Dancing on the golden ashes

I decided to delay my departure by a few days; there was far too much to address after my prolonged absence. For now, the party to celebrate my return took priority, though Seong-Hoon seemed to have other plans. Before I could protest, he grabbed my hand and started dragging me toward the palace.

"You need to rest before the festivities, Big Sis," he said with a grin that was both mischievous and determined. His grip was firm, leaving no room for argument.

As we entered the palace, I noticed how much it had changed. The entire interior had been transformed—it felt more spacious, grander. My eyes were drawn to the massive black throne at the end of the main hall. Adorned in intricate gold designs, it radiated power and authority, a throne truly befitting an empress. The urge to sit on it surged within me, but before I could give in, Seong-Hoon tugged me toward another room.

"Hey, what do you think you're doing?" I asked, suspicion creeping into my voice.

"This is your room, Big Sis." He glanced back at me with a smile, and with a flourish, he pushed open the door.

The sight took my breath away. The room was beautifully decorated, a masterpiece of elegance and grandeur, fit for an empress in every sense. The colors, the furniture, the atmosphere—it was perfect. It even managed to feel welcoming despite its extravagance.

"We all worked hard to create this," Seong-Hoon said, his voice brimming with pride and enthusiasm. "I hope you like it!"

For a moment, I didn't know what to say. The gesture surprised me, and though I'd never admit it out loud, I felt deeply touched.

"It's... perfect," I murmured, a rare warmth blooming in my chest.

As my eyes landed on the luxurious bed in the corner, I couldn't help but smile. I hated to admit it, but I missed the comfort of a proper bed. After so long sleeping on the cold, hard ground, this was exactly what I needed.

I couldn't help but push Seong-Hoon away, stepping into the room and diving onto the massive king-sized bed. The moment I landed, I sank into its plush softness. Closing my eyes, I let out a low, satisfied moan. "Ahh... This is nice," I murmured, relishing the comfort I had missed for so long.

"We're glad you like it," a deep voice said suddenly. My eyes shot open, and to my surprise, all of them were standing inside the room. Even Choi Min-Jeong was there, though she looked particularly timid, hovering near the door as if unsure of her place. Her shy demeanor stood out in the otherwise lively group, but somehow, it felt like she belonged.

I think it suits her, I mused.

"Empress, we—" Min-Jeong began to speak, her voice soft, but I cut her off before she could finish, making her panic slightly as she stumbled over her words.

"I told you," I said firmly, pointing at her, "just call me Gaon. Or," I added with a teasing smirk, shifting my finger to Seong-Hoon, "you can join that idiot and call me Big Sis." I laughed slightly.

"Big Sis, you—!" Seong-Hoon put on the most innocent face, dropping dramatically to his knees and pretending to apologize. "Big Sis, this fool shall forever serve you, but please, just call me by my name," he said, bowing deeply in an exaggerated fashion.

I rolled my eyes, suppressing a laugh as I flicked a weak air shatter at him. The gentle force sent him flying backward, landing unceremoniously on his butt.

"Are you even a man? Why are you groveling on your knees for me?" I teased, laughing. Somehow, my heart felt lighter here, surrounded by these people. The heaviness I'd carried for so long seemed to melt away, replaced by a happiness I hadn't felt in years.

Malrang's soft, warm body rested against me in her small form, looking adorably content. Jieun had climbed onto the bed as well, sitting beside me like it was the most natural thing in the world.

Eun-Woo entered then, balancing a tray laden with cookies and a massive cake. The scent filled the room, and my eyes widened slightly as I took it all in.

"Gaon," he began, his deep voice warm, "we've managed to tame a few monsters that are similar to cows and chickens. These are the fruits of everyone's hard work."

I felt a pang of sadness then, my gaze lingering on the food. I can't eat it. That simple thought echoed in my mind.

"I know you can't get full on it," Eun-Woo said, as if reading my thoughts. "But you can still taste it, right?"

