《The Flaming Deer.》


 Betrayal

    In a small kingdom nestled among closely neighboring realms, separated only by the depths of the forest, a young girl stood with her grandmother''s cold hand resting on her left shoulder, whispering, "Look, both of you." Her older brother, Rahool, remained frozen, his eyes darting left and right in shock, as if his name had been derived from the sheer magnitude of his astonishment. Meanwhile, their father cleared his throat, imitating the bleat of a young goat, but little Yuana paid no mind to her grandmother''s icy hand, her brother''s fearful eyes, or her father''s cries of "Forgive us and have mercy upon us, forgive us and have mercy upon us." She continued to gaze steadfastly with her eyes fixed on one thing: the eyes of the goat.


    Everyone screamed, glasses were raised, and the city celebrated the death of the young goat, under the blessing of King Nero, the father of Rahool and Yuana. The announcement marked the beginning of the new year, with the hope that the blood of this poor goat would absolve our sins and appease our deities, so they wouldn''t harm us. The shimmering of glasses and the echoes of laughter filled the king''s palace, and Triana, the mother of the children, stood to instruct the children to retire to their rooms. Yuana wanted to request to stay longer to hear her drunken grandmother''s tales about her grandson''s terror in the face of the goat''s blood, but her mother insisted they go to bed. Yuana calmly stood and headed to her room with her maid, as the Obedient kid she always be, while Kazuo, the minister''s son, insist to stay longer as a little kid goes until his father harsh him to go to sleep as Rahool, who is more quieter than him.


    Yuana grew up surrounded by her father''s ambitions, and she loved them as much as she despised them. Until one day, it was announced that there would be no heir to the kingdom of Carmina other than Yuana. This astonished Rahool, the eldest, but he did not oppose their father''s decision, nor did he resent his sister. On the contrary, he celebrated her more than anyone else did. Afterward, Rahool married Delta, Kazuo''s sister and the minister''s daughter, further solidifying their bond. Kazuo had been their childhood friend and Yuana''s future husband.


    Yuana visited the borders with Kazuo often, and they spent many nights together. They were undoubtedly a match made in marriage. However, as their relationship grew more serious and wedding preparations were underway, horrifying news began to pour in day after day. Injured messengers fell in front of the king, crying out, "The Hyan Empire has conquered all the kingdoms in the north."


    In the fourth and twenty-fourth spring of Yuana''s life, there were only six months left until the Hyan Empire had already made its way through the northern kingdoms, and the kingdoms willingly surrendered with no hope of escape. Despite the kingdom of Carmina denying that their time would come, Yuana believed that sacrifice was knocking at their doors, and blood had already soaked the ground. On a warm spring morning, a new messenger entered, more terrified and panicked than any before. The messenger ran without pause, not for a friend or a sibling, until he collapsed before the king''s throne. Tears mixed with blood on his face as he said, "The kingdom of Kovina was wiped out overnight, within a single week."


    Silence filled the vast chamber, and the king, ministers, and messenger fell silent; even the birds seemed to stop chirping. Witnessing an entire kingdom crumble within a week was unimaginable, both to the sane and the mad. The king wept, and Yuana remained in awe, staring at her father. Kovina was the most rival kingdom, the stories of her father and the battles of her ancestors were intertwined with it. Kovina was their history¡ªthe enemy and the friend¡ªand it coursed through their veins. To see a kingdom as strong and courageous as Kovina collapse within a week was an announcement of our own execution.


    The messenger continued his words as my father wiped away his tears, "The Emperor''s army has recruited knights from all the fallen kingdoms, led by the heir to the empire himself..." He paused in even greater panic, "His army is growing every second, and I have never seen anything more cunning! The forefront has been given to the Ravina knights after he learned of their enmity with Kovina."


    Afterward, the door to the chamber closed, and everyone left except for the king and his ministers. My brother, mother, grandmother, and I sat alone in silence, knowing that our time would come soon, but unsure of our role in it. For the first time, we all slept in the same room. The night did not last long before another messenger from the empire knocked on our door, standing before my father, arrogantly declaring that our choice would be made before the sunset of this day. It wasn''t tomorrow or the day after, it was today, before the sun set. That was the extent of our weakness and insignificance. We weren''t even a kingdom worthy of the time to choose.


    "It was a simple choice indeed, and it didn''t require all this time and planning. Either death or surrender. But surrender meant sending one of the king''s sons or daughters. It was a harder choice than it seemed because the king had only two children in his life, me and Rahool. Sending Rahul meant certain death for him, as there is no life for a male within the walls of the empire. And my sending would mean losing the kingdom of Carmina and its heir. Carmina''s heiress would go to the empire not as a wife or a favored one, but as one among hundreds of concubines. A concubine is visited by the emperor for a day, and the matter ends with her being forgotten. How can the people of Carmina accept such a fate for their future and leadership?


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    The messenger left, arrogant as ever, and silence filled the room once again. Breaking the silence, the king requested that everyone leave except for his family. As usual, we remained alone with Kazuo, the betrothed, who wanted to know the fate of his fianc¨¦e. The silence was shattered by a harsh tone as my father ordered, just as one orders the greatest criminals, to betray, ''Yuana will go as a concubine.'' Voices rose, and everyone spoke up, but I did nothing but calmly close my eyes. I don''t know why I wanted to close them so tightly, was it a wish to wake up from a dream? Or did I just want everything to end, even if it was a bad ending? Or was I afraid to see faces that had let me down?


    The voice of my grandmother, who opposed my father''s decision more than anyone else, was interrupted by crying, and my mother''s voice, Kazuo''s screaming and tension, saying, ''But we have already done it!'' My father immediately shouted, ''No one has done anything, and if I hear that again, I will cut the tongue of whoever says it.'' And he stood up and left quickly, without even looking at me once. It seemed funny that Kazuo actually seemed to have cut his tongue, as he didn''t utter a word afterward.


    The messenger had been sent before the sun dipped below the horizon, and I made the decision to seclude myself in my chamber until the time of my departure arrived. My mother, for days on end, was consumed by sorrow, shedding silent tears without uttering a single word. As for my brother, he bore the weight of the guilt, never once leaving the confines of his room. Nevertheless, his wife made it a point to visit me each day, imparting upon me the notion that such was the way of life, that my father''s choice was sound, and that I, as a sensible young woman, must accept it. Her words, though seemingly comforting, were tainted with an air of elation, leading me to believe that she repeated them as a nightly prayer.


    Following the passing of the initial week, I found myself within a spacious chamber my father adored, a place where he would often indulge in sipping tea. There I sat, facing him, enveloped in a silence that stretched on. The weight of the silence was not peculiarly burdensome; instead, I found solace in gazing at the book resting beside my father amidst this tranquil atmosphere. It was a tome of tales he cherished, stories of our ancestral lineage and the battles they fought against the Kingdom of Kofina. My father held this book dear, and with each reading, he would be overcome with a sense of pride, even to the point of tears.


    Sensing his gaze upon me, my father broke the silence, shattering its fragile hold. "You should not have taken my jest to heart, for you were never meant to be the heiress... The position was always reserved for your brother." Once more, silence descended upon us, and my father averted his eyes, no longer meeting my gaze after our initial connection. Then, he spoke again, his voice carrying a hint of finality. "They shall not bring you harm within the empire, unlike your brother, for you are a woman. Women do not pose a threat, and thus, something as serene as yourself could never ascend to the role of the heir to my kingdom." As his words reached their conclusion, I felt that a chasm had formed between us, prompting me to rise from my seat and depart. Upon reaching the threshold of the room, where I would bid my final farewell, I glanced at the book... then looked back at my father, a gentle smile gracing my lips, before departing in serene silence. My father remained, his gaze fixed upon the forsaken space, a reflection of his own frailty... for even if his decision was one of wisdom, dear father, it does not alter the truth that it was born out of your own weakness.


    My brother, Rahool, caught up to me. Happiness and pride adorned his face like that of a young boy. He is meant to close the door when I leave, but I urged him, as the weak brother who did nothing to help his sister, not to do so and to keep the scene of the young girl, the citizen who was let down by both her father and the monarch, in my father''s eyes. It was the first time he had ever defied our father''s orders. He hadn''t closed the door when I left because I told him not to do it. A disturbing smile played on his lips, as if he foolishly believed it would suffice to compensate for


    Five soldiers from the empire stood outside the palace gate, accompanied by a number of horses and two carriages. Standing in front of them were myself, my brother''s wife, Delta, and my personal servant, Tait. They were the only two individuals permitted to accompany me. My brother stood before us, along with our mother and grandmother, bidding us farewell. Overwhelmed by her tears, my brother held onto our mother''s shoulder tightly, while she repeatedly expressed her profound regret. After many tears were shed, my brother went to bid farewell to his wife, and our mother went to give her instructions to my servant.


