The Valemir Grand Conservatory hadn't hosted an event of this magnitude in years. The venue, typically reserved for elite political summits and global symphonies, now shimmered with a different kind of anticipation—a gala orchestrated by Elsa Jefferson herself.
The theme? Rebirth and Revelation.
To the public, it was a bold branding event for Jefferson Global's new direction. To those in the know—especially those watching from the shadows—it was a declaration of war.
And an invitation.
Inside the Conservatory
The space was a vision of elegance. Crystal chandeliers floated like frozen fireworks above rows of polished obsidian floors. Guests in velvet and silk mingled beneath art installations that told the story of firebirds rising from ash.
Elsa stood near the entrance, draped in a crimson gown that swept like flame with every step. Her hair was coiled in an intricate crown-braid, her eyes lined with cold determination.
"Gorgeous and deadly," murmured Chess as he approached in a midnight-black suit, the embroidered lapel carrying the faintest insignia of the Supreme Martial Sect—a detail no one else would recognize.
"Thank you for letting me run this," she said.
"This is your battlefield, Elsa. I trust your instincts."
Their fingers brushed for the briefest moment. Unspoken understanding flowed between them like current beneath calm waters.
Devon approached from the wings, dressed as a waitstaff but wired into every surveillance feed in the building.
"She's here," Devon whispered. "Back entrance. No known biometric signature. Facial recognition hits… nothing."
Elsa's heart skipped. "Nyra."
Elsewhere – In the Shadows of the Conservatory
Nyra moved like smoke—her gown a shade darker than night, her face obscured beneath a delicate mesh veil that shimmered when caught in light.
She didn't mingle. She observed.
Every calculated smile. Every glass raised. Every whisper between board members.
Behind her veil, her lips curled.
"They built a perfect stage," she murmured.
A gloved hand placed a small, metallic cube into a panel along the wall—too small to notice, too dangerous to ignore. It lit with a faint pulse before vanishing into the architecture.
Phase two had begun.
Back to Elsa – The First Dance
Chess offered her his hand as the orchestra struck its first note.
"Shall we give them a show?" he asked.
She smirked. "Let's."
They moved with practiced grace, drawing attention without begging for it. Together, they were magnetic—her elegance and his quiet intensity creating a dance that was as much a performance as it was a message.
To everyone watching, they were the King and Queen of this new Valemir.
To Nyra, it was a taunt.
As the Music Played – Devon's Voice in Chess's Ear
"System breach," she whispered. "Third floor. Untraceable pulse injected into power grid. Cameras flickered for 2.6 seconds."
Chess's jaw tightened. He scanned the upper balcony.
Nyra was gone.
Suddenly – A Blackout
The chandeliers above flickered. Once. Twice.
Then darkness swallowed the Conservatory whole.
Gasps echoed through the ballroom. For a moment, there was only silence—until the lights snapped back.
But something had changed.
In the center of the ballroom stood a display that hadn't been there before—a hologram.
A 3D projection of Elsa's face... twisting into static.
Then a voice, smooth and eerie, filled the room.
"Every Queen burns to rise… but not all flames are eternal. The mirror you look into has cracks you refuse to see. Shall I show you who you truly are?"
The projection dissolved into shimmering particles.
The guests whispered. The board members froze.
Elsa didn't move. Her lips parted slightly, but she was stone.
Chess placed a hand on her back, steadying her.
"She wanted to send a message," Elsa murmured.
"Then we'll send one back," Chess replied.
Later – Private Suite Above the Conservatory
Elsa peeled off the last of her jewelry, staring into the mirror.
Nyra's voice echoed in her mind.
"The mirror you look into has cracks…"
Chess entered, his energy calm but alert.
"Security's sweeping the Conservatory. We found one device embedded in the east wall. It was a signal repeater."
"Which means she was close," Elsa whispered.
"She was here."
Elsa turned to face him.
"She thinks she can rattle me," she said. "But I've spent my whole life around wolves pretending to be family. She's just another mask I'll tear off."
Chess stepped closer, brushing a strand of hair behind her ear.
"And I'll be right beside you when you do."
They stood in the quiet, the world outside humming with chaos, but in this space—there was peace. Tension melted into something softer. Stronger.
Elsa leaned into his chest. "We'll need to go deeper. Track the old family archives. Jefferson Global has secrets even I haven't unlocked."
"Then we start with your grandfather's private vault," Chess said.
Her eyes snapped up. "How do you know about that?"
He gave a small smile. "Because I've already had Devon scan its external frequency. And something inside it… doesn't belong to this world."