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 the Crown Prince's direction who was talking with other nobles.
"Virgin, if the final misery of human life can forever turn to you for mercy, bow down to hear my prayer, and help me in this, my war, though I am earth, and you the queen of heaven." I turned my head on his direction and I can already see his expression, shock and surprise.
"It's a very meaningful music, a war in the middle of praying for your health as if you're acting like you're not willing to kill just for you to win. Should I sing it for you?" I asked.
He stared longer before his eyes blinked. "Wow, I didn't expect that you would have to show me such outstanding performance."
I shook my head before drinking the remaining juice on the glass.
"It was just a simple introduction of myself Duke, I sought the revenge with bloodshed using my heels, that's why I'm still standing here looking unharmed."
"Are you inviting me to join your war your Highness?" he asked.
I chuckled and wiped my lips using the clean towel. "If you can satisfy me as my soldier than I'll let you join, I'm a picky person by the way. I've given up the word trust in exchange of humanity," I said before leaving him with his startled face.
I walked on the dark hallway from the exit of the banquet hall, I turned around before seeing the path where I can already see the balcony of the Palace.
I moved my body on the balcony before resting my arms on the stone railing and relaxed myself by seeing the moon neatly giving a good evening.
I've been focused on my past that's why I couldn't let go my fear of seeing Hades, I couldn't let go the guiltiness when I'm seeing Pursues, and I couldn't let go my hatred when I'm seeing Trevor.
I've been too focused on myself as the past me, forgetting that it's already in the past, it's already done and I cannot go back anymore.
The only thing I can do is to continue what I needed to do—to get back everything that was stolen to me especially the throne.
I should focused on the goal alone because it only repeat what happened in the past if I will not move forward and move on.
All through the banquet I didn't see Pursues, I was reluctant to ask the knights about him because they might think of something else about it.
I sighed with disbelief, there's something wrong about him, not attending the banquet especially when it's his father's birthday.
I frowned before blowing my hands to lessen the cold of my body. I've been standing here for almost half of an hour, waiting for Pursues.
This is the pathway of the entrance of the banquet hall for royalties so I'm sure that he will pass through here.
I waited and waited until the banquet ended... He didn't come, he didn't pass through here.
I went back inside the Emerald Palace while wearing a gloomy expression, I thought that I would've met him if I wait for him but I was wrong.
It's not like it's his obligation to meet me since he didn't promised and we haven't met for three months but I was expecting... But it truly doesn't matter if we meet or not.
Since I'm nothing to him.
"Your Highness—"
She immediately catch me when I fell on my way back to my room. I leaned on her shoulder before I chuckled weakly.
"Where's Trevor?" I asked.
"He's inside your Highness," she answered.
I stood up quickly before I took a deep breath. It's been three months but it took me too long to realize that I should tell him about what I feel, I need to console myself and lessen my hatred.
He was a victim of love just like me, I betrayed people because of love and that was the same as him. We strive hard to earn love from the people we loved and loses the will of living when they doesn't loved you back.
I entered the room silently and I saw him, sitting on the side of the bed while looking outside of the window.
Trevor, do you think you can forgive yourself if your realized that you did something unforgivable in the past? Will you regret it? Or maybe... Will you repeat it again?
"Trevor..." Despite all the questions floating inside my mind, his name was the only word I can utter.
His head turn in my direction before he plastered a smile. "Good evening, Master."
I slowly sat beside him and formed a soft smile as a greeting.
"Do you really want to go back?" I asked.
He nodded and played his fingers.
A faint smile appeared on my lips, it's for the better.
Fara told me that Trevor wants to go back to Sir Oak's house and train. He said that he might get stronger if he's with Sir Oak since mercenaries are good in swords and combat.
"I will come and visit you every weekends," I said.
He nodded and stand up before he was on his knees holding my left hand and gave it a soft kiss.
On bended knees he spoke the promise that I didn't expect to hear from him.
"As God as my witness, I will be your knight. I will protect you with all my life and will only bow down on you, I will never betray you. I will take this as my oath to promise that I, Trevor Paradis, will protect and stay by your side forever."
