July 3rd, Year 238
The sky was clear. Early sunlight poured over the square, casting a soft golden hue on every stone, every figure who had arrived at dawn.
No one urged them. No loudspeakers, no commands—just a quiet whisper:
> "The Queen will speak this morning."
Ring appeared as quietly as the morning itself. She stepped out from the hallway behind the square—no guards, no music.
Her slate-blue gown clung softly to her form—neither flashy nor ornate. Her white hair was tied low behind her neck, a few strands falling gently across her forehead.
That color wasn't due to age or illness—it was simply something unforgettable to anyone who saw her.
Her eyes were neither cold nor smiling. It was the gaze of someone who had thought things through before stepping out—ready now to speak what she believed.
She walked straight, unhurried. Each step touched the ground with rhythm and pace.
Not heavy, not light—but enough to gradually quiet the murmurs in the square.
Airic walked behind her like a familiar shadow—a composed, sharp man who always stayed close to Ring as her chief advisor. Deep-set eyes, short-cropped hair, upright posture—he was the embodiment of discipline and gravity.
Lyra—a young mage, smart and meticulous. Her long hair tied low, always carrying a notebook. Though talkative, every word she spoke tended to surprise.
She stood by a stone pillar nearby, watching silently, not stepping forward.
Ring didn't climb a platform. She didn't raise her voice or signal.
She simply stood in the sunlight. And began to speak:
> "I will not call you refugees.
Nor merely the lucky survivors.
Because I know… you did not come here to be pitied."
> "You came… because there's nothing left behind."
> "Because too many nights passed without shelter.
Too many times, screams echoed through the wind."
(Ring looked up at the sky)
> "Even I… once doubted I'd ever see another tomorrow."
> (A moment of silence. Her voice softened)
> "There were people I didn't get to evacuate.
Places that have been buried forever.
And I know… each of you left someone, something… behind."
> (Ring looked around—her gaze quiet but resolute)
> "But if I could say just one thing today… it would be: we're still here."
> "And because we still have each other, we will not fall."
> (Her voice grew firmer)
> "Valora is not a shelter. It is proof of one truth:
That even if the world splits apart, we will rebuild—
with our hands, our blood, and the memories of those who fell."
> (She stepped forward, laying a hand on the stone in the center of the square)
> "Every brick here… is a promise.
That as long as we breathe, we will not give up."
> (She straightened, eyes meeting the crowd)
> "From this day forward, you are no longer the displaced.
You are the first to begin anew."
> "You are citizens of Valora.
You are the reason I will not retreat another step."
> (Her voice slowed, steady, almost a vow)
> "I am Ring. And if one day, disaster comes again…
it will have to go through me before touching a single one of you."
Ring fell silent.
Before her, the crowd stood still.
No one laughed. No one clapped right away.
But their eyes had changed. Something had softened. Quieted.
A man looked at his wife and nodded.
A mother tightened her grip on her child's hand.
A few quiet breaths became audible in the wind.
They understood. Because what Ring said wasn't grand—it struck straight at what they had swallowed in silence.
They felt comforted.
Because someone—someone in power—had stood up and acknowledged the pain they carried.
Then, as if something had quietly begun to bloom, someone chuckled.
Not loudly—but it was the first sound of laughter in days.
Someone clapped. Another followed.
A sense of uplift began to spread.
Not in an uproar, but clearly.
Like the first shaky steps finding their weight again.
—"Queen Ring!"
The shout rang from a corner of the square. This time, it was real. No command. Not habit.
They repeated it.
A second time.
A third.
And they moved forward.
Not because anyone pushed them.
But because they had seen a reason not to stand still anymore.
That morning, sunlight bathed the square.
And for the first time, voices rose like a bell ringing in the dawn of a new life.
When Ring bowed her head, the air seemed to hold its breath for a second—
then broke open in thunderous applause.
But afterward, no one lingered for long.
The crowd quietly left the square.
Not in a rush, not in chaos.
As if each person carried something heavy but warm—
trust, hope, or simply the feeling of belonging.
Mothers gently led their children back to the residence zones.
Some elders wiped their eyes, then lifted them toward the clear sky.
A few young people walked together, talking about rebuilding kitchens,
asking where they might plant the bean seeds they had carried with them.
---
(Inside the Queen's Office)
The door shut behind them, sealing out the hallway wind.
Ring removed her white gloves and set them on the desk.
Her white hair swayed softly in the angled light through the window.
No more gazes.
No more cheers.
Only silence remained.
Lyra was already waiting, holding a tray with steaming tea.
Airic leaned against the side of the desk, arms crossed—but the sternness in his eyes had faded.
