As she sat, Rina felt a strange shiver run through her fingertips, as if the air around her grew heavier with every passing second. She stood, certain it was her turn, a mix of responsibility and excitement intertwined with a flicker of fear of failure.
"The next contestant: Princess Karina Vershi!"
The announcer's voice struck the hall like a thunderclap, shattering any inner calm and thrusting Rina into the challenge with nothing but faith in herself. She stepped forward in her elegantly crafted gown, each step echoing like the ticking of a guillotine, announcing the presence of a royal spirit unshaken despite the storms. She glanced at the audience, taking in every look, every silent judgment.
She set aside the fake music sheet, touched the keys tenderly, as if caressing old wounds that still throbbed with pain. She began playing the piece "Dark and Lifeless," each note echoing the suppressed cries of her past, every rhythm revealing the injustice she had endured over the years, as if her fingers danced on the keys to etch a history yet unwritten.
The hall was enveloped in a heavy silence until the final note rang out. The moment after was filled with astonishment, then applause erupted like a storm, tears of admiration glinting in the eyes of the audience, as if all prior silence had been merely the prelude to this emotional explosion. From the corner of her eye, Rina saw Sina shrinking in her seat like a crumpled leaf, trying to hide her trembling hands in the folds of her faded gown, as if the world itself had paused for this scene.
Rina leaned close as she passed, whispering into her ear, her voice carrying the weight of experience and wisdom:
> "True talent cannot be stolen… it either ignites like fire, or it is extinguished forever."
The announcement of results came adorned with gold and dreams floating with the clouds. Rina's heart fluttered with pride and surprise as it was revealed: she had secured third place in the competition!
Though the third star is not the closest to the sun, it still shines in the sky of her achievements with a brilliance that warms the heart.
She received prizes that seemed pulled from a tale of a thousand and one nights: a golden gown flowing like molten sunset, shimmering with artistry and craftsmanship, as if woven from rays of sun that touched the clouds' silk. Alongside it, a set of accessories harmonized like a symphony, where colored gems met contemporary touches that captivated the eyes and spoke to every sense of beauty and refinement.
Yes, she wasn't first, nor second… but she held these prizes in her hands with a smile at the "illogical"! Perhaps her wishes in the race of ranks had been delayed, yet they soared like butterflies in the sky of contentment, moving in harmony with the breeze, light despite all expectations.
Sometimes her heart whispered, "I wish you had reached the top," but perhaps those were just illusions, flirting with the stars before dissolving into the darkness of reality…
Yet there was no doubt… today, she was more than satisfied. Gold gleamed in her hands, and peace sang in her heart:
> "Not everyone who chases goals arrives… and not everyone who arrives understands the meaning of happiness."
She was grateful for every step that brought her here, and every dream—no matter how small—that convinced her true success begins when you cherish what you have, while reaching toward what lies beyond.
---
The next morning, Rina sat with her grandmother, Osana, in a room filled with the scent of Japanese herbs and old books, a place reflecting the weight of years and the warmth of memories. Sunlight streamed lightly through the window, glinting on carefully placed small teacups, each ray embracing the wooden grains and casting soft shadows on the floor.
Osana opened a small, carefully preserved wooden box:
> "Look, Karina… this kimono is for you. I've kept it for you."
Rina reached out curiously, feeling the soft fabric, smiling widely:
> "Really?! It's beautiful! I didn't expect it to be like this!"
Her grandmother laughed, sipping her tea, her warm voice filling the room:
> "I know your taste—the pink suits you perfectly."
Rina stood before the mirror after putting it on, twirling lightly, every step reflecting grace and beauty. She laughed with excitement:
> "Oh my god! It looks amazing on me!"
Osana chuckled, teasing:
> "Looks like you're ready for a ball, not just a visit to your grandmother!"
Rina laughed harder, sitting beside her, then glanced at a picture of her grandfather on the wall and whispered softly:
> "It's nice that we resemble you more than Grandpa."
She raised her head, hesitating slightly:
> "Grandma… why is our relationship with the rest of the Vershi family distant? My father's cousins, for example?"
Osana looked at her for a moment, then spoke calmly and deeply:
> "Ah… they didn't like your grandfather marrying me. They usually marry within the same country, let alone another continent. The Vershis were hard to deal with… harsh and cold."
Rina paused, seeming to regret asking, but Osana continued with a confident smile:
> "Do you think I cared? Never. I lived happily, and I gave birth to a new line from my blood and my husband's… and now they are the ones who regret it."
She laughed confidently. Rina couldn't help but smile in admiration, wishing she could be like her—strong, steadfast, unmoved by others' opinions.
Then she remembered something and asked excitedly:
> "Grandma… can you tell me a little about my mother?"
Osana was momentarily surprised, then her eyes sparkled as she looked at the sky through the window:
> "See how clear the sky is?… That's how Revelina's intentions were."
Rina smiled softly, imagining the face of her mother she had never seen.
> "I didn't have a daughter, as you know, but Revelina was like one to me. There was no hatred between us… we understood each other very well. But she left… as we all will one day."
Her words warmed Rina's heart, and she smiled with love, immersing herself in silence, imagining the beautiful relationship between her mother and grandmother.
After a few quiet minutes, Osana lifted her head from a book she had been reading and said teasingly:
> "I haven't seen you visit Ron in a while… why not think about it? Or are you too grown-up and embarrassed?"
Rina laughed lightly, replying quickly:
> "Ha! No, no! I really want to go!"
Osana nodded in approval:
> "Of course, no objection."
Rina jumped up, hugging her grandmother with childlike excitement, then kissed her forehead and said joyfully:
> "Then I'm off!"
She left, almost dancing through the hallways with happiness, while Osana shook her head, laughing:
> "What a girl… I thought she'd grow up and calm down, but she really is like Yuri!"
Rina walked through the halls, calling out excitedly for "Carla," until her eyes accidentally met Sina's. She ignored her at first and moved on, but Sina deliberately bumped into her. Hot cocoa spilled on her kimono. Rina froze, eyes wide with shock, then glared at Sina in anger.
Sina said coldly, deliberately:
> "You were the one running, Karina."
Rina's eyes blazed, and she snapped angrily:
> "Are you blind? Can't you see me?! You did it on purpose, didn't you?"
Sina exhaled lightly, replying with cold superiority:
> "It's simple, just change your clothes…"
Her words were like a hidden slap. Rina felt she wasn't only mocking her, but the kimono itself—the gift she had just fallen in love with.
Sina moved to leave, but Rina stopped her suddenly, taking the cocoa cup from her hand and spilling it on her dress, saying with equal coldness:
> "Oh, just change your clothes…"
Sina's eyes flared, about to scream at Rina, but… footsteps came from behind them, and the atmosphere trembled as Carla gasped:
> "What are you girls doing?!!! What is this chaos!"
She ran toward them, trying to understand, but Rina replied in a cold, unwavering voice:
> "You know, Sina, if you try that again… I'll tear you apart and serve you as dinner for the wolves."
Carla recoiled at Rina's harsh words, saying in shock:
> "Rina! No matter what, you cannot say such bloody things!.. You're still a child!"
But Rina didn't care about Carla's words, walking forward, each step heavy with muted anger and painful pride, heading toward her room.
Carla sighed softly, watching her, whispering to herself:
> "Wait… didn't she call me just a moment ago?"
Rina remembered Carla nearby, whispering with venomous anger:
> "I don't want anything… just don't interfere."
Her words struck like lightning through the silence. Had Carla known what Rina had endured before, she wouldn't have dared speak, and perhaps would have stayed silent altogether.