《The Girl of Ethereal Beauty》


 The Lonely Goddess

    Introduction:


    Ingrid stared at the beautiful girl reflected in the mirror. She tried to recall how they would often describe the girl in front of her. ¡®A woman with a face that even the gods would envy.¡¯


    Her lips curled up, and the girl in the mirror followed her movement.


    The girl she sees is always complimented on her smile. Wherever she goes, people flutter around her, desperate to see her lips bloom into a grin.


    ¡°My Lady, which shoe will you be wearing today?¡± asked the maid, who has been patiently waiting for Ingrid by the side. Her master has a habit of staring at her own reflection during the early mornings before doing anything else. She doesn¡¯t think much of her master''s habit, though. If she has such a face, she¡¯ll probably do the same.


    ¡°Lily, do you know Narcissus?¡±


    Lily did not answer, knowing it was probably a rhetorical question.


    She and her master are of the same age. She was born in their household and has been beside her mistress ever since she can remember. So you could say she knew her mistress more than anyone else.


    ¡°Narcissus is a figure from mythology whom they say is very handsome. He was so handsome that one day he saw his own reflection in a pool of water and fell in love with himself,¡± Ingrid narrated. She tore her eyes from the mirror and walked towards her closet, where a variety of shoes were being displayed.


    If you come across this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it.


    ¡°I always thought that such a myth was ridiculous.¡±


    Ingrid grabbed a pair of black shoes and handed them to her maid. She sat on a chair and raised her slender feet. Lily then knelt on the ground and gently put the shoe on her snow white foot. Every movement was very careful and gentle, like she was handling fragile glass.


    As the sole daughter of the Grand Duke of Lennox, Ingrid was the apple of her father''s eye. Her unparalleled beauty, coupled with her father''s immense influence, commanded both reverence and fear from those around her.


    Rumors swirled that even the Emperor of Learia, her father''s brother, held a special fondness for her, as evidenced by the lavish gifts that were given to her, regardless of occasion. As a result, no one dared cross her path.


    With her loving and rich family and having such beauty that can melt even the hardest of hearts, one could say that she is indeed living the perfect life.


    ¡°Lily, do you think such a myth is true?¡±


    Lily raised her head to look at her mistress, just to see the latter staring at a distance. There was a tinge of loneliness in her beautiful emerald eyes.


    The sun¡¯s rays made her visage glow. At that very moment, she looked like a goddess that had descended from the earth.


    A lonely goddess at that.


    To the outside world, Ingrid''s life appeared to be a picture of perfection. However, Lily knew the truth that lay beneath the surface. Ingrid''s life was a cage, a prison of isolation and loneliness.


    Like a delicate flower in a glass case, Ingrid was admired from afar, her beauty a source of fascination and awe. Yet no one dared to get too close to her. Most deemed themselves unworthy of being graced with her friendship and companionship. And yet those who do don''t exactly see her as a human but as a tool¡ªa trophy that they could boast about towards others.

 1. The Grand Ball

    Ingrid stood at the very center of the crowd, looking like a goddess descended from the heavens. Like the moon that overshadows the stars whenever it appears in the night sky, every other person in the room¡ªwhether man or woman¡ªpaled before her beauty.


    You could see the envy and jealousy in the women¡¯s gazes, both young and old, as they watched the men get smitten by the young beauty¡¯s face.


    There had been a tacit agreement between the young ladies of the kingdom to ban Ingrid from attending their balls and tea parties, as she always stole the spotlight from the host simply by being there. However, because the emperor was the one hosting the event, they could only enviously watch as Ingrid hogged all the men¡¯s attention.


    On the other hand, Ingrid, the subject of their envy, was standing all alone. None of the young men had the courage to approach her, and no woman wished to invite her into their circle either. So she stood there like a wallflower¡ªa very beautiful one¡ªon a boisterous occasion.


    But she didn¡¯t mind being excluded. It was still better than listening to tiring compliments that she had already heard a thousand times. After a while, people stopped being creative with their flattery, and their words became tiring to listen to.


    At a reserved table for high-ranking guests, a young man with eyes as striking as the blueberry night sky gazed at Ingrid with great interest. No one paid him any mind, including the Grand Duke of Lennox, who was well-accustomed to seeing his daughter captivate every man who laid eyes on her. With his power and prestige, the Grand Duke was confident that he could deter anyone who dared have ill intentions towards his precious daughter¡ªeven the so-called great and barbaric prince.


    As a father, he couldn''t be any prouder to have such a beautiful daughter. However, extreme beauty also has its price. That is why the Grand Duke has been doing his best to expand his army and strengthen the influence of his house, in fear that someone might suddenly snatch his precious daughter in the middle of the night. It was a very understandable worry, as a lot of men had already tried.


    Unfortunately for those men, the security around the beautiful young lady was as tight as that of an emperor. Therefore, they could only regard the alluring young woman as something to be gazed upon and admired, but never touch.


    On the other hand, the purple-eyed man kept his eyes on the beautiful Ingrid. A keen interest could be seen in his eyes, as he never let the young lady out of his sight. But it was interest not from a man to a woman, but more similar to that of a predator who had finally caught sight of his prey.


    But the prince was momentarily taken aback when his prey¡¯s emerald eyes landed in his direction. Much to his surprise, her orbs, as captivating as the shimmering green of a calm sea, weren''t those belonging to a fragile, innocent, and sheltered princess. Instead, they hold an extremely rare kind of intelligence that he¡¯d only seen one other woman hold. Unfortunately, that woman is no longer in this world.


    They indeed weren¡¯t lying when they said that the daughter of the house of Lennox has eyes that can make a person forget one¡¯s name. But like an aloof little bird, her gaze came as it went and proceeded to the person next to him. Then, a smile bloomed from her lips of vibrant red, and suddenly, it felt like the warm hall had become even warmer.


    Among all the ladies in the ball, Ingrid was wearing the simplest and most conservative of clothing. A purple gown in the darkest shade with long sleeves and a high neckline basically covers most of her skin. Yet, it did not stop her from outshining even the empress in her golden robe and shining jewels.


    Consequent sighs could be heard from the people in the room as they watched the smiling goddess in a trance-like state. Even the women who were looking at her with a venomous gaze stood agape.


    An amused smile appeared on the prince¡¯s lips. It seems that he was the only one who was not affected by the goddess¡¯s hypnotizing smile.


    The prince stood up from his seat. Regal in his posture and confident in his strides, he crossed the distance between him and Ingrid, then bowed in front of her with his hand held out, palm facing up¡ªa courteous smile on his lips.


    Stolen content warning: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences.


    Ingrid was taken aback when she saw the crown prince of Aradhya approaching her. Her eyes trembled as a series of questions ran through her mind. When he bowed before her to ask for a dance, she wanted so much to decline, which she did with all the others. Unfortunately, he is not someone she could reject, and he knew it as well.


    You would think there were thousands of snakes inside the room as the people broke into silent whispers.


    Crown prince Aleric of the Empire of Aradhya, the sole empire that managed to conquer a fourth of the continent through its own might, the valiant prince whose name resounds throughout the kingdoms, is kneeling in front of the greatest beauty the world has ever seen.


    The Empire of Aradhya was once small and humble. It ruled at the very edge of the west, where the sun shines golden and the ground is blessed with a great bounty. The people there live in humility and contentment under the just rule of their king. That was until the death of the queen, Prince Aleric¡¯s mother.


    Rumor has it that the queen died in an accident during a visit to a neighboring kingdom. None of the people believe it. They knew that the kingdom of Hedri had its eyes set on their kingdom to make their lands their own.


    It may seem that the king knew of this as well. But there was much trickery involved in the death of his wife, and there was no clear evidence of the Kingdom of Hedri¡¯s involvement. Furthermore, as a kingdom that reigned in peace, their military might is far weaker than that of the kingdom of Hedri, whose men were seasoned in battle and toughened by the harsh living conditions of their kingdom. So the king could only put the matter to rest and mourn the death of his wife in silence.


    However, the young prince Aleric, who was 14 at the time of his mother¡¯s death, was not willing to accept it all. So for the sake of vengeance, he ventured to the kingdom of Hedri with only his 12 royal knights with him. Three months later, he successfully assassinated the king and the rest of his most loyal supporters. He then proceeded to gift the entire kingdom to his father, the king, in honor of his mother, the queen.


    From then on, the Empire of Aradhya began conquering land after land and kingdom after kingdom, becoming a name that everyone feared. And that same prince who spearheaded those conquests is here in their empire¡ªan unannounced visit that placed the entire empire on edge.


    However, they still welcomed the crown prince with a grand feast fit for his title.


    Ingrid lifted her pale hand and placed it on the prince¡¯s palm. The smile on Prince Aleric¡¯s charming face widened as he brought the back of her soft hand to his lips.


    For some reason, Ingrid felt a dark foreboding. It was as though her fate had been sealed by that kiss, and she felt her stomach churn.


