"Puff!""Puff!"Idris swung his sword into the air as though there was a target in his mind, while breathing heavily. "Ahhh!"Suddenly hearing the voice, as Idris opened his eyes he was taken aback. "Lady Ca-Cathy..."Cathy smiled sheepishly at him, and then she stared at the sword that was pointing towards her. "Uhmm, are you planning to use this on me?""Huh? Oh, I'm so sorry. I didn't..." Putting down his sword, he smiled apologetically."It's alright, I know you didn't mean it.""I was too focused on training, haha... Anyway, when did you come?" Sitting on the bench, Idris drank some water and she followed after him. "Just a while ago, I saw you were practising so I didn't want to disturb you.""Oh, it's nothing like that. You should have told me so I wouldn't keep you waiting for me. It's not good for a lady to wait for a man." "Well, you looked so charming while practising that I couldn't take my eyes off of you." Her sarcastic comment got him choked on the water. Idris coughe
"Neigh!"Suddenly as the horse hitched up, Idris was taken aback. To go hunting he came alone, he didn't even tell anyone about where he was going to."Sir, please. Please help me." A woman appeared in front of him, her long shiny hair messy, her clothes torn and dirt on her face and clothes. She looked like someone from a commoner's house.Idris looked at her carefully then he asked, "What happened? Miss.""Me... Men...""Calm down, Miss. And then tell me what happened."The woman looked terrified, she looked at a close distance with fearful eyes and uttered in a trembling tone of voice, "Some men... Men are chasing me, they have il... ill intentions, I... I... "Upon hearing her, Idris looked around and then he followed her gaze, she was looking around with restless gaze as if someone would come to kill her from anytime and anywhere."Who are they? Are they near? Can you tell me?""I... I don't. The men... They are bad people, I was out in the mountains to look for some herbs f... F
"Wait, why does the panel show that I still have 2 more missions to complete? The last time I checked it showed that I had only one mission... So strange!"[Your 48th mission: Unleash your special power.]"Wait, what is it supposed to mean?" For some time, Idris kept looking at the panel and tried to understand what Skie was talking about."What special power? I can only use mana but since the day my aura acted up, mana as if blacklisted me. I can't control it or use it the way I could in the past... Except that, I hold nothing. What is this stupid system talking about?"[I am not stupid. I am not stupid.]Hearing Skie's voice, Idris narrowed his brows at him. "If you are not stupid why are you saying something that doesn't make any sense? Or do you think I am the stupid one to believe it?""Hey, say something. Skie? What do you mean by I have some special power? Hey? I am soon going to leave this place, what is this nonsense now?"Idris kicked on the chair and let out a sigh of annoy
"Can we really leave him here? What if he survives and wakes up?""Wake up? Him? Oh, come on. Dude, he is a weak human. He is dead now, he will never wake up again.""Still, I don't know I'm having a bad feeling about this. Can't we check again?" "Damn it! I said he is dead, did you forget how many times we stabbed him? How can an ordinary human being wake up after getting stabbed by dark magic so many times? Stop sounding ridiculous. Now, we need to focus on the things we have come here to look for."Some voices spoke whisperingly near his ears, he couldn't hear them so clearly but not so blurry either. The slow footsteps moving away and their voices as well... 'Wait, am I in heaven? Of course, I have died right? And the bed... it feels like a soft but cold one...' Idris opened his eyes and looked at the surroundings, he found himself lying on the cold floor."Ahhh, heaven feels so familiar. My god!" Slowly he stood up, and just as he was about to brush his clothes to get the dust
"Why doesn't it work at all? I am sure they did it like this in the modern drama in my world." Idris confusedly kept looking at his index finger. He pointed it towards his cup of coffee and moved his finger in a circle then he excitedly kept looking at the cup but then again, his face was full of sadness. "So annoying!""What is so annoying?" Suddenly as the familiar voice spoke up from behind, Idris turned around and smiled, "Your Royal Highness.""I told you not to call me that, remember." Lionel smiled at him and walked to him."It feels a little weird to call you by your name, far more if people hear me they will spread all kinds of rumours.""Well, since when did you start caring about what others think? It's not likely you at all." "I don't really care but still better be careful, right? Far more, I don't want you to get involved in some stupid rumours because of me.""Hmm, that's a caring friend I got I guess. Anyway, you didn't answer me yet. What is so annoying?"Idris shyl
"Do not be rude to her, though she has done a lot of bad things in the past she has changed now."Upon hearing the familiar voice ringing in his head, Idris pinched himself. "Wait, are you back?""Yes, I am back. I apologise for suddenly appearing without notice and also I'm sorry for leaving you alone without any prior notice." Mana voiced, in an apologetically tone. "It's alright, I thought you were angry at me that's why you left all of a sudden without telling me. You didn't even appear in front of me after that so...""Well, back then I was also surprised but I didn't leave on my own, I had no choice. The demonic aura inside you is too strong to deal with, I tried to deal with it back then but at last I had to give up. And because of that aura, I was blocked until now.""Ehh? Then how come you are here?""Oh, it might be because of your new strength. I was sleeping but suddenly I could see you and even hear your voice so I guessed that I was back.""I see. It's great to have you