    My grandmother, with a newfound sense of shame, took a step forward. Her face bore the weight of regret, for she lamented her inability to protect her beloved granddaughter. In that moment, I sensed that she finally understood my desires. She abruptly halted her sorrowful expression and drew closer to me. With a firm grip on my shoulder, just as she had done in my childhood, she grasped both of them fiercely. "When you arrive," she whispered, "tell him that you have done it with Kazuo." Startled, my eyes widened, and I cast furtive glances to ensure the soldiers remained oblivious to my grandmother''s words. Before I could voice my objections to the absurdity she spoke, she vigorously shook my shoulders and continued in a hushed tone, "Yesterday, I dispatched a messenger to the neighboring kingdoms. The crown prince of one of the northern realms was slain in a fit of rage. He is a deranged soul, extinguishing his own progeny! I shall not allow a mad hound to claim the life of my sole granddaughter." Overwhelmed by panic, I responded in a whisper, "What must I do? He will condemn me should I utter such words! Then he will come to annihilate all of you!" Perplexity flickered across her countenance, yet she remained resolute. "Yuana, there exists none wiser than you in the entirety of Carmina''s corners. If, you fail to discover a path to salvation, even if God were to deliver us from the clutches of the Hyan Empire, others shall seize us before the sun rises on the morrow." Grandmother fell silent as the soldiers drew near, urging us to hasten. We embarked on the carriages, burdened not only by our tangible worries but also by the weight of our souls.

 The First Day

    As a few hours passed, Delta began her incessant chatter, audible even from different carriages. Her conversation was dominated by criticism, as she criticized the food, the pace of their journey, the slowness of their progress, the passage of time, and even the color of the sky and the number of your eyelashes. All of this seemed reasonable when you saw her swollen belly, as Delta was in her seventh month of pregnancy. But she had been like this since birth, and I don''t think the arrival or departure of a child from her would change anything about her nature. I almost swear that the first words she uttered were criticizing the taste of her mother''s milk.


    On the second day of the journey, it seemed that Delta''s new subject was my carriage. The bride''s carriage was, of course, larger and more comfortable, which did not please the pregnant Delta. She began to loudly voice her complaints from a distance, throwing out phrases every minute or so. "If it weren''t for my concern for my dear husband''s sister, I wouldn''t have left my comfortable bed and my attending servants. Where would you find a sister-in-law like me, Yuana?" Then she suddenly directed her speech to the soldier in front of her: "Walk slower! Can''t you see the size of my belly? It surpasses the size of your carriage!"


    I raised my head and looked at Tait with a smile, who was sitting next to me knitting. We understood what she wanted. I didn''t allow Delta to continue with her criticisms and opened the door of the small carriage in front of me, telling Delta to switch carriages with me. Delta pressed her lips in annoyance. It would have been nice to let her speak a little more before giving my quick consent.


    The soldiers paused for a moment as we exchanged carriages. However, I continued forward toward the soldier next to the horse pulling my carriage. The soldier looked at me with surprise, while Delta, who was riding in my carriage, did not miss a chance to criticize. "Oh my God, Yuana comes up with one of her ideas! Protect us, Lord." I asked him to allow me to ride the horse. The soldier looked at me in surprise, but with some etiquette, which seemed a little odd considering their previous conversation. He explained to me that it was not possible, as he couldn''t take responsibility for any harm that might befall the heir apparent.


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    I assured him that I was not a novice, and the horse had often been a friend and companion in our kingdom. The soldier hesitated about refusing again, but agreed to hold the horse. And so, the first three days of the journey passed. On the fourth day, the soldier stopped holding the reins, showing confidence that brought me comfort.


    On our fifth night, Tait prepared tea from rare flowers, and we offered it to the soldiers late, after making sure that Delta had fallen into a deep sleep from exhaustion from the road. She had tried hard to resist sleep to stay awake with us, but her pregnancy proved stronger than her will. Tait wanted to serve the tea herself, but I insisted on going with her. She didn''t like the fact that I sat among the soldiers, but the presence of a powerless servant from a fallen kingdom was more imposing than the reality of a princess sitting among them. No matter how much these five soldiers thought, they would never dare to do anything in front of a woman who would meet their future king.


    I stepped forward, and Tait followed behind me. We greeted them and sat among the glow of the fire in the middle of the night. The soldiers were shy in the presence of a noblewoman among them, even if she was from a fallen kingdom. It was a failed night; we didn''t get a single word from them. But the following nights proved fruitful. The soldiers spoke quickly about the ruling family, their character traits, and their positions. Who they loved and who they hated. Achil, the deposed prince, won their affection, while the heir apparent earned their respect. The deposed prince was wise and gentle, radiating a light like that of angels when you saw him. But he couldn''t break a tree trunk, whereas there was the heir apparent, the awaited prince, the dream of the empire.

 The Dream

    On the night of the Crown Prince''s birth, the Emperor had a dream in which he saw the moon splitting into two, and from it emerged blood of intense redness. The earth drank this blood, and flowers sprouted. The Emperor woke up to inform his eunuch about it, and the eunuch told him that one of his concubines was giving birth at that very moment. The Emperor ran for the first time to witness the birth of one of his sons, and as soon as he entered, the Crown Prince emerged from his mother''s womb, covered in blood, so it seemed as if he was dyed red. The midwife looked at the Emperor and raised the child infornt of him, saying, "It''s a boy, Your Majesty." The Emperor fell to his knees and said, "Aron, his name is Aron."


    The Emperor''s dream spread throughout the empire, and the priest interpreted it as Aron cutting the strongest tree just to cultivate flowers for himself. The Emperor''s joy and love grew even stronger, to the point that he removes Achil from his position to install Aron while he was still in the cradle. Achil did not feel much sadness; rather, he repeated that he was happy with the time he had as the Crown Prince, while many of his siblings grew older or younger without ever dreaming of such a position.


    Achil''s mother, the daughter of the Prime Minister and the Empress officially, was not satisfied with her son being removed for the sake of a concubine''s son! She continued to fight until this day to regain her son''s deposed position. However, Achil dedicated his life to opposing his mother''s actions and serving Aron more than he served himself. Like the priest, he spent his life rejecting what everyone else tried to prove.


    The Emperor made sure in every way that Aron would be the prophecy that would spill blood all over the world for just a sake flower. He had hated that all his children were either fools who would perish or intelligent and delicate. He had always dreamed of having that strong son, the son who would conquer the world for his sake. Since the moment this boy was conceived, he did not refuse any request from him and did not bow down to anyone else, not even his siblings. He sat him beside him at the table and asked his siblings to bow down to him every morning and listen to his words alone.


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    Yuan and her maid Tita were terrified by the conversations they heard every night, feeling that what they heard each night was more terrifying than the previous night. The soldiers felt sorry for this poor girl, so they told her with utmost caution and shyness to give him what he wanted, and then they would forget about her. Yuan felt relieved, thinking it was just one night, and she would be rid of this terrifying monster. However, the conversations every night were not that simple, and each story told by the soldiers showed the difficulty of escaping from this predator. It seemed that one night was more insignificant than faith itself in ending her torment.


    Aron had many favored concubines and a wife. Once Yuan became prey to one of these girls and aroused his jealousy, he might cut her throat before sunrise. Anxiety and fear filled Yuan''s and Tita''s hearts, and even though they lived like walls, death eluded them, and the upcoming days passed without sleep visiting their beds.


    Indeed, the mountains adorned the place before entering the empire, and the long journey was coming to an end. It was a majestic sight, not because of the size of the empire or the noise of the people or the scattered fields or the features of the palace that one could see even before entering the empire, but because of the sunset. Yuan preceded the procession by a few steps, and at first glance, you could imagine that the empire was burning with the red flames of the setting sun, giving it a warm glow. It was a beautiful and comforting sight that soothed the soul.


    Two people stood atop the mountain, looking with the same astonishment. But it was not because of the burning empire, but because of the woman riding a horse.

 The rabbit hole

    The young man scoffed as he asked his friend, "Will the empire fall with its woman and her horse?" The procession appeared immediately, prompting his friend to respond coldly, "It seems to be a procession for one of the fallen princesses of the kingdoms." The young man smirked mockingly and continued on his way, quickly catching up to his friend.


