[A Rainy Morning… and Double-Faced Smiles]
On a gray morning, the sky wept heavily, and the rain poured down as if washing away the remnants of yesterday.
Martin, who had regained his strength, was busy with his work—giving orders and reviewing new contract documents.
As for Mira... she stood by the window, staring at the sky with unease.
"What game are you talking about, Jack?"
The question echoed in her mind, her heartbeat quickening every time the rain slapped against the glass.
Suddenly, one of the guards ran in, breathless and joyful:
> "A letter from the Elenos family! They're coming!"
Mira raised her eyebrows in surprise.
"Nara? What could bring her here?"
Her stepmother rushed over to her:
> "Get yourself ready, Mira."
Mira:
"Yes, Aunt…"
Grandmother walked in, carrying a small box of embroidered fabrics:
"You're not going to meet them in dull clothes! Today… you'll light up the palace."
She sat down to style Mira's hair and picked out the most beautiful ivory dress for her.
Outside, the servants were busy preparing the table and meals, getting ready for the guests' arrival.
---
[Smiling Visitors… and Shattered Memories]
By afternoon, the carriages halted at the palace gates.
The Elenos family arrived with smiling faces… and hands full of gifts.
Nara ran toward Mira, hugging her tightly:
"I missed you so much!"
Then her mother followed, gently embracing Mira:
"How are you, sweetheart?"
Mira smiled… but inside her, a volcano simmered—one that didn't show on her face.
While everyone was busy with greetings and conversation, she quietly slipped away into the kitchen, seeking refuge.
"Grandma! Grandma!!"
Her grandmother looked up, brushing flour off her hands:
"What's wrong, my dear? Why did you leave the guests?!"
Mira sat beside her and whispered with frustration:
"I feel drained… I can't keep pretending."
Her grandmother examined her face:
"Did someone say something to upset you?"
Mira shook her head:
"No… her mother hugged me, and her father smiled at me.
But… before winter, I visited them. They saw me, and didn't even greet me!
I sat among them like a piece of furniture… no one noticed me.
And now? They laugh and hug me?!
What changed?"
Grandmother sighed and sat beside her, gently taking her hand:
"People, Mira… only show their true faces when they see something to gain from you.
When your father was in debt, they saw you as a burden.
But now that the palace breathes life again… so do their smiles."
"This world is not a rose garden… it's full of thorns and predators.
And you… you've stepped into the business of wolves. So be a wolf."
"Go, sit with them, and smile like queens do…
And tonight, I'll prepare rose tea for you, and we'll talk about everything."
Mira groaned in frustration:
"Ugh… I can't smile at faces like those."
Grandmother gently squeezed her hand:
"Some days are for you, some against you…
Whoever doesn't swallow moments, gets swallowed whole."
Mira stood up, a calm smile beginning to form on her face:
"Alright… I can handle it."
Then she walked with steady steps toward the hall…
…where unforgettable faces waited, and memories that refused to die.
---
[Mira's Room – After Lunch – The weather is warm, and the rain is pouring outside]
Mira approached Nara and sat beside her on the blue silk-embroidered couch, a faint smile drawn on her face.
Nara (teasing, with a touch of reproach):
"Ever since you became the first woman to turn the market upside down…
you've forgotten our friendship?!
I'm mad at you!"
Mira (laughing, placing her finger on Nara's cheek):
"Kooty kooty… how can this little one be mad?
Alright, I'll visit you so often, you'll get tired of me."
Nara (smiling, whispering):
"Do you know what people are saying about you?"
Mira (raising an eyebrow):
"I hope it's something flattering?"
Nara (leaning closer, whispering in Mira's ear):
"The White Wolf…"
Mira paused for a moment, as if the name carried within it echoes of forests, deals… and fire.
Mira (chuckling softly):
"A wolf? Who comes up with these nicknames?"
Nara (laughing):
"I swear, one of the merchants shouted it out loud in the market…
He said, 'She doesn't scream, doesn't beg, doesn't raise a sword…
But she devours the competition without ever taking off her gloves.'
Since that day, the market has been whispering: The White Wolf has arrived."
Mira (smiling confidently, whispering):
"Let them whisper all they want…
I don't bite—unless someone tries to steal my prey."
Nara burst out laughing, while Mira's gaze drifted toward the window…
The rain hadn't stopped,
but the White Wolf… had stepped out of her shadow.
…
Nara tilted her head toward Mira and whispered:
Nara:
"So… how are things between you and Minister Jack?"
Mira (with slight reservation, raising an eyebrow):
"Nothing. I haven't seen him much lately…
Why do you ask?"