His words made me pause. Taste? I'd completely forgotten about that. My heart raced slightly.

"Can… Can I try?" I asked, hesitantly. The thought of tasting something—just tasting—sparked a flicker of hope within me. Even if it held no nutritional value, perhaps I could still savor the experience.

"Wait a bit." Seong-Hoon's voice cut through the moment, and suddenly the room dimmed. With a snap of his fingers, the candles' flames shrank, casting the space into a serene glow. Freezing mist curled through the air, dying the room in a soft, ethereal blue light. The glow was faint but enough to illuminate the room, wrapping the space in a tranquil ambiance.

Snowflakes fell gracefully from the ceiling, their radiant glow transforming the room into a winter paradise. The shimmering light reflected off the icy crystals, making it feel like we had stepped into a magical wonderland.

"When did you learn how to impress others?" I asked teasingly, but my words only made Seong-Hoon grin proudly.

"Hehe… I've been training in soul power. What do you think?"

"It's beautiful..." I said softly, reaching out to catch one of the delicate snowflakes. It melted slowly against my palm, leaving a faint, warm sensation behind. Somehow, that tiny snowflake seemed to carry a message—an emotion—gentle, beautiful, and filled with warmth. It felt almost like... love.

I glanced at Seong-Hoon instinctively, but he was busy chatting with Eun-Woo, no longer paying me any attention. My chest tightened slightly, and a flicker of conflict stirred within me. No, it can't be that, I thought, trying to shake off the feeling. It must be like a brother loving his sister. This idiot probably doesn't even know anything about romance.

"My turn!" Jieun's excited voice thankfully snapped me back to reality. She raised her hands, and in the next moment, the snowflakes shimmered with a celestial glow, as if they held fragments of the cosmos within them. The room seemed to transform yet again, this time into a vision of the stars themselves.

"It's so beautiful..." I muttered under my breath, unable to stop the words from escaping. Jieun's sharp ears, of course, caught them instantly.

"You think so, Sis?" she beamed with pride. "I can make an even better show!" Discover hidden stories at My Virtual Library Empire

Before I could stop her, the room began to tremble under the force of her growing power. "Enough!" I interrupted, placing a firm hand on her shoulder. "The palace doesn't need another renovation."

Her pout was immediate, but she reluctantly lowered her hands, the trembling subsiding. "You're no fun," she grumbled, crossing her arms, but her mischievous grin hinted she wasn't truly upset.

But then I noticed the cake was gone. When I glanced to Min-Jeong's side, I saw her standing slightly apart from the group. She held the cake in her hands, a single large candle flickering in the middle.

"Welcome back, Empress," she said, her voice soft but steady. "May this first year of your rulership, and our friendship, be the best year of your life. And may there be many more to come." Her cheeks reddened slightly, clearly embarrassed, but she stood firm, her sincerity shining through.

A single tear rolled down my cheek, and before I knew it, another followed, then another… until I burst into tears—tears I hadn't tasted in so long. They were tears of happiness, a feeling so rare in my life that it almost overwhelmed me. My existence had always been chaos and pain, but now, in this moment, I realized something I'd never allowed myself to believe before.

I have friends... I'm happy now...

People who truly cared about me, who loved me—and I loved them in return. At that moment, I swore to myself to protect them, no matter what.

"Big Sis, why are you crying?" Seong-Hoon asked, rushing over to grab my hand, his expression filled with worry.

I slapped his forehead lightly, shaking him off with a chuckle. "I'm happy, you idiot..." I said, laughter bubbling up from deep within. "Ha... hahaha!" I laughed from the bottom of my heart, my emotions spilling out freely for the first time in what felt like forever.

"Thank you… to all of you," I said, my voice trembling but full of gratitude.

With that, I leaned forward and blew out the candle, plunging the room into darkness. My wish… is to forever stay like this, I thought, the warmth in my heart burning brighter than ever.