Mystic Dark Veil

Orginal Story

Preparing myself for the task at hand, I settled onto the plush chair thoughtfully positioned beside the elegant writing table. Aware of the risks associated with composing my original novel in the presence of others, I promptly summoned Jannat, commanding her to fetch a diary and a pen. "Yes, young miss," she replied obediently, swiftly returning with a brown leather-bound diary and a quill. However, the atmosphere grew tense as I issued my next order, instructing Jannat to leave the room.

To my surprise, Jannat hesitated, her eyes betraying an unusual defiance. Helen, renowned for her merciless nature and callous treatment of those beneath her, had instilled fear into the hearts of all who served her. I pondered what could possibly give a lowly servant like Jannat the audacity to challenge the authority of such a formidable figure.

As Jannat stood her ground, refusing to obey my command, I confronted her with a firm yet curious tone. "What is the meaning of this? Why do you persist in disobeying my orders?" Her response quivered with trepidation as she stammered, "It is... it is your breakfast, young miss."

I scoffed incredulously, feeling a surge of irritation coursing through me. "Ha! Is this truly what you desire? Have my words lost their significance? Must I repeat myself to gain your compliance?" Fixing her with an intense gaze, I made my displeasure known.

Realizing she had no other choice, Jannat bowed her head and reluctantly exited the room. "Yes, young miss. Please forgive my lapse in judgment. If you require anything, simply summon me. I shall be waiting just outside."

"Very well, now leave," I commanded with a tone that brooked no further opposition. Jannat hurriedly departed, her departure punctuated by a respectful bow. It became apparent to me in that moment that Jannat had never regarded Helen as the fearsome taskmaster others perceived her to be.Alone in the confines of the room, I carefully opened the pristine diary, its pages exuding an air of freshness—white, soft, and flawlessly smooth. With my quill poised above the paper, I began to pen my thoughts about the novel that had captivated my imagination.

"This novel, a modest three-star rated work of romance fantasy, had garnered countless comments. The readers, with unwavering fervor, unleashed their vitriol upon Helen, the malevolent antagonist, while showering the unsuspecting heroine, Clivat, with adoration. The original title of the novel was 'Clivat and Her Violet Prince.'

Clivat, the protagonist, was the beloved daughter of Marques Selgae. Her physical beauty was unmatched—lustrous brown hair, sapphire eyes, a slender figure, and an aura both cute and elegant. And then, there was the male lead, Prince Albert Wolter, the Crown Prince of the Empire and its first prince. His striking features were accentuated by shimmering violet locks streaked with silver, and his eyes possessed an uncanny ability to penetrate the depths of one's soul.

Though Prince Albert appeared to hold utmost respect for every citizen and noble, it was an act concealing his true sentiments. He possessed the capacity to eliminate those he once shared a drink with, without the slightest trace of remorse. Engaged to Helen due to political exigencies, their relationship was rooted in obligation rather than love. Helen, however, had fallen head over heels for Albert ever since their first ball together when she was a mere fifteen years old.

It was during  momentous victory ball, a powerful side character, that Clivat and Albert had their inaugural encounter. The prince, utterly captivated by Clivat's pure aura, fell irrevocably in love at first sight. A fateful meeting it was, as he brazenly disregarded Helen, extending his hand to Clivat and requesting a dance.

'My lady, would you honor me with this dance?'

'Yes, Your Highness,' Clivat hesitantly agreed."

It was on that day that Helen became the object of ridicule, as Albert chose to publicly humiliate her for the first time. As the days unfurled, the bond between Albert and Clivat deepened, stoking Helen's ever-growing jealousy. Albert not only turned a blind eye to Helen's machinations but also subjected her to scorn and punishment whenever she posed a threat to Clivat.

For Clivat, Albert became a stalwart protector. However...

For Helen, Albert metamorphosed into an unrequited love, engaged to her yet indifferent to her existence. Consumed by a maelstrom of rage and envy, Helen devised a sinister plan to poison Clivat during the queen's tea party. But...

Helen's vile plot was foiled. Albert, aided by his right-hand man Grenard—a blonde-haired, blue-eyed swordsman—uncovered the evidence and brought swift justice upon the treacherous Helen.

Feeling an inexplicable sense of something missing from my narrative, a crucial detail eluding me, I decided to consult Jannat, my maid. I summoned her promptly.

Jannat rushed into the room, her presence attentive and eager. "Young miss, do you require my assistance?"

"Yes," I commanded, aware of my prior lapses in memory. "Tell me everything you know about me."

Jannat nodded, her voice trembling slightly as she embarked on relaying the intricate circumstances. "Young miss, this realm is brimming with exceptionally talented Elementalists. The chosen successors to the imperial crown possess the awe-inspiring power of Light, capable of conjuring lightning to illuminate our world. However..."

She paused, her tone laden with a sense of remorse. "Regrettably, you, young miss, do not possess any elemental powers. The Duke, on the other hand, is a Wind Elementalist. His wrath can summon typhoons of great magnitude."

I absorbed this revelation, the reality of my powerlessness sinking in. "So, I am devoid of any power?"

Curiosity piqued, I inquired about  heroine's abilities. "What powers does the daughter of Marques Selgae possess?"

Jannat's response carried a tinge of sadness. "Miss, Lady Selgae is a Water Elementalist. Crown Prince Albert and Lady Clivat used to belittle and mock you for your lack of powers."

"I see," I muttered, dismissing Jannat with a wave of my hand. "You may leave now."

"Yes, young miss," Jannat acknowledged, this time heeding my command without hesitation or query. With her departure, the forgotten crucial detail resurfaced within my mind—I had neglected to acknowledge the prevalence of elemental powers bestowed upon nobles and fortunate commoners.

The original Helen's absence of elemental powers struck me as peculiar. After all, it was customary for children born to Elementalists to inherit at least one elemental skill. Clivat, for instance, wielded the power of Water, while Prince Albert commanded the elements of Light. The Second Prince, however, held the uncommon combination of Earth and Water, which ultimately stripped him of his claim to the throne.

But it was Duke Carter, the ruler of military might, who possessed the formidable dual elemental powers of Fire and Water. A tragic figure, he had endured the loss of his parents in a planned carriage accident orchestrated by a rebel faction when he was just fifteen. Left to navigate the treacherous realm of power and wealth at such a tender age, the young duke became the target of assassination attempts, political pressure, forced marriages, and a myriad of other threats. Such adversities forged him into a hardened and ruthless adult.

Albert, the male lead in this romance novel, always harbored a deep wariness toward Duke Carter. In his role as the protagonist, Albert successfully dismantled the Carter dukedom, thus neutralizing a potential future threat.

But this time, I vowed, I would not meet a tragic demise, and I would not allow the innocent duke to be manipulated by that prince. I couldn't help but wonder why Helen, with both her parents being Elementalists, lacked any trace of elemental power. Shouldn't it be commonplace for a child of Elementalists to inherit at least one elemental skill?
In the novel it was already mentioned that Helen's mother also possessed an elemental power, though it was not described in detail.
A whirlwind of questions swirled within my mind, fueling my determination to unravel the mysteries that lay ahead.