A loud explosion sounded inside the grand citadel.

    The main palace of the Elven Empire in the centre of the capital, usually owned only by the Emperor, is now something gifted to the Concubine due to her dirty tricks.

    Thud!

    El''Gladia''s fingernails glowed with a dark green hiss as they shrank back to their normal size after mauling a maid''s face.

    "What did you say?!" The Concubine''s loud voice screeched through the palace halls as a maid with a bloody face flew across the room, dozens of servants trying to appeal to her.

    "Your Majesty please calm down..."

    "I am calm!"

    The concubine noticed a strange rumbling and quaking in the earth early in the morning, at first she presumed it was a normal earthquake.

    However, when the beam of light shone from the world tree as a shaman how could she not know this meant someone had taken the trial of Aristella?

    "Rally the imperial army, have the forest rangers leave the northern border and call back the Empress to see what that bitch has done!"

    Gladia''s eyes narrowed, and then suddenly her eyes looked to the empress''s palace where that filthy demon and her husband''s other daughter were staying.

    "Bring Princess Ciela and her filthy demon spouse to me! It must be them!"

    "Your Majesty... we Argh!"

    Slash!

    Instead of listening to the male elf with a nice body, one of her many toys the concubine sliced his face apart and killed him instantly.

    "Hurry! Let my family know, those traitors have broken the imperial law!"

    Even though the concubine knew that if the world tree responded it meant a genuine saint entered, the protocol of bringing the saint to the imperial palace and accepting their role was the tradition, thus she clenched her fists, knowing that the past saints were killed by her family before they could do too much using Aristella''s Tears.

    ''This sneaky bitch... how dare she and her daughters cause me trouble!''

    "Wait... Ar''Orina should have returned not long ago! Bring her to me, let''s have some fun with the Empresses beloved daughter, as her step mother I cannot neglect my duties right?"

    Despite being under the spell of the Concubine, many of the servants kept their normal minds but were bound by a cruel tattoo or mark that made them follow her orders. So the moment they knew the princesses would begin to suffer now.

    They hoped for a miracle.

    "Don''t forget that husband of mine! Make sure he takes his medicine today! The sooner he dies the better!"

    Continue your saga on empire

    Most of the high council and elders of her clan now occupied most of the imperial government and passing new laws would be easy if the emperor and empress were to have an accident.

    At the same time, in the Emperor''s private office, five armed guards stood outside, while another stood at the window beside him.

    Not to be mistaken for the Emperor''s guards, these men and women were members of the Er clan and family, under strict orders to limit the Emperor''s movements, to drug his food and tea to ensure he never became clear-minded.

    However...

    He learned history and legends, so the truth is there is another kingdom of elves, or rather in the origin this capital was built for both high and dark elves who lived in harmony.

    "Though I hope they can forgive us and our selfish nature... it won''t be easy."

    Runan''s body flickered with a green glow as he faded away, and the two illusions remained.

    "Goodbye, today I must meet up with my beloved wife... If she sent someone to the trial grounds, I cannot wait anymore! Go, inform Orina and Runa!"

    He released a small pair of back and white birds made of magic that flew in two directions, one towards each daughter with a message and secret note.

    Meanwhile, Ar''Orina prepared to return to her mother''s side after meeting with the blue-haired Ar''una. She noticed that the palace was filled with a prickly air, although she saw the world tree acting strangely.

    Orina didn''t know the truth about what it signified.

    She only heard rumours about it, and the truth was kept from her.

    "Come, my lady, the concubine awaits." A servant called out to Orina, her smile seeming to twitch as if she were trying not to wince. Her eyes seemed to hold a sad look inside them. It seemed like she didn''t wish to escort the princess to face the concubine and neither did Orina want to follow.

    ''Another lashing, or beating from my step-mother? Hah!''

    Because Orina was the only daughter in the palace, she suffered the most from Er''Gladia''s mood swings. However, this wasn''t always the case.

    In the past, Runa would stick up for the empress but be thought to be an adopted daughter at the time. She was the one who suffered, but after a few years, the Empress started to act sick and protected Runa.

    This left Orina alone to face the enemy... because Ciela left a long time ago.

    "I should hurry..."

    She muttered until a small illusory bird fluttered close to her ear. The servant couldn''t see it because this magic was visible only to those who shared Runan''s bloodline.#

    ''Dad? You''ve finally made a move?!''

    This helped because after they disposed of most of his family, the only ones he could contact in this way were his daughters.

    Ar''Orina gazed at the servant standing close to her, looking a little anxious, but this wasn''t enough to stop Orina. Right now the entire city and the royal family were in danger.

    This meant more than the life of the servant before her.

    ''I have to meet Runa as dad asked me... she seems to be near the training field.''

    "Princess, where are you going?!"

    "To the training field! Follow me if you don''t want to be punished!"

    "Eh..."

    Because it took many resources to have full mind control on a person, the Er Clan couldn''t afford to use that level on lowly servants, so they used a cheap and easy method of using food and suggestions to keep them under control.

    However, because elves have powerful magic resistance, over time the servants started gaining skills to resist their power and thus were killed by the Concubine and her family after a few years, as they stopped following perfectly.

    This was the state of most servants in the royal palace right now.

    "You''ll die even if you return, so follow me and find a path to survival!" Ar''Orina''s voice was powerful, her eyes shining bright reminding the servant who she was.

    The crown princess of the Elven empire!