Chapter 42\u00a0<\/p>\n
Chapter 42\u00a0<\/p>\n
Selene\u00a0<\/p>\n
Sienna smiled, her perfect lips curving with the confidence of someone who knew all eyes were already hers. Her long. slender fingers brushed lightly against the harp strings.\u00a0<\/p>\n
A moment later, sound bloomed from her fingertips.\u00a0<\/p>\n
It was soft at first, a tender note, then louder, weaving into a melody that shimmered across the courtyard.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The crowd immediately hushed, entranced. Faces softened into smiles; some even closed their eyes, swaying slightly as if her melody had reached straight into their souls.\u00a0<\/p>\n
That was the power of the harp. It wasn\u2019t just music.\u00a0<\/p>\n
There were two ways to play a harp, the ordinary way, with only one\u2019s fingers, and the true way, with spiritual energy flowing through every string, fusing with the melody. The first created sound. The second created emotion.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The second way was rare, it made the harp the most revered instrument in the pack. When played with spiritual energy, it could soothe the restless, heal fatigue, or lift sorrow. It was addictive, intoxicating, and very few could master it\u00a0<\/p>\n
Sienna was one of those few.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Her spiritual energy wasn\u2019t particularly refined, but it was strong enough to produce a beautiful, dreamlike sound. Her fingers danced, glowing faintly gold as she plucked the strings, and the melody shimmered with warmth.\u00a0<\/p>\n
A low murmur of admiration rippled through the audience.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Her father sat straighter, his stern face softening with pride. Her stepmother had a pleased, almost smug smile on her lips. and her brothers watched with admiration. Even the Alpha, seated high, nodded slowly, the corner of his lips lifting in approval.\u00a0<\/p>\n
I glanced at Adrian.\u00a0<\/p>\n
He sat beside his father, posture lazy, one elbow resting on the armrest. His expression, however, was unchanged. There was no smile, or any hint of admiration.\u00a0<\/p>\n
In fact, he looked bored. His eyes weren\u2019t even on Sienna.\u00a0<\/p>\n
They were on me.\u00a0<\/p>\n
For a brief second, our gazes locked, and my pulse hitched from confusion. Why was he looking at me? His so-called destined woman was right there, performing beautifully in front of him.\u00a0<\/p>\n
I looked away, ignoring the flicker of his attention.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Sienna\u2019s song came to an elegant end, the last note trembling like the fading echo of a heartbeat. The courtyard erupted in applause.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cLady Sienna, that was wonderful!\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cYou\u2019re amazing! I\u2019ve never heard music so soothing.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cI could listen to you play all night!\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Compliments poured from every direction, and Sienna bowed her head modestly, though her eyes glowed with pride. Her smile was radiant, and smugly victorious. Just as everyone was clapping and complementing her, a clapping sound cut\u00a0<\/p>\n
12:49 Tue, Dec 23\u00a0<\/p>\n
Chapter 42\u00a0<\/p>\n
through the air. Everyone turned to the Alpha.\u00a0<\/p>\n
He smiled, his expression one of approval. \u201cAs expected, Sienna,\u201d he said warmly. \u201cThat was truly good. I loved the music, it calmed my nerves.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Sienna\u2019s grin widened, her cheeks flushing with pride. \u201cThank you, Alpha,\u201d she said sweetly, her voice soft and humble before turning toward me. Her lips curved into a poisonous smile.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cI just wonder how my sister plans to do it. Her spiritual energy isn\u2019t much, and she doesn\u2019t even know how to play the harp.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
The moment she said that, every eye turned to me. The whispers started again, the murmurs buzzing low through the courtyard.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The Alpha\u2019s calm, deep voice echoed across the hall. \u201cYour sister played well,\u201d he said, his steady gaze fixed on me. \u201cAre you certain you can surpass her, Selene? I can still give you the chance to forfeit before the game begins.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
His tone wasn\u2019t mocking, if anything, it was patient, the way someone might speak to a child who didn\u2019t know what she was getting into.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Before I could answer, Sienna clasped her hands together, her eyes wide. \u201cSister, the Alpha is being kind to you,\u201d she said softly. \u201cIf you apologize for lying to everyone, I\u2019ll forgive you. I don\u2019t want you to embarrass yourself because you\u2019re trying too hard to prove something to someone.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