Nara hesitated for a moment, lowered her head, and replied with a soft, sad tone:
Nara:
"Since the last time you visited my house… everything changed.
Sam stopped coming… Jack too…
I miss Dareen, and our old conversations…
No one visits me anymore… except you. And Taline."
Mira (gently, with a hint of guilt):
"I didn't know… forgive me for being so busy.
I promise I'll come back—closer than ever."
Then Mira winked playfully:
Mira:
"By the way… Taline's a bit of a snob, unlike you.
I wonder how you tolerate her?"
Nara (giggling softly):
"She's more spoiled than I am…
Her father gives her everything she wants,
and I heard… he's thinking of arranging her engagement to Minister Jack."
Mira's expression changed for a moment, but she quickly composed herself:
Mira:
"Really? I didn't know…
But marriage isn't a game, Nara.
If Jack loves her, he'll agree."
Nara (bluntly):
"No… he doesn't love her.
Taline keeps chasing after him, but… he's so cold with her.
Sometimes, he even wounds her pride with his words."
Mira sighed and said:
Mira:
"That's sad…
When a man loves, he cares… he initiates… he fights.
If I were in her place, I'd hold onto my dignity… and walk away."
Nara chuckled quietly, but her eyes shimmered with sadness. She murmured:
Nara:
"I think… Sam doesn't love me."
Mira (worried):
"Did something happen between you two?"
Nara stood up and walked toward the window, gazing at the rain sliding down the glass. Then she whispered:
Nara:
"He doesn't care… he never initiates anything.
He's so quiet when we're alone…
But when we're around others, he laughs and jokes like he's someone else."
Mira stepped toward her and gently embraced her:
Mira:
"Don't be sad…
If Sam is meant for you, no storm will stand in your way."
Nara (with a faint smile):
"I hope so…"
At that moment, a maid entered quietly and bowed slightly:
Maid:
"Pardon the interruption, my lady…
Your family is waiting. The carriages are ready to depart."
Nara looked at Mira with gratitude, then pressed a soft kiss to her cheek and whispered:
Nara:
"Don't be late to visit me… I promise I'll be less spoiled next time."
Mira laughed and waved as Nara left…
But in her heart, Nara's words kept echoing…
"Jack… and Taline?
Sam… and Nara?
When did hearts… become political maps?"
[Evening – After the Guests' Departure – The Rain Still Falls]
Mira stood by the window, watching the Elenos family's carriages fade into the light mist.
She smiled, then decided to head downstairs—longing for a glass of rose juice prepared by her grandmother, and the warmth of her gentle touch.
She entered the kitchen to find her grandmother had already prepared everything:
rose juice, a cozy chair, and a smile that knew how to sweep away the clouds from Mira's heart.
Mira (as she sat down):
"I want to hear a story, Grandma…
one of those your mother used to tell you when you were little!"
Grandmother chuckled and replied:
Grandmother:
"Once upon a time… and no one ever remained the same…"
---
[Grandmother's Tale – Matthew and the Gold]
In a distant village, some men were having a debate.
One of them said confidently:
"What's the use of money if its owner lacks wisdom and sense?"
But another, named Matthew, scoffed:
"Money is all that matters, my friend. It's the true crown of a man!"
Matthew insisted that wealth was everything…
One rainy morning, while plowing his land, the wheel of Matthew's cart struck something hard.
He approached cautiously and found a shiny stone.
Digging further, to his surprise—
a jar filled with gold!
Overjoyed, Matthew abandoned his ox and cart, and ran home shouting:
Matthew:
"We're rich! No more hard days, Mother!"
He bought a grand house, dressed like royalty, and proposed to the village official's daughter.
They married.
But the shocking part… Matthew never came close to his wife.
For two days, he slept on the floor, ate alone, and spoke no words to her.
The young bride grew sorrowful and cried in her father's arms.
Father:
"I'll get to the bottom of this!"
He stormed over and found Matthew laughing:
Matthew:
"I married her.....so what? I'm rich!"
The father's face turned red with fury:
Father:
"Are you mocking me?!
I'll slit your throat, you fool!"
Suddenly, Matthew's friend stepped in:
Friend:
"Let me speak to him....alone."
He slapped Matthew across the face and said:
Friend:
"Didn't I tell you that wisdom and sense are worth more than all the gold in the world?
Look at yourself…"
Matthew looked at him with eyes full of regret:
Matthew:
"You're right… How did I become like this?"
Friend:
"So what do we do now?"
Matthew:
"Thank you, my friend.
Your slap brought me back to my senses.
Leave the rest to me…"
He went to the girl's father:
Matthew:
"Give me just one more day…"
Father:
"What could possibly change in one day?!"
Matthew:
"Please… just one more day."
