A unspeakable opportunity

I lived in that small village for years.

Time, for once, was kind to me. The days were quiet, the seasons gentle. The children at the orphanage became my family, their laughter weaving itself into the cracks of my heart.

And so, I grew.

I was no longer the fragile little girl who had once collapsed in the forest. My hands grew calloused from work, my voice steady from teaching and guiding. At eighteen, I had bloomed into a young woman — graceful yet strong, my face carrying both the innocence of youth and the weight of all I had endured.

But deep within me, the light still lingered. It healed me, it guided me, it watched over me. And though I tried to live as an ordinary girl, I could feel it stirring, as though waiting… waiting for something I could not yet name.

Sometimes, when I walked through the fields at dusk, I would see the faint shimmer of wings — the butterfly, never far, reminding me that my story was not meant to end in quiet villages and simple lives.

Something was coming.

And I could feel it, like a storm beneath the calm.

I worked hard.

From dawn to dusk, I gave my hands and heart to the village — cooking, helping with the children, gathering herbs from the forest, even trading fruits in the market when times were lean. I was beautiful, they said, and graceful too.

Yet, none of it seemed to matter.

Because there was Lora.

She wasn’t half as hardworking, nor even half as pretty. Her voice was sharp, her hands soft from idleness, and yet… the village adored her. With a single laugh, she could light the square; with a single smile, she could turn all eyes to her.

And me?

I became the shadow behind her glow.

Even when I offered more, even when I gave my all, their praise still fell on Lora. It was as though she had woven a spell over everyone, and no matter how brightly I tried to shine, I was always dimmed beside her.

Sometimes I told myself I didn’t care. That the butterfly, my secret light, was worth more than their shallow approval. But deep down… I hated it.

I hated being unseen.

But I never hated her.

I never envied her.

Peace was all I wanted.

If the village chose to adore Lora, then so be it. I told myself my heart needed no crown of praise, only the quiet life I had built. I kept my smile soft, my head low, and my hands busy.

But Lora… she wasn’t satisfied.

From time to time, she would corner me in the alleys or whisper cruel things when no one else could hear. She would shove me, pull my hair, spill water on my clothes — all waiting, hoping, for me to strike back.

Because one blow, one angry word, was all it would take for her to frame me before the whole village.

But I never gave in.

No matter how she tried, I swallowed the hurt and walked away. For seven years I had survived pain greater than her petty cruelty — the kind that left scars on the soul, not the skin.

So what was Lora’s bullying compared to that?

I endured. Because peace was the only treasure I truly wanted.

One day, the village chief summoned everyone to the square. His voice, though aged and rough, carried across the gathering crowd.

He cleared his throat, the weight of his words already heavy on the air.

> “I have received a great honor… An invitation from the Imperial Kingdom itself. But alas, my years are too many, and such a journey would be my end. So, I will send another in my stead.”

Gasps rippled through the villagers. A chance to see the Imperial Kingdom was a blessing beyond measure. My heart stirred—just for a moment, hope dared to touch me.

But then his next words shattered it.

> “The one chosen is… Lora.”

The crowd erupted in cheers, faces alight with excitement. They surrounded her, praising, celebrating as though she were already royalty.

I felt something deep inside me break.

I had expected it. Of course, it would be her. It was always her.

I closed my eyes, drawing in a slow breath as if it could steady the ache in my chest. Then, without a word, I turned away, letting the sound of the village’s celebration fade behind me.

My hands trembled, but I forced myself to smile. Peace, I whispered to my heart. All I want is peace.

Just as I turned to slip away, my name rang out over the noise.

> “And you, too… will go.”

I froze. Slowly, I turned back, hardly believing what I’d heard.

The chief’s eyes found mine, calm yet firm. “You have worked harder than anyone in this village. I’ve seen it with my own eyes. You deserve this chance as much as she does.”

For a moment, the world seemed to stop. My breath caught in my throat, my heart thundering. Finally… finally, someone sees me.

The crowd fell into shocked silence. Whispers rippled like fire through dry grass.

And Lora—oh, Lora’s face—twisted with fury. Her smile cracked, her eyes sharp as knives. In all her life, she had never expected to share her stage, not with me.

But the chief raised his hand, silencing the murmurs.

> “It is settled. Both shall go to the Imperial Kingdom.”

I bowed my head, trying to hide the trembling in my hands. Not from fear—but from joy so fierce it hurt.

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