Dancing on the golden ashes

"So, what will it be, old man?" I said mockingly, savoring the way his expression twisted in fear and disbelief. His silence and the torment written all over his face filled me with a sense of vindication. Finally, after all these years, I could make him feel even a fraction of the pain he caused me.

"Big sis!" Lee Nuri shouted, his voice trembling with panic. "You can't do this! Father, he—"

"What?" I snapped, cutting him off before he could defend that man. My fury surged like a storm inside me. I turned on him, my voice laced with venom. "He abandoned me, Nuri. Just like you and Mother did! Why should I stay silent and let all of you live your lives as you wish, while I was left behind to rot like garbage, huh?"

My words echoed through the chamber, heavy with the weight of years of resentment. The memories of betrayal and abandonment, the countless nights spent alone, all of it came flooding back in an instant. My fists clenched tightly at my sides as I struggled to contain the whirlwind of emotions tearing through me.

A part of me wanted to lash out at them, to make them feel the unbearable weight of my suffering. But another part of me—the part that still remembered the love I once had for my family—held me back.

It was infuriating.

I looked at them—my father, my brother—and felt a sharp pang in my chest. They were the source of so much pain, and yet, deep down, I couldn't bring myself to destroy them completely.

"Why should I?" I hissed, more to myself than to anyone else. My voice faltered for a brief moment, but I quickly masked it with a cold exterior. "Why shouldn't I just kill you all and be done with it? It would make things so much easier."

My father's expression tightened, but there was no plea for forgiveness, no acknowledgment of his wrongs. And that only fueled my anger further.

Nuri's gaze softened, and for a moment, I thought he might say something that could change everything—something that might make me reconsider. But no words came, only the echo of my own fury in the silence between us.

I hated this silence—it made everything so much worse, so much heavier. "You have ten seconds to choose," I said coldly, locking my gaze onto my father. His eyes avoided mine, but there was no escape from the weight of my words.

"Ten... Nine... Eight..." My voice was steady, but my rage burned beneath the surface, barely contained.

"Seven... Six..."

"I—" he finally broke, his voice trembling. "Please, Gaon... take your brother with you. I know I don't deserve your forgiveness, not after what I did... kicking you out when you were down."

What? My chest tightened, confusion and fury crashing together in a storm. Now? I thought bitterly. Now you feel bad about it? Now you understand? After all these years? What the actual fuck?

The fire inside me raged uncontrollably. My grip tightened around the cold iron bars of the cage, my strength surging with my emotions. Without a second thought, I yanked the bars apart with raw power, breaking the entire cage apart. The clanging of metal echoed through the chamber, loud and final.

My father stared at me in disbelief. His lips moved as if he wanted to speak, but no words came.

"Let's go," I said, my voice sharp and unrelenting. "Mother is waiting for the two of you. After that, you can piss off. Both of you."

I turned and walked away, my footsteps heavy with frustration. I couldn't look at them any longer. My heart was a chaotic mess, and my mind was no better.

I reminded myself of the others—those who needed saving. As much as I despised this situation, I had to maintain the image of a capable Empress. But even that began to irritate me.

My emotions were spiraling, uncontainable. And yet, I felt something strange—something almost... empowering.

This anger, this frustration, this fire inside me—it felt like it was giving me strength.

Just like that time in the game world… The power of… No, I'm overthinking it. For a moment, I thought it might be connected to a legend, but that couldn't be possible. Unless, of course, it was part of his plan, the creator...

I shook the thought off for now and focused on the task at hand. Quickly moving through the cave system, I found more of the high humans. They attempted to defend themselves, but it was a futile effort. I eradicated them without hesitation. Was this considered genocide? Perhaps. Did I care? Not in the slightest—they weren't exactly my race, anyway.

Once outside, I took in the sight before me. My beasts were calming down a massive group of people, hundreds of them, scattered in chaos. Some sat lifelessly on the ground, their eyes vacant and empty, as if they couldn't even comprehend that they'd been rescued. Others wept, some out of joy, others in pain for those they'd lost. It was a somber, chaotic scene.