The father, reluctantly, agreed.
His wife returned with him, but that night, he still slept far from her.
Then, the next morning, he gently woke her up:
Matthew:
"My dear wife… would you prepare breakfast for me, please?"
She was surprised, but happily ran to prepare it.
They sat together to eat, and he whispered:
Matthew:
"I've loved you since childhood…
And I made a vow to myself that if I ever married you,
I wouldn't touch you or speak to you for four days.
Today, that vow ends…
Now it's the heart's turn."
The girl blushed and smiled:
"If only you had told me…"
Matthew smiled:
"Then I wouldn't be able to surprise my beautiful bride tonight."
---
[Back to Mira]
Mira clapped her hands and laughed:
Mira:
"Wow! What a story!
If it weren't for that friend, he would've ruined everything!"
Grandmother (with a soft chuckle):
"Yes, my dear…
Wisdom always triumphs over wealth."
Mira (sipping her rose juice):
"Whenever you remember a story… tell it to me. Please!"
Grandmother:
"Haha… Alright, little one. But on one condition."
Mira:
"What is it?"
Grandmother:
"That you smile at life, and don't frown.
I want you to stay strong… just like you are now."
Mira embraced her grandmother,
and both laughed together,
while outside, the rain continued to fall—
washing the world of its harshness.
[11 PM – Palace Gate]
The sound of carriages filled the air—
the clatter of horses, heavy footsteps, and crates being carried with precision,
as if the palace were preparing for an unusual event.
Jack appeared, accompanied by a dignified man who resembled him... it was his uncle.
Martin welcomed him warmly, embracing him and greeting him with joy.
But Mira… watched from a distance, her heart uneasy.
She motioned for one of the maids to come closer and whispered:
Mira (urgently):
"Watch everything… study their faces, the conversation, their movements…
and come back to me quickly!"
Minutes passed.
The maid returned, rushing.
Mira:
"Quick! Was my father happy? Angry? What did they talk about?!"
The maid giggled softly:
Maid:
"It looks like the palace is preparing for a grand wedding!"
Mira (shouting):
"Whose wedding?!"
Maid (teasing):
"We're marrying off my grandmother!"
Mira (exclaiming):
"My nerves are going to snap… this is no time for jokes!!"
Maid (grinning mischievously):
"You'll hear it for yourself soon…"
---
[An Hour Later – Kitchen]
Mira sat, her hands nervously playing with a tablecloth.
Her heart pounded, and fear crept steadily into her chest.
Footsteps approached…
Jack and his uncle exited the guest room.
Martin shook hands with them, laughing—smiling with rare joy.
Jack left… and Mira peeked from behind the curtain, her heart sounding the alarm.
She rushed toward her father:
Mira:
"Who was that? What does Jack want at this hour?!
And why all these boxes?!"
Martin (laughing):
"Calm down! We'll tell your stepmother the good news first."
Her stepmother came down the stairs, asking:
Stepmother:
"What's all this? Did you strike a new deal?"
Martin:
"Sit down, my dear…
As for Mira, I think she's already figured it out."
He turned to Mira gently, then said:
Martin:
"The man with Jack was his uncle—you know his father passed away.
He came today, bearing gifts…
to ask for your hand in marriage, Mira."
Silence.
Mira remained standing, her face pale—
as if time itself had stopped.
Martin (calmly):
"My daughter… I haven't heard your answer."
Mira (hesitant):
"Um… I need some time to think, Father."
She left for her room…
her heart swirling with questions.
"What is Jack planning?
Why now?
Is this another game… or something else?"
[Whispers in the Shadows]
Downstairs, Mira's stepmother leaned toward Martin and whispered:
Stepmother:
"Darling… life is finally smiling on us,
but I'm afraid your daughter might refuse.
Please, convince her…
This alliance could change everything!"
---
[The Next Morning – Mira's Room]
She paced back and forth across her room, heart racing, thoughts tangled.
"What is Jack planning?! Is it truly marriage… or just another move in his game?"
She grabbed a pen and scribbled a single line on a small piece of paper:
"I want to meet you… without eyes watching, or ears spying."
She placed it in Arthur's hand and said:
Mira (in a hushed tone):
"Take this to him. Don't let anyone see you, don't make a sound.
Just tell him… I need to talk."
Arthur (smirking):
"Understood… a secret meeting behind the curtain.
Just the way you like it."
---
[Jack's Estate]
Arthur was welcomed in silence.
Jack, as always, was calm—like a dark sea, never revealing what lies beneath.
He read the note… then smiled faintly.
Jack (softly):
"There's no need for secret meetings, Arthur…"
He took another paper and quickly wrote something, then handed it to him:
"Give this to her… It's a formal invitation."