    Little did Yuan know that her greatest fears were being watched, and she continued to gaze at the burning empire until her contemplation was interrupted by the voice of a soldier. "A beautiful sight, isn''t it?" Yuan smiled, agreeing with the soldier. He continued, "It is the most beautiful thing you can see in this entire empire."


    Darkness began to engulf the sky, and Yuan closed her eyes in her carriage, listening to the noise of the city from within. Children ran alongside her carriage, tickling her senses with their familiarity. Then she heard the piercing screams of a woman with a strong accent and a sharp voice. Yuan could tell she was a moderately plump woman, with a shawl tied around her waist and another around her head, screaming at a man who passed by her merchandise, throwing a few words about its poor quality. At other times, she heard soft laughter followed by the voices of young women conversing. Although Yuan couldn''t see anything in the darkened carriage, she could sense the beauty and emotions of these girls.


    After the city''s commotion, moments of painful silence followed. Yuan realized then that she was approaching the palace. She opened the small window to ask the soldiers, but they were engaged in conversation with soldiers in front of a massive gate, arousing her curiosity to hear what was happening.


    After a few minutes, Yuan emerged in front of a group of maids, all dressed in the same attire and moving in unison. Delta and Yuan''s maid, Tait, led her to private chambers, while the other maids prepared her. After three hours, Yuan, exhausted from a long journey, stood wearing a soft silk dress with multiple layers, a dress she was not accustomed to and had never seen before. It resembled the attire worn by the maids, but it was more beautiful and elegant.


    The maids immediately led Yuan towards a distant place, and no matter how much she thought they were getting closer, they seemed to be getting farther away. Until she felt her feet pulsating. Finally, she stood in front of a door made of paper, behind which emanated light and the laughter of a man.


    The eunuch stood arrogantly in front of the door, breathing in a single rhythm and gazing defiantly at the apprehensive maiden before him. She approached him quickly and whispered, "Who is inside the room?" Her tone was clear and direct, demanding an immediate answer. His breath hitched, his gaze trembled, and it seemed as if his stature shrank. He answered nervously, "The emperor and his wife,Piero, the mother of the crown prince." She quickly returned to her composure and smiled secretly. She gave him a subtle glance, signaling for him to open the door. The eunuch shouted anxiously, "Yuan, the maiden from the Kingdom of Carmina, is here." Then he began counting to thirty silently, whispering to himself, before finally opening the door.


    The room was remarkably spacious and filled with light, yet it remained empty, save for a white sheet spread across its end. The Emperor appeared to be a man in his sixties, his body adorned with abundant hair and sharp features. He emanated a repulsive aura upon sight. The Emperor made no effort to cover himself and settled for placing a few sheets around his lower body. Beside him stood the mother of the crown prince, Piero, who seemed to be in her late thirties, her attire disheveled, revealing a portion of her right shoulder.


    She knelt slowly in front of him, but he showed no interest in who she was or what was happening. She prolonged her genuflection, which bothered his wife, yet the Emperor understood the situation and spoke calmly with a commanding voice, "Do you have anything to say?" I slowly raised my head, my countenance stained with shame and regret. His wife was dissatisfied with my presence, my movements, my expression, and even my breath, as her countenance changed a thousand times in a single second. "Your Majesty, I find you wiser than my father and more merciful to me than my mother. I implore you to show me compassion and protect me as you have protected your great empire, as my father failed to protect a single girl."


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    The Emperor, with a proud and arrogant demeanor, adjusted his posture and looked around in confusion, wishing he were adorned in his most extravagant attire at that moment. His gaze focused on me, with a tone nobler and more attentive than before, as he said, "Come now, tell me what troubles you." But sadness and fear engulfed my face even more, and I ignored his question in fear, saying, "Even if you kill me here and burn down my kingdom, it will not absolve me of my sin!"


    My answer did not please the inquisitive Emperor, who reiterated with a sharper tone, "I will not kill you or burn down your kingdom. Tell me your problem so I can see what you have." His wife was unimpressed with our conversation and seemed eager to interrupt, but I spoke faster than her, saying, "My brother is a foolish man, who knows not his left from his right, and my father is a weak man, unable to conceive anyone but me and my brother. So, he proclaimed me as his heir and crown princess." The Emperor laughed, as he had never seen a kingdom ruled by a woman before. "Indeed, your father lacks wisdom."


    Filled with sorrow, I continued my tale, "And as the crown princess, I had a betrothed..." Then, with even greater sadness and regret than before, I confessed, "But when your power and greatness befell us, I did not inform my father that I had done it with my betrothed and accepted your invitation." I placed my face on the ground, unable to hear anything but the pulsations of my heart, believing it would explode at any moment.


    The Emperor''s face grew darker, and his wife became even angrier than before. She screamed, "Are a fallen kingdom offering my son harlots??? My son, the heir-" But the Emperor interrupted her and said, "Why didn''t you let your brother come instead of you? Did you inherit your father''s stupidity?" I raised my head, filled with hope that his arrogance would cloud his mind, leaving no room for rational thought, and I continued, "My brother is more foolish than animals, and I am certain he will lose his way before he even steps out of his room. I feared that your blazing fire would burn us before you understood our situation. I ask for your forgiveness for my kingdom, and I ask you to unleash all your anger upon me. If you kill me, cut me, or throw me to the streets, my sin will not be forgiven."


    The Emperor remained silent for a long time, then spoke again: "Why did you do it with your betrothed?" My eyes moved in surprise and disbelief at this question, and I gathered the courage to answer, "It is not a shame for the women of our kingdom, Your Majesty, to engage in such acts before marriage." I continued to look at him curiously, hoping to discern his thoughts, although it seemed like his hair was concealing them.


    Silence engulfed us once more, and his wife simmered in silence. Then, suddenly, he turned the conversation to her: "Piero, does my son Achil still not have any girls?" Piero''s eyes widened, caught off guard, and it seemed that the conversation pleased her. She gracefully approached the Emperor, touching his hand and shoulder with her fingers. "Of course, this boy has tired his mother greatly and has become the talk of the entire palace." The Emperor began to contemplate again, with Piero eagerly waiting.


    Curiosity struggled against my fear, and I wondered if the Emperor had forgotten about my presence. I knew for a fact that Rista, the mother of Prince Achil, was already arranging a grand betrothal for him. In an instant, I felt as if I had fallen into traps no less dangerous than the one I was already in.


    The Emperor suddenly looked at me, his gaze lingering. Then, he covered himself with a light fabric and headed out. I quickly lowered my head, and he spoke with a puzzled voice as he walked away, "You will become Achil''s concubine." And so, the Emperor left, with Piero swiftly following him.


    I stumbled in fear in front of Tait in my chamber. She continued to spin around me after I informed her of what had occurred. To be chosen as a consort for one of his sons, and the most competitive one with the crown prince, was not part of my plans or fantasies. A girl like me, and at the mercy of the emperor himself, it was a public proclamation to humiliate Achil.

 Chapter 5, First time.

    On the second night, I received my first resounding slap, announcing the beginning of my new life and my altered status. It came from the furious wife of my brother. She wept angrily in front of me. "Do you think our lives are mere playthings? Do you believe this is your life alone? Your brother sacrificed his position without ever fighting, yet here you are, burning down our entire kingdom for the sake of one marriage." And she stormed off, seething, "You spoiled child, you will end up in hell!"


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 Chapter 6

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 Chapter 7

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 Chapter 8

    Yuana sank into her thoughts; she was still in love with her fianc¨¦. She loved everything about him, and the warmth of tea couldn''t dissolve her memories. Delta desired to exert more pressure on Yuana, but her impending childbirth drew nearer, and the pain grew stronger. Thus, the carriages carried her towards the Kingdom of Carmina after bidding farewell to Yuana. Yet, she didn''t miss the opportunity to press her while her child screamed to be let out and the carriages pulled her away.


    A few days after Delta''s departure, the servants seemed to diminish day by day, and the expenses grew smaller than ever before. Yuana realized that her presence began to bother Achil''s mother, and if it weren''t for the fact that his mother genuinely believed her son was punishing her, it wouldn''t only stop with that.


    Tait went out in search of some news and quickly learned what had transpired. Achil was already the talk of the palace, which appeared empty without its crown prince. She hurriedly returned to Yuana, alone in a building devoid of anyone else. "Achil''s engagement has been postponed after his betrothed found out about his visits to you." Yuana bit her worried nails, realizing what kind of betrothal she would face.


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    In a palace where every prince had dozens of mistresses, to cry over a single consort... she had undoubtedly accepted marriage to become the protagonist of a story, the dreams of a humiliated nation. What meaning does a knight in shining armor hold when he''s been stolen by a foreign consort?


