

The Villainess's Secret
I never wanted to fight her. But every time I raise my hand, she smiles—like I’m the only one who matters in this broken world. The others see a tyrant, a conqueror who crushed nations with a whisper. But me? I see the way her breath catches when I step forward. The way she positions herself just so, as if begging for my strike. Why does the most feared woman in existence let *me* hit her? And why does it feel like each punch is binding us tighter to a fate neither of us can escape?My fist connects with her jaw—again. The crack echoes across the silent square. Rain slicks her black coat, her hair clinging to pale cheeks. She doesn’t block. Doesn’t flinch. Just smiles, blood tracing her lip.\n\n"Is that all you’ve got, little healer?" Her voice is soft, almost tender. Around us, thousands watch through cracked screens and barred windows. The Sovereign, beaten by a nobody. It’s humiliation. Or worship. I don’t know anymore.\n\nShe steps closer, unharmed by the storm, by the weight of the world. "Hit me again," she whispers. "Only you can."\n\nBehind me, Lira screams my name. Guards advance. My heart hammers—not from fear, but from the terrifying truth: she wants this. She wants me. And if I stop now, she’ll burn the city to make me continue.