    The prince pulled her closer to him and held her by the small of her waist as they began to dance. No one dared dance with them. It was as if the crowd feared to tread upon the sacred ground surrounding the beautiful lady of the house of Lenox and the great and mighty prince, leaving them both dancing alone at the center of the dance floor.


    ¡°The rumors about your beauty did you no justice,¡± the prince remarked, his voice deep¡ªthe kind that would pull on a woman¡¯s heartstring just from hearing them. ¡°But on the other hand, I don¡¯t think even the greatest of poets could construct the right words to match such unrivaled beauty.¡±


    There was not a hint of flattery in the prince¡¯s voice. His tone was like that of a messenger who was simply describing what he saw as it was.


    ¡°I am flattered, your highness,¡± Ingrid responded dryly. She¡¯d heard even better compliments before, but at the end of the day, no matter how poetic they say it, it still means one thing¡ªshe¡¯s beautiful.


    She¡¯s not complaining, though. There is not one woman who hates being complimented for her beauty. But as time passed, she began to dread her own visage. Though her beauty seemed to be a blessing, it was also a curse.


    The prince watched the young woman with even more interest as he watched her mind wander. It may seem that even the title of being the most powerful is not enough to hold the aloof beauty¡¯s attention.


    As the music ended, they bowed toward each other. But before Ingrid could leave, Prince Aleric said something that made her whole body stiffen.


    ¡°I hope my lady won¡¯t mind me visiting your residence one of these days.¡±


    Ingrid looked at the handsome prince. Though he was smiling, it could not hide the coldness and cruelty in his eyes. Such eyes can only be acquired by those whose hands have been tainted by the blood of thousands of lives. Being stared down by those cold eyes, she began to break out into a cold sweat¡ªthe dread she had been feeling was growing even worse.


    ¡°You don¡¯t need my permission for such things, your highness,¡± she said, her voice not showing even the slightest bit of the fear she was feeling. ¡°I do not interfere with my father¡¯s businesses in court, nor do I try to influence any of his decisions regarding any military matters. Now if you¡¯ll excuse me, your highness.¡±


    ¡°But I heard he has given you permission to decide whoever you wish to marry.¡±


    Ingrid stopped on her track, and for the first time, an emotion aside from her wintry look and rehearsed smile graced her face. She looked at the prince as though he had grown another head.


    An amused smile appeared on Prince Aleric¡¯s face. He kissed the back of Ingrid¡¯s hand once again, this time lingering longer as he watched a series of emotions run through her emerald eyes.


    ¡°I shall see you again in a few days.¡±


    With that, he left the young lady, who was in a complete daze.

 2. An Uninvited Guest

    In the heart of the garden, inside a small pavilion, Ingrid sat languidly on a soft fur carpet. Her long, curly golden-brown hair cascaded over her shoulders, making her resemble an elegant garden fairy with a book in her hand. However, the beautiful garden fairy seemed lost in thought, her brows furrowed in concentration, as if pondering a problem she couldn''t solve.


    "My Lady?" Lily called when she saw Ingrid¡¯s hand curl on one of the pages of the book, crumpling it.


    Realizing what she had done, Ingrid panicked and began smoothing the pages of the book with her hands. She treasures books very much and is very careful when handling them, to the point that she even has designated maids assigned to take care of them. Yet, look at her being distracted and careless with her hand.


    A pained expression appeared on Ingrid¡¯s face when she saw the ruined page. She couldn¡¯t help but sigh in resignation and hand the book to one of her maids.


    "Is something bothering you, my lady?" Lily asked.


    Ever since the ball at the Emperor¡¯s palace, the young lady has been acting differently. Although she doesn¡¯t normally talk a lot, Lily has noticed that she has become even quieter than before. There were times she would catch the young lady looking at the empty space with a frown on her beautiful face.


    Just yesterday, Ingrid accidentally spilled her tea, causing all the maids to panic, afraid that she had burned her hands. Thankfully, she didn¡¯t burn her skin, and who knows how they would answer to the grand duke afterwards?


    "Lily, do you think it will affect the empire if a noble from our kingdom declines a marriage offer from another empire?" Ingrid asked in a trance.


    Lily couldn¡¯t understand why her mistress was asking such a question. The young lady of the grand dukes household is greedy for knowledge. If one were to ask, you could say she is as knowledgeable as the top scholar of the academy. She is well-versed in many subjects, including politics. Thus, her question confused Lily, though she still answered.


    "I guess it depends on who is offering it and who it is offered to, my lady? If it is an offer of marriage between lower nobilities, I guess it wouldn¡¯t affect the relationship between the two empires that much. However, it would be different if it were between households that hold a certain amount of power in the empire. In such a case, the marriage would most likely affect the relationship between the two empires."


    Ingrid looked toward the distance with an unreadable expression on her beautiful face. "And which household do you think has that kind of power?"


    Lily thought about it for a while before answering. "I think the household of the three grand dukes of our kingdom would have that kind of power, especially our household, which holds the greatest military strength in the empire."


    Ingrid¡¯s eyes dimmed. Remembering those purple eyes that looked at her like a cunning predator playing with its prey made the uneasiness in her heart grow deeper. She could tell from the crown prince¡¯s eyes that he wasn''t interested in her beauty. Which means if he indeed was serious with his offer of marriage, his aim isn¡¯t to gain her heart but something else.


    But what could it be?


    The only other thing she could think would attract the crown prince was her father''s vast army. But what would he need her father''s army for?


    The prince was known as a savage conqueror whose favorite hobby was ravaging lands and kingdoms. He has hundreds of thousands of soldiers on his beck and call. Although her father¡¯s army is quite large and composed of formidable soldiers, it still isn¡¯t compared to the crown prince¡¯s army. However, she couldn¡¯t think of any other reason why a man, and the only man at that, who did not show even the slightest attraction when seeing her, would want to approach her.


    Well, there is also the possibility that she is just overthinking things, and the crown wasn¡¯t really serious with his words that night. Yes, that must be it.


    "I¡¯m tired. Let¡¯s head back," Ingrid decided. All the thinking drained her energy, making her sleepy.


    However, if Ingrid knew what awaited her in her bedroom, she would never have chosen to return, even if she was threatened with a knife in her throat.


    Within the spacious chamber, a man sat nonchalantly on a chair, his long legs crossed with an air of effortless confidence. His violet eyes, like a beautiful galaxy, held a mysterious depth that captivated all who dared to meet his gaze. His face possessed a striking handsomeness that turned heads in his direction. Though it pales against Ingrid¡¯s ethereal beauty, his mystery and danger add flavor to his attractiveness, which women just seem to not get enough of.


    Stolen from its rightful place, this narrative is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.


    "Take a good rest, my lady. I will come and wake you up once it¡¯s time for dinner," Lily said as she opened the door for her mistress.


    Ingrid hummed in response, her eyelids like delicate butterfly wings drooping with a subtle hint of drowsiness. She walked inside her room with elegant steps when, at the corner of her eyes, she noticed someone who wasn¡¯t supposed to be there.


    Noticing the presence of another person, the man lifted his head.


    Ingrid''s footsteps halted, and her body froze in an instant, like a rabbit caught in headlights. A pair of piercing purple eyes met her emerald orbs, which were wide with surprise.


    "You¡¯re back early," he remarked, the edge of his lips tugging upward. "They said you tend to stay in your little garden until the sun sets. Was the information wrong?"


    "Crown Prince Aleric!" Ingrid gasped as she nervously looked behind her. Thankfully, the chair in which he was sitting was placed at a certain angle, so Lily did not see him when she was opening and closing the door for Ingrid. "What are you doing here?"


    "Have I not told you I¡¯d be visiting?"


    Ingrid clenched her trembling fists. Hundreds of questions run through her mind as she looks at the crown prince, who is leaning on his chair while smiling mischievously.


    Her residence is as guarded as a fortress in a war-torn city. Hundreds of knights patrol the area. Furthermore, a powerful grand mage that worked for their family placed detection spells and layers of barriers throughout the place. No intruder has ever entered her residence undetected. So how did the crown prince sneak into her chamber without anyone noticing?


    "Still, don¡¯t you think it¡¯s inappropriate for a man to barge into an unmarried woman¡¯s private space?"


    "That won¡¯t matter if I¡¯m marrying the woman."


    Ingrid choked on her own saliva. Her face flushed red as she coughed while beating her own chest. Yet, as though the word ugly never existed for her, she still manages to look pretty despite the inelegance of her actions.


    Ingrid glared begrudgingly at Aleric. She did hear rumors about the crown prince lacking etiquette since he lived most of his life on the battlefield. But she never expected it to be true. After all, the crown prince she met during the ball seemed... behave.


    "And when was it decided that I''d marry you?" She spat after she regained her composure.


    "When I came to this faraway empire for you," he answered with absolute confidence.


    Ingrid¡¯s eyelids trembled. His word would have come across as romantic if not for the detachment in his voice as he said it.