    Tiat continued her speech. "She is the daughter of the highest-ranking minister, a friend of Prince Achil''s grandfather, and a former prime minister... more precisely, a friend of the queen''s father!" Yuana bit her nails even harder, uttering in an anxious voice, "Oh God, we''re doomed!" It didn''t take long for Achil to arrive.


    Upon Yuana''s command, Tait turned off all the lights except for her room when he arrived. She didn''t want Achil to see the state of the palace and the absence of the servants. However, Tait opposed the idea, saying, "Why? He should see it so he can help us." But Yuana found his assistance to be a greater burden. "There''s nothing worse than a prince wanting to protect his pet lamb."

 Chapter 9

    As Yuana awaited Achil''s arrival, the sight of the sun was incredibly gloomy. She wondered if it would have been too difficult for the emperor to make her a servant. She wouldn''t ask for anything more.


    On the other hand, the emperor was pleased to share the news about his son, who finally seemed like a man. He wondered if married women were his taste or if Yuana''s beautiful words influenced him. In the end, he leaned towards Yuana''s words, as he found himself smiling from time to time at the memory of the girl he had recruited against her foolish father''s wishes.


    After a few days, the crown prince returned from his journey, causing Tait to feel anxious. She circled around Yuana in fear, saying, "What if he finds out what happened and kills us? What if he gets angry when he doesn''t find his awaited fate! Do you think Achil is capable of stopping him? Should we escape? What about the Kingdom of Carmina? She answered herself quickly, Well, they will burn them anyway after killing us! Let''s escape now." She hurriedly packed her bags in panic. Yuana laughed at Tait''s frightened concerns: "Calm down, girl. This boy already has ten fates; he won''t even know about my existence. And it''s the emperor''s decision; he should talk to his father first." Tait looked at Yuana with some shock. "How do you know that?". "I met Laverna yesterday." Tait was taken aback. "Laverna? The Princess of Ravenna?"


    The tale has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident."Yes, it''s her. She has been here for six months now. Her father offered her as a fate to Aaron before he entered their land. They met, slept together for just one night, and she hasn''t seen him since except in the corridors and events." Tait seemed somewhat reassured: "Although I love Achil, I can''t help but feel envious... She must be at ease." But I interrupted her reassurance, "Not really; she''s not much different from us... The fates divide themselves based on the number of days they spend with him, and the fewer your days, the more they resent you. And he has a cunning wife like a fox." And I recalled Laverna''s words: "She wears the mask of mercy and deceit at the same time. She sits with us, talks with us, and listens to our conversations, but she separates herself with cunning, making us feel like whores."


    Laverna appeared different, unlike her people. She carried a lot of hatred and pain towards the people of Hyan. She looked at the trees and said, like warm poison, "They destroy our homes to show that we have no refuge." She had changed a lot and was no longer the little girl who sought shelter behind her brothers... It saddened me greatly.

 Chapter 10

    Laverna changed the subject abruptly, turning to her parents, who seemed no less filthy than Hyan and its crimes. Her voice was filled with disgrace towards this family she had trusted and loved so much. Then she looked down at her clasped hands in her lap as she spoke, "My father heard a story about the birth of the Emperor of Hyan and how a fate from one of the forsaken tribes gave birth to the Crown Prince and became more influential than the Empress." With a mocking smile, she looked at me sadly and said, "He thinks that I, who have never laid eyes on the prince again, will offer him the same glory."


    Her gaze returned to the tree, filled with more frustration than before, and her voice carried a more sarcastic tone: "Even Amor and Nero lead the front lines with the Crown Prince in the armies. These fools believe that the empire will reward them for such sacrifices."


    Tait cried out in shock, "Amor and Nero? The Twin? Oh my God! How could they proudly kill their friends for the sake of a stranger?" Then she lowered her voice in fear, glancing left and right to make sure no one overheard. I mocked this fate. "Do you see? It seems that this war has shocked us all."


    This novel is published on a different platform. Support the original author by finding the official source.After our meeting concluded, we bid each other farewell. However, it seemed that Laverna remembered something suddenly. "Yuana, Nero told me that Rhea and Leo escaped together before their family was executed."It was a shocking piece of news. I didn''t know whether to feel happy or sad. It was an indescribable feeling. This war spared no one. I looked at Laverna in bewilderment as she whispered to herself, "Poor Rhea, she lost her entire family." She paused for a moment, then continued, gazing at the setting sun. "Or perhaps she is lucky among us... Her family, whom she loved so much, didn''t betray her." She left slowly, but she never truly left me.


    Laverna''s anger began to seep into my room every night, invading my peace, and Rhea never left my thoughts. I envied her greatly, like the heroine in a fictional story. Her family burned their entire kingdom for her, while our families burned us instantly. Every night, mothers will thank our families while we curse them.

 Chapter 11

    The palace hosted a grand feast in the temple to celebrate the return of the crown prince after a week of absence. I encountered Laverna on our way to the temple, but everything seemed anything but a temple. It was a complete palace, with just one room and a highly elevated, intricately adorned seat on which a single man sat. Underneath the seat were a series of consecutive steps that led to a row of candles. The worship was limited to women only, and everyone knew it was a foolish attempt by the emperor to escape bowing down to his son, whom he himself declared a goddess.Everyone made sure to wear light, white fabrics and have a clean face. However, any woman would know that the wife of the crown prince, Petra, whom Laverna pointed out, wore a lot of makeup on her face. Petra stepped forward first, accompanied by a line of women, to light the candles, while the rest of us stood in rows at the back of the room.Laverna began introducing each important woman, engaging in some gossip when necessary. Next to Petra was Achil''s fianc¨¦e. She expressed regret at not knowing any information about her, but Achil''s funanc¨¦e face spoke volumes. She seemed like a child trying to avoid conflicts, and she didn''t attempt to steal the spotlight from Petra, despite a clear effort to enhance her natural and innocent beauty.Laverna didn''t care to introduce the emperor''s concubines or the emperor''s daughters, except for Achil''s and Aaron''s mothers and a concubine who seemed to be our age. Pity appeared on my face. How could such a young beauty be with that old man? But Laverna smiled and said, "Wipe those expressions off your face. That fool boldly drags her son towards the throne." Then she continued mockingly, "Even the empress didn''t dare to ask the emperor to reinstate her son, but this one says it everywhere she goes."


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 Chapter 12

    As soon as the first row was over, the empress and the emperor''s concubines left. However, the others remained, as this was the perfect place to observe the palace affairs and their competitors. The second row came, consisting of the most beloved concubines of the crown prince. Laverna appeared more intense with two of them, the first being Cardia, who was the most beloved concubine of the crown prince. She truly looked beautiful¡ªlike a fallen angel. Laverna pointed this out sharply. Cardia had several supporters among the concubines because she didn''t discriminate among them, and she fearlessly confronted the crown prince''s wife. However, she was extremely coquettish and playful, ensnaring men within her grasp. And if she hated you, she wouldn''t stop until the crown prince heard her words, even if it meant using one of her men against you.


    Laverna smirked mockingly as she looked at the second one and said, "You''ll be shocked by this one..." I looked at her with surprise, wondering what could be more surprising than what I had heard! Then she whispered to me, "That''s a maid." No matter how much I pretended to be composed, I knew that my face clearly displayed shock. Laverna was proud of her knowledge and continued, "The maid of the crown prince''s wife." My face displayed even more shock than before. She went on, "She offered herself to him when he visited his wife when she was sick."


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    I kept staring at her intensely, wondering what she had found in him to throw herself at a man who would dispose of her as soon as he grew tired of her. Laverna continued her narrative, looking at Jessica. "In truth, the prince doesn''t seem to care about her personally. No matter how hard she tries, she''s just a servant; being with her is like being with a wall. She thinks she has all the answers; even I dislike her coldness." I looked at her with a question in my eyes: "Then why is she in the second row?" Laverna answered with surprised sarcasm, "That''s what I don''t understand. What could make our dear prince, sarcastically, visit Jessica?"

 Chapter 13

    The third row consisted of the remaining wives of the princes from noble tribes and high positions. Although the prince did not organize the ranks of the women, these ranks explained unknowingly that his brothers and their wives were not stronger than the purest of Aaron''s maidservants.


    Only one person had the power to break these ranks, and that was Achil''s fianc¨¦e, who stood proudly and innocently by the empress.The empress insisted on bringing her, despite Athena''s tears and her reluctance for this engagement after hearing that her pure knight and the prince, who had refused to sleep with any woman, had already spent their night with her.