—"That was... incredible," Lyra was the first to speak, her voice soft but brimming with emotion.
—"It's been so long since I've seen the square that quiet."
Airic let out a breath, then chuckled and shook his head:
—"I almost cried. Truly."
—"Every word you said… it didn't sound like a queen.
It sounded like someone who had lived through the same loss."
Ring raised an eyebrow, leaning back in her chair, looking at them both:
—"You really think so?"
—"I felt like I was stumbling through the speech… almost forgot the middle part."
Lyra laughed, setting the teacup down:
—"If that was stumbling, the people might want to hear you stumble like that every week."
Airic shook his head but chuckled along:
—"Maybe you think your words weren't strong enough.
But that's exactly why they listened."
—"Soft words sink deep, Your Majesty."
Ring smiled faintly, her gaze gentling:
—"Then I didn't let them down."
—"Not even close..." Lyra tilted her head.
"…they walked away like they'd finally put down a burden they'd carried for months."
Ring nodded slightly, her voice lower:
—"Good. That's enough for a first day."
She rose and walked to the window.
Outside, wind stirred the rooftops—light and clear.
Ring smiled faintly and murmured:
—"But if every day is this 'messy'...
I fear I won't have the strength to stay Queen for long."
Airic raised an eyebrow:
—"So you want to change professions?"
Lyra chimed in, half-joking:
—"Maybe you're meant to be a wandering storyteller.
You speak, and whole villages break down in tears."
Ring burst into laughter and dropped back into her seat:
—"Now that's an idea. If the kingdom ever falls,
the three of us can start a traveling tale troupe."
—"Lyra handles tea. Airic does security."
All three laughed, their voices light in the quiet room.
A knock came at the door—soft, but firm.
They paused. Ring tilted her head:
—"Come in."
The door opened, and her personal secretary stepped in — a young woman with her hair tied high, wearing a simple short blue robe. Following her were three middle-aged men dressed in noble attire, cloaks embroidered with silver threads, their shoes shining polished. They entered with cautious steps, eyes briefly scanning everyone in the room.
— Your Majesty, they request a private audience to discuss... some matters related to the accommodations. — The secretary bowed slightly and spoke quietly.
The three men bowed their heads, but before retreating, the youngest man in the group — tall, wearing a robe embroidered with his family crest — hesitated, then spoke up:
— Your Majesty...
I know this may not be the right moment, but I beg your permission to say a word.
During the early days of reconstruction, many families — including mine — voluntarily contributed a portion of the treasury. Not out of demand, but because we wished for Liên Thành to stand strong.
Now we only ask for a little privacy... not for status, but for... the way of life they are accustomed to.
Ring was silent for a moment. A gentle breeze made the curtain by the window flutter softly.
— When you brought gold, I refused.
I clearly said: "Liên Thành will not be built upon dependence on those who once sat on thrones and looked down on others."
But you still brought it.
No demands, no bargaining.
She stood up, lightly touching the wooden table:
— Then do not let the gold you once gave become an excuse to reclaim the distances that have been erased.
The whole room fell silent again.
The young man bowed deeper this time. A sincere bow.
— I... understand, Your Majesty.
Ring softened her voice:
— I know change is not easy. No one asks you to completely abandon your old ways.
But when you step into the new Liên Thành, please leave old habits outside the door.
Together, only then can we move forward.
The eldest nobleman gently placed his hand on the younger man's shoulder, then turned to Ring:
— Thank you for your frankness, Your Majesty.
We will return and adjust our mindset.
Ring nodded, her eyes not cold.
The door closed behind the three men, footsteps gradually fading away.
Airic murmured as the door shut:
— Those nobles… today, something about them feels different.
Ring nodded lightly, her gaze still fixed on the now-cold cup of tea:
— I feel it too. Perhaps... after all, they have begun to think more about life?
Lyra and Nhien exchanged glances, looking pensive.
— I don't quite understand... — Lyra whispered, tilting her head.
— These matters... truly are mature topics. — Nhien spoke softly, then silently bowed her head to take notes.
(End of Chapter 0.2B)
✍️ Author: Vodanh2254
Thank you for reading all the way through Chapter 0.2B.
I know this chapter is a bit long and filled with quiet dialogue, but if you've reached this line — I truly appreciate it very much. Your time reading and journeying alongside Ring, alongside Liên Thành... means a lot to me.
If you have any thoughts — even just a single "I've read this" or a short comment — please leave a note.
Because it helps me know if the story is okay, if it touched you — and it is also my motivation to keep writing.
See you in the next chapter.
🕊️
– Vodanh2254
---
Bạn muốn mình dịch tiếp phần nào nữa không?