The sea was turbulent, and the night was far from calm; fierce winds howled through the darkness. It was as if the world was sending a clear message to humanity. Yet inside the grim castle of the Lorenz family, the king lay in his bed, suspended between life and death—where breaths are counted one by one. The moon was full, and the distant howls of wolves echoed through the night. Beatrice sat quietly beside the king, wishing for him to have as peaceful and gentle a death as possible. But something far more important than anything else was about to happen. The king presented Beatrice with a necklace known as the Necklace of the Leader. This necklace transferred all the powers and authority of a king to his wife. Never before had any king done such a thing. Yet now, with no heir and no child to inherit the throne, he had no other choice. Would the power-hungry minister allow this? Or would he attempt, by any means necessary, to reclaim the throne for himself?

Sir Michael Beaujeneau had long been one of the most loyal figures within the Castle of Lorenz. For many years, he stood as a model of strength, ambition, and renowned intellect. Among the ministers, he was admired—respected not only for his strategic brilliance but for his unwavering discipline. Though Michael possessed a deep hunger for power, he had never once acted against the authority of the king while the monarch still lived. He understood order. He respected hierarchy. And he waited. Even as the king lay dying, Sir Michael made no move. Not until he learned that all royal authority had been bestowed upon the king’s wife. His fists struck the table with a sharp crack that echoed through the chamber. The glass trembled. He lifted it, took a measured sip of water, and steadied himself. Beaujeneau was ready. Ready to rally his subordinates. Ready to ignite unrest. Not merely out of ambition—but, as he told himself, out of devotion to a better future. He believed the queen was unprepared. Fragile. Untested in the brutal art of politics. In his eyes, the kingdom stood on the edge of uncertainty, and placing its fate in inexperienced hands was not mercy—it was recklessness. If chaos was to come, he would be the one to control it.