---
[Back at the Palace – Kitchen]
Mira sat by the window, nervously fidgeting with her fingers.
Arthur entered and handed her the paper without a word.
She opened it quickly and read:
"The Aralis family formally invites you to a dinner at their estate this evening.
Signed: Jack Aralis."
Her face tightened, and she cried out:
Mira:
"Damn it… is he mocking me?!
I asked for a private meeting, and he sends a formal dinner invite?!"
Her grandmother entered with mint tea, placing it down gently, and looked at her kindly:
Grandmother:
"Hush now, my little one…
Are you angry because he didn't hide you from the world?"
Mira (tense):
"No—because I don't understand him!
One step forward, two steps back!
He seems to want me… then disappears! He looks like he's playing!"
Grandmother (chuckling):
"Maybe he truly does love you…
but in his own way.
Men like him don't say much—
they speak through actions.
And this invitation?
It's not mockery… it's declaration."
Mira (whispers):
"Declaration?"
Grandmother (smiling):
"He wants you to walk into his palace like a princess...
in front of everyone, not in secret."
[Evening – Jack's Estate]
Night had draped its heavy blue cloak over the city,
and the palace lights sparkled like fallen stars.
At the grand gate, the servants stood in rare precision,
dressed in gray uniforms embroidered with the black Aralis crest.
As the Martin family's carriage arrived,
the doors opened with ceremonial grace.
Martin stepped down first, then his wife, then Mira—
dressed in a refined lavender gown,
a simple cloak draped over her shoulders,
adding mystery to her already captivating presence.
At the top of the stairs, Jack stood waiting.
He wore a dark suit the color of night—no medals or emblems—
yet every stitch whispered power.
A soft gray velvet scarf rested at his neck,
and his eyes… were unlike any other man's.
He descended slowly, step by step,
then stood before Martin with a respectful smile:
Jack:
"Welcome…
It's an honor to have you here tonight."
He shook Martin's hand warmly,
then turned to Mira—
his gaze lingered… filled with a mix of wonder and secrecy.
[During Dinner]
The food was lavish, carefully selected dishes,
but the eyes exchanged glances hotter than the soup itself.
Jack barely took a bite, watching her,
and with every movement she made, his certainty grew…
this night was unlike any other.
---
[After Dinner]
Jack raised his glass without drinking, then spoke confidently:
Jack:
"Mr. Martin… may I speak with Miss Mira alone?"
Martin looked at him, then at Mira—
the girl said nothing… only a trace of surprise appeared on her face.
Martin:
"As long as my daughter agrees."
Mira stood up, and Jack gently extended his hand to accompany her.
---
[Outside the Palace – Back Garden]
The air was cold, the fog light,
the ground damp, but the garden path was lit by small lamps.
Cypress trees shivered, and the night breeze caressed her flowing hair.
Jack took off his scarf and placed it over her shoulders without asking.
Jack (in a quiet voice):
"I know it's cold…
but I promise, our conversation will be warm enough."
Mira (whispering):
"You're strange tonight."
Jack smiled, but in his eyes… there was no game.
The garden breathed the silence of the night,
and a gentle wind stirred the leaves as if they were dancing to an unheard melody.
In that moment, Jack approached one of the flowerbeds,
bent down, and picked a white rose… soft as pure snow.
He offered it to her with a faint smile:
Jack:
"Since you were little… you liked white, didn't you?"
Mira took the rose, looked at it puzzled, then raised her eyes to his…
eyes searching for an explanation.
Suddenly, he took her hand… his hand was warm, as if holding a little sun.
Jack (lightly laughing):
"Your hand is still small…
it's like holding a child's hand."
Then his laughter faded for a moment, and his voice carried a hint of memories:
"I have always held this hand since we were kids.
Do you remember?"
Mira (whispering):
"No… I don't remember, forgive me."
Jack sighed deeply, smiling with a touch of disappointment:
"I'm a little disappointed…
You left, but your image never left my mind.
When you returned, I wondered…
Have you changed?
Are you still that mischievous, cheerful, spontaneous girl?"
He looked at the sky, then continued:
"I used to sit in the forest, watching Raylan's movements,
and then you came in alone…
talking with Arthur, sleeping in that cold place.
Only then did I realize behind your strength there is pain,
and behind your silence, a storm."
He looked into her eyes again, and continued in a sincere tone:
"I made a vow to myself…
to be a shadow for you… to delight you, protect you,
to remain quietly in the background, just to see you rise."
Mira (with a trembling voice):
"What does all this mean, Jack?"
He stepped closer, almost able to hear her heartbeat.
Jack:
"You really don't understand?
