It’s been almost a month since I’ve dated Azher. How time flies, it’s already his coronation day. Yes, his coronation day. Azher had won the election by receiving 60% of the votes – over half of the folks wanted him to be emperor!
He’ll ascend the throne as Ardiane’s 18th emperor today, at 3:00 p.m. I’m happy, very happy for him, and because no rebellion or riot will be happening – Lilith was prisoned instantly right after Azher learned of Aiden’s abuse. He reported her to His and Her Majesty immediately. Though he hides the fact that Lilith is the criminal who killed his mother and brother because he wishes to punish her himself. I guess behind those abhorring attitudes lies a yard of family love for his brother.
I sit on a black metal bench along the road in Winter Palace, elbows on my lap while resting my chin on my palms – very un-noble-lady-like. Despite the countless bushes of breathtaking flowers and other plants planted around by Azher’s late mother,
My palms withdraw my face which is wearing a desperate expression of denial. “Yuri, it’s nothing like-!” A force pulls me, bumping into a muscular figure. “Thank you for the compliment, Lady Yurisina.” Azher says, grasping me around the shoulders. She nods, satisfied with this kind of reaction. “Or… should I address you as ‘Your Grace’?” He adds, passing my blush to her. Yuri’s white fair skin turns red in less than a second to Azher’s comment. She lowers her head, hiding the prettiest strawberry in my life. I softly giggle. This time, it’s my turn to enjoy Yuri’s cute reactions. “Pardon me, Your Grace, but may I borrow Ki-” My elbow punches into his stomach – he’s about to speak my real name. He bends a little from the pain – though being blocked by me – and changes his words, getting the hint. “-llian’s lady?” “Y-Yes.” Yuri stutters then lift her head to Azher. “Please don’t call me that, Your Highness. Her Grace wil
My eye muscles open my heavy eyelids. I blink a few times for my sight is blackish. When I’m about to rub my eyes, I can’t move my hands. They’re tied behind me – to a pole perhaps. The smell of straws-like strikes my sense of smell. By then, I realize I’m in a barn, sitting on the ground with my hands tied. Why am I in this condition? What happened? Am I kidnapped? Forcing my brain to search the library of memories despite feeling pain from doing so, the memory of what happened at the wine cellar flashes. “Phantom!” I scream as my brain is still playing the memory. D*mn it! How can I be so reckless to be kidnapped by that despicable b*stard? “You call?” A voice speaks from above. As my head looks up, something falls to the ground, flying bags of dust from straws and hays to me. I don’t cough, not bothered by the dust one bit. They don’t deserve my awareness and attention right now, the good-for-nothing animal in front of me does. “…Phantom.”
“Remember that day when you fought with Azher in the carriage? That wasn’t him. It was me disguised as him.” He says, letting go of my cheek, then backs away. I freeze for a moment, then angrily yell, “Impossible! There’s no way-” “There are things called spells, sweetheart.” Marius cuts, suddenly appear by my ear with a smelly bitter bean-like breath. Oh, how I regret not learning addition magic and spells – I only know how to use my flames and a magic detector spell. “You’re also in my death note, but I want you to suffer the feeling of knowing the ones you love are being killed without being able to do anything about it.” Killian continues, very much wishing for my misery. “Don’t worry. I’ll give you Azher’s corpse as a gift.” A sly smile on his face while he speaks. “Killian Enzo, you monster! Crazy maniac! Insolent b*stard! A*shole! Go rot in hell!” I curse him with all my might. “Marius, let’s go. She can’t do anything i