    Some of the speculations in Ingrid¡¯s head were finally confirmed. She isn¡¯t what the crown prince wants; instead, she is the means to get it. And for him to personally go to such a faraway place to get whatever it is he wants, there may not be that much room for her to decline.


    Ingrid combed her soft and lustrous hair with her fingers¡ªa habit she unconsciously does when she¡¯s preoccupied or nervous.


    "Your eyes tell me that you have no interest in me. So why do you want to marry me?" she asked.


    Crown Prince Aleric studied her with a predator¡¯s unwavering attention. It seems that the young lady isn¡¯t just pretty, but observant as well. He didn¡¯t expect that from the woman deemed the most beautiful in the world. After all, she didn¡¯t need to look at people to get whatever she wanted; they only needed to look at her.


    "I require your father¡¯s military might for a coming war," he answered. There was no use deceiving her. She must¡¯ve most likely guessed his true intention anyway.


    And he was right. Ingrid showed not the slightest bit of surprise after hearing his answer.


    "Why go through an unnecessary marriage we both don¡¯t want when you could just go and ask my father to lend you his army?"


    "And leave you unprotected? Your father would never agree. However, if you were placed somewhere safe during the entire duration of the war, then my chance of convincing your father would rise. But there is another problem. The duke will never allow you to take shelter in the home of a stranger when he is capable of protecting you on his own. Unless it''s your powerful husband.¡± The crown prince gave her a cunning smile while pointing at himself.


    Ingrid¡¯s throat felt dry. He had always made her feel uneasy. The first thought that came to her mind when she saw him walking towards her wearing that same devious smile during the ball was to run. However, like a weak prey in the face of a powerful predator, she became paralyzed with fear.


    "And what if I decline?"


    Crown Prince Aleric leaned on his chair while crossing his legs. "Well, there is also the option of taking it by force. If you haven¡¯t heard it yet, my specialty is assassination."


    Ingrid¡¯s beautiful face turned deathly pale. She recalled the fall of the kingdom of Hedri from one of the books she had once read. The previous king of Hedri, along with his most loyal supporters, were all killed in their sleep one night.


    Normally, chaos would have ensued after such a great catastrophe. But apart from the affected households, there wasn¡¯t that much uproar in the kingdom. A few months later, the kingdom transitioned from being an independent kingdom into a vassal state, becoming the very first pillar that supported the kingdom of Aradhya as it turned into a great empire.


    Ingrid looked at the cruel crown prince. Up until now, no one knew how he accomplished such a feat, but he had taken three more kingdoms using that same method.


    Will he also kill her father if she rejects him? His cold-blooded eyes gave her the answer.


    "A week. I will give you a week to think about my proposal." Crown Prince Aleric stood from his seat and walked towards the open window.


    Ingrid bawled her trembling hands into a fist.


    "Then I shall visit you again in a week, my princess." In the blink of an eye, Crown Prince Aleric was no longer there.

 3. The Curse of Beauty

    Crown Prince Aleric of the Empire of Aradhya¡ªthe prince who, at the tender age of 14, overthrew an entire kingdom to revenge his dear mother¡ªthe prince, who, at 16, swallowed the lands and kingdoms surrounding theirs.


    Crown Prince Aleric¡¯s sole might and power turned the once peaceful and meek kingdom of Aradhya into one of the largest empires on the continent. It is believed that the crown prince has never once tasted defeat since he started his conquest. He is best known for his tyranny¡ªa man cruel to his friends but crueler to his enemies. What he wants, he always gets, regardless of whether it means destroying an entire country to get it.


    Ingrid could still remember his uncle, the emperor, being extremely careful when speaking towards crown prince Aleric, despite the empire of Learia having the same standing as the empire of Aradhya. It was as though his uncle¡¯s arrogance that comes from being an emperor diminished in the face of not even the emperor of the other empire himself but of a mere crown prince.


    If she marries that monster of a man, what kind of life will she lead?


    Well, it¡¯s no use thinking about those possibilities now. After all, her fate had been sealed. The ultimatum he had given her wasn¡¯t for her to decide whether to reject him or not, but to prepare herself for the future he had already decided. A bitter smile formed on her lips.


    Everyone called her a blessed child because of her unparalleled beauty. But for her, it¡¯s more accurate to call it a curse. As arrogant as it may sound, she has lost count of the number of times this beautiful face of hers has caused her trouble.


    Because she was too beautiful for her own good, her father raised a strong army to protect her. And that army ended up attracting the power-hungry crown prince instead. In the end, it was still because of her accursed beauty that this inescapable situation occurred.


    Just like how she almost caused an entire kingdom to fall all thanks to her tears, a wrong word from her mouth will surely cause unnecessary blood to spill.


    "My lady, the grand duke has arrived."


    Ingrid was awakened from her stupor. Slowly, her eyes regained their glow. All the helplessness she felt while her father was away from the capital completely vanished the moment she heard of his return. She quickly stood from her seat and ran out of her bed chamber.


    The maids, shocked by her action, were dazed for a moment before they quickly followed behind her. They had never seen the young lady run before. Even when she¡¯s excited or happy, she always retains her calm and elegant demeanor, so they were extremely baffled.


    It was only Lily who had noticed her young lady''s changes lately and looked at Ingrid with eyes full of worry. However, every time she asked Ingrid about it, the latter would always dismiss her and tell her not to worry. But it only makes Lily worry even more, knowing that her mistress is the kind who likes to keep things to herself.


    "Papa!" Ingrid exclaimed when she saw the giant man clad in silver armor walking towards her.


    The Grand Duke quickened his steps when he saw the beautiful face of his daughter greeting him. The pieces of his armor trailed behind him as he removed them one by one before wrapping his precious child in his embrace.


    All of Ingrid¡¯s worry got washed away the moment his father¡¯s arms wrapped around her like a protective shield. It was the only safe place she had in this cruel world.


    "Is there something wrong? Why were your eyes gloomy? Did something happen while I was away?" Her father asked gently while rubbing her hair. Ingrid froze for a moment.


    Ingrid¡¯s face is like a blinding spell. When people look at her, they get so enchanted by her face that they can¡¯t see past it. Even when she expressed an obvious disappointment or anger in her eyes, it was as though her face was a wall that stopped them from seeing those emotions.


    Only her father and her closest aid, Lily, are attentive to her feelings. For some reason, she suddenly remembered that man who didn¡¯t seem to care about her beauty again. When he looked at her, it was as though he was staring right through her soul, dissecting her very being.


    Stolen from its original source, this story is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.


    Ingrid looked up and saw worry on her father¡¯s face, whose handsomeness seemed unaffected by time. Her aunt told her that no one took notice of how good-looking his father was until her mother died. It was because her mother was extremely beautiful that she made everyone look unattractive when standing next to her.


    They say she looked exactly like her mother, except for her eyes, which she got from her father. But Ingrid never saw her mother, and for some odd reason, there is not a single portrait of her in their house or any traces of her existence. She once asked her father about it, but the pain on his face when she mentioned it stopped her from prying further.


    Ingrid plastered a heart-shaking smile on her face as she teasingly asked, "How can Father tell?"


    "Hmmp, how can I even be called a father if I can¡¯t tell the changes in my own daughter¡¯s emotions?" his father grumbled. "Are you looking down on this father of yours?"


    Ingrid couldn¡¯t hold her laughter. It was such a sight to see an almost 7-foot-muscled man with a giant sword on his hip, pouting like a stubborn child. Even the close aids of the grand duke turned red from holding their laughter.


    The grand duke, Rasmus Lennox, is an entity that even the emperor does not dare stand against. He had once almost destroyed an entire kingdom after its prince tried to abduct his precious daughter. If not for Ingrid intervening and begging her father to stop his carnage, that kingdom would have been wiped off the map.


    His fame does not pale compared to that of the savage crown prince. If he had wished, he could have become the great emperor of Learia and not his brother. Unfortunately, the throne does not interest the grand duke for even a little. But who would ever think that the same grand duke who puts fear in the hearts of the people likes to act childishly behind closed doors?


    "To our usual walk?"


    Ingrid nodded her head and hooked her arms on the grand Duke''s elbow as they headed for the garden.


    Despite his busy schedule, as long as he was in the capital, Grand Duke Rasmus would always find time to eat breakfast and take a short walk with his daughter every morning. But despite racing towards the capital at top speed, he still did not manage to arrive on time for breakfast today, which made the grand duke a bit regretful.


    "So, would you like to tell this father of yours what¡¯s bothering you, my princess?"


    Ingrid flinched upon hearing the word "my princess". It suddenly reminded her of that arrogant crown prince and the sly look on his face.


    "So there is someone bothering my precious daughter," her father, who was quick to notice the slight ripple in her eyes, said in a dangerous voice.


    "Papa! It¡¯s not really like that!" Ingrid exclaimed as she gripped her father¡¯s arm to appease his anger.