Oh Trevor, you really did your best of making me faze by your words.
Since you already took an oath for me, it's my turn now.
I pressed my palm together and crossed my fingers before I smirked.
"As God as my witness, I will be the Empress."
It's okay to take an oath without the upper's permission since I don't believe in God, it's only right for me to take an oath that will succeed in the future.
I am going to be called 'Your Majesty' and stepped my foot on their dead bodies.
Trevor already left my room, he's going to go back by tomorrow in Viadel with Sir Ocea as his guardian.
Fara was combing my hair softly while I remain my eyes on the mirror, everytime I see my face, the image of my pathetic self in the past would always appear.
How I bit nails and pulled my hair repeatedly, it was tough and I know that I am no longer be able to see myself as a human.
It was such a hard life, but it's already fine. I am already doing my best for myself and for the people that I must protect.
"Fara, do you have any news about Pursues?" I asked.
She stopped before looking at my reflection on the mirror.
"No, your Highness."
I frowned before I stood up and turned around on her direction. She was giving me a bored look as if I am child standing in front of her which is true, but my mind isn't child at all.
"Don't lie Fara," I said.
She sighed before she put the comb on the table. "Pursues was sent to the war," she answered.
I stunned before my forehead fumed. There's no way, Pursues is still sixteen.
"Don't make me laugh, there's no wat that Pursues is allowed in that age to be in a war."
"I am the evidence your Highness, I already killed seven people when I was only six," she said with her expression darkened.
I didn't expect that Hades would hire such woman like her, I am really a good picker.
"When did they sent him to the war?" I asked.
"A month after you are comatose, he visited you your Highness but you weren't awake," she answered.
My eyes widened. "R-Really?"
She nodded.
So it wasn't me who was dumped but he was, I dumped him because I slept for too long.
Imagining the reason why he visited me makes me anxious.
Pursues, when will you go back?
"I'll wait for you," I whispered.
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
Talia's Pov. I swallowed hard before stretching my fingers to ease the tension I am feeling inside. I coughed and pressed my chest to stop myself from panicking. There was a long way for me to succeed and this is the battle where I can use my power as the Crown Princess. I need to gamble my advantage and lessen my disadvantage inside the door after this, the aristocrats meeting will be happened. Aristocrats meeting where the table is the one controlling each of every seat of the highest to the lowest nobility. When I felt that I'm already set, I formed a bright smile on my lips before opening the door. The loud chatters from the nobles echoed the whole room, such a stupid sight. My eyes landed on my father who was waving his hand, I waved back and smiled sincerely. The nobles started to lower their chatters when they felt my presence until
Betrayal is the most painful knife that could stab your heart for a million of times. It is the most painful weapon that I am afraid of. That feeling of breaking, in tears, and dying because of being betrayed. You will never have the chance to see the reason why you were betrayed because of how painful it is. Especially when it's the person you trusted the most and yet... That person betrayed you. I flipped the last page of the magazine before I raised my head on the person who just entered. "Greetings your Highness," he greeted before he slightly bowed. I offered him a seat before I closed the magazine and gave him a bright smile. "It's been a while Duke Richmond," I said. "You've been busy for how many weeks your Highness, how's your plan?" he asked before sipping the tea I've prepared for him. "Actually, the reason why I called because I wanted to
Fara raised the umbrella on the sun's direction to avoid myself from getting hit by the sun's light.We walked through the path where the noble ladies are having a tea party. Hades invited these ladies for me to have a good time before the engagement party, but how can I have a good time? They're all stupid.I fanned myself while walking elegantly, wearing a fierce look while looking straight to the ladies creating a loud chatters at the garden."Can you feel my body blazing annoyingly?" I asked."No your Highness, you're much more beautiful than them," she answered.I rolled my eyes with what she answered. I know that I'm beautiful but her answer was different from what I asked.When we arrived at the garden, I coughed in silent before I plastered a warm smile."Good morning ladies," I greeted.All of their heads turn in my direction and immediately stood up before they b