Chapter 3

The chirp sound from the bird resting on the tree makes me calm in the middle of having his presence. 

He was reading a book while crossing his legs, not even giving me a slight glimpse. 

I sipped the tea from the teacup and elegantly put it back on the table. 

The sound of the wind, the sound of the trees, all of it was too familiar to me. 

I turn my gaze on the side where the big tree and a swing can be seen, the memories of my young self hiding behind the tree while staring at Hades, reading on his book while sitting on the swing, it flashed inside my mind. 

I remember how my young self was head over heels to have his attention, I fell in love with him because of the thought that he was meant for me. 

Since the day I was born, I was crowned with the Crown Princess title since I am the only woman with the highest nobility in aristocrats table. 

I was destined to be in his side, that I am going to be his wife and we're going to live as a family, ruling over the Sylvestre Empire, but I was wrong. 

Everything was just an illusion. 

A lie that I thought was true, I tried so hard to earn his love by doing everything for him to ascend the throne, but in exchange of giving my everything to him, when I lost everything that was mine, he left me. 

I realized that the thoughts I was holding in myself that the throne was destined to me, the only thing I never had was his love. 

He was never mine since the beginning until the end. 

"Are you okay?" 

My eyes moved on his direction, he was looking at me with his eyebrows furrowed. 

I smiled. "Of course your Highness, your presence makes me happy." 

His lips moved before his eyes returned to the book, he moved the pages before he spoke.

"I saw tears coming out from your eyes."

My heart beats rapidly and I quickly wiped away the tears from my eyes, dammit.

"I just remembered something, a memories that I cannot forget... " I said with my deep tone trying to hide the bitterness I am feeling. 

He didn't look at me, he was just reading his book not minding what I just said. 

How heartless. 

We stayed like this until the night started to arise. He invited me inside the palace and silently walked towards the dining area. 

When we reached the dining hall, the servants were aligned at the right side of the long shining table with the lined different dishes. 

Before I could open my mouth, the elegant door from the right side suddenly opened and I saw the other Royalty siblings entered with their servants. 

The memories flashed inside my mind, they all died before Hades had the title of 'Heir of the Throne'. They were killed because of a reason that they are blocking the path of Hades ascending to the throne. 

I couldn't believe that I would have a dinner with these people, I was the main reason of their death. 

I remember everything I did for Hades just for him to ascend the throne, I did tremendous effort even if it means going against the law, I did it because I thought that I am destined for him, that I will be on his side when everything will be his. 

I didn't realized that the efforts I've made, I lost myself thinking that everything was mine, especially him. 

But I was wrong, it was all a lie, a poisonous lie that made me gone mad for earning the position of being his wife. 

I was stupid thinking that he was mine, but I was wrong, because he was never mine since the beginning until the end. 

I shuddered with horror when my eyes landed on the last man who entered the dining hall, Pursues Sylvestre. 

He was the second among in line of the throne, he was a great man with his competency as the Commander of the knights, he would have been a great ruler.

He was the last battle that made me gone mad from feeling guilty, every night I kept dreaming his face, how he begged me that one night before he died. 

He begged me on bended knees with his eyes full of tears, he begged me to help him with the rebellion, he told me all his plans and promised that he would keep me safe if I will help him, but instead of helping him, I told Hades everything. 

His plans and his promises that ended his life. 

I betrayed him and I was betrayed by  the reason of betraying Pursues. 

I couldn't take off my eyes from him until he look in my direction with nothing but emotionless face. 

"Talia?" Hades tapped my shoulder making me flinched for a bit. 

I avoided my eyes from Pursues and looked at Hades who was staring at me, coldly. 

"I wasn't inform that I will have a dinner together with the other Princes," I said trying to avoid the uncomfortable tone. 

He stared longer until his eyes transferred on the dining table where his siblings are seated, not giving us a look. 

"Do you want me to take you in your chamber?" he asked. 

Oh, it feels like a Deja Vu suddenly appeared before me. That was the exact word I heard when I first stepped my foot inside Palace. 

The difference is that in the past, we were in the presence of the Emperor but now, we are in the presence of his siblings. 