I'm in love with you…
for a long time."
Mira gasped softly, a question still lingering in her heart:
Mira:
"But... you said your game had started?!"
Jack laughed—the rare laugh she seldom heard from him:
"I didn't know how to express my feelings,
but I've decided…
to act,
to step out of the shadows,
and become a light… not a shadow."
Jack picked a white rose from the garden and extended it toward Mira without a word.
She took it with her trembling hand, looking at him puzzled, as if trying to read his intentions beneath the calm.
He took her other hand, his voice warm like fire on a winter night:
"Your hand is small…
like holding a child's hand.
I have always held it since we were kids…
Do you remember, Mira?"
She whispered,
"I don't remember… forgive me."
Jack smiled with a faint sadness:
"A little disappointed…
You left, but your image never left my mind.
When you returned, I wondered:
Have you changed?
But you were still the same…
mischievous, joyful, spontaneous child."
He sighed, then continued:
"I was sitting in the forest, watching Raylan's movements,
and suddenly… I found you there, talking with Arthur,
sleeping alone in that cold place…
That's when I realized you were suffering.
I vowed to be a shadow that delights you,
protects you from everything."
Mira looked at him questioningly:
"What does all this mean, Jack?"
He stepped closer, looking deeply into her eyes with painful honesty:
"You really don't understand?
I… I'm in love with you, Mira."
She took a small step back, whispering softly:
"Maybe… it's not love.
Maybe it's just an attachment to childhood memories… or mere admiration."
Jack studied her for a moment, then spoke in a low but deep voice:
Jack (softly but firmly):
"If this isn't love…
then there is no such thing as love in this life.
And if my feelings for you aren't love…
then love is just a myth."
Mira smiled, shyness shining in her eyes with a clarity never seen before.
Jack placed his hand gently on her shoulder and looked at her with a tender mischief:
"So… will Miss Aralis hold my arm now…
and walk with me to the hall?"
Mira laughed softly:
"But that would be… like agreeing."
He answered with a gentle smile:
"Yes… and from this moment on, you will be Mira Aralis."
She stepped closer, resting her shoulder against his,
and they walked quietly together…
the white rose held in her other hand.
A cold breeze brushed her cheeks,
but the warmth of his hand was enough to warm her heart.
---
[On the way back to the palace]
Their steps matched the soft rhythm of the wind,
and the dim lights cast gentle shadows around them,
as if the world paused for a moment
to witness a story being written by their breaths together.
Mira looked back for a moment, then glanced at him with curiosity:
Mira (in a soft voice):
"Do you think this could be… the beginning of something new?"
Jack smiled, gazing at the starry sky:
"Not just a beginning, but a promise…
that there will never be an end."
At that moment, their eyes met,
and unspoken words spilled between them,
stronger than any conversation.
[Inside the Palace]
They returned to the palace, but everything felt different—
even the walls whispered their names,
and the vast halls transformed into a stage for an endless tale.
Jack held her hand confidently,
Mira took a deep breath as if preparing for the adventure ahead.
Jack (whispering):
"Every new day will be a story…
we write together,
with its joys, its tears, its love."
Mira smiled, touched his hand, and whispered:
Mira:
"And I am ready…
for everything."
---
[The confrontation that broke the calm]
As soon as Jack and Mira entered the palace hall, laughter erupted.
Jack's uncle laughed loudly:
"So… the city will witness a wedding like no other! Hahaha."
Martin was happy, his wife holding the hand of Jack's aunt, joy flying between eyes and plates.
The night stretched with laughter and delight.
When Martin's family left, Jack tossed in his bed, a victorious smile on his face.
But he did not know that this calm… was just the calm before the storm.
---
[Governor Sam's Palace – The Shock]
Jack entered Sam's palace in the morning, happy, eyes shining.
But when he saw his friend's face… bitterness crept into his heart.
Sam was standing, his face full of anger, inexplicable.
Jack with a light laugh:
"Your friend got engaged… shouldn't you be happy for me?"
Sam slammed the table violently, wine spilled and broke the silence:
"Happy about what?!
That you got engaged to the girl who… I love?"
Jack stared at him in surprise:
> "When did you say you love her? Don't pretend, Sam…"
Sam interrupted:
"Don't be smart with me.
You always ran from the answer.
What you did… is betrayal."
Jack tried to calm him:
"Betrayal? Sam, sit down, let's talk…
I never mentioned her name in front of you.
You were the one who went every day to Nara's house…
As for Mira…"
Sam exploded with anger:
"Nara?!
Nara is like my sister, idiot!
You know who I meant…
Cancel your engagement with her immediately!!"
Jack froze for a moment, then slowly…
grabbed a glass and crushed it in his hands.