    Her father is quite sensitive when it comes to her. The number of people who attempted to steal her ever since she was a child was so numerous that the grand duke became excessively protective. At least it did not go to a point where he did not allow people to look at her. Although he can¡¯t stop himself from glaring at any man who tries to approach Ingrid, he tries the best he can.


    During the ball at the emperor¡¯s palace, if his brother and daughter hadn¡¯t made him swear an oath to not cause a scene beforehand, the grand duke would have beheaded that audacious crown prince for daring to ask her daughter for a dance. It¡¯s not that he doesn¡¯t want anyone approaching his daughter. Despite his protectiveness, he still values her freedom and hopes that she can live a somewhat normal life.


    However, there are certain kinds of people whom he will never allow to approach Ingrid. Power-hungry, manipulative, controlling, self-serving, cruel, and violent are among the people he tries to shield his child from. And the crown prince of Arahdya happens to check all of the boxes.


    "My child, you are too beautiful for this world," the duke said in a voice full of worry. "You¡¯ve experienced it yourself; people covet your beauty."


    Ingrid flinched as certain memories flashed through her mind. She could still remember the look in the eyes of those people who tried to harm her before: twisted love, lust, possessiveness, greed, and perversion. That''s why she¡¯s adept at reading people¡¯s eyes. It was a talent she acquired in her desperation to survive this world so cruel to the different and the beautiful.


    "As your father, it is my duty to protect you from this cruel world. However, no matter how much wealth and power I amass, I am still limited by my humanity. There are things that are beyond my control, and I always fear that someday you''ll get stolen by someone I am not powerful enough to fend off."


    Ingrid wrapped her father in a tight embrace and buried her face on his broad chest. She hates to see the helplessness in her father¡¯s eyes. She wanted to see him remain as the man who stood valiantly¡ªa strong shield who managed to deter every enemy that dared to harm her.


    But this time, she will be the one to protect him. She will not let any harm come to her father, who has done nothing but love her.


    "It¡¯s really not like that, papa. I mean, who would even dare bother me? The precious daughter of the powerful grand duke of Lennox?"


    "Then why do you look so down and gloomy then?"


    Ingrid buried herself deeper in her father¡¯s embrace. "It¡¯s just... there is this person that caught my eye."

 4. A Game or a Play?

    "Have you decided?" Crown Prince Aleric asked.


    Ingrid''s mind flashed back to a week ago. He had been sitting in that same chair, with the same predatory look in his eyes.


    "What''s there to decide?" she asked the crown prince, her back straight and her chin lifted. Her voice though cold was devoid of bitterness. "Haven''t you already decided things for me?"


    A cruel smile appeared on Crown Prince Aleric¡¯s face.


    "As you previously said, you wanted my father to let you use his army willingly. Is that correct?"


    Crown Prince Aleric nodded his head and said, "That¡¯s right."


    "And the key to that is this marriage," Ingrid mused as she walked to the window and gazed at the beautiful garden below.


    For the second time, Crown Prince Aleric had managed to enter her heavily fortified residence without anyone noticing. How he had done it, she still didn''t know, but one thing was for sure: with his abilities, he could assassinate someone in their sleep if he chose to.


    She looked at the cloudy sky, the light causing her eyes to dazzle like a beautiful jewel. "However, my father would never believe me if I suddenly said that I wanted to marry you, regardless of whether I said it was out of love."


    "I expected that much. The grand duke is said to be a very attentive father." Crown Prince Aleric crossed his legs. "So what do you propose?"


    Ingrid bit the inner skin of her mouth. How was this her problem? He¡¯s the one threatening her into this marriage; he should be the one finding a solution!


    "Before that, may I ask which country you plan to destroy this time?"


    Aleric¡¯s brow arched. The contempt in her voice was evident. Most people are indifferent to his exploits unless they affect them in some way. This is the second time that he has met someone who has expressed blatant abhorrence towards him despite having no connection to the people he killed or the countries he destroyed.


    "The land where the sun doesn¡¯t shine," Crown Prince Aleric answered.


    Ingrid snapped her head toward Aleric. "Selite? But why? Don¡¯t you know the situation there? That place has only one season: winter. Food is scarce, and people live in extreme poverty. So why bring war to such a place? You¡¯ll gain nothing!"


    Ingrid couldn¡¯t hide the distress in her eyes. She knew very well how awful the living conditions were in that place. The kingdom of Selite is extremely reliant on exported goods to survive, as agriculture is impossible.


    Furthermore, caravans are unwilling to do business in the kingdom as the risk is not worth the profit. Therefore, it was the kingdom''s soldiers who risked their lives by setting out for the world outside in order to bring food back to their country.


    "I heard you¡¯ve made quite the number of donations to the Kingdom of Selite."


    Ingrid raised her brow. "What of it?"


    Aleric walked towards Ingrid and stopped when there was only a few inches of space between them. He cupped her chin, feeling the softness of her skin against her rough palm. "Do you know whom you¡¯ve fattened with your generous donations?"


    A frown graced Ingrid¡¯s beautiful face.


    Aleric was confused. It doesn¡¯t make sense how she, who was beautiful and spoiled, could grow to be this kind and good.


    He had encountered a lot of her kind before¡ªwomen who are beautiful and spoiled by their parents. None of them grew to have an agreeable personality.


    Those women aren¡¯t even a match for Ingrid¡¯s beauty or the love and riches she is showered with, so he expected that her personality would be more rotten than theirs. But none of the investigation results matched the bratty girl he imagined.


    He expected to meet a hateful woman, but he met a maiden loved by the common people instead.


    Aleric didn¡¯t realize that he was staring for too long until Ingrid spoke. "I¡¯m waiting; explain."


    He let go of her chin. "Unfortunately, it¡¯s confidential information not available to the rest of the world." Crown Prince Aleric grinned slyly. "As of now, you¡¯re a stranger to me, so I can¡¯t divulge anything to you. But perhaps, when we¡¯re married, we can talk about it in slow whispers as we lie in bed."


    If you come across this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it.


    Ingrid turned as red as a tomato. "Y-you, how can you say something like that?!!"


    "Something like what?" he asked innocently. "How are you already embarrassed? Once we¡¯re married, we¡¯ll do more than talk in bed."


    "Your royal highness, I beg you to shut up," Ingrid pleaded while covering her flushed face.


    Crown Prince Aleric burst into a fit of laughter, his voice echoing in the four corners of the room.


    Ingrid quickly covered his mouth in panic. "Are you mad? What if they heard you?" she berated while looking nervously at the door.


    If her father finds the crown prince in her room, he will surely come after his head. Only if it is that easy to take this barbarian head. Blood will be drawn, and innocent people will be dragged into a pointless fight. Just thinking about it is giving her a headache.


    "Your hands smell like strawberries."


    Ingrid pulled her hand away as though she were electrified and glared at Aleric. Why is it so hard to have a normal conversation with this crown prince?


    "Anyways, when do you plan on executing your war plan?" Ingrid asked while rubbing her hand on her purple dress.


    The crown prince looked at her, amused. "In two years, all preparations will have been completed. I¡¯d like to get your father¡¯s agreement before that."


    "Then we¡¯ll have at least a year to convince my father."


    Aleric¡¯s brow furrowed. "Convince him of what?"


    Ingrid tilted her head to the side, a smile on her lips showing her set of pearly white teeth.


    Aleric froze.


    "That the oppressive crown prince of the Aradhya Empire, whom he despises the most, has smitten his precious daughter.


    It was Ingrid¡¯s turn to grin mischievously as she watched an expression she¡¯s very familiar with dance around the crown prince¡¯s eyes. It seems that he is not totally invulnerable to her charm after all.


    In that moment, Aleric sensed a kind of danger he had never once encountered. Before he realized it, he had already taken a step back, causing a myriad of complicated emotions to appear in his eyes. For the first time in his life, someone managed to make him retreat. And it wasn¡¯t some strong warrior or an army greater than his, but a woman. A woman so small and frail against him that if he wished, he could crush her neck before she could even scream. Yet he ended up losing to the temptation of her mere smile.


    Aleric¡¯s eyes narrowed. Ingrid Lennox may be even more dangerous than she seems.


    "So that¡¯s what you¡¯ve decided?" he asked, wearing his usual arrogance, as though his previous reaction was a mere afterthought.


    "My father hates you. More specifically, he hates your kind of people."


    "My kind?" Aleric lifted his brow.


    "Yes, your arrogant, self-serving, cruel, and malicious kind," Ingrid answered while staring straight at him. "War will ensue if you ask for my hand. So instead, I¡¯ll ask for yours," she added.


    Ingrid did quite a lot of thinking on the best possible way to do this without compromising her father¡¯s safety. And this is the best possible solution she could think of. If her father believes that she genuinely likes Aleric, then he would have to agree, even if he doesn¡¯t like it. After all, he promised that he would let her marry whoever she wished to.


