The First Target

The moment I stepped out of his chamber—

I knew.

I had made a mistake.

The palace corridors felt colder than before.

Heavier.

Like something unseen had shifted.

“Miss.”

I stopped.

Slowly turned.

A maid stood behind me, head lowered.

But her voice…

too careful.

“The others have been informed,” she said softly. “Of your… private audience.”

Of course they had.

I almost laughed.

“Thank you,” I replied calmly, walking past her.

But inside—

Trouble.

The moment I entered the common hall—

Everything went quiet.

Not completely.

Just enough.

Whispers.

Eyes.

Judgment.

All directed at me.

“So,” a voice cut through the tension, sharp and smooth. “You’re the one.”

I didn’t need to look.

I already knew who it was.

Lady Elara.

Perfect posture.

Perfect smile.

Perfect hostility.

I turned slowly to face her.

She stepped closer, her blue gown brushing softly against the marble floor.

Up close—

her beauty was even more striking.

And her irritation—

even clearer.

“You were called first,” she continued, tilting her head slightly. “How… fortunate.”

Not a compliment.

“Timing,” I said simply.

Her eyes flickered.

Annoyed.

“I wonder,” she mused, circling me slightly, “what exactly you did to earn such attention.”

There it was.

The real question.

Not curiosity.

Suspicion.

The other girls watched silently.

Waiting.

I met her gaze, calm as ever.

“Nothing special.”

A lie.

And she knew it.

“Of course,” she said lightly. “Commoners often believe luck is enough to survive here.”

Ah.

There it was.

Status.

I didn’t react.

Didn’t flinch.

Didn’t care.

“I’ll keep that in mind,” I replied.

For a moment—

her smile tightened.

Good.

But that was enough.

For now.

“Be careful,” she said softly, stepping back. “The emperor’s interest… doesn’t last long.”

No.

It didn’t.

But what came after—

was worse.

“I’m counting on that,” I said.

This time—

she didn’t smile.

The next test came sooner than expected.

“Outdoor trial,” a guard announced. “All participants, follow.”

We were led beyond the palace walls.

Into the forest.

The air changed instantly.

Cooler.

Sharper.

Real.

“This trial,” the guard continued, “will test your adaptability and survival.”

Great.

“Each of you will enter the forest alone. You have two hours. Return with proof of your capability.”

Weapons were handed out.

Simple ones.

Daggers.

Bows.

When one was offered to me—

I took the dagger.

Familiar.

Reliable.

“Begin.”

One by one—

we stepped into the forest.

And just like that—

we were alone.

I walked slowly at first.

Listening.

Observing.

The forest wasn’t silent.

Birds.

Wind.

Leaves.

But beneath it—

something else.

Wrong.

“…This wasn’t in the story.”

My grip tightened slightly around the dagger.

Because I remembered this trial.

It was supposed to be simple.

Basic survival.

Nothing more.

But this—

This felt different.

Then—

A sound.

Behind me.

I turned sharply—

Nothing.

Too quiet.

Too still.

“…Not good.”

I took a step back—

And the ground gave way.

My body dropped suddenly—

A trap.

I twisted mid-fall, bracing—

Pain shot through my side as I hit the ground hard.

“…Damn it.”

A pit.

Deep enough to injure.

Not deep enough to kill.

Intentional.

I looked up.

The opening was narrow.

Climbable.

If I had time.

But—

A shadow moved above.

Then—

A face appeared.

Lady Elara.

Of course.

She looked down at me, expression calm.

Too calm.

“You should watch where you step,” she said softly.

Not concern.

Confirmation.

“You set this,” I said flatly.

She didn’t deny it.

Instead—

she smiled.

“You were noticed,” she replied. “That makes you a problem.”

There it was.

No pretense.

No politeness.

Just truth.

“You won’t die,” she added lightly. “But you might fail.”

Footsteps.

She was leaving.

“Better luck next time.”

And just like that—

she was gone.

Silence returned.

I exhaled slowly.

“…So it starts.”

I looked up at the edge of the pit.

Measured the distance.

Calculated.

Pain in my side.

Limited time.

Unstable ground.

Not ideal.

But survivable.

I adjusted my grip on the dagger.

Drove it into the dirt wall.

Pulled myself up slightly.

Again.

Again.

Slow.

Controlled.

No panic.

Because panic—

gets you killed.

Halfway up—

the dirt shifted.

My hand slipped.

I fell back—

Hard.

Breath knocked out of me.

“…Tch.”

Time was running out.

And for the first time since arriving in this world—

I realized something.

This wasn’t just a game.

This wasn’t just survival.

This was war.

And I—

Had just become the first target.

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