Glass shards flew, blood dripped,
but his voice came firm, sharp:
"Mira… is the one I love,
and I will not cancel my engagement with her."
Sam took two steps forward, eyes burning:
"Breaking glasses… that's what you do best.
But listen carefully, Jack…
If you don't break it off, you're my enemy from this moment on."
Sam left without looking back,
and Jack stood there dripping blood and confusion…
His friends had become foes…
and Mira… had become the cause of a fire that only confrontation could put out.
[Faint Faces and Cracking Hearts]
Jack left work in the morning murmuring to himself,
"I'll work later…"
He left the palace with a heavy mood,
returned home, pale-faced, his spirit clouded.
In his solitude, he kept repeating:
"When did I fall for her?
Nara was all my focus,
but Mira… she stole me without knowing."
--
In a corner of the palace, Darin stood—she had heard everything.
Her heart beat with worry… thoughts swirling in disarray.
---
In the afternoon, Darin went to Nara's house.
But Nara was not her usual self—distracted, her gaze empty.
Darin sat beside her, holding her hand:
"Nara? What's wrong today? You don't seem happy…"
Nara, in a soft voice:
"Nothing… just a slight chill."
Darin hesitated, then said:
"It turns out my brother Sam… loves Mira."
She paused, then continued:
"There was a fight between him and Jack this morning…"
Nara's expression froze.
Her eyes widened, then filled with tears.
She whispered, broken:
"Did he say… he loves her?"
Darin nodded slowly:
"Yes… who would have imagined."
Nara lowered her head, as if something inside her broke.
Her tears flowed more, then she said:
"Forgive me… I'll be back in a little while."
Darin called out, puzzled:
"Where to?!"
But Nara didn't answer—she ran to her room.
Within its walls… she cried deeply.
Then wiped her tears, fixed her hair and makeup,
stood before the mirror with a faint smile, and returned to Darin.
Nara, with a trembling voice but a smile:
"So… what happens now?"
Darin, calmly:
"No one knows…
Sam is forcing Jack to call off the engagement…
but Jack is stubborn… I don't think he will accept."
Nara looked toward the window…
and something inside her said:
"Love… is no longer a game,
and Mira… is now at the center of it all."
[Chapter: In the Shadow of Jealousy]
In a secluded corner of the Al-Ilinos palace garden,
Nara and Talin sit beneath a canopy covered with withered vines,
Winter is gray, and the breeze carries the scent of untold betrayal.
Talin whispers softly, as if speaking to the wind:
"You know, Nara... no one feels us,
we suffer in silence,
while that fool is treated like a queen!"
Nara looks down, whispering sadly:
"But Mira... she doesn't love Sam,
I'm sure of it."
Talin turns sharply, her eyes gleaming with cunning:
"Don't defend her!
Who does she think she is?!
We used to live our best days,
you were going to be Prince Sam's wife,
and I... the wife of Minister Jack!"
Talin stands, eyes burning:
"Everything collapsed since she appeared,
it's like a curse fell upon us,
will Mira be happy to see childhood friends turn into enemies because of her?!"
She pauses, then steps closer to Nara and says mysteriously:
"Do you know what I think?
I think it's time for a confrontation...
but not from me... but from you, Nara."
Nara turns toward her hesitantly:
"Should I talk to her?
Face her?"
Talin smiles — a smile that bodes no good:
"Not a confrontation... but a simple clarification.
Be elegant, polite... and calm.
But make her feel that her presence is no longer welcome."
She takes Nara's hand and whispers:
"Be the face... and I will be the shadow."
Nara looked at her, feeling something strange creeping in…
But she wasn't sure if it was anger… or the fear of losing everything.
...
"Poison in the Cup of Visit"
The sky was overcast with clouds,
but Mira's heart was bright as she opened the door for Nara.
Mira (smiling):
"Wow! Nara! I expected rain, but I didn't expect you to visit me!
What's with that childish face? Why all the frowns?"
Nara (her voice sad, like a messenger of misfortune):
"The atmosphere is gloomy between Jack and Sam… and they might turn into enemies because of you."
Mira stopped laughing, looked at her worriedly:
"Because of me? What happened?!"
Nara (coldly, deliberately):
"Sam doesn't approve of your engagement to Jack… he says you don't fit their status."
Mira chuckled lightly, trying to ease the tension:
"Hahaha Nara! Your father himself trades with mine! Our status isn't low in the market!"
Nara (with deadly calm):
"Your status in the market… means nothing in the world of nobility.
Your title 'The White Wolf'? You deal with men?
That's not suitable for a noble lady like us."