    This time, she will turn into the pompous woman they all believe she is.


    "If that¡¯s your solution, what do you need a year for?"


    Ingrid looked away, but the fading glow in her eyes did not manage to escape Aleric¡¯s gaze. "They say arrogance comes with the crown. The more powerful the crown, the more arrogant the wearer becomes. The same goes for beauty, your highness." She looked at Aleric as though challenging him. "With this face of mine, how much arrogance do you think I have?"


    Aleric recalled the thick paper his right hand, Vernon, handed him last night. It was a list of the names of the men who tried to win Ingrid¡¯s hand¡ªall of whom had their hearts broken after they were mercilessly rejected.


    Crown Prince Aleric knew that there was not one person in the world as arrogant as him. After all, he had the strength and power to back it up. So even though he hates to admit it, he very well knew the amount of arrogance she, who was unparalleled in her beauty, possessed.


    Now he understands what she needed a year for. He smiled bitterly. It seems that assassinating the grand duke would prove to be far easier. "So what¡¯s your game plan?"


    "Game?" Ingrid chuckled. "This isn¡¯t a game. This is a play that I write and direct, and I play the main character." She pointed at herself.


    Aleric grinned. He pulled Ingrid by the waist and crossed the remaining distance between them. He ran the back of his hand on her cheeks, his eyes looking at her face as though he were memorizing every single detail.


    "And what is my role in your play?" he asked in a husky voice.


    Ingrid¡¯s mouth went dry. That sly grin¡ªhe''s obviously trying to get back at her for earlier. But she couldn¡¯t back down, not when her pride was on the line.


    "Careful with your hands, your highness; as you said, we aren¡¯t married yet." She said her voice, tempting rather than reprimanding, all the while slowly pushing Aleric away. "Once I get the ring, you can place your hands wherever it wants, with my permission, of course."


    "Then I look forward to it," he breathed, licking his lips before letting her go.


    Ingrid shivered. The look of desire in his eyes made her regret everything she said. She swallowed the familiar fear that slowly crawled into her throat.


    "Anyway, for this to work, you just need to be where I want you to be when I want you to be. I hope your highness can cooperate."


    Her sudden politeness took Aleric by surprise. He noticed how she was clenching her hands so hard that they lost all their blood.


    "Now, if your highness would kindly leave, I still have some things to do."


    He didn¡¯t ask her any more questions and left quietly. It isn¡¯t in his nature to force people into answering¡ªunless, they are criminals sitting in his interrogation cell. And with the way she is turning her back on him, she surely wouldn¡¯t answer even if he asked.


    Ingrid fell to the floor the moment she no longer felt his presence. She gathered her knees close to her and began rocking herself back and forth while whispering. "It¡¯s okay. I¡¯m okay. I¡¯ll be okay."

 5. Nightmare

    Darkness...


    It was all the young Ingrid could see underneath her blindfold. Another cloth was wrapped around her mouth, stopping her from making a sound, so she could only weep in silence. Had she not willfully asked her father to take her to the festival, this wouldn¡¯t have happened.


    It was the last day of the hunting festival. People gathered at the central plaza, where a giant feast made from the games hunted during the first day of the festival was prepared. It is said to be the most joyous time of the entire week of festivity, where the entire empire gathers together in unity.


    Wanting to experience that, the young Ingrid begged her father to take her to the festival, despite the grand dukes great disapproval. Though it is the most joyful time, it is also the most dangerous, especially for Ingrid, whom many people covet. But Ingrid was relentless, and after a lot of begging and crying, the grand duke ended up reluctantly agreeing. After all, who could bear to see the tears of such a beautiful child?


    However, who would have thought that it was the moment that Ingrid¡¯s captor had been waiting for all along?


    During the peak of the festivity, one of the giant pots, a size taller than a man, filled with boiling soup suddenly broke, causing it to spill onto the surrounding audience. People started to panic, and before they knew it, a stampede had already occurred.


    The grand duke quickly grabbed his daughter and brought her to safety. However, when he looked down, it wasn¡¯t his daughter¡¯s hand he was holding, but of Lily, her face filled with tears, her wrist red from trying to struggle away from the grand dukes grasp. It turns out someone had taken Ingrid amid the chaos. Lily tried to tell the grand duke, but the panic-stricken people''s noise drowned out Lily''s voice.


    ¡°Is this her?¡± A new and unfamiliar voice asked.


    ¡°Yes, your highness.¡±


    Ingrid felt a hand touching the back of her head, causing her to shiver uncontrollably. Then she felt the cloth covering her eyes loosen. The first thing she saw in her still hazy gaze was a purple satin dress. Its wearer was still busy loosening the cloth tied around her mouth. However, despite the gentleness of the hands that are trying to free her, she couldn¡¯t find any sort of comfort from their bearer.


    Ingrid¡¯s shoulder tensed when the man grabbed her jaw, forcing her to look up. She was met by a pair of gray, stormy eyes filled with insanity, and she began to tremble.


    ¡°What a lovely face¡ªno, lovely isn¡¯t enough to express the amount of beauty you hold.¡± The man broke into an insane smile, making him look even more horrible.


    Ingrid did not realize she was crying until she felt the man rubbing his thumb on her cheeks, making her shiver out of fear and pure disgust.


    ¡°Sssh, it¡¯s okay. Don¡¯t cry. I¡¯m not going to hurt you.¡± The man said in a horrid voice.


    ¡°Please let me go. My father is surely worried about me,¡± Ingrid begged in between sobs.


    ¡°Oh, don¡¯t worry, my love. I¡¯m sure your father will understand. After all, he can¡¯t keep you by his side forever.¡±


    Ingrid shook her head profusely. She couldn¡¯t comprehend the meaning behind the words said by the monster in front of her. How come she can¡¯t stay by her father¡¯s side? She doesn¡¯t want to be here! She wants to be with her father!


    Royal Road is the home of this novel. Visit there to read the original and support the author.


    "Come, let me show you something.¡±


    The ugly man held her hand, so she could only helplessly follow. He led her onto a balcony that overlooked the entire kingdom of which he was the ruler.


    The sight of the beautiful structures created and powered by magic was a feast to behold, but not for Ingrid. All she could see was the distance between there and home, her hope slowly dying as she thought of ways to escape her current cage.


    "Beautiful, isn¡¯t it?¡± The man said, his mad eyes filled with great pride. Ingrid¡¯s body turned cold when he looked towards her. ¡°Once you marry me, you will rule beside me and become the queen of this kingdom, isn¡¯t that great?¡±


    Ingrid shook her head and tried to pull her hand away, but the madman''s grip on her tightened. ¡°My father will never agree to that!¡±


    "Oh, I¡¯m sure he will. A power¡¯s siren song casts a spell on all! Your father is no exception!¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s a lie! My father is not like that! Let me go!¡±


    ¡°Is that so?¡± He asked mockingly. ¡°When your father knows who I am, you best know he will offer you himself to me!¡±


    ¡°Then why kidnap me!?¡±


    The man fell into silence, dumbstruck. His grip on Ingrid loosened. She quickly took the chance to create distance between them.


    ¡°My father chose me and my mother over a whole empire. He will never choose you over me, so don''t you mar my father''s good name!¡±


    The man''s sudden burst of laughter startled Ingrid.


    ¡°Spells are indeed useless against a goddess''s blood.¡±


    Ingrid took a step back when the man began to walk towards her, his eyes filled with even more madness and greed. She felt the icy metal railing pressed against her back. Cornered, her eyes darted wildly around, searching for a way out.


    ¡°Well, it doesn¡¯t matter what your father thinks of anyway. You¡¯re in my kingdom now. What can he actually do once we have already tied the knot?¡±


    Ingrid looked at the man with horror. ¡°No! ¡±


    ¡°Behave now, my little queen.¡±


    ¡°No! Nooo!!!¡±


    ¡°My lady? My lady! Wake-up!¡±


    Ingrid snapped awake, her eyes scanning the room wildly. Only when she recognized her familiar surroundings did she start to calm down. She clenched her trembling fists and took a series of deep breaths, trying to calm herself.


    The sun''s rays were already peeking through the still-closed curtains, signaling the start of a new day.


    ¡°It¡¯s been so long since you had a nightmare, my lady,¡± Lily said, filled with worry, as she handed Ingrid a glass of water.


    Ingrid drained the glass in a single gulp, as if she had just emerged from a desert trek. Lily poured her another, but this time Ingrid only drank half.


    ¡°My lady, was something bothering you these past few days?¡± Lily could no longer help but ask.


    ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Lily, it¡¯s nothing.¡± Ingrid tried to stand, only to fall on Lily¡¯s arm, who was quick to catch her mistress.


    Ingrid looked at her trembling legs and sighed ¡°Please get me a change of clothes,¡± she said as Lily helped her sit on the bed. Her night clothes were drenched with sweat, and it¡¯s making her uncomfortable.