    Her father stood in front of the weeping Athena and told her sharply, not knowing whether he was convincing her or forcing her, "You will become the wife of the next emperor, and this whore that the emperor presented to him will be discarded when the emperor falls!..." Then he continued more cunningly, "You are a naive girl, Athena; you don''t know the world of men... Achil could not refuse to sleep with her after the Emperor himself presented her! It''s not like he wanted that."And now she was by the empress''s side in the front row even before her marriage, while the other princes'' wives waited three rows behind her.


    This privilege had deceived the poor girl, and she began to hear the melodies of her dance as a mythical heroine indeed.


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    After several rows, our row finally came, the last one. A night''s maidservants, or the maidservants of the other princes. Laverna asked me, "What should we prey for?" "The happiness of Rhea and Leo," I replied, and we smiled at each other in agreement, then we quietly advanced with the row of maidservants


    .It was a long row, no less than the previous rows, and in front of us were many candles in a straight line. We knelt down and looked at the prince above us.I hated our position, standing in the middle of the row, which made us face the prince... If only all my thoughts had vanished the moment I saw him. He was like a deer, with reddish-brown hair and striking features. He seemed the opposite of Achil''s angelic beauty, not like demons... but deer.


    He didn''t pay any attention to us, placing his hand on his right cheek and looking into the distance, like an artistic painting. My gaze met Laverna''s, who smiled in understanding of my fascination, as if it were something inevitable for anyone who met him for the first time.


    I moved my hand to light the candle, hoping that the goddess would protect the two brothers on their escape from the devil and guide them towards your light.But I only remember the candlelight in my eyes, and whether I prayed for the goddess to protect them or burn us. The prince immediately noticed these dark emotions in front of him, like the instinct of a predatory animal, as he looked into these empty eyes.


    Both Laverna and I had forgotten our promise and were left only with pitch darkness and the candle''s fire burning everyone in their minds.He didn''t do anything; he was somewhat accustomed to these feelings. He didn''t even look at these two little, spiteful lambs.


    However, this caught Petra''s attention, and she raised her right eyebrow towards this unpleasant behavior. No matter how much she tried to deny it, she loved him more than any other woman and felt more jealous than anyone else, and no other heart responded to this young man''s heart.

 Chapter 14

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 Chapter 15

    On the other side, the Empress hurriedly approached the inner door of the building, but Aron held her hand. The Empress tried to pull her hand forcefully from him and spoke in a harsh tone, "You may find it enjoyable, Your Highness, among your harem, but do not let your sick hobbies interfere with my son''s life." But Aron didn''t move his hand and continued to enjoy the scene. As the Empress began to rage, she fell silent in astonishment.


    Athina moved to leave, but Yuana suddenly fell to her knees. "Your Highness, the prince didn''t touch me! I swear on my life." Athina looked at her in astonishment, tears filling her eyes. "Then why did he sleep with you??" Yuana replied, "The Emperor himself sent me; he had no other choice. I swear he only came to have tea, and then we slept separately." Confusion appeared on my face as I tried to prove that, then suddenly I suggested, "You can ask the servants; they never heard anything."


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    Three weeks passed like paradise. We played games in the gardens at night, sipped tea in the afternoon, and ventured to explore other areas in the morning. Then we drank in my room until our consciousness disappeared.

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 Chapter 22

    It was shocking and very convincing! I quickly raised my head and asked, "Why does this seem logical??" But Tait shattered our imagination with another question: "But you have been losing from the beginning, while you had a beautiful childhood." We furrowed our brows together; that, too, made sense. Tait continued to dismantle our silly fantasies, as she strongly believed in them just a while ago, saying, "And why would the king send his real daughter to the palace if he wanted to keep her?" I looked at the sky again, pondering the strange fate that had befallen me.


    Moments later, Petra''s nearby voice broke our silence. We quickly looked, and she seemed to be talking to a young man whose voice was barely audible. We stood up to greet her, and then Tait hurriedly packed up the belongings faster than lightning and more chaotically than sand. Laverna caught a glimpse of Petra looking at us, so she hastened our departure, and Tait threw some of the belongings in horror.


    We caught our breath as soon as we entered the gate of my palace, and Laverna kept pointing at something and then taking a deep breath. After a few minutes, she finally shouted at us, "He was the crown prince; he was the crown prince!" Tait immediately fainted.


    Tait stayed in her room for a week, crying and waiting for her death. Meanwhile, Laverna was busy meeting Petra every day until Aron stayed with Cardia for a whole week, so Petra stopped caring about Laiferna''s presence.


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    Laiferna returned tired, but she entered Tait''s room with courage and energy and kept swearing to her that they didn''t hear anything.


    Tait gathered her courage in her room for a few hours, while Laverna and I met alone. "He was indeed listening to our conversation. Petra doesn''t seem hostile except when his attention lasts for more than two minutes." I calmed her fear. "Two minutes is not enough time for a person to define their desires." She continued with fear, "But maybe he was standing there longer than that." We quickly stopped talking, afraid that Tait might hear something.We caught our breath as soon as we entered the gate of my palace, and Laverna kept pointing at something and then taking a deep breath. After a few minutes, she finally shouted at us, "He was the crown prince; he was the crown prince!" Tait immediately fainted.


    Tait stayed in her room for a week, crying and waiting for her death. Meanwhile, Laverna was busy meeting Petra every day until Aron stayed with Cardia for a whole week, so Petra stopped caring about Laiferna''s presence.


    Laiferna returned tired, but she entered Tait''s room with courage and energy and kept swearing to her that they didn''t hear anything.


    Tait gathered her courage in her room for a few hours, while Laverna and I met alone. "He was indeed listening to our conversation. Petra doesn''t seem hostile except when his attention lasts for more than two minutes." I calmed her fear. "Two minutes is not enough time for a person to define their desires." She continued with fear, "But maybe he was standing there longer than that." We quickly stopped talking, afraid that Tait might hear something.

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    I ran alone toward the sound, feeling that I was getting closer. I opened rooms one after another. I felt like I had fallen into a maze; the darkness grew heavier, and the rooms didn''t end. As for the cat''s meowing, it seemed to be circling above my head until I felt that it had indeed awakened the emperor and my fate was sealed.


    Suddenly, I felt something pulling my feet down, and I froze in my place. And for a moment, the meowing of the cat sounded like laughter! I slowly looked down at my feet" I paused for a moment to increase the suspense, then I mustered the courage to continue.

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 Chapter 31

    innocent wife''s passion. Finally, she assured Athena that she would do what was best. Athena didn''t find comfort in that answer, but she didn''t dare to oppose that aura, even if she were a child who didn''t understand positions.


    The Empress didn''t understand anything and simply sent a servant to inform Achil and tell him to visit his wife on certain nights to conceive a child. After two weeks, Athena realized that everyone had abandoned her, and since the wedding, her tears no longer mattered to anyone. Slowly, the little lamb learned how to hurt a monster.


    Athena formed an alliance with Petra through unexpected acts of kindness. Petra loved Athena in a special way, and she always stood by her side.


    Leverna kept warning me about what was to come, but she always returned to her calmness every time I told her, "I will engage in battles with these girls, and I won''t dare to take a step towards the heir apparent."


    ----


    Petra began inviting me to an afternoon tea, with Athena by her side.


    I asked God forgiveness for stelling the husband of this poor girl every time before leaving to see them, which always angered Tait and Laverna. Tait loved to call Athena "Shorty; that little one deserves to have everything stolen from her," while Laverna always expressed her hatred: "If they hadn''t stolen our land, we wouldn''t even look at them... We''re living another war here while the concerns of those girls are men who don''t even know their names."


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    At those meetings, it was always the same. I don''t contradict what Athena says, and I don''t reject their insults. I accepted the bitter and poisonous tea, their embarrassment, and their rejection. Petra didn''t do anything, but she manipulated the burning Athena like threads in her fingers. She slapped me at times, spilled the tea, and pushed me into the lake at other times. Although I couldn''t find peace until I saw my palace, I didn''t tell anyone anything because I knew she would never be able to kill me.


    Excuses upon excuses I made it up to Achil, even though I was not sure he would even do something if he knew. I was only deceiving myself, hoping that the little puppy would bite for my sake.


    This time, something was different. Perhaps Petra noticed my attachment to Tait, so she whispered to Athena to find a reason to strike her in front of me. Athena immediately lost a ring and stood screaming, "Where is my ring? It must be that wretched girl." Yes, that wretched girl, Tait. I admit it was a clever judgment by Petra, so I quickly stood up to justify the situation.

