A Complicated Life
Carolyna Roxanna was exhausted. Working three shifts every day was draining, and the accumulated fatigue felt heavier on her shoulders with each passing day. As she deposited her daily earnings into the automatic account, she couldn't help but calculate how much more she needed to achieve her dream of studying Nursing and securing a better life for her family.
Only she and her mother, Rayna, provided for the household. Her father, Arthus, had been bedridden for months, struck by a rare illness whose treatment demanded more resources than they could gather. The burden was immense, and the responsibilities, endless. Rayna worked as a caregiver, while Carolyna cleaned houses of the rich and powerful. It wasn't easy—dealing with arrogant nobles and business magnates, always full of themselves, made her days feel even longer.
With a sigh, Carolyna leaned over the small kitchen table. She barely had the strength to lift her fork and eat the simple meal they had prepared.
Noticing her daughter's state, Rayna approached her with a gentle, concerned smile.
"My dear, you must be so tired…" Rayna said, placing a soft hand on Carolyna's shoulder.
Carolyna tried to mask her exhaustion with a smile. The last thing she wanted was to worry her mother further.
"Mom, it's fine," Carolyna lied, forcing herself to sound steady. "This is just how life is."
But inside, Carolyna felt the weight of every word. Nothing was fine, and she knew it. The long hours of work, the constant sacrifices, and the lack of prospects made her life an endless cycle of struggle and frustration. Yet she couldn't give up; her family depended on her, and the dream of studying Nursing was her only light at the end of the tunnel.
After a quick meal, both women prepared to rest, knowing the next day would bring the same cycle of work and hardship. They lived in Metarians, a province on the star Zahir, which was part of the vast Valksinian Empire, a formidable force of thirty-two planets and other galaxies. Despite the empire's grandeur, the daily life of common citizens like her was marked by constant challenges, while the imperial elite lived surrounded by unimaginable luxuries.
The Valksinian imperial family was enormous, and gossip about their palace intrigues always found its way into the streets, markets, and even the houses where Carolyna worked. The gap between the lives of nobles and commoners was a chasm that seemed to widen by the day.
Tensions simmered within the empire, with rumors of dissatisfaction. Despite the stability the empire provided, there was a growing restlessness among the people. Carolyna paid little attention to such rumors; her life was already complicated enough without worrying about political intrigues. Yet something within her—a desire for change, perhaps—began to stir. She knew that at some point, she'd have to make a choice: continue living in the shadows or seek something greater for herself and her family.
As she lay down, staring at the worn ceiling of her modest room, Carolyna felt a spark of hope. Despite all the hardships, she still dreamed. And somewhere, deep in her heart, she believed destiny held something different for her.
The planet Metharyan was part of the Valksinian empire, a galactic power that made neighboring regions nervous and fearful. The imperial family itself felt the pressure of their numerous demands and the vast disparities.
The atmosphere there was tense, with palace gossip and rumors flowing through the corridors like wind feeding a fire.
In one of the palace's many chambers, the beautiful queen-consort, Ariadne, prayed to her gods, hoping for the safe return of her husband, son, father-in-law, and the great leader from war, all victorious. With long black hair and violet eyes, she was unmatched in beauty throughout the realm. Her blue gown shimmered in contrast to the golden glow of the Dawn Hall. Marlion, the king-consort, was fierce in battle, fighting alongside his son, brother, father, and grandfather.
Meanwhile, the great Empress Eliza prayed in the royal quarters, waiting for news.
The war had dragged on for months, leaving the population generally uneasy and vulnerable to the worst.
Suddenly, a breathless officer burst into the royal chamber with big news: the conquest campaign had succeeded, adding yet another star conglomerate to the empire. Within hours, the warriors would all be returning. A grand royal feast would be held, and the capital's people, in Terçol, would be allowed to join in the celebrations.
Carolyna and her family watched the government announcements on TV, rolling their eyes. The empire's grandeur came at a steep price. Her deepest and most secret dream was of equality across the world. But here, being a thinking person was a crime, especially for a woman.