I have to say that I quite regret what I did in Seleste's banquet. Since the day after that, another dozens of invitation cards arrived with notice that they actually heard what happened.
I'm having a headache because of these cards I'm seeing, it would be really hard to deny their invitations since they already heard about me, attending the banquet of Seleste.
"Fara, have you heard about Hades?" I asked curiously.
"No your Highness," she answered.
I barely have enough sleep and now I'm having a hard time seeing Hades in the palace. I was about to ask about these invitations to stop the palace from accepting.
How can I even meet all of them? All of the invitations are all about tea parties, I don't know if I can even socialize with those little girls.
I bit my lower lip before I slapped my forehead, this is too much of a headache.
"How about hosting a banquet your Highness?"
I stopped after hearing what she said. "Hosting a banquet? Who? Me?" I asked while pointing my self.
"Yes your Highness." She nodded.
I clapped my hands when my mind approved the idea of Fara, it would be an easy solution to meet all of those nobles if I'm going to host a banquet.
"Lead me to his Highness," I ordered before leaving my room together with Fara.
We arrived inside the Imperial Palace. I can say that it becomes too busy especially when I am seeing knights walking in and out inside the Palace.
My head turned on the left side while walking straight on the path to the area where Hades is staying.
I can see the knights with their naked upper bodies while sparring with each other.
My eyes found Pursues talking with the unfamiliar knight. Well, he's not naked but I can already see his masculine body far from here. Is that even a body of a sixteen years old?
I immediately avoid my eyes when his head turned in my direction. That was too close, I was staring too much.
When we arrived, I took a deep breath and pressed my pulse to stop myself from feeling the suffocation.
Fara knocked the door three times before it opened, Butler Gavin was the one who welcomed us.
"I need to have a talk with his Highness," I said when he looked at me.
He opened the door widely and lowered his head slightly. "It's a pleasure my lady."
When I entered the room, I can feel the sudden tension when I saw Hades sitting on his chair while writing something. His right arm was resting on the table while his left hand was moving together with the pen on his hand.
He stopped before raising his head and looked at me. "You're here Talia, have a seat." He ordered the Butler to prepare a chair for me.
"It's okay your Highness, I'm just here to tell you that I want to host a banquet in my Palace. I was having a hard time accepting the invitations from the noble so maybe I should host a banquet and invite all of them. How's it?"
He snapped his fingers before giving me a smile. "That's fine, do whatever you want. Just tell me what you want and I'll do it," he said before his eyes went back to the papers.
If I asked you to cut your head, will you even do it?
I bowed before giving my farewell. "Thank you, your Highness."
I turned around and walked straight to the door and before I left, I plastered a bright smile when the Butler led me outside.
After the door was closed, I can already see myself making a dark expression. I clenched my fist before flipping my hair, I need the wind to blow the disgusting feeling inside my body.
I can't believe I was like a rat standing in a Tiger's den, I felt how small I am when I entered that suffocating room.
I chuckled before wiping the sweat coming out from my temple.
Fara was beside me, walking silently in the palace hall where I can see different statues.
My mind was blank when we exit the Imperial Palace, it was such a suffocating scene which I don't know if I can even act normal in front of him when we meet again.
"My Lady."
I can already hear myself shouting for Pursues name when I heard his voice. I stopped and turned around, seeing him on his white thin long sleeve with his upper button opened.
Remember Talia, you're still twelve right now. A child like you can't flirt too much, stop thinking about him.
"Hey," I greeted and waved my hand.
I can already see the reaction of Fara beside me, I know Fara. I don't even know why I am acting like this, just stop minding me.
He held my left hand and kissed it before he gave me a glint of smile. "It's been awhile my lady," he says with his fingers scrubbing my hand as if telling me something that I do not understand.
I laughed awkwardly before pulling my hand from him. That was too close, is he playing with me?
