Ragi followed from a distance, each moment causing him to be more suspicious than the last. The princess who was supposed to be sightseeing was yet to say a word or even acknowledge the places they were going through.She was silent and stiff with occasional nods but nothing more. “Sir, I don't think they mean harm. We've been following them for hours now and all they have done is enjoy the view of the city,” one of the men spoke up. “Enjoy? Do you call this plain walk with occasional nods of enjoyment? If you ask me, this seems like some kind of arrangement. They probably know we are onto them so they are trying to behave as naturally as possible,” Ragi argued. The men exchanged glances. They didn't buy his theory but none was brave enough to dispute it. “So we keep following them?”“Yes. I will return to the palace to speak with the Emperor but you must make sure to keep guard. Watch them closely, alright?” He instructed.“Yes, General.”Meanwhile, Ivory was seated in her room,

“The rumors are circulating again. Are they still false?” Mona asked the minute Styles entered the room. “I am not ready to discuss this with you,” he took off his jacket and then cast her a look she couldn't decipher. “You should leave now, I need rest.” Before Ivory could speak, the door opened and a second guest entered. Heli noticed the tension in the room as soon as she walked in but none of it concerned her. “Your Majesty,” she bowed. “I hope you don't mind company. I am bored out of my mind, some interaction would help,” Heli spoke, deliberately ignoring Ivory. “Of course not. You are welcome, anytime,” Styles gleefully replied. Ivory's fists clenched as rage fueled within her. Heli threw her a glance, then with mock remorse, she said, “I didn't notice you had company already. I hope I am not interrupting anything.” “Nonsense! You are not interrupting anything. The Empress was just about to leave,” Styles answered and Ivory gaped at him. This was nothing like the man sh

“What brings you to my abode, Cedric?” The voice would have been scary to anyone else but Cedric had known this man long enough to tell that he wasn't half as scary as his voice was. “I brought a proposal I'm sure you would be interested in,” Cedric responded, staring at the curtain separating him and the man with a relaxed expression.There was no response for almost a minute.“Hope you don't mind asking your maids to entertain me while you contemplate on my words,” Cedric said, signaling one of the maids over. “I'll like some meat and strong wine,” he ordered and she nodded before leaving. “Does this offer have to do with taking a life?” The man asked. “Does it matter?” Cedric retorted. “It does. I told you I do not walk that path anymore. I am trying to give back to my people what nature has blessed…”“Cut it out, Rim. You didn’t recite a speech when we were eliminating the Emperor,” Cedric interrupted.“No, because then it seemed like nothing It is one of the acts I am asham

“What has gotten into you?! We were here to have a peace talk and you went ahead to injure her!” Ragi sounded exasperated but Ivory was raging mad too.“Don't you dare blame me for my actions, Ragi! You saw what happened there. She provoked me! Was I supposed to fold my arms and smile at her?” Ivory fumed.Ragi ruffled his hair, glancing at the swarm of doctors surrounding the bleeding Princess. Ivory had gone all out on the attack and surprisingly, the princess didn't even make a single attempt to fight back. Ragi was smart enough to know that it wasn't because she was powerless. A woman with ulterior motives wouldn't mind getting beaten to a pulp to execute her manipulation.“I understand you, perfectly but you should know that you are a queen. You shouldn't let your anger get the best of you. At all times, you should try to be diplomatic. The Emperor will not take this lightly,” Ragi tries to explain calmly.“To hell with the Emperor! If he had just stuck to the vows he made to me

“I do not wish to remain married to you.”Her words still echoed in his mind hours after he left her cell. He had been too stunned to give any response then so he simply left the cell.He wanted to dismiss her words as a mere bluff but his heart wasn't buying it. Somewhere in his guts, he felt that it wasn't just an empty threat.He sat on his bed, thinking about the recent happenings. In the last few days, he felt lost. Like everything happening around him was beyond his control.Sometimes, it felt like he had no control over his actions either. His mind would agree on something and he would end up doing another.Styles lay on his bed. Whether he was overthinking or not, he knew one thing for sure. He would never let Ivory go. He would never forgive himself if he did.Meanwhile, the eunuch entered while Heli was having her lunch. He heard what happened to her earlier, but since the Emperor was with her, he couldn't come in. Now she was alone, they could talk freely. “My Princess…”