Mira fell silent, her heart swallowed the blow of those words…
"It doesn't matter what Sam thinks… Jack chose me, and you're my friend. What is this talk I hear from you?"
Here… Nara stopped.
She looked at Mira with a gaze full of betrayal.
Nara (coldly):
"Our friendship is over, Mira.
Look at yourself in the mirror…
Do you really think you're a noble lady?"
Then she whispered, before turning her back:
"There's something else…
Jack and Talin are in love with each other.
He only chose you for advantage, for influence… not for the heart."
Nara left… gently closing the door, as if ending a chapter of purity.
Mira stood there… her eyes shining, not just with tears, but with the bitterness of unexpected betrayal.
"Jack… Talin?
Was I just a tool?
Is this friendship?"
The rose she held since yesterday fell from her hand,
and her heart fell with it…
---
"Between Lightning and Screams"
Mira sat in her room, tears burning in her eyes but not falling.
"In the original story… I was the girl chasing Sam.
Banished, and the curtain fell on my life.
But living as Mira…
I realized how harsh her life was…
And how she was forced to follow a love she did not choose."
She stared at her reflection in the window,
"Jack loves me?!
I thought I changed my fate… was I mistaken?"
She put on her white coat, the sound of rain tapping on the windows.
She called out:
"Arthur!"
He ran to her:
"At your service, my lady."
"I want to go to the Governor's palace… now."
They rode the carriage through the storm,
and from afar the sea roared like an inner rage about to explode.
They arrived, and one of the guards hurried inside the palace to inform the governor that "Miss Mira" was waiting for him.
Sam descended from the top of the palace…
walking heavily with confusion, his eyes trying to hide their unease.
He entered and found her standing by the window,
gazing at the rain and the furious sea before her.
Sam (in a low voice):
"Mira… it's been a long time."
She slowly turned around…
her eyes speaking what her tongue could not.
Mira (bowing gently):
"Welcome, Governor Sam…"
Sam (trying to smile):
"We're not strangers, we are friends."
She raised an eyebrow and said with a broken tone:
"Are we really?
Do friends call each other unworthy of their status?"
Sam was puzzled, What do you mean?
But Mira sat right in front of him and said:
"I entered the world of trade because I was fighting not to fall,
not chasing after a false glory…
I just want to understand, do you really see me as unworthy of Jack?"
Sam (standing up angrily):
"Who said that?! Who dared say you're not worthy?!
I'll cut out his tongue!"
Mira laughed once with sarcasm:
"Wasn't it you?
Or do rumors travel faster than the truth?"
Sam looked at her for a long moment, then said:
"The quarrel between Jack and me wasn't because you don't suit him…
but because I love you."
Mira gasped, as if her heart fluttered then stopped…
"But I thought Nara…!"
Sam shouted:
"Nara is my sister!!!
I used to go to their house for business with her father.
But when I saw you there…
I realized you're not like any girl,
your mischief… your strength… even your sadness drew me to you."
He stepped closer and said:
"Sometimes I see you as a child…
and other times, a woman who exhausts men with her dignity."
But Mira looked down and quietly said:
"I am engaged now…
Jack chose me… and I chose him."
Sam kicked the chair in anger:
"And what about me?!!"
Mira slowly stood up:
"Where were you… when I was running away from my home?
Where were you when I cried alone in the forest?
Jack was there, he saw me, he heard me… he didn't judge, he supported me."
Sam tried to respond, but she continued:
"You look at him with hatred…
and I look at him and see a man unafraid of the truth."
"I know it's hard for you… but Nara is a beautiful, innocent girl,
and I'm sure she will give you the happiness I cannot."
Mira turned and left the room…
leaving behind a heartbroken governor,
and a painful truth:
Love does not come to those who deserve it,
but to those who arrive at the right time.
[Mira's inner voice – in her room… alone]
She sat on the edge of her bed,
the curtains dancing with the wind…
the room was cold,
but what hurt her was not the weather…
it was the words Nara left behind —
like an invisible scratch,
yet it ached every time she breathed.
(Mira within herself)
"Nara… have you always been like this?
Were you just waiting for my fall
to push me even harder?"
I didn't understand you today…
That wasn't your speech, your laughter, or your gaze.
It was as if someone else spoke through you…
someone scared, hurt, and maybe… arrogant?!"
She lifted her head and stared at the woman,
looking at her face with hesitant eyes:
"Do I really not belong?
Did Jack choose me only for advantage?
Was I the stumbling block
that broke childhood friendships…?"
She smiled bitterly, then murmured:
"Oh Nara…
You taught me I have nothing but my pride.
If I were chasing a man,
I'd be chasing Sam's shadow in your gardens,
not my heart beating in Jack's presence."