My attire is already stained with blood and my blade is almost dull from protecting myself – stabbing those who wish to stab me. Aiden and Adam went to protect our family members along with some elite knights – they’re confident I can protect myself. Felix is standing in front of me, acting as my sword and shield along with the imperial knights that are surrounding me. The battlefield never pauses. By every minute, my sword stabs yet another traitor. I find it dumb and hilarious to those who dare to attack me, Ardiane’s best swordsman. “What’s Regal’s status?” I ask, closing my back to Felix’s back for a new strategy. The knights that were protecting me earlier had either died heroically or ran from utter fear of death. “No reports. Still searching.” I throw my sword which hits the head of a traitor. “I’m finding her myself.” Firmness fills my words as I pick up another one of the lying unowned sharp swords. Felix stops me – standing i
“Huff… Huff…” I try to catch my breath due to fighting all the hypnotized knights that came storming us like a tsunami. “You alright?” Azher asks, turning his head around to me while stabbing a knight in the chest using the third sword he had taken from the corpses. “Can’t be better.” I say, slashing the chest of a knight that was about to pounce on me. “Don’t turn your back on the enemy. I don’t wish for you to die because of my ravishing mesmerizing beauty.” “A glance for you ain’t killing me, darling.” I ignore his cheeky reply, more focused on my survival. “Nineteen.” I mumble. “You’re counting?” He asks, skillfully fighting the knights despite eyes on me. Guess that’s the level of a prodigy. “For self-satisfaction.” I give a simple answer while in the middle of increasing my count. “My most sincere congratulations on your imminent loss, darling. I’m at twenty-two. From when we started moving.” Azh
“Y-Your Majesty?!” Wow, this is so royalty of her. She feigns ignorance to my yell, resuming attacking me. At that moment, I realized she’s under Killian’s influence. My body moves swiftly like a wind, evading her attacks. Honestly, I barely put any effort – my agility is too great and her speed is too slow. Enough with this wolf-chasing-chicken game, I knock her unconscious on the neck. “Sorry, not sorry.” I say, don’t even bother to catch her falling. Well, it’s better than dying in my hands, no? “Er… Master…” Theron calls for me, nervousness in her tone. “Hmm?” I turn around, just to freeze. Oh, sh*t. I spot His Majesty – holding a broom which is kind of hilarious – with his other two wives. As I anticipated, they all come to attack me as if I’m their prey, yet all I can do is evade, no counterattacks. I can’t risk accidentally killing them. But of course, every problem has its solution. I just did the same to them as I did
In the last 15 minutes, Azher has been watching Aiden examining every single potion bottle on the shelves containing whatever magic liquid it is. He rolls his eyes, already tired and annoyed from waiting. ‘Just what did he study in Fyn if he fail to recognize magic potions? He’s literally a middle A-rank mage, for god’s sake!’ He rants to himself since there’s no one here – telling Aiden is like mocking him straight at his face. “Is it that hard to find whatever potion you’re searching for?” He asks. No response nor reaction from Aiden. He clenches my fist, putting on an angry smile. ‘Wow, this brat has some nerve… Is he mute or something?! I saved him from being a goner multiple times, yet this is how he treats me? Giving me the mute treatment? Now I’m considering going back on my word – of not executing him.’ Azher leaves the wall he’s been leaning on, picking up the potion bottles. For once, he’s wondering why do mages don’t put labels on t
“Hahaha! So you do dig your own grave!” Killian laughs like a maniac. Preparing myself for Aiden’s attack, he doesn’t move. ‘What…? Why isn’t he-’ A singing voice strikes my ears. I instantly get down with hands plugging my ears – dropping my sword. “Argh!” I groan from the inevitable pain. My mind is experiencing excruciating pain, worse than any type of migraine. My eardrums feel like being poked with sharp needles despite the melody being as soft as a lullaby. I could barely hold my eyes open. At this moment, what Kira said comes to mind. He has the ability to hypnotize people using his voice. So if you guys bump into him, close your ears and remember yourselves. ‘Sh*t!’ *Swoosh-!* “Argh!” My right hand leaves my ear and holds my left’s upper arm. It feels wet. Pushing aside the migraine-like pain, I force open my eyes to check the injury. Uncountable blood cells exit the wound, signing it’s deep. By