 Chapter 32

    "There are plenty of servants; why only mine?" It was a foolish question; everyone knew why. Athena looked at me, and her complaints multiplied as she continued, "All their servants are reliable, but what about that homeless one?" I couldn''t deny that; she would definitely strike her without reason or justification. She took hold of Tait in front of me and struck her fiercely with a wooden stick.


    Petra didn''t move, and everyone stood looking at the agitated Athena. Perhaps she saw the betrayal of Achil in Tait''s eyes, and Tait accepted all her thoughts.


    Athena looked at me after exhaustion had consumed her, and maybe she saw something in my eyes that she didn''t understand, so she suddenly asked, "Why don''t you tell Achil? I''m sure he would stop me with just a word... You know I love him." Tears began to fall quietly.


    "Why do you accept my insults, the hot tea, and my strikes?" Then she screamed loudly, "Why don''t you reciprocate my jealousy!" Then she looked into my eyes again and continued in a calm voice, "It hurts me that someone who stole Achil from me doesn''t even love him."


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    The wooden stick fell, and Athena left the room. I hurried to the poor Tait, and we left as well. Laverna secretly visited us at night to check on Tait.


    ---


    Night fell, and as usual, Achil brushed away the hair from my face while lying next to me. "Achil." He smiled, looking at me inquisitively. I continued, "You will receive a visitor today, a concubine from the Kingdom of Henlka." The Kingdom of Henlka was the latest kingdom opened by Aron in the North. All concubines from the kingdoms were supposed to go to Aron, of course, but the concubine from the Kingdom of Henlka was an exception, as was me. However, it was an exception that announced the authority of the High Empress, not just a concubine whose mistake the Emperor forgave by throwing her to another prince.


    My situation was well known, as the mother of the crown prince informed Athena as revenge against the empress, who had begun to expand her power. Athena, in turn, spread the news, and it became the talk of the palace.


    Some considered me proof of love and a more exciting story than Athena and Achil''s virginity, while others felt that I was a virus infiltrating the innocent girls of the empire, causing them to lose their virginity. Achil''s party saw me as an ink stain on clean paper, but no one tried to do anything about me, not even the empress. Of course, the happy Achil is better off than his miserable self.

 Chapter 33

    Achil smiled and blushed. Did he think otherwise? But his assumption quickly proved wrong. "You will go to her tomorrow, and you will sleep with her more than you slept with me." He furrowed his brow, not understanding! Did Yuana abandon him again? What excuse would she claim this time? I reached out and gently wiped his face. "I suffer, Achil; the ladies of the palace won''t leave me alone. The pure prince must find new love, as I have become just another concubine like many others. I want people to think you have abandoned me." Then I kissed him and continued, "We will love each other more than we did before, once I''m free from these girls."


    Achil didn''t like my words and kept proposing other solutions. I secretly mocked his suggestions, and at that moment, I knew he knew what was happening but pretended to be ignorant. I said firmly, "Achil, to be a beloved woman among women abandoned by their men is not something I want to experience. Don''t you agree?" He seemed to agree, and he looked sad. So I continued positively, "You can improve your reputation with this step, and people will forget the past." Achil didn''t refuse that; he just seemed to accept the idea of returning to his position and no longer being a puppy. His acceptance was another hope for me that this little puppy might bite someday.


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    Achil went to the concubine of the Kingdom of Heinleek the following night.


    PAfter two weeks, Athena finally invited me. I knew that nothing could ease the heart of this young girl except a burning heart. She invited me for the first time alone, and in her room, I knelt respectfully.


    She looked at my face and asked calmly, "Do you feel what I feel now?" I looked at her and cried¡ªmore than I had ever cried before. She continued confidently, like a girl born to look at the sky, "But you will never be like me, for I am the wife of Prince Achil, his first and only wife." Then I continued crying, kneeling... After several minutes, she said softly, "You can leave now." I wiped my tears as I left her palace and smiled at Tait.


    That was not the end, of course. I secluded myself in my palace for a month, like a concubine who wants to kill herself, and Laverna secretly visited me, and we returned to our happy days.

 Chapter 34

    After the first moAfter the first month passed, Achil returned to me but continued to spend nights with different concubines. At that time, even after his return, everyone thought I was no different from Cardia and the other favourite concubines of the princes. And with that, Athena''s hatred ended, although she still didn''t want to see me, of course, so she stopped inviting me, and she envied me a lot.


    The tranquility returned to my heart. Achil gained a strength he hadn''t had before. He seemed more confident, more daring, and more in love with and obsessed with me. At the same time, he absolutely seems to be loving these different nights he begins to have and becoming like his brother every day, but I don''t really care.


    One night, Achil felt jealous of Tait and Laverna, so he requested a stroll. I grabbed Achil''s hand, and we ran quickly and discreetly outside. Dressed in white and light clothes and carrying a small basket with tea, some cake, and a book, we rushed to the garden. We fell onto the cool ground, so Achil laughed a lot.


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    He sat pouring the tea, and I lay on his body reading a book. It was an exciting book that Achil had found, written by a scholar a hundred years ago. The book spoke of a child born within the palace walls who had never seen the city or its people. At the age of five, this child began speaking like a man who had lived among the earth''s soil and its farms. This child understood poverty more than the poor themselves.


    And one night, the child stopped eating and drinking. The emperor requested to meet the child, and the child asked him to care for the farmers within the empire''s borders, as they were dying of hunger. The emperor appointed the child as responsible and led the economy to overcome the farmers'' food and provisions crisis.

 Chapter 35

    After sixty years, this scholar met the child on his deathbed. He asked him, "Why is your heart tender for those farmers?" He responded with a single sentence, and he said nothing more than, "I once was a farmer myself."


    I lifted my head from Achil and asked him curiously, "Do you believe in the second life?" Achil always enjoyed these ideas and stories, and it was funny to see his serious face. He answered seriously, "Of course! Otherwise, how do you explain something like that?" I agreed in confusion, "That is perplexing, indeed," and I looked at the riverbank in front of us, pondering on it. It was the first time I had heard of such an idea, and it seemed beautiful to me.


    After a few minutes of silence, I asked him, "Why does this man remember and we don''t?" He seemed puzzled as well and quickly concluded, "Perhaps there was a malfunction in him, as happens to some who are born without hearing or sight." I rested my head on his body and looked at the sky. This idea consumed all my thoughts: "But that''s meaningless. What''s the point of our lives if we don''t remember them!" Then I sat angrily and refused, "No, I prefer death and becoming nothing rather than repeating a meaningless life."


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    Achil felt a responsibility to convince me of this idea; he seemed deeply attached to it. "Perhaps we don''t remember our memories, but they remain within our bodies." At that moment, I realized it was an illogical idea, and there was no way to search for ways to believe it. However, I continued the conversation, indulging in his curiosity and his obsession with believing in this idea. "So, who do you think has lived a previous life?"


    He looked at me seriously, and it appeared charming, and he answered, "You..." I smiled at this silly answer: "Then, who do you think is living for the first time?"

 Chapter 36

    He looked serious again, and I couldn''t hide my smile. "The Crown Prince." .....


    My smile disappeared, and I looked at the river in silence. I understood what he was thinking¡ª


    Our tranquilly was interrupted by the voice of a young man: "Is this my brother, Achil?" It was Prince Yijun, accompanied by the Crown Prince. Achil stood up, and I stood behind him with a slight greeting. The Crown Prince didn''t seem interested, but Prince Yijun continued speaking, "Oh, is this Princess Carmina? I''ve heard a lot about you." Then he paused to think for a moment and continued with a question: "Is your name Yuan? I think so." It seems as if he was talking to himself, but I answered him, "Yes, Your Majesty."


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    Achil interrupted the conversation and asked, "What has brought the Crown Prince on this distant path?" Aron didn''t bother to answer, or maybe becuase Yijun decided to answer instead: "The Crown Prince enjoys many outings these days, so I decided to accompany him today." Both Achil and Aron raised their eyebrows at this talkative child.

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 Chapter 38

    Achil told me about this event, but from a different perspective than what the concubine had previously told us. It felt as if it were two different events.


    In Achil''s eyes, it was a purely political event in which not only did the crown prince reaffirm his position, but even the arrangement of the princes was determined! The people of Hayan were the ones to win if you showed your power and brutality.


    Aron has won this competition since he was seven years old, like an animal that brings back prey with many scratches. Achil describes him as having felt as if he killed them barehanded.


    Other princes followed the crown prince''s orders, so Achil did not enjoy this type of competition, nor did he ever win it.