"Oh, It's nice to see you again your Highness. You've grown quite taller than the last time I've seen you," I said and looked at him from head to toe.
"Gladly to catch your interest my lady, I'm happy that you're giving me your time just to compliment me."
I can already see his white teeth when he smiled brightly. Really... He's playing with me.
But it's my first time seeing him like that. He was always making a serious or emotionless face unlike today, is he doing that on purpose?
"I'm always like this your Highness, since I love complimenting others especially when they caught my interest." I crossed my fingers and happily gave him a warm smile.
His expression changed, did I say something wrong?
"That's too bad, I like woman with loyalty though. Then, see you my lady."
I can feel my heart throbbing with coldness because of what he said. I can only see his back walking far from us, is he telling me that I'm not his type?
I panicked with horror, is he going to breached our contract with each other?
"Fara," I called.
"Yes your Highness?"
"What would be the best attack against the word loyalty?" I asked, I feel like I lost my soul right now.
"I don't know my lady, maybe you should break up with him," she answered making me stopped and looked at her with my strange expression.
"Are you kidding me?"
She shook her head before she bowed. I can only see her serious expression, she's not helping me.
I giggled in annoyance before I walked out.
I thought he doesn't like any particular woman but why is he telling me that he likes a woman with loyalty?
I thought we're going to break the word 'adultery'?
Am I being dumped by him?
Yeah I guess that's it. He likes a loyal woman and that's not me, okay. That's fine! I can find a better partner for my plan, I don't need him.
I don't need...
Wait, I can still ask him about it right? Maybe it's a misunderstanding, we can still talk about it.
I bit my thumb nail while thinking of how am I going to talk with him. I'm going to be busy starting tomorrow since I'm going to host a banquet.
He's invited though, maybe I can invite him for a dance just like in the past and talk about it.
I snapped my finger before I grinned. Right, there's still chance.
"Master!" Trevor embraced my waist when I entered the room where he is staying. It looks like he's having a comfortable time with Fara since I haven't heard any bad reports coming from Fara's mouth. "I missed you master," he whispered. I just stood up and didn't respond. It was a busy day and I needed him to train, he needs to have physical knowledge about swords. "We're going somewhere Trevor," I said. He remained hugging my waist. "Where?" he asked. I tried to pull his arms circling around my waist but he was reluctant to let go. I took a deep breath and sigh. "It's a secret Trevor so let go of me and follow me," I answered. He was sulking when he let go from hugging my waist. I just shrugged off my thoughts and left the room together with him. We arrived at the backyard of the Emerald Palace seeing Fara and sir Ocea on their sparring uniform.
I was always sitting at the edge of the dining chair far from him as if I am stranger to him. He always say that he loves me that's why I pretend... He always promised that he won't leave me that's why I forget... He always promised that I will stand beside him that's why I trust... Everything I did was all because I love him. I created a large effort, I collect numerous of supports, and in exchange of that is losing my humanity. I kill to have better results, I made them beg on their knees because I know I'm powerful. I lost every emotions because I thought that love alone is fine. The most painful thing that happened to me was betrayal. "Talia we can still talk about this, please trust me. My brother doesn't love you, he's only using you!" "Shut up!" No matter what they say, no matter what they tell me that Hades doesn't love me, I won't believe it. 
