This world contains a total of three continents.
The continent of Rave, where humans reside, the continent of Ma, where demons live, and the continent of Gaia, where the World Tree stretches its roots.
Similarly, the Elves are also divided into three factions: the Rave continent’s Lace tribe, the Ma continent’s Base tribe, and the Gaia continent’s Ais tribe.
Elves, born with overwhelming mana compared to humans and demons, had formed considerable power on each continent.
Among them, two princesses were born from the Lace tribe, who ruled part of the Rave continent.
Tiffany Lace.
Tiffany Lace.
They were twins.
The birth of the two was a national event.
The Lace tribe celebrated the birth of the princesses with party after party.
At the time, Queen Lena Lace invited the great prophet Kirke to ask which of the two should be crowned successor for the future of the tribe.
Kirke, who was famous for never making a wrong prophecy, said this:
“One is a blessing, the other a curse. Choose correctly, and the tribe will prosper, but choose wrong, and the tribe will perish.”
Upon hearing the prophecy, everyone was struck with chills.
Kirke did not reveal which child should be the successor, but simply left everyone in suspense.
Queen Lena fell into deep thought.
“One is a blessing… and the other a curse…?”
Tiffany and Tiffany… who is the blessing, and who is the curse?”
After much deliberation, the queen made the decision to suspend the choice.
Both daughters would be placed as candidates for succession, and the one who excelled as they grew would be chosen.
The result was clear.
As time passed, Tiffany began to show overwhelming qualities.
In intelligence, in character, in magic—Tiffany surpassed Tiffany in every field.
Finally, when Tiffany turned twenty, Queen Lena officially appointed her as the successor.
“The next queen is Tiffany Lace. This decision will not be reversed.”
Everyone rejoiced at the fact that the rightful heir had been found.
Tiffany’s talents were so extraordinary that other elves marveled at her, and no one dared oppose her succession.
Except… Tiffany, who had been her rival.
“This is ridiculous! Tiffany is going to be queen? Then what about me? What am I supposed to do? What am I supposed to be good at?!”
Queen Lena spoke to her trembling daughter.
“Tiffany, you will assist Tiffany and become a great servant to her.”
“Servant…?”
“Of course. Privately, you are her twin, but officially, she is your ruler.”
“Ruler.”
At those words, Tiffany felt goosebumps all over her body.
Having grown up as a precious princess, the thought of having a ruler was something she found almost unbearable.
Moreover, now that Tiffany had become the heir, she started treating Tiffany like a servant, as if she were already the queen.
“Tiffany, go to the Empire and announce that the next queen has been born.”
“What…? Why me?”
“This is the command of the next queen. Also, remember, this is a public occasion, so mind your words.”
“Hey… we’re twin sisters. Why are you acting like this? Are you treating me like your subordinate now?”
“This is an order from me, not as your twin, but as the next queen. If you refuse, there will bepunishment.”
“Ha! Ridiculous!”
Although Tiffany wanted to protest, no one would speak up for her.
According to elf customs, it was a duty to absolutely obey the command of the next queen.
Eventually, Tiffany became an envoy sent to the Empire.
With a voice full of sorrow, she delivered the message to Emperor Carlos of the Empire.
“I bring word to the Emperor of the Empire. The next queen of the Lace tribe is Tiffany Lace. I hope that the good relationship between the Lace tribe and the Empire will continue.”
“Oh dear…”
Originally, the Lace tribe and the Empire had a relationship of distant indifference.
The Empire, boasting overwhelming military strength on the Rave continent, could not treat the elves lightly, as they possessed considerable magical power.
The two groups had avoided interfering with each other, maintaining only a minimal level of cordial relations.
However, Emperor Carlos now clicked his tongue with a worried expression.
“Tsk, tsk, tsk. The Lace tribe is finished now.”
“What?”
Tiffany doubted her ears.
“What do you mean? Why are we finished?”
“Do you not know the prophecy of the great prophet Kirke? She said that if the wrong successor is chosen, the Lace tribe will meet its end.”
“But…?”
“Actually, let me tell you something in secret…”
Emperor Carlos whispered.
“I was so curious, I asked Kirke myself. Who should we choose to make the Lace tribe prosper?”
“And…?”
Tiffany perked her sharp elven ears.
“She said it should be you, Tiffany. She said that if Tiffany becomes queen, the Lace tribe will be finished.”