"Master. Listen to me for at least once, please."Idris aggressively swung his sword in the air, he kept training for so long. Even though he was sweating like a pig, he didn't bother stopping at all. Angrily, he continued throwing his swords here and there. "I know you are angry but please, hear her out first. You trust me right? I am telling you that every word she said in the cell is true, she didn't fake a word o...""Slash!""Master."Ignoring mana, Idris tossed his sword at his guard and started wiping off his body aggressively."The lady didn't really lie, I know you are angry because these things don't make any sense to you and... Ahh, this is not the time for you to be angry. Think about what that woman said, if we take note of it and the recent events that happened to you.""Slash!""Master! Think about it, recently you have been attacked many times. If it happened in the past, I would think that it was the Duke's family but now since the Duke has been taken care of, I don'
"Knock!""Ahh, stop knocking." Irritated, Idris hit his head gently and Mana whimpered."I told you, I will unblock you when I feel like it. Till then sit still and don't say anything at all."Walking to the horse, Idris was about to get on when suddenly Kian ran to him. Struggling to breathe, he uttered, "Your Grace, there's... There's bad news.""What happened?""Miss... Miss Maryn is dead." Kian replied, taking deep breaths.Idris was too stunned to speak, he saw her when they had a conversation in the cell and since then he didn't go to talk to her."When...""Yesterday night. The guard said she was still fine last night when he saw her but when he went this morning to give her food he found her lying on the floor all dead..." Kian explained."I am telling the truth, please trust me. It's better for you to accept the truth sooner. I am not lying." Those words she kept saying when Idris was leaving the prison cell... It continuously echoed in his ears. Idris felt suffocated and nau
* A week later *"Madam, how about this dress? Would you like to try this one?""Wow, it looks so pretty. Yes, I want to try it. Do you think I will look good?" Cathy shyly looked at the dress that the shop owner showed her."Of course, you will look beautiful in it.""Thank you."Cathy was busy looking at the dresses, some maids were helping her while some were busy flattering her. "The palace has become more lively since she has been staying here, isn't it?" Walking to him, Willem gave him a pat on the shoulder and Idris's gaze shifted to him."Were you not busy working on the new project? Why are you here?" In a cold tone of voice, Idris questioned him."You don't seem happy that I'm here."Noticing how Idris was looking at him like he would beat the hell out of him anytime, Willem cleared his throat. "Yeah, I'm busy because of the project but I am here because... Lady Cathy has invited me to the evening's party.""You could have said no.""I don't want to."Not only Willem, anyon
* Six months later *Knock!No response. Knock again!No response. "Uhmm, Your Majesty. Maybe, Madam is reading books again. When she's too much into the book, she is delved into it she might not hear us." The head maid, Bora asserted so in a humble manner."Alright. I want to see my wife, you can leave.""Yes, sir."Standing outside the door, Idris waited for a moment before opening the door from outside. Inside the room, many ancient furniture was kept, it was decorated beautifully, a perfect room for a newlywed couple.He looked around in search of his wife and his eyes fixated on the sofa where she was laying on her stomach, her eyes glued to the book in her hand."Is the book that interesting? Are you having fun?"Upon hearing the voice, she looked at him and she jumped to hug him. "Idris, you are back.""I thought I was getting abandoned again." Idris voiced, with a pout."I'm sorry, I was... You know... too focused on the book so I did not hear the calling. Hehe." Cathy looke
"I have been wanting to kill you for a long time now, you have got such good luck that every time you are saved. But today, I promise you. You will die a painful death in my hand." Lionel confidently looked at his sword with which he had planned to stab him."Que el trueno caiga sobre tu cabeza.""Oh, come on. Do not try anything funny. You are going to die anyway." Idris closed his eyes and Lionel laughed again, thinking he was scared of him. There was barely an inch of distance between the two, taking a look at his sword as Lionel raised his hand to stab him suddenly the cloud started roaring.A thunderstorm that nobody ever saw in their lives befallen on the palace. Lionel took a step back and looked around, "What the heck is happening?"In no time, the guards were thrown at the wall and they fell on their stomach, screaming in pain. In utter disbelief, Lionel stared at Idris who stood still with closed eyes and in anger, as he moved forward a sudden coldness surrounded him."What