    ¡°My Lady, I have been by your side ever since I could remember. I know you, and I know that you have not been yourself these past few days.¡± Lily handed Ingrid the set of clothes she had chosen and helped her mistress wear them. ¡°If there is anything that¡¯s bothering you..."


    Ingrid let out a deep sigh. She knew she couldn¡¯t hide anything from Lily. The two of them had practically grown together. Lily was the only person she could call her friend and the only person who treated her like a normal person.


    ¡°I wasn¡¯t myself because there is a giant play that I¡¯m trying to make, and it requires a lot of thinking. Don¡¯t worry, once it¡¯s finished, I will show it to you first.¡± Ingrid patted Lily on the shoulder and walked towards the window.


    Ingrid opened the thin curtains, allowing the sun to fully enter the room. Her face showed no signs that she had just woken up from a terrible nightmare.


    She glowed with a youthful radiance as the rays touched her rose-colored cheeks.


    There is a superstition in their dukedom that whoever gets to grace her face in the morning will have a day of luck and goodness ahead of them. That is why every morning the maids in her residence would line up outside her door to greet her before they went on with their daily tasks. Meanwhile, the servants of the grand ducal palace could only wait enviously for her to grace them with her presence.


    ¡°Lily, tell the knights to prepare my carriage.¡±


    ¡°My lady?¡± Lily¡¯s brows furrowed. Her mistress rarely goes out, and when she does, she always briefs them ahead of time. Therefore, she was confused by Ingrid¡¯s sudden announcement.


    Ingrid looked at the baffled Lily and gave her a smile that did not reach her eyes. ¡°It¡¯s time to set the play I created in motion.¡±

 6. The Jealous Empress

    The day was bright and sunny. Under normal circumstances, the roads of the common district would have been bustling with people and carriages coming to and fro.


    However, today, only one enclosed carriage of pure white color with the symbol of a Dhalia flower drawn in gold on its door can be seen traveling down the street. A great number of guard knights atop their horses are surrounding the carriage as it moves.


    On each side of the streets, people are lining up¡ªsome bowing, while others are crying in joy while lifting their hands in the heavens.


    Visitors who knew nothing about the kingdom of Learia would probably think that the person within the carriage is a powerful general or perhaps the emperor himself. But inside lies the envy of every woman and the dream of every man.


    ¡°The common people really love you, my lady,¡± Lily said while peering through the small opening out the window.


    Ingrid did not answer. Her mind has been preoccupied ever since this morning.


    Lily looked at her with worry. Her decision to join the hunting festival today really took her by surprise.


    After what happened a few years ago, Ingrid had sworn to never join the festival again. She would even get upset upon the mere mention of the hunting festival that the duke banned the mention of it within the Dahlia Palace. However, this morning, she suddenly announced she was going to the festival, catching everyone by surprise.


    Ingrid was awakened from her stupor when the carriage stopped. Her heartbeat raced.


    They must¡¯ve arrived.


    ¡°My lady?¡± Lily called outside of the opened carriage when Ingrid did not come out.


    Ingrid took a series of deep breaths. Once her heart was calm, she began to descend the carriage.


    The hunting festival is a seven-day celebration that commemorates the beginning of the hunting season. The festival starts with the emperor hunting the first game.


    It is believed that the bigger the game the emperor hunts, the more bountiful the season¡¯s hunt will be. Afterwards, a hunting competition is held, attended by each representative of the noble and military families.


    The winner gets a reward chosen by the emperor.


    Last year''s prize was a vast land in the southern part of the empire, famous for its agricultural advantages. But two years ago, the emperor added a dance with her on the night of the huntsman¡¯s ball as a bonus for whoever wins the competition. Things didn¡¯t end well afterwards.


    Before they could head towards the hunting lodge, Duchess Camilla, the lady in waiting for the empress, blocked their path.


    ¡°Duchess Camilla,¡± Ingrid greeted.


    Duchess Camilla bowed and said, ¡°Lady Ingrid, my empress wishes to see you.¡±


    ¡°What a coincidence! I was just about to go and greet her." Ingrid started to walk but noticed that the duchess hadn''t moved. "Is there something wrong, Duchess?"


    "It would be best if her lady wore her veil,¡± the duchess said, looking at Lily.


    Lily looked at Ingrid, unsure of what she should do, but Ingrid just smiled and nodded. The unwelcoming attitude of the duchess was understandable. After she rejected her son, the duchess never had anything good to say about her.


    After wearing her veil, Duchess Camilla led them to the tent where the empress is staying.


    ¡°Your highness, Lady Ingrid, has arrived,¡± Duchess Camilla announced.


    ¡°Let her in,¡± a soft voice from inside the tent said.


    Ingrid went inside the tent and bowed before the empress. She was about to remove her veil, but the empress stopped her.


    ¡°Please keep the veil. Your presence is annoying me enough.¡±


    Ingrid couldn¡¯t help a mocking smile from appearing on her lips. Luckily, she had her veil on.


    ¡°As you wish, your grace,¡± she said, her voice laced with sarcasm.


    This tale has been pilfered from Royal Road. If found on Amazon, kindly file a report.


    Empress Verandi of the empire of Learia is often mistaken for being kind, thanks to her soft-spoken voice. But to those who truly know her, she is far from kind. She is a jealous empress who likes to ride on her high-horse. Being bested is what she hates the most, especially when it comes to beauty. That is why, in all of the kingdom, she hates Ingrid, whose beauty she can never surpass.


    ¡°What did you come here for? Have you forgotten the chaos you caused two years ago?¡±


    Ingrid gritted her teeth. ¡°I have never caused any sort of chaos, your grace,¡± she denied.


    The empress laughed mockingly. ¡°You didn¡¯t? The son of Count Leo lost his life that day. Ten other nobles'' sons were severely injured. If not for the knights timely intervention, many would have died in that fight. War could have broken out in this kingdom, and it would have been your fault.¡±


    She couldn¡¯t see the empress¡¯s face clearly through the veil, but she could tell that she''s enjoying this. It is the empress source of joy to see her in misery after all.


    ¡°You should just stay in your high tower and never come out! That way, you wouldn¡¯t hurt anyone!¡±


    Ingrid clenched her fist. Although she hates to admit it, the empress was right. If she weren¡¯t there that day, those noble men wouldn¡¯t have fought over her.


    After what happened, the noble families whose sons were involved in the fight began fighting as well, and the other nobles started taking sides. Count Leo, who lost his son, went mad and commanded his entire household to slaughter every person related to the nobles who had hands on the death of his son.


    If it wasn¡¯t for her father, a civil war would have started in the kingdom, all thanks to her.


    She¡¯s still carrying the guilt of that day in her heart. Yet, here she is, back in the place she promised she would never step foot again.


    ¡°Grand Duke Rasmus, you cannot go in there! ¡± yelled a distressed voice from outside, followed by the sound of a sword being unsheathed.


    An eerie silence broke out in the camp.


    Only the dancing of the tree leaves as the winds blow and the heavy footsteps of a person walking towards the tent could be heard.


    ¡°Papa!¡± Ingrid exclaimed as relief filled her heart when she saw the person entering the tent with a drawn sword in his hand.


    The grand duke had a grim look on his face, but it instantly turned soft when he looked at his daughter. He quickly scanned her child for any wounds and sighed when he found her unscathed.


    ¡°Grand Duke Rasmus, how dare you march inside my tent without permission! ¡±


    ¡°Have you forgotten my warning, your highness? ¡± The duke said, glaring at the empress.


    ¡°How impertinent! Don¡¯t forget your place, grand duke. I am still the empress!" The empress shrieked, her voice sounding like that of an old witch, as she lost her composure.


    ¡°It seems that you are the one who has forgotten your highness.¡± The duke''s tone was grim. ¡°I am willing to start a war for the sake of my child. Is the emperor willing to do the same for your sake?¡±


    Fear struck the empress¡¯s face. If she earned the ire of the grand duke, her husband would surely not hesitate to discard her. The emperor is a shameless and greedy coward who would not hesitate to lick the booths of the strong if it meant keeping his throne.


    ¡°Hold your peace, grand duke. I was merely talking to your daughter,¡± the empress said, her voice returning to its usual calm tone. If it weren¡¯t for Ingrid¡¯s sudden arrival, she wouldn¡¯t have lost her composure in the first place. ¡°You know what happened two years ago. If your daughter suddenly barges on the hunt unannounced, who knows what kind of chaos will ensue?"


    The grand duke scoffed as he placed his sword back on its scabbard. ¡°What happened two years ago was never my daughter¡¯s fault. She never incited them into fighting.¡±


    ¡°But that bewitching face has made them go mad!¡±


    ¡°Then I guess your highness should stop maintaining your beauty as well.¡±


    The empress glared at Ingrid. ¡°What did you say?¡±


    ¡°I mean, if your highness becomes too beautiful, wouldn¡¯t you cause war to happen in this country?¡±


    A famous merchant once said that gold makes any woman shine. Ever since then, the empress has never been seen without adorning herself in gold. Fortunately, gold suited her complexion, or she would have been a laughingstock. However, no matter how much gold she wore, she could never match Ingrid''s beauty, which no one seemed capable of surpassing.