Did it feel good to have saved them? Maybe… if not for the bitter reminder that I had also saved my own family. That soured the victory. I regretted it deeply, thinking I should've left them to rot in that cave.

"Mount up, and help the ones who can't manage on their own," I said gently, addressing the survivors. Slowly, they began to approach my beasts, choosing their rides hesitantly. I didn't care which they picked—it wasn't like I was giving them away permanently. They were temporary passengers, nothing more.

As for my father and brother? Well, I decided to give them a ride they'd never forget. I turned to the Dragon Empress and gave her a mischievous order.

"Give them the ride of a lifetime," I said, smirking.

The dragon empress didn't disappoint. In the next instant, she took to the skies at full speed, twisting and turning, creating chaos in the air. The piercing screams of my father and brother echoed through the heavens, a fitting punishment for the two of them.

I cracked a smile, unable to hold back my amusement. I was starting to like that dragon—she wasn't so bad after all.

Soon, the entire group took off, and I watched as hundreds of people entered Zeltra city. The guards rushed to attend to the most wounded, while the families of the missing hurried to search for their loved ones. Cries of joy echoed through the city as some were reunited with those they'd been desperately hoping to see. But not everyone was so fortunate. Others approached me, their eyes filled with hope, pleading for answers.

"Please, Empress, can you search again? My son… my husband…"
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I shook my head, forcing myself to meet their tearful gazes. "I'm sorry. I searched far and wide… These are the only ones who were there."

My words seemed to crush them, as countless people dropped to their knees, sobbing uncontrollably. The sight broke something inside me, but what could I do? I was strong, but I wasn't a god. I had already done more than anyone could have asked of me.

If this had been me when I first entered this world, I wouldn't have gone to save them at all. I wouldn't have cared. But now… I had given all I could, and still, it wasn't enough.

Among the crowd, I saw my mother. Tears filled her eyes as she looked at me. For some reason, it hurt to see her like that—yet, another part of me wanted her to cry, to suffer the way I had. I couldn't explain why, but I craved her pain as if it would soothe my own.

So, I simply shook my head and said nothing.

Her face fell into pure shock and sorrow. I could see it in her trembling body—she must have thought I was bringing bad news, that the people she cared for were dead. And why? Was I not enough for her? Did finding me alive not bring her any joy? Was it only them that made her smile and laugh?

Why was I never enough?

The thought burned through me, and I turned away from her, swallowing the lump in my throat.

Fuck…

I waved my hand, and the massive dragon shot down from the sky, landing with an earth-shaking thud. Its arrival revealed two men clinging to its back, both looking like they were moments away from puking. I didn't laugh. There was no amusement in this for me—only a bitter pang of pain as my eyes drifted to my mother.

Her face lit up the moment she saw them. She didn't glance at me, didn't even utter a single word of gratitude. Instead, she rushed to them, wrapping her arms around them with all the love in the world, as if they were the only people that mattered.

And as for me? I was left standing there, a silent observer to a scene I'd never be part of.

Then, I felt a comforting weight on my shoulders—three hands grounding me in place. It was my new demon commanders.

"Empress, are you okay?" Lee Seo-Yeon asked gently, her voice laced with genuine concern.

I glanced at her, then at the others who stood behind me.

"Yeah..." I whispered, the realization dawning on me like a quiet storm. My blood family wasn't here. They were not my family anymore. My true family was here, in this empire I'd built with my own two hands. Here, where there were people who truly cared about me.

At that moment, Malrang leapt into my arms, licking my face with her soft tongue, breaking through the whirlwind of emotions. She always knew how to make me smile, and I couldn't help but chuckle as I held her close.

"Thank you," I said softly, glancing at the three figures standing beside me. "All of you."

A single tear escaped my eye as I turned my gaze to the people ahead, my heart no longer yearning for their acceptance.

I have my own family now…