The people around us nodded in agreement.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cShe\u2019s still so kind, even after being insulted.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cLady Sienna is too soft-hearted. I would have refused to forgive her.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cLady Selene really doesn\u2019t know her place.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Their scorn was familiar, tiresome, and predictable.\u00a0<\/p>\n
I sighed quietly.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The same circle again. The same lines. The same story.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Weren\u2019t they tired of repeating themselves? Because I was.\u00a0<\/p>\n
My gaze lifted, meeting Sienna\u2019s bright, confident eyes. \u201cYou keep trying to stop me from playing, sienna, are you that worried I might actually play well?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
For a moment, the smile on her face faltered, before she caught herself. Her expression softened again, her voice calm and gentle. \u201cThere\u2019s no way you can beat me, Selene,\u201d she said, forcing a laugh. \u201cI\u2019ve been playing since I was young. I\u2019m only worried for you.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
I tilted my head. \u201cNobody asked you to be worried about me. Keep your opinion to yourself.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
The air went still for a moment. The smile on her face twitched, but she said nothing more.\u00a0<\/p>\n
I turned toward the Alpha and bowed my head slightly. \u201cThank you, Alpha, for the opportunity,\u201d I said softly. \u201cBut I will still play. It\u2019s a competition, after all.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
For a moment, he studied me, his brown eyes steady and unreadable, then, finally, he nodded. \u201cAlright, play for us.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
I smiled. \u201cOf course.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
As the murmurs started again, I turned my attention back to the white harp before me. My fingers brushed the strings gently, and I almost laughed at the irony of their words.\u00a0<\/p>\n
12:49 Tue, Dec 23 MG.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Chapter 42\u00a0<\/p>\n
Never touched a harp before?\u00a0<\/p>\n
Well, maybe not in this lifetime. But in all the lifetimes I had lived, I had mastered it.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Not just the harp, but the rhythm of sound and energy itself moved through me. My spiritual energy thrummed beneath my skin, alive and overflowing. Most people would need weeks to recover after using so much in a single performance, but I had more than enough to spare.\u00a0<\/p>\n
I was a Moonborn, after all. My energy had always been different.\u00a0<\/p>\n
They all said Sienna\u2019s spiritual power was unmatched, that her song was proof of it. But as I listened, I could tell she hadn\u2019t used much at all. Her performance was nice, yes, but shallow.\u00a0<\/p>\n
I shrugged, indifferent. It\u2019s time to remind them who they\u2019re dealing with.\u00a0<\/p>\n
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Hope Is Not Optional \u2014 Manuel Flores 42 Chapter 42\u00a0 Chapter 42\u00a0 Selene\u00a0 Sienna smiled, her perfect lips curving with […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"site-sidebar-layout":"default","site-content-layout":"","ast-site-content-layout":"default","site-content-style":"default","site-sidebar-style":"default","ast-global-header-display":"","ast-banner-title-visibility":"","ast-main-header-display":"","ast-hfb-above-header-display":"","ast-hfb-below-header-display":"","ast-hfb-mobile-header-display":"","site-post-title":"","ast-breadcrumbs-content":"","ast-featured-img":"","footer-sml-layout":"","ast-disable-related-posts":"","theme-transparent-header-meta":"","adv-header-id-meta":"","stick-header-meta":"","header-above-stick-meta":"","header-main-stick-meta":"","header-below-stick-meta":"","astra-migrate-meta-layouts":"default","ast-page-background-enabled":"default","ast-page-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"ast-content-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"footnotes":""},"categories":[82],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-27836","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-the-ruthless-tycoons-obsession-novel"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/27836","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=27836"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/27836\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=27836"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=27836"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=27836"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}