    ------


    It was a sunny and pleasant morning. I met Laverna halfway through, as we had planned. The emperor commanded everyone from different kingdoms to wear their attire, although it was devoid of neither love nor respect. It was only displaying their varied spoils in a hunting competition. Nevertheless, there was a beautiful feeling in donning our clothes after such a long time!


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    It was also nice that the presence of the northern kingdoms made our attire not appear significantly different. Laverna resembled me as well, for all the northern kingdoms tended towards lightness, with soft and delicate fabric in a light brown color and a small piece of heavier fabric wrapped around the waist. However, each of us represented our own kingdom.


    The kingdom of Raveena leaned towards making their clothes more beautiful and feminine as a symbol of love and indulgence for their women. Meanwhile, our kingdom''s attire, Carmena, tended to shorten the left leg, which, of course, stemmed from the woman''s skill in horseback riding. It was devoid of any adornment, except for hair ornaments.


    All the attire of the other kingdoms was similar, differing only in the details. This highlighted a stark contrast among the women of the empire, where a single glance suggested that their clothes were woven for someone who had never run in their life, let alone participated in exciting activities.

 Chapter 39

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    Our talk was cut short by the voice of a man.

 Chapter 40

Our talk was cut short by the voice of a man. Ravina''s brothers spoke, dressed in their traditional attire. "Laverna!" they exclaimed, looking very happy to see their sister.


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 Chapter 41

    Nero responded proudly, "Oh, the Majesty? He humiliates his brothers." He said it mockingly, which angered Liverna. "He humiliates them? How?" Amor answered, providing a more accurate explanation. "His hunt will begin on the last day," he said. Liverna furrowed her brows. "Is he trying to surpass his brothers'' catch in just one day?!" Nero corrected her and said, "He won''t try; he will do it." Then he smiled triumphantly, like a victorious teenager.


    Laverna was infuriated by her brother''s obsession, and she resisted even more. "And what do you know? I heard that Prince Yejun is strong too." Nero pursed his lips in disappointment and shook his head, denying it. "There is no prince, emperor, or beast stronger than my lord," he said, then looked at Laverna with shining eyes. "He is a deity." Laverna didn''t appreciate her brother''s enthusiasm, and she continued to ask Amor to keep an eye on this miserable boy.


    As for me, I remained silent, feeling uncomfortable with Aron''s presence. Amor seemed more rational than Nero, so I asked him, "What do you think of the crown prince, Amor?" He looked at me, then pondered for a moment. "A man who shouldn''t be messed with?" he continued, "I don''t think I can describe him fully, but he is indeed a man who should not be dealt with." He seemed slightly discouraged, then looked at his sister. "I already regret allowing Father to send Laverna here."


    Nero didn''t like the conversation, but it seemed like he had heard it many times before and kept rolling his eyes in familiarity. Laverna smiled, feeling a moment of longing for her family.


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    Amor asked me in confusion, "But how did you become a concubine for Crown Prince Achil, Yuana?" Perhaps Laverna found an opportunity to finally complain about me, so she didn''t allow me to answer as she said quickly to her brother, "You won''t believe what this madwoman did!" Nero seemed interested again; it was definitely an entertaining story.


    Laverna explained the whole story, and I covered my face with my hands from time to time, realizing how crazy it was. Amor looked shocked and didn''t say anything. Nero laughed a lot and praised my bravery: "You''re truly a crazy woman, Yuana. It''s unfortunate that you ended up with this scaredy-cat and not my lord."


    Amor contradicted him: "No, it is good that you are the concubine of this scaredy cat. Your audacity would have gotten you killed with the crown prince." There was a moment of silence, then he continued as if he felt the need to warn me with a serious face, "The crown prince is not like the emperor, Yuana. He understands and knows lies, and sweet words and tricks don''t affect him."


    ----


    The emperor asked curiously, "Who are those people?" The servant quickly answered, "One of the crown prince concubines, Laverna, from the Kingdom of Ravina, and her brothers Nero and Amor, serving under the crown prince; also, by their side is the Prince Achille concubine Yuana, from the Kingdom of Carmina, Your Majesty."


    The mention of Yuana did not please the emperor, and she wished she could disappear completely. The emperor laughed at this unexpected answer: "Do these foolish kingdoms know the meaning of alliance?" While the crown prince remained focused on these four individuals in silence,.

 Chapter 42

    The three days passed smoothly¡ªan unexpected turn of events. It was an enjoyable occasion, and I discreetly ignored the weak and empty prey Achil at every end of the hunt. I never imagined he wouldn''t even catch a single bird! And contrary to my expectations, Athena didn''t seem disappointed in her knight and his empty hands. The poor girl had finally come to realize that he wasn''t just an unscathed knight but a fleeing one before he could be scratched.


    It seemed that the emperor had finally decided to break this repetitive boredom and achieve something that would put an end to the empress''s sole authority. He stood there after all the princes had finished presenting their prey. Then the emperor looked at Achil''s empty hands with a sad expression and glanced at everyone in confusion. "What should we do with Prince Achill? He won''t achieve anything with these soft hands." Before the empress could attempt a response, the emperor asked his servant, "Doesn''t Prince Achil have a concubine who is the Crown Princess?"


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    My eyes widened, and fear appeared on the faces of Laverne and her siblings, even Nero, who loved such things. Confusion was evident on everyone''s faces, including the empress and Achil himself. Only the emperor and Aron''s mother knew about it.


    She made sure that no one else was aware. It seemed that Aron''s mother knew when to stop talking when something could bring some benefit to Achil, even if it was something trivial like a fallen Crown princess. The emperor''s servant replied, "Yes, Your Majesty. Yuana from the Kingdom of Carmina."


    Everyone''s gaze turned towards me, and for a moment, I saw a smile form on Aron''s lips. Then my eyes immediately shifted to Achil, who looked extremely shocked. "Your Majesty, it seems that you are misun-" Achil gets interrupted by the emporer, who redirects his words towards me. "Isn''t that right, Yuana?" I stood in respect and nodded, "Indeed, Your Majesty."

 Chapter 43

    The emperor smiled, then continued speaking, "Shouldn''t the concubines be a support and aid to their husbands, my dear Yuana?" I kept my gaze lowered, in the corners. "Yes, Your Majesty," I replied. Then he continued, "And a capable concubine like you should compensate for her husband''s shortcomings and let these hands capture some good prey." With a remorseful tone, I answered him, "How can someone like me compensate Prince Achil for anything? I don''t think a woman like me would be suitable for the task."


    The emperor furrowed his brow, not liking the situation. But he endured it for a moment and offered something more acceptable. "Raise your head," he commanded. I lifted my head towards him, and he spoke directly to me. "I will throw birds from here. If you manage to hit just one bird out of thirty, it will be sufficient." Then he continued, "And I will grant any request you make." If refusal were in my favor, I would refuse all thirty birds and his request together. But it was not an offer; it was a gentle coercion that I couldn''t reject. I curtsied once again. "As Your Majesty commands."


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    His command was to be handed a bow. I walked to a distance, where a servant stood with arrows. The empress moved randomly, not understanding what this old man was thinking and intending to harm her son.

 Chapter 44

    As for Achil? He remained silent, as if he hadn''t existed. Thirty servants carrying a royal white dove stood in a line. The emperor picked up the first one and bent down so low that you could barely see what he was carrying. It was a comical scene, one that even the crown prince and the other princes didn''t understand. Why was this old man seriously trying to make things difficult for a young girl?


    The emperor began to raise his body. I didn''t know. I didn''t know what I should do! Should I miss them all? Or should I try after a few attempts? Or on the first try? But I didn''t have the right to choose; my body moved willingly in a second, and I struck the white dove just as the emperor threw it into the sky.


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    I felt like I was hearing the melody of the end. I had done something I hadn''t thought of for the first time. I looked directly at Achil, wondering if he would hate this violent girl as he cursed his family''s violence every night.


    Achil was smiling, amazed at the arrow fixed on the theater''s wall and the splattering blood. That reassured me, and I smiled. Even if all of Hyan''s people hated me, Achil shouldn''t hate me.


    I didn''t have the privilege of reassurance, and quickly my gaze caught everyone''s attention, starting with the emperor. He seemed shocked, but I didn''t know what kind of shock he held. I couldn''t see the crown prince, as he wasn''t in his seat. So I didn''t care about anyone else and just waited for the emperor''s shock to subside.

 Chapter 45

    The Crown Prince, who stood alongside the soldiers at the periphery of the place, turned to his personal guard in curiosity. "How did the Emperor not send her to me? Isn''t she from the Northern Kingdoms that we invaded?" The personal guard answered his master''s curiosity, "She was already yours. The Emperor knew she had a husband in her kingdom, so he gave her to Achil."


    This made sense to the young prince, but not at the same time. "And how did he know? And why didn''t he kill her and inform me to burn her kingdom?" The guard responded to his curiosity, "She told him herself." Then the guard continued, "It''s something like this," and with a confused face, he explained, "she deceived her own kingdom because there was no one else. She has a brother, but she claims he is foolish and would bring ruin to her kingdom."


    The curious prince continued, "And is that true?" The guard answered, "It seems so. Her kingdom was the most devastated after our entry. The father fought against his son for power, and the son did nothing," the guard replied.


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    The Emperor applauded fiercely, followed by the applause of everyone present. It was clear that the Emperor had forgotten his plans and preferred to acknowledge this talent. The Emperor asked with great delight, "If those were the women of Carmena, then what about their men?" Then he looked at his servant and said, "I think we should add some of their soldiers to our army!" It was a great honor, one that could save Carmena from their downfall.


    The Emperor then looked at me and asked, "So, what does the Crown Princess of Carmena want from Emperor Hyann?" I bowed respectfully and replied, "It is enough for Carmela to have the honor of joining in the army of Hyann, Your Majesty." The Emperor''s pride grew, and his smile widened. "The Emperor of Hyann can give your people the pride of joining and fulfill your wish as well." "Then I would like to leave my wish for another time," I said. The Emperor agreed to that and continued drinking and toasting.

 Chapter 46

    The Emperor took a few hours that he had not taken before, and he spoke drunkenly about strong women like me whom he had encountered in wars. Then the Emperor asked the Crown Prince, who was sitting in his chair quietly, if he had ever met someone like me, his gaze directly piercing me like a knife. Then he replied arrogantly and disrespectfully, "I have never seen anyone," keeping his eyes on my side. It was a conceited and unrespectful answer, but the Emperor seemed unfazed and continued his conversation.


    ----


    At night, Achil seemed more possessive than ever before, to the point that he asked me to keep wearing the attire of my kingdom at all times and kept talking nonsense he had never said before. "I felt happiness, as if I had found my other half," Achil said while lying down, and I ran my fingers through his hair. In curiosity, I asked him, "And what completes you?" He joyfully replied upon discovering it, "I am wisdom, and you are strength!" Then he fell silent for a moment and smiled mockingly. "But it''s realistic to say that you possess both wisdom and strength without needing me."


    I approached the saddened Achil and kissed his forehead. "No, I am not strong. In this grand palace, there is no one to protect me except you." Achil smiled confidently, but I continued to affirm what was in my heart. "Promise me, Achil, promise me that you will never leave me." Achil drew closer to me and embraced me, saying, "I will never leave you."


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    After Achill fell asleep, a maid stood at the door and informed me that Lavern was summoning me. Both of her brothers were in her palace, so Nero insisted on inviting me as well. Laverna explained to Nero that Achil was mostly with me, but Nero continued to curse Achil and not care about his presence.


    ----


    I entered Laverna Palace, and we talked extensively, reminiscing about our childhood. I had a strong desire to ask about Rhea and Leo, but I suppressed my curiosity for the night. Nero spoke at length about what had happened that day, cursing my foolish father for putting Carmena in the hands of the weak Rahul. However, I defended Rahul, stating that he wasn''t the problem but rather my father''s obsession with being a king, more than a father to his son.


    The chirping birds announced the passage of the night. Thus, the first night passed peacefully, as did the following days. Nothing had changed except for Achil''s growing desire to discuss matters of the kingdom. We had already discarded formal titles between us, but now he treats me as the future queen, his empress, and the ruler of his kingdom. The Emperor also continued to smile at me from time to time, and I sensed that the empress had stopped her hate towards me. Although I was afraid that the empror would do it again, it did not happen, even though Achil returned empty-handed every time.


    On the other hand, I gained a certain popularity among the court ladies and the wives of the princes. Some of them admired me, following the Emperor''s admiration, while other princesses and women despised me. I was a mixture of unacceptable things¡ªa crown princess, a woman who had slept with her fianc¨¦, and a woman who wielded arrows. I was forbidden to the women of Hyann; I was the rejection that echoed in their ears every night.

 Chapter 47

    On the last morning, we returned to wearing the heavy and tiresome attire of the women of the empire. The Crown Prince departed with his servants to carry the spoils, just like every prince did. Laverna mocked Achil''s servants, saying, "I don''t understand why he bothers himself to take these servants every day. At least he should ask them to hunt for him. No one would blame him."


    We drank tea and missed Tait, who was not allowed to attend such occasions. Time passed, and all the princes presented their spoils. The Emperor and the court ladies frowned. The Crown Prince not only had the largest share of the spoils but also in just one day. The Emperor laughed in delight, of course, his fiercest and strongest son. He looked at the Empress with pride, and his eyes gleamed with mockery, as if he had no sons among those princes.


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    It was a well-deserved victory, and Nero continued to gaze at Laverna with pride in his master. Nero''s triumph was drowned out by the Emperor''s booming voice, raising a toast to his beloved son''s victory. Everyone celebrated, and Petra watched her husband with heavy pride and a sly smile on her face.

 Chapter 48 + NOTE

    In the midst of the celebration, the Crown Prince rose from his seat and walked towards the reserved seats. He held a sword in one hand and looked at us. The sunlight shone on his hair like burning flames.


    He looked at us with his handsome face and enchanting eyes, then he said, "On the morning of a certain day, I ventured outside the empire towards the north. Among high hills and vast forests, I saw one of my concubines coming towards the empire."


    Everyone''s eyes widened, for the Crown Prince was not known for his eloquence and verbosity. I pressed my fingers against my hand, sensing a similarity to my own storytelling style, the day he was listening to us.


    He moved his sword, leaning on it with the palm of his hand, and dug it into the ground, standing upright. "The concubine who rode the horse herself to see me, step forward so I shall reward her." He did not look in my direction, but I knew it was a clear threat, and I felt that if I didn''t speak now, my neck would be severed by his sword before my eyes could blink.


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    The Emperor did not understand his son''s actions, but he continued to smile foolishly. One of the concubines stood near Petra''s seat, bowing respectfully towards him, and said, "Perhaps what you are looking for is me, Your Majesty." Then she raised her head and continued, "I came here in the spring of this year, and during my journey, I also rode horses from time to time." Laverna whispered to me, who did not understand the true nature of my thoughts, "This is a concubine from the Northern Kingdoms as well. You may not remember her, but we saw her several times in our childhood."


    I smiled in strange relief at how silly my thoughts were. Of course, I was not the only woman who rode horses. Perhaps all the women of the North knew that, except Delta.


    The Crown Prince turned his gaze towards us in an instant, shattering all the reassurance in my heart. He held his sword with one hand and approached this poor girl, completely ignoring her. He quickly advanced and stood right beside my seat, and we all hurried to rise and greet him. "Why didn''t you say it was you?" Everyone furrowed their brows, and we did not understand whom he was referring to among us.

 Chapter 49

    With great haste, he strode forward and stood right beside my seat, and we all quickly rose to greet him. "Why did you not say it was you?" Those around me furrowed their brows, and we could not discern who among us he meant.


    All that lay within my downcast gaze were his feet and his weapon, and I felt that this time I would surely perish if I did not satisfy his curiosity. Slowly, I raised my head and looked up at him respectfully. "If it is I whom your Majesty refers to, then I see no right I have to be rewarded by you." I continued, my eyes fixed upon him, hoping these words would remind him of what he had forgotten. "I am a concubine of Prince Achilles, your Majesty."


    He smiled with derision and then slowly stepped back, turning his body towards his seat. His steps were quick and assured, yet he did not sit in the chair.


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    The Crown Prince stood before the curious Emperor before ascending the raised platform. He fixed his gaze upon him sternly, until the Emperor felt all the alcohol had vanished from his body. "I conquered the Northern Kingdom with my own hands, so what does that mean?" The Emperor stood in fear, realizing for the first time... he no longer wished for the monster he had created. The Emperor smiled sheepishly at this embarrassing situation. "This concubine is not fit for you, my son. It is an unwanted trinket that I have cast to your brother."


    The Crown Prince cut off the Emperor''s words, disrespectfully. "I am the one who decides what is fit for me and where my belongings go." The Emperor felt no safety from this beast, knowing that if he were to pounce now, there would be no one to protect him. The Emperor understood that he was losing his authority now, and even the Empress could not find the strength to stand up to him. How could she dare to when she witnessed the power of her husband''s rule crumbling before her?