"No, your Highness. It's fine," I said. 

He looked at me before he held the vacant chair in front of Pursues, I sat on the chair before him and stayed silent before the bell rings. 

The princes started to eat without hearing a word from them. 

Until the dinner ended, I haven't heard any words from them. They were all silent especially Pursues, he was like that in the past too. 

He was this silent guy that didn't caught my attention because I thought he was boring. 

There was one time when I had a dance with him, it was a banquet celebrated in the palace. 

Hades wasn't present that time that's why I invited him for a dance. Aside from being a silent guy, he didn't even looked at me with interest in his eyes, it was like he's seeing me as a normal person with no background, with no title on my head. 

If I could go back to that day when he begged me to help him, would everything had changed? 

"You're staring at me too much my lady." 

I gasped and immediately looked down, I didn't know that I was staring at him while reminiscing. 

"You've gone quite bold brother, you're talking with my Fiancee as if I am not here." Hades wiped his mouth using a tissue before crossing his arms, looking at Pursues with nothing but emotionless face. 

Pursues doesn't seems to mind his brother's nag, he was still looking at me making me more uncomfortable. 

"Hah, bastard." Hades lifted my chin before before pulling me up. 

"Let's go, I'll take you to your room. You're tired right?" he said while his eyes remained on Pursues. 

I wanted to laugh because of what I am seeing, I've known him for a long time and that he hates Pursues because of one reason.

Pursues is more powerful than him. 

I left my mouth closed when we left the dining hall, I was just letting my body getting swept by him. 

We stopped in the middle of the pathway before the long staircase. 

"Don't talk to him Talia," he says. 

My eyebrows furrowed, is he that afraid to lose his position as the heir? 

"Your Highness what are you talking about?" I asked innocently. 

I heard him hissed before looking at me, I saw how his eyes darken. "Don't get involved with him, or I'll be mad."

I want to burst a laugh because of what he said, how can he easily say those words when he left me in the past without even telling me that he loved me? 

Mad? I should've correct you Hades, you're an asshole. There wasn't a time when you looked at me with emotions in your eyes, you were just ordering me like a dog and feed me with your stupid promises. 

I let out a comforting smile. "Don't worry your Highness, I'm all yours. Talia will only follow you until the end," I said.

I saw a glimpse of emotion from his eyes that I didn't understand because it disappeared quickly. 

He turned his back from me and before he left, he told me that the Butler already prepared my chamber. 

When he was gone, I was left alone in this dark pathway where the moon can be seen brightly. 

I can feel my hair dancing accompanied by the cold wind, as I hid the tip of my hair at the back of my ear, my eyes landed on the man leaning against the wall while staring at me. 

He was making a cold face while not taking off his eyes from me. 

Then a sudden memory suddenly flashed inside my mind, that night when we danced on that peaceful banquet, he told me something that I now understand. 

"Are you not interested in me your Highness?" 

His body was well-build figure that would really make other women drool over him. His hands are gentle when touching my skin especially my hips, it looks like he's being careful when he's  touching me. 

"You're already a diamond, it would be a shame to hold you with my dirty hands." 

That night, I was offended because I thought he was using his words to tell me that he's not interested in me, but now I understand. 

The cold wind feels like pushing me to the bottom of my thoughts, I want to apologize, I want to kneel in front of him and begged him for forgiveness, but I couldn't do that. 

The only thing I can do was to smile at him. 

"It's a cold night isn't it your Highness?" I asked. 

He didn't respond, he was just staring at me. What is he thinking? Is he thinking about me? 

"Your Highness, do you want to commit adultery?" 

His lips moved and I saw his eyes blinked before he crossed his arms. 

"What do you mean?" he asked. 

I chuckled and moved my eyes on the moon's direction, I'm already starting my revenge and in order to get back what's mine, I need him.

"I would like to propose a deal your Highness," I said while my eyes remained on the moon's direction.

"What is it?" 

I will take him even if it means playing a dirty games against the Empire, since I have always been dirty in the past, I will do it for my success, to have my revenge perfectly. 

"I will make you the Emperor, your Highness."