I can see myself roaming around the hall trying to find Pursues, I've been curious as to what did he felt when I was gone that long."Your Highness."My eyes stopped on the man standing beside me, he looks a bit older than my father. Who is he?"You might be curious about who I am," he said after giving me a glass of juice.He sipped his wine on his wine glass before looking at me with his playful smile.What the heck is his problem?"I am Duke Richmond your Highness," he said before giving me his hand.I looked at his hand before going back to his face who was still smiling. "Do you know the best music to play in an orchestra?" I asked.He lowered his hand before he answered."I don't know your Highness."I remained unfazed as my eyes landed on the orchestra playing the music that wasn't familiar to me."Vergene Bella," I answered.I glanced at t
10 years later... Judith Slaying Holofernes is a painting by the Italian early Baroque artist Artemisia Gentileschi, the canvas shows Judith beheading Holofernes. The painting shows the moment when Judith, helped by her maidservant Abra, beheads the general after he has fallen asleep in a drunken stupor. I wouldn't like to do such kind of act since I like playing the victim as if I am beheaded. It already happened in the past, on the guillotine, my head was offered. Judith, who uses her beauty and charm to destroy an Assyrian general and save Israel from oppression. Thinking about it, seduction was her best way of taking revenge to that asshole. "Your Highness." I slightly turn my head on my back seeing Duke Richmond walking closely towards my direction. "I see, you've quite taken a like with that painting your Highness," he said while looking at the wall sized painting.
"Your Highness, you never fail to disappoint me with your beauty. Day by day you're becoming a goddess, do you mind giving me a tip?" Duchess Xerafia rolled her eyes when her sister, Xamara Gregor said it. I chuckled. "You don't have to compliment me that much Duchess, we all have our own beauty and yours is quite a beauty of a tulips." "Look at her sister, such a humble lady. I didn't expect you to visit my sister," she said before she called the servant to prepare the eggpies. "And here you are, entertaining my guest instead of taking care of your daughter." Duchess Xiafara opened her hand fan while glaring at her sister. Both of them are really opposite with each other. I first met Duchess Xiafara in Viadel, she was lost that time and I helped her. That was the time when I realized that she is from the manor of Estrella and the sister of Duchess Xamara Gregor, the wife of Duke Frederic Gregor. The Gregor owned the go
"Your Highness?" Sir Ocea put the box he was carrying on the ground before walking closely to us. His eyes moved on Pursues direction who was comfortably giving him a smile while carrying the basket. His eyes shows a question of 'Why is he here?' and I shrug before avoiding my eyes from him. Sorry Sir Idea, but I can't answer your question. "So this is Viadel, what sort of business do you have in here Talia?" Pursues asked while roaming his eyes around the place. "That's... I have my brother living here," I answered. "Brother?" He looked at me with his eyebrows furrowed. "Yes, your Highness. I'm just going to visit him," I answered. I walked pass before him and tapped Sir Ocea's left shoulder. I can't believe I'm having a hard time with Pursues accompanying me. It's just that Trevor might get anxious or think of something bad when he sees Pursues with me. I o
"Your Highness please get up, you have to get ready for the banquet." I opened my eyes and frowned when I realized that I have to attend a banquet today, the worst is that I'm going to attend with Hades as my partner. I haven't had enough sleep because of last night. I giggled in irritation with the thought of attending a banquet with the guy who just sent those men to kill me. I don't know what he's planning inside his mind but I guess it is connected with the banquet today. "Last night, did you caught that man who shoot me with the arrow?" I asked. I sat on the chair in front of the mirror and she started to comb my hair. She shook her head before giving me a black box. "He dropped that your Highness." When I opened the box, a necklace with a dagger was inside. I gritted my teeth before I plastered an annoying smile, he's really desperate. "Phoenix..." I uttered the name of
Third Person's pov."Your Highness—"The loud sound from the broken glass echoed in the corner of the dark room. Hades was cussing inside his head while trying to calm himself in the middle of his anger."Where's that bastard?" he asked firmly."Who, your Highness?" the Butler asked.Hades slammed the table before glaring at the Butler's direction who was looking down, unable to see the appearance of Hades."Phoenix, where is he?" he asked before closing his eyes firmly.The anger he felt cannot be compared on how Talia created an image of a victorious woman when she whispered those words.He was sure that Phoenix can do a better job especially when it's from him, unless Phoenix is a traitor and wanted to sabotage him."The third Prince is nowhere to be seen in the Palace your Highness, I already checked—""Fuck! Shut up! You useless piece