She pulled herself away from the bed,
walked toward the window,
and gazed at the gray horizon:
"Maybe Talin is the poison…
and you're just a fragile glass
into which poison was poured,
without me or you realizing."
Then, aloud, pressing on her heart, she said:
"I will not let anyone…
not you, nor them…
decide who I am, or who I love."
"Jack… if you see me as just a piece of paper,
please don't come.
But if you truly love me,
you will come…
even if they close the door in your face,
you will come."
"I will count on you, Jack…
not to win a battle,
but to win me.
Not to see you as a knight,
but as a man who stands tall when everyone else falls."
"If you don't come… I won't hate you.
But I will learn the last lesson:
Not everyone who says 'I'm with you'
means it when it's hard to stand."
---
"When love clashes with the throne"
Scene:
In the hall of rule,
Sam sat on his throne,
surrounded by lights and men,
his face as cold as ice,
but his eyes… a fire that never calms.
The door slammed open,
and Jack entered with confident steps,
his cloak flying behind him,
like a wind defying the storm.
Sam (in a low voice full of anger):
"You dared… and came to me."
Jack (slowly removing his glove, his eyes never leaving Sam):
"I don't run away from the ruler… nor from a friend."
The hall fell silent. All eyes were on the two men.
The silence was like the breath of beasts before the attack.
Sam:
"She was taken… right before my eyes.
Is this the reward for brotherhood?"
Jack (steadily):
"I didn't take anything… she chose me.
And you? You never told her what was in your heart."
Sam (exploding, slamming the table):
"Because I didn't want to be selfish!
I wanted her to choose! But you…"
Jack (cutting him off, in a low but sharp voice):
"But I was by her side when she broke,
I was her shadow when she thought it was just a game."
Sam's face trembled. Then he looked at the guards:
"All of you, leave."
They all exited.
He sat in silence, his voice softer but more terrifying:
Sam:
"You know I can erase your name from every record,
exile you, or… bury you without anyone asking."
End of the scene (temporary):
Sam stared at the ground…
The decision in his hand: war? Or peace?
Jack (with a warm voice full of sadness and clarity):
"You're not just my friend, Sam…
You're my cousin, a piece of my childhood,
and the hope of an entire city clings to you.
Do you think it's easy for me?
To face you? To stand against you?"
Sam remained silent, his hands gripping the armrests of the throne tightly, speechless.
Jack (breathing slowly, eyes deep):
"But my feelings I never forced…
The love between me and Mira is mutual.
I didn't force her on anything.
If you want, go talk to her.
'If her heart is with you, Sam, I won't be selfish…'
I promise to leave…"
Sam closed his eyes as if not wanting to hear the end,
but Jack continued:
"…but she chose me.
So tell me, Sam…
How can you marry a girl whose heart belongs to another man?"
Sam fell silent, his eyelid trembling,
his gaze angry yet confused.
Jack (smiling with quiet sarcasm):
"You've fallen into a trap, Sam…
Not mine, but your own heart's."
....
The Throne's Breaking
Sam was silent for a long moment…
Then spoke in a weary voice,
not like a ruler or a leader,
but a man who lost something irreparable.
Sam (in a soft bitter tone):
"You're right…
But leave me alone… just for a while."
Jack nodded respectfully and turned his back to leave.
His footsteps echoed in the emptiness
like they were coming out of an icy cave.
When he closed the door behind him, Sam slowly sat on the throne…
He put his hands on his face,
then looked at the empty hall,
candles flickering,
cold creeping in despite the walls.
Sam (internal monologue):
"Where was I…
when she was falling apart?
When she ran to the forest every night?
When she faced the market and its men alone?
What was I doing? Watching from afar… silently."
He raised his eyes to the ceiling, sighed heavily:
"In our town, a woman entering trade is rebellion…
But she did it, went forward, and fought.
And I… was just watching."
He approached the window, looked at the rainy city, and said:
"Ugh… even the throne chair…
and all the money I own…
won't buy a single beat of Mira's heart."
---
The Enemy in the Shadows
It wasn't easy for the Minister of Justice to see that girl,
"Mira"…
surpassing everyone.....
his own daughter,
the market men,
and even Sam, the heir to the rule.
While the city celebrated her engagement to Minister Jack,
he sat behind the walls of his palace…
half-filled wine glasses,
candles melting slowly as his patience did.
Minister of Justice (softly, to himself):
"She thought she could steal glory from us?
This glory is built on great names…
not on a girl who once sold wheat in the market."
He rose from his seat,
walked toward a map hanging on the wall…
then pointed his finger at one of the old symbols…
"If only she knew that beneath this palace…
secrets might swallow her forever."