it on my own."
"No, you don't. You're not alone, and this isn't only your fight. You're my friend, and friends are always there to help each other. It's our fight, and we'll fight it together. I don't care what others think, but you're very important to me as well."
I grabbed her shoulder and said something I never thought I would say before.
"Bright… but I want to show you that I'm strong…"
"You are strong—stronger than me. I know that. You don't have to prove anything to anyone. You're okay just the way you are. And you don't have to think you're alone. We're here for you. We just need to change the mindset of those people, and we'll do it together. They won't be fighting only Princess Minidra anymore—they'll be fighting the entire Machimoi group."
Tears rolled down her cheeks.
"Sorry if I said something wrong."
"No… it's just that no one has ever said things like that to me before except you."
She started crying on my shoulder.
"Hey—we have to leave," Dex signaled to us.
"We're leaving now, but don't worry. Everything is going to be alright."
Then we left the place.
....