The sun had barely risen when Celestine awoke.
The wind whispered through the curtains, carrying the scent of rain.
She had dreamed of something… a memory that was not her own.
Flames. Screams. A child crying.
And a woman with silver hair holding a dagger stained with blood.
Celestine sat up in bed, breath unsteady.
"Again… that dream. That woman… is she the one who bore the name I now carry?"
Lira entered hastily, her arms full of letters.
— "Milady, correspondence from the court — and one letter without a seal."
Celestine took the anonymous envelope. The seal was already broken. Inside, there was only a single sentence, written in dark ink:
> "The bloodline of d'Arnoir should never have survived."
Her heart turned to ice. She glanced down at the family crest embroidered on her gown — a rose encircled by thorns — and for the first time, felt the true weight of the name she bore.
---
⚜️ The Forbidden Archive
Determined to uncover the truth, Celestine made her way to the Imperial Archives — a place only a select few were allowed to enter.
Using an old seal from her late father, she gained access.
The vast hall was silent, lined with shelves buried under decades of dust.
Dim torches flickered against the stone walls, illuminating the faces of forgotten statues — heroes of a bygone empire.
An elderly librarian looked at her with unease.
— "The House of d'Arnoir has not set foot here in… two decades."
— "Then it's time someone did," she replied firmly.
She moved to the section of noble records and searched for the year of her birth.
After long minutes, she found a thick tome marked with the emblem of the rose.
As she opened it, a cloud of dust rose like smoke.
Among the cold records, one name leapt from the page:
"Lady Seraphina d'Arnoir — accused of High Treason."
Celestine's fingers trembled as she turned the pages.
The entries spoke of a massacre, forbidden rituals, and a missing child.
> "The Duchess Seraphina attempted to seal the ancient power of the d'Arnoir bloodline, but lost control. The secondary palace was destroyed. All perished — save for the heir."
Celestine brought a hand to her mouth.
"The heir… that's me."
Suddenly, footsteps echoed behind her.
She snapped the book shut and turned — but not fast enough.
Damien Corvus stood leaning against the wall, as if he had been waiting all along.
— "I knew you'd come searching for your origins sooner or later," he said calmly.
— "What do you know about this?" Celestine demanded.
Damien stepped closer, his tone low and almost conspiratorial.
— "The d'Arnoir house wasn't destroyed for treason… but for fear. Your mother tried to protect something the empire couldn't understand — an ancient power, passed down through generations. They say the blood of the d'Arnoir is tied to the magic of the Void."
Celestine frowned.
— "Void magic?"
— "A power that can shape destiny itself. The same power that lies within you, though you haven't realized it yet."
She took a step back.
— "That's absurd."
Damien smiled faintly.
— "Is it? How many times have you escaped death, Celestine? How often has fate bent in your favor? Destiny hunts you — and without knowing it, you rewrite it."
He leaned closer, his eyes glinting like burning coals.
— "You're not just a reincarnated duchess. You are the echo of the power this empire fears. And that is why they all want you to fall."
---
🌑 The Truth in the Mirror
That night, Celestine locked herself in her chambers.
The mirror before her reflected a calm face — yet her eyes shimmered with something not entirely human.
She remembered the dream: the flames, the silver-haired woman, the dagger.
"Seraphina d'Arnoir…" she whispered. "My mother."
Suddenly, the mirror trembled, and for a brief instant, the reflection was not hers — but Seraphina's.
The woman's gaze was filled with sorrow.
> "My daughter… do not repeat my mistake. The power of d'Arnoir is no blessing. It is a curse."
Celestine fell to her knees, trembling.
The reflection faded, and the mirror returned to normal.
A gust of wind swept through the room, extinguishing the candles.
In the darkness, Celestine whispered:
— "If the blood of d'Arnoir is cursed… then I'll make that curse serve my will."
She lifted her head, and the fire of determination in her eyes was the same one that had once set her mother's palace ablaze.
---
⚔️ The Echo of Tomorrow
Outside, Damien watched silently from the window.
A raven landed on his shoulder.
— "So it's true…" he murmured. "The power awakens once more."
In the gardens below, a single black rose bloomed under the moonlight, defying the chill.
The symbol of House d'Arnoir had been reborn.
And with it… the dawn of a new war.