Shiqi Stav stood by the window of the large pack house and looked out in silence. Outside, the morning was dull and heavy. It was gloomy in the sa quiet way it had been all those years ago. Nothing about it stood out. Nothing felt different despita the passage of a hundred years.
Even now, servants hurried through the courtyard and corridors, calling out to one another, trying to organise everything before the day truly began, just as they had at the ti.
Ti had passed, yet the scene before her felt unchanged. Familiar. Almost mocking her in its saness.
And just like in the past, she found herself caught in a dilemma.
Back then, her emotions had burned far hotter. She had been extrely angry-angry at Mira for having what she herself could never claim. Angry at Aron for never looking at her the way she wanted him to. Angry at her parents for standing aside and seeking power instead of supporting her in her search for her happiness. Angry at the three lords as well, for still caring about Mira even when everything else had fallen apart.
That anger had filled her chest until it felt hard to breathe. And yet, beneath all of it, there had been hesitation.
Even while her thoughts spiralled and her heart ached, she had wondered if she should stop. If she should turn away before anything was destroyed. If she should let things remain as they were, painful as that might be. There had been a small, stubborn part of her that questioned whether being so heartless was the right thing to do.
That doubt had lingered-until Aron ca to her. Until he had co and crushed the hope in her heart.
She rembered his words clearly even now- Even if he had loved her... even if things had been different... he would still choose Mira. Always Mira.
The mory made her hands clench at her sides, her fingers curled tightly into her palms as the old bitterness rose again, refusing to fade. Even now, they were together.
She looked down then... at the broach that she had taken apart with her own hands. And her heart ached. He had really crafted this pendant.... The heart filigree.. the stone that spoke of everlasting love... And she wanted to curse at Aron. Why? Why did he not ever tell her?
Why did he have to choose Mira when he loved her. Then and now... If only he had been willing to love her back, they could have lived happily forever instead of being intent on destroying each other... And now, it was too late...
Slowly, she waved her hand, and the stone slid back into place, settling neatly into the broach as if it had never been removed. The tal clicked softly. Shiqi let out a quiet sigh and straightened.
Everything was now set. It didn’t matter if he loved her or not. If he chose her or not. Now, she wanted not love but power. Power to rule the world and power to destroy it. She was no longer the innocent Shiqi, craving his love. There were many more n that she could have...
The one thing that had gone wrong the last ti had finally been corrected at this ti. That single flaw. That single choice that had turned the tide against her causing Aron to be trapped and the Goddess to escape.
She had spent many years thinking about it, replaying those monts again and again, until the truth had beco impossible to ignore.
The witches had not truly lost because they were weaker. They had lost because the three lords had chosen Mira in the end despite everything Despite Mira marrying Aron.
And with that choice, every curse Shiqi had laid, every spell she had woven, had slowly begun to unravel.
Their bond with Mira and the blessing of choosing a right mate had given the wolves strength that no magic had accounted for.
Strength that had allowed them to overpower dark and white witches, resist ancient spells, and even break through Shiqi’s own carefully laid traps. That mistake would not be repeated.
This ti, she had already made sure that they would not choose Emira under any circumstances.
A slow smile curved her lips at the thought.
She had been careful. Every piece had been placed exactly where it needed to be.
The Three princes would see Emira not as soone to protect, but as a threat. A threat who had brought back the Dark Lord.
Soone who now stood against everything they valued. Even if a flicker of doubt rose in their hearts, even if sothing old and familiar stirred within them, her spell would smother it before it could grow so that they would not feel any softness for her.
To them, Emira would always be the villain.
Shiqi’s smile deepened as another thought followed.
How would Aron feel when he finally realised what she had done?
She imagined his expression when the truth ca out- that she had used his na so freely. His own na had been used for destroying him and Emira..
That Raymon Vye, so hungry for power and recognition, had bowed to her without ever suspecting the deception that she was not the Dark lord but in fact the ’Grand witch.’
She had promised Raymon wealth. Power. Influence beyond his dreams. And he had believed every word paving the way for her.
Through him, she had ensured that Ramona would remain firmly planted at the princes’ side, keeping them away from her.
Shiqi turned back to the window, her reflection faintly visible in the glass.
This ti, there would be no hesitation. No doubt. No last-minute choice that ruined everything. This ti, the ending would be exactly as she intended.
Turning around, she walked out of the large room, towards the outside and asked," Is there any movent on their side?"
"No mistress. The dark lord has moved into isolation in the last few days with his bride. They are keeping everything between themselves so as not to reveal any flaw."
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