“It can’t be…”
Tiffany did not question the truth of what the Emperor had said.
She was only immersed in the happy events that would occur if his words were true.
“So… you mean I should become queen?”
“For the sake of the Lace tribe, yes. However, it is a shame that the next successor has already been decided.”
“No! I will somehow persuade Mother! If I tell her about this prophecy, she will surely change her mind!”
“Wait a moment, Tiffany.”
AsTiffany was about to hurry away, the Emperor called her back.
“Even if you tell her exactly what I said, do you think the current queen will believe it? Wouldn’t she just think it’s a story you made up because you want to become queen?”
“Then what should I do?! I can’t just stand by and watch my tribe perish!”
“How about this?”
The Emperor spoke as if he had a brilliant idea.
“I’ve heard that the queen of the Lace tribe possesses the World Tree’s Blessing, the . Only the queen can wield that staff, and it’s said that any elf queen who holds it can defeat even a group of high-level wizards, let alone a few.”
“And?”
“Bring that staff to me. Then I will bring Kirke with me and prove that you are the the prophecy spoke of.”
“…What will you do with the staff?”
“Well… actually…”
The Emperor made a pitiful expression.
“My only daughter, Princess Irene, is gravely ill. To cure her, I need magic that is not of human origin… I think the Staff of the World Tree could heal her. Please, I beg of you. Let us help each other. I will assist you, and you will assist me…”
“How about it? Wouldn’t it be better for you, the future queen, to have a good relationship with me?”
“…Alright.”
Greed clouded her judgment.
Tiffany believed the Emperor’s words without question.
Even though there were many points that didn’t make sense upon reflection, her desire to become queen blinded her reasoning.
In the end, Tiffany acted rashly.
She snuck into the queen’s chambers while the queen was asleep and stole the Staff of the World Tree.
Without realizing how serious her betrayal was, she handed the staff over to Emperor Carlos.
“This is the Staff of the World Tree. Please use it to heal Princess Irene’s illness. Also, please bring Kirke to confirm that I am the one the prophecy spoke of.”
“Heh.”
The Emperor grinned maliciously as he took the staff.
“Heh-heh. This worked out perfectly. How lucky I am to have such a foolish elf like you. Now, I can finally wipe out the Lace tribe, the thorn in my side.”
“…What?”
“Guards! General Zero!”
“Yes, Your Majesty!”
“Seize this elf at once!”
“At once, Your Majesty!”
At the Emperor’s command, General Zero gestured, and hidden soldiers appeared, capturing Tiffany.
They were all skilled mages or elite officers. Tiffany, though powerful in her own right, was overwhelmed.
She was soon subdued.
“W-what is this, Your Majesty?! Why are you doing this to me?!”
“I give an order to the entire army!”
Ignoring Tiffany’s questions, the Emperor issued his next command.
“Attack the Lace tribe’s settlement immediately and either kill or enslave all the elves!”
“Wh-what… what are you saying…?! Your Majesty, this isn’t what we agreed on?!”
“Hmm? Still talking, you stupid girl? Someone, mark her with the .”
The Slave Seal.
It was a dark magic only used on elves.
An elf marked with the Slave Seal would be forced to obey their master’s commands, unable to defy them.
It was the worst nightmare for an elf.
Naturally, Tiffany resisted with all her might.
“Get away from me! Don’t bring that thing near me, you bastards! I won’t become a slave! I won’t!
Aaargh!!”
But it was futile.
There were too many of them, and they were too strong.
In the end, Tiffany was branded with the Slave Seal and had to watch as her tribe was wiped out by the Empire.
“The Empire is attacking!”
“Your Majesty! The Empire is attacking!”
“I know! But where is my Staff of the World Tree?! I can’t fight without it!”
“What?! Without the Staff of the World Tree, we can’t stop the Imperial Army…”
Without their most crucial weapon, and caught by surprise, the Lace tribe was utterly destroyed by the
Empire’s powerful military.
“I’m sorry, my people… I’m so sorry, Mother… I was foolish… ugh…”
Tiffany cried bitter tears, apologizing, but it was in vain.
The elves living on the Rave continent were either killed or sold into slavery, losing all their rights.
Tiffany herself was sold for a large sum to a wealthy man named Kralus, where her humiliation reached its peak.