"So, is the emperor really going to put you in the position?"Letting out a sigh of defeat, Idris nodded his head. "I tried talking to him, I told him I don't need it but he did not listen. He insisted on doing it. He said that he will go back to the palace, talk to Lionel and others then make arrangements for me to take over the throne officially.""I can understand, he met his real son after all these years. Of course, he will want to give you everything that you have lost but the problem here is..."Interrupting Willem, he added in a heavy tone of voice, "The problem is my father does not know how dangerous Lionel is. Since he just woke up and is still in the recovery phase, I don't want him to be stressed so I did not tell him about Lionel's true identity but it's dangerous. I don't want him to know where the emperor is staying right now.""What is the emperor doing now?""He is waiting for Lionel to come... He did not want to wait longer so I could only shift him to my palace. He
"Idris, what are you doing here?""Mika, why is it you?"Idris couldn't believe he just met Mika, the shock of meeting her again after so many months had passed Idris was so overwhelmingly happy. "That's a long story, I cannot tell you about it right now. Mika, do you work for the emperor?""Uhmm, yes. Wait, don't tell me... Are you looking for the emperor?"Nodding his head, Idris took a look around. "I am here to find him but I don't know in which room he is at so I was here. Mika, please take me to him. I need to see him as soon as possible.""Someone is coming. Idris, come with me."Idris followed her, until now he was excited and had mixed emotions but now when he was getting closer to meet him, he did not know what he felt.Stopping in front of the door, Mika suddenly stopped. She bit her lips while taking a step back."Mika, what's wrong? We need to hurry or else someone will see us.""You can't enter.""What do you mean?"In a sad tone of voice, Mika explained, "Only the chos
"Mr. Willem, do you think things will go as we planned?" Cathy asked, looking out the window worriedly. "I hope it does. I am also worried but I believe Idris has his plan.""Yes, I also trust him. I know when he plans something he will put his mind to it and give his 100% but... But still, it's the emperor this time. And the crown prince is not a human, he is a psychopath. What if... Something goes wrong? I can't help thinking about it." Cathy added. Like Idris said he had a plan but he left to do the task all by himself.Willem let out a sigh and nodded his head, "You are right. I am also worrying about that, let's hope for the best.""Yes..."* The Serenity Palace *"My prince, here...""Aaaa."A woman on his left fed him a fruit while Lionel was laid on the couch, leisurely moving around and looking at his other women who were serving him. While some massaged his body, some were busy feeding him fruits and some were in other things."My prince, would you like some wine?" One of t
"What do you want to say? Just say it. Miss Alpin." Lia moved forward a little, her hands trembling as she asked, "Are you really married?""Yes." Idris firmly answered."But you were supposed to wait for me. You..." Lia held onto the corner of her gown as she found it hard for the words to come out of her mouth, "You should have married me. We...""Miss Alpin... I have never said that I would marry you.""No, you...""I still remember what I told you that day. I told you, Miss Alpin that you will find someone better. I was not worthy of your care." Idris voiced out stiffly. Since the last time he met Lia, he thought that was their last meeting. Though at first he felt bad to use her, but he hoped she would meet someone better and not get involved in the world's conspiracy but..."It's... It should not be like this. I have been waiting for you for so long, Idris. I have left everything and focused on only getting to meet you again. I have done all I could to come this far, then why.
* Two months later *"Young Master, Duke Idris has arrived."Taking a sip in the glass of wine, Lionel looked at the butler who had his eyes fixated on the floor. The butler who worked for him, looked strangely calm yet the uneasiness and fear he was having couldn't escape Lionel's gazes. He leaned a little backwards in his chair and questioned in a gentle tone of voice, "How about my guest?""She is waiting for the call in the guest room."Lionel stared at the nearest building and nodded his head slightly, "Alright, it's time for a great show. Get him here.""Yes, Young Master."'The Serenity Palace', was known as the emperor of Oregano, Randolph Arshelan's palace. Rumours had it that the emperor was too infatuated with the palace for some reason so he wouldn't let anyone not even his son in the palace. Seated on his horse, Idris looked at the magnificent building in the distance. His eyes fell on the board on which the words 'Serenity Palace' were carved beautifully. His hatred was
"Of course, we can meet on the weekend as well. Though I have a busy schedule but for you, I can make time. Let's go on a date..."Kian was busy talking to a woman he met in the banquet, as he saw Cathy in a vulnerable state he was hella worried. "Lady Cathy, what happened? Why do you look like this?""Idris... He...""What happened to boss? Where is he?" Kian looked in the direction she just came from but sadly, he couldn't see him and he got more tensed."Idris... Idris jumped from the building. In... In front of my eyes, he...""What? Where did he jump? Wait, take me there."Kian ran after Cathy, going to the exact location from where Idris jumped awhile ago Kian kept searching around but he couldn't even smell Idris's cologne. "What happened? Tell me from the beginning.""We... We were..."* * *"Huff!""Huff!"Everywhere his gaze fell on, Idris could see only dark. His breath hitched and his legs were literally trembling. Idris didn't know for how long he had been running but hi