By the time night fully claimed the capital, the Grand Sky Arena was already a memory being rewritten by rumor.
Some said Kael had been humiliated. Some said he had been spared. Some whispered that the Third Prince had barely lifted a finger.
All of them were true in their own way.
From the highest tower of the palace, I watched the lights of the city shimmer like a field of stars. Every lantern, every moving silhouette, every heartbeat below was a thread. And those threads now leaned in my direction.
Seraphina stood with her back to me, gazing out over the city, her silver‑blonde hair flowing gently in the night breeze.
"You changed something today," she said quietly.
"I always do."
"No… this was different. People aren't just afraid of you now."
She turned to face me, emerald eyes glowing faintly.
"They're starting to believe in you."
I stepped behind her, resting my hands lightly on her waist. "Belief is stronger than fear."
She leaned back into me, content and possessive. "Then don't let anyone else have it."
"I won't."
Behind us, the doors slid open.
Liara entered first, holding a small tray of tea and pastries. Mireya followed, arms folded, but her expression was softer than before.
"We figured you'd still be scheming," Liara said with a smile. "So we brought refreshments."
Seraphina eyed the tray suspiciously. "You're too cheerful."
"That's because I like winning," Liara replied brightly.
Mireya snorted softly, then looked at me. "The city is in chaos. Kael's supporters are scrambling. Half of them don't know who they belong to anymore."
"Good."
I took a cup of tea and handed it to Seraphina before taking one myself. Small gestures mattered. They noticed.
Mireya watched it, a faint flicker of envy passing through her golden eyes.
We sat together on the wide balcony cushions, the night air cool and fragrant. For a while, no one spoke. Just the sound of distant bells and the soft rustle of fabric.
Finally, Liara broke the silence. "So what happens now?"
"Now," I said calmly, "we explore the cracks I just made."
Seraphina tilted her head. "You mean more enemies?"
"More opportunities."
Mireya studied me. "You're going to take everything from him, aren't you?"
"Not everything," I corrected. "Just everything that matters."
She held my gaze for a long moment. Then slowly… she smiled.
"I think I'm starting to understand why they follow you."
Seraphina shifted closer to me, her shoulder pressing into mine, possessive but relaxed. "You could have crushed him completely."
"Yes."
"Why didn't you?"
"Because broken things make more interesting tools."
She shivered slightly. "You're awful."
"And yet…"
"…and yet I don't want to be anywhere else."
I let my fingers intertwine with hers. "Good."
Later, when the city had quieted, I took them down into the palace gardens. Lanterns reflected on the water. The tension of the day melted into something warmer.
Liara laughed as Mireya tried to pretend she wasn't enjoying herself. Seraphina stayed close, always just a step from my side, as if afraid someone might steal me away.
I let them laugh. Let them tease. Let them forget, just for a little while, that we were standing in the middle of a war for fate.
This was important too.
Not just power.
Connection.
Loyalty.
Joy.
And in the quiet moments between schemes and battles, those were the things that made my control absolute.
Far away, Kael sat alone in a dark room, staring at his hands, wondering how the world had slipped away from him so quickly.
And in the palace gardens, under soft lantern light, my harem laughed beside me.
The contrast was… beautiful.