    ¡°Let¡¯s go,¡± the duke said, walking out of the tent.


    Ingrid bowed in a slow, mocking gesture and left the empress trembling with rage. No matter how right the empress may have been with her accusations, Ingrid would never allow herself to be bullied without retaliating.


    ¡°Did the empress hurt you?¡± Ingrid flinched when she heard the coldness of her father¡¯s voice. He¡¯s definitely angry.


    ¡°No.¡±


    ¡°You did not mention to me that you were coming today.¡±


    Ingrid bit her lower lips before answering, ¡°You already left when I woke up.¡±


    The grand duke paused as he looked at his daughter. "You could have sent a messenger," he said. "And take off your veil. I''ve told you countless times that you don''t need to hide your face. Your beauty is not a sin. Those people and their disgusting minds are the sinful ones."


    He gently removed the veil, revealing Ingrid''s face. In that moment, the trees swayed and the breeze made a whistling sound as though it was displaying it''s joy of seeing her beautiful countenance.


    "Is my father no longer angry?¡± Ingrid teased.


    "I was never angry. I was worried. The Shadows recently caught a spy with an oak symbol on his back lurking at the empire''s border."


    Ingrid stiffened at the mention of the familiar symbol as memories she buried deep in her mind began to reemerge.


    Grand Duke looked at her daughter''s pale face worriedly. He didn''t really want to tell Ingrid about it, afraid of worrying her, but he feared even more that she would act recklessly without understanding the danger.


    There was one man who had succeeded in abducting Ingrid. Furthermore, the grand duke never managed to rescue her from that man. Instead, that ugly man returned her home saying, she was still too young and that he would come back for her once she¡¯s old enough.


    Fear crept into her heart, and her hands began to tremble as her terrible memories resurfaced. She was twelve when he took her then, and now she¡¯s eighteen. Is he finally coming for her?

 7. Proof That I Like You

    Heads turned as Ingrid walked into the premises where the hunt was being held. However, none caught the glance of the aloof lady except for one.


    A complex expression surfaced in Ingrid''s eyes upon catching sight of the towering man, who was wearing modest, earth-toned clothing usually worn by the common folks when hunting. With the fame of his tyranny, she thought everyone would stay away from him like he had the plague. Yet all the nobles of the empire, both young and old, flocked towards him like butterflies. They cannot wait to shower him with flattery¡ªall to gain his favor.


    On the other hand, Crown Prince Aleric is also very generous in giving them his attention. He looked friendly and charming as he spoke¡ªit was impossible to think he was the same crown prince whom they say had slaughtered thousands of men.


    Ingrid wanted to puke at the Crown Prince''s hypocrisy, but instead a rare smile appeared from her lips. Like a rippling effect, the eyes of those who saw her smile went wide in surprise.


    It is a known fact that the only person who can make Ingrid smile is her father. However, the grand duke is standing right beside her, so who could she be smiling at?


    Everyone quickly looked around to find the lucky person who made the unparalled beauty smile.


    Grand Duke Rasmus was the first to spot the subject of her gaze. But before he could stop her, Ingrid was already making her way towards the man standing in the midst of the crown, who, despite wearing such simple garments, still exudes an aura of reverence and authority.


    The crowd parted like the Red Sea, their bewildered eyes following their goddess''s every step.


    "What a pleasure to see you again, Your Highness," she said, her face brimming with happiness.


    Silence...


    The entire camp was filled with deafening silence.


    It was the very first time that their beautiful goddess came down from her throne to voluntarily greet a mortal being. But their dumbstruck faces were soon replaced with piercing glares as they looked at Crown Prince Aleric. Though they respect the crown prince, given his controversial reputation, they do not believe he is worthy of their goddess''s attention.


    "The pleasure is mine, my lady," Crown Prince Aleric said, and he kissed the back of her delicate hand, his soft lips lingering longer than they should have.


    Ingrid forced a smile on her face, pretending to enjoy the crown prince''s attention, even though she wanted nothing more than to pull her hand away and slap him across the face.


    "I thought you hated the hunting festival," Aleric asked in a voice that only the two of them could hear.


    "I do, but it''s the fastest way to make my father believe I like you," Ingrid said, grimacing as she said the words ''I like you.'' ¡°What better event can get a message across than joining a celebration that I hate the most for the sake of a person I am interested in?" She added sarcastically and secretly rolled her eyes at the Crown Prince.


    "But are you really okay? You''re trembling, you know," Aleric said.


    For a second, Ingrid felt like there was a hint of worry in the crown prince''s voice. But she quickly dismissed the thought, thinking how ridiculous it was. The self-centered crown prince would never care for anyone but himself.


    Indeed, she was trembling. The hostile stares of the men around them, as if they would tear Aleric to pieces at any given moment, were putting her on edge.


    Crown Prince Aleric''s dirty look, as if challenging them to do something, only made matters worse. She fears that a fight worse than what happened two years ago might just happen.


    "Can you please stop provoking them?" Ingrid pleaded.


    Aleric looked at her innocently, as though he didn''t understand what she was saying.


    She was really close to punching him.


    Stolen content alert: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences.


    "Ehem!" the grand duke coughed, bemused by how close the crown prince was to his daughter. He didn¡¯t like how they looked like sweet lovers as they whispered to each other.


    But before the grand duke could speak his mind, the emperor appeared, drawn by the commotion.


    "I''m wounded to think my niece would greet the Crown Prince of Aradhya before me, her uncle." The Emperor lamented clutching his chest in a display of mock anguish.


    Ingrid flinched at her uncle''s theatrics.


    They aren''t exactly close. As the key to her father''s heart, she¡¯s quite aware that the emperor was only using her to get on the grand dukes good side. And with the people believing that the House of Lennox is behind him, his hold on the empire is further strengthened.


    However, in reality, the relationship between the imperial household and their ducal household is quite strained, especially after what happened six years ago. Upon investigation, it wqs revealed that someone from the emperor¡¯s side had a hand in her abduction.


    Whether it was someone else or the emperor himself is still unclear.


    ¡°That¡¯s not the case, your majesty," Ingrid said while bowing. ¡°I was about to greet your majesty when I saw Crown Prince Aleric along the way, so I went ahead and greeted him.¡±


    The Emperor and the Grand Duke looked at each other with an inexplicable expression on their faces. Crown Prince Aleric stood in the opposite direction from where the emperor is seated. The Emperor quickly grabbed his brother and pulled him to the side.


    ¡°You could really tell that they are brothers,¡± Aleric whispered while the Grand Duke and the Emperor weren¡¯t looking.


    The Emperor is the Grand Duke''s younger brother. However, it is hard to tell who is older or younger based on their looks alone, as Grand Duke Rasmus seems to have stopped aging. Meanwhile, the Emperor, who holds the weight of an entire kingdom on his shoulder, did not get lucky in the aging department.


    ¡°I¡¯ve been wondering about this, but why isn¡¯t your father the emperor? ¡±


    Ingrid raised her brow. ¡°That¡¯s elementary knowledge, and you don¡¯t know?¡± She said sarcastically. She knew he had people investigate their empire.


    Crown Prince Aleric scoffed, unwilling to be looked down upon. ¡°I''m quite aware that the succession of the crown in the empire of Learia wasn¡¯t based on a first-born basis. Instead, all of the princes and princesses of the kingdom are given a fair chance to succeed the throne through fair competition..."


    "...But your father was the one everyone expected to win the competition. He was far ahead of his brothers and sisters. The fiefdom he was assigned prospered greatly. The commoners loved and respected him, and many nobles rallied behind him. Yet he didn¡¯t become the emperor in the end.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s because of my mother,¡± Ingrid answered with a hint of sadness in her voice. ¡°My father gave up his title while they were at the climax of the competition, all because the most beautiful woman in the land whom he loved the most was the sole daughter of the Grand Duke Lennox."


    "My grandfather has no male heir to pass on the family name you see. Thus, on his deathbed, he announced he would only accept a son-in-law who would marry into the family. You could guess what happened next.¡±


    Aleric nodded his head in understanding. ¡°Speaking of your mother, do you remember her face?¡±


    Ingrid glared at Aleric. "Did none of your sources tell you that she died while I was a baby?" she snapped.


    Her mother was a sensitive topic for her. If there is one thing that she lacks in this world, it is a mother. She would often envy those who grew up with their mothers, wondering how it felt to have one.


    Seeing Ingrid''s sour mood, Aleric didn''t pursue the topic further. It was of no use anyway. Ingrid was practically caged in her castle, so she wouldn''t have known that there was not a single trace left of her mother in the world, as though she never existed.


    ¡°My child, the journey must have tired you. How about we go to our tent so you can rest? Let us leave His Majesty the Emperor and the Crown Prince as they prepare for the hunt." Grand Duke Rasmus suggested while pulling Ingrid by the waist before she could voice any words of disagreement.


    He couldn¡¯t wait to take his daughter far away from that crown prince before some nonsensical relationship of some sort formed between the two.


    On the contrary, Ingrid was greatly thankful to be taken away. She had already done what she came to do, and she needed to cool her head.


    ¡°Is he the one you meant?¡± The Grand Duke asked hesitantly.


    ¡°The one I meant?¡± Ingrid tilted her head, acting oblivious.


    ¡°The person you said... the one you..." Grand Duke Rasmus sighed. ¡°Never mind.¡±


    Ingrid couldn¡¯t help but smile while watching her father walk ahead of her dejectedly. Although she felt sorry for deceiving him, she knew she had to do this for his sake and hers.


    Everyone strives to be beautiful. No one ever wants to be ugly. However, too much beauty can turn into poison. How much more if you are born with beauty whose league is above and beyond anyone else on the planet?


    Life is a curse for her, who is the most beautiful. And she''s well aware that she couldn¡¯t live under the protection of her father forever.


    Every life ends like the season, and soon she will be alone in a world that wants nothing but to tear her apart.


    Then, as she was pondering her future, the most perfect candidate came into view. A man who has both the strength and power to shield her from the world. Although he has a terrible character, he is still a better option than the other guy, who only wants to make her a breeder for pretty children. That was why she did not resist as much as she should have, despite how infuriating his threats were.


    Now she could only hope that she was right to choose him. Hopefully the rumors of his might and power aren¡¯t just mere lies, for only if they are true will she be able to escape the fate that awaits her in the hands of that terrible man.

 8. Betrayed

    Tears welled from Ingird¡¯s eyes. They sparkled like crystal-clear water as the light of the sun hit them from between the canopies of the trees. They were tears that made the hardest of hearts soften. However, her tears which were always an effective last resort when she found herself incapable of escaping a dire situation, failed to work this time.


    ¡°Your tears won¡¯t work on us, my lady,¡± said one of the men, clothed in black from head to toe with only their eyes visible. ¡°The king has given us a potion to counter your charm before coming to the empire. Now, if your lady could come willingly with us, it would be much appreciated."


    Ingrid swallowed. How could this happen? She looked at one of her maids, who was standing beside the black-clad men with her head held high as if she had done nothing wrong. To think that one of her maids would actually betray her.


    ¡°Seli, why?¡± Ingrid asked in a pained voice. This time, her tears weren¡¯t to convince her kidnappers to let her go. They were for the many years of trust that were broken and shattered by an unexpected betrayal.


    ¡°I never betrayed you, my lady. I was never on your side in the first place,¡± Seliphine sneered. She looked at the bag of gold in her hand greedily as the thought of the many things she could buy with it came to mind.


    ¡°How can you do this? My family has treated you well!¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t be so dramatic, my lady. Or should I start addressing you as your grace now?¡± Seli mocked. ¡°It¡¯s not like I sold you to some brothel or something. Look, I only got this much money,¡± she said, shaking the pouch she was holding. ¡°And yet, you¡¯ll go off to become the queen of the most powerful kingdom in history. You should be thanking me instead.¡±


    Despair and anger filled Ingrid¡¯s heart. Her eyes darted around the vast forest, looking for a place to escape.


    Surrounding them were giant trees. Even if she did manage to run away, it would be impossible for her to run far in the terrible terrain with her heels and layered dress. She¡¯ll easily get caught.


    ¡°Give up, my lady. You can never escape."


    ¡°Stay away!¡± Ingrid screamed when Seli started walking towards her, causing the latter to stop.


    Ingrid felt so stupid for trusting her. She was bored from waiting for the challengers of the competition to return when Seli told her that she stumbled upon a bed of beautiful flowers behind the hunting lodge. The way Seli cheerfully described how beautiful the flowers were piqued her interest. Therefore, she asked Seli to show her where they were, tagging along a few knights with her.


    Who would have thought she would lead them into a trap...


    As they entered the dense forest, her knights were ambushed and taken down before they could even draw their swords. A mage was also with them, disrupting the magic around the area so she couldn''t send a distress signal using her magic-imbued pendant.


    Seli was good at her work. She never did anything unnecessary or out of the ordinary, and she never got in trouble with the other maids. Among the young maids, she is the second-longest-serving maid in their household. So she had never been suspicious of her.


    ¡°You don¡¯t need to be afraid, lady Ingrid," Seli assured, a malicious smirk on her face. "I¡¯m sure the king of Serus will treat you well. After all, you will be his queen. You will rule the most powerful kingdom in the world, together with the most powerful man there is! Don¡¯t you want that?¡±


    Ingrid shook her head while taking a step away from her captors. But her foot landed on a root protruding from the ground, causing her to fall butt first. Ingrid winced from the pain.


    ¡°Since when did Oliver become the most powerful man in the world?¡±


    The black-cladded men quickly raised their arms at the sudden sound of an unfamiliar yet hatefully familiar voice. They looked around looking for the location of the voice, their eyes on high-alert.


    From behind a giant tree, the owner of the voice emerged. There was an arrogant smile on his lips as he casually walked towards their direction.


    It was the first time that Ingrid felt relief seeing a man apart from her fateher. The overwhelming feeling made her tears flow down her cheeks as she looked at the man in front of her like a child who was telling on her bullies.


    ¡°Crown Prince Aleric!¡± Seli exclaimed in bewilderment. She looked at Dera, the mage accompanying them, but by the looks of it, it seems that their mage was the most surprised by the sudden appearance of the Crown Prince.


    The tale has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.


    Dera is a senior mage who specializes in detection spells. She is a young genius that King Oliver himself praised for her adept use of detection and tracking spells. To think that the infamous Crown Prince is actually capable of bypassing her magic. Is his strength really equal to that of the king of Serus?


    Seli began to fear and worry. She was only supposed to lead Ingrid towards the men of Serus, and then she would be on her merry way. Everything was supposed to work out smoothly, but who would have thought that the crown prince would accidentally stumble upon them?


    ¡°Dera, a senior mage from the Magic Association greets your highness.¡± Dera, the mage and the only one in the group who isn¡¯t wearing a ninja costume, stepped in. ¡°If your highness may, we would like you to leave as we still have some business with the young lady."


    Ingrid looked at Aleric, her eyes screaming a silent plea. She was afraid that he would leave, just like that. With the involvement of a powerful kingdom, he might just discard his plan to use her due to the giant risk.


    ¡°You mean the business of abducting her.¡±


    ¡°The young lady¡¯s hand has already been promised to our king a long time ago. It is now time for her to fulfill the marriage.¡±


    ¡°You liar! I never promised to marry that ugly fart!¡± She shouted.


    Dera clenched her fist. She wanted so much to slap that beautiful face for daring to disrespect her king. If only Crown Prince Aleric wasn¡¯t here, she would have already done so.


    The Crown Prince of Arahdya is a complicated person. No one knows what he wants or what his true goal is in his conquests. So even the kingdom of Serus tiptoes when dealing with him. They don¡¯t necessarily fear the Crown Prince or his so-called might. However, they also don¡¯t want to recklessly wage war against such a strong empire when there is an option to avoid it.


    ¡°We¡¯ll, the maiden has spoken¡ªshe doesn¡¯t want your ugly king." Aleric chuckled and walked towards where Ingrid is.


    ¡°Crown Prince Aleric! Can you really afford the hostility of the kingdom of Serus?¡±


    Aleric did not respond and instead offered his hand towards the beautiful maiden slumped on the ground.


    ¡°What? Is the ground that comfortable?¡± He asked Ingrid, who was looking at his hand seemingly in disbelief.


    The kingdom of Serus is known as the home of magicians. Though its size is not comparable to an empire, its strength is. It lies in a mana-rich region in the south. As such, the place was a paradise for for those who pursue magic.


    Magicians from all over the world would brave all kinds of danger just to learn magic from them. Obviously, the only school for magic in the entire world can only be found in that place.


    That is why no one dares act hostilely against the Kingdom of Serus. Apart from the fact that their strength is great, the only way to hire magicians is through them. It could be said that the kingdom of Serus holds a monopoly over the magicians in the land. Anyone would be stupid to go against them.


    Previously, one of the reasons why her father was helpless when she was abducted was because, when they found out who her father was fighting against, everyone abandoned him, afraid. The grand duke wanted to march to the south really badly, but even the emperor dissuaded him from doing so, fearing that the empire of Learia would be implicated.


    So though she was happy to have found help, at the same time she was baffled. No one is that crazy to go against the kingdom of Serus. But it seems that she has found someone who is.


    Ingrid took Crown Prince Aleric¡¯s hand and allowed him to lift her off the ground.


    ¡°Stop right there, your highness! She is our future queen. It would greatly displease