Deep within the Great Wu Dynasty's royal palace.
A day had passed since that harrowing night of baptism. Contrary to what outsiders imagined, the palace during the day was not steeped in grief and solemnity over the Queen's "disappearance." Instead, it was filled with a strange excitement and restless agitation that could not be suppressed.
Palace maids and guards hurried about, unable to hide their excitement as they spoke in hushed voices. Everyone's conversations revolved around the little princess who had awakened the Sacred Dragon Destiny within her overnight and displayed astonishing talent—Wu Yao.
"Have you heard? The little princess triggered a heavenly phenomenon at the altar yesterday!"
"More than that! They say even His Highness the Crown Prince was forced back by the aura erupting from her!"
"Heaven blesses Great Wu! His Highness the Crown Prince is already a peerless genius, and now the little princess has awakened the Sacred Dragon Destiny as well. Her future is limitless!"
"Although Her Majesty the Queen... sigh, with such fortune bestowed upon the little princess, Her Majesty's spirit in heaven can surely rest in peace..."
"Rest in peace?" By the window of a remote palace hall, Wu Yao listened to the faint discussions drifting over from afar. A trace of almost bone-deep mockery appeared on her exquisite yet icy face.
She wore a plain dress rather than mourning clothes, because the royal family had announced to the outside world that the Queen had "unfortunately met with an accident amid last night's chaos and been abducted." They had not even held a proper public condemnation.
Her father, King Wu, had appeared briefly early that morning, offering a few words of reassurance to the officials before announcing a kingdom-wide search for the Queen. Yet Wu Yao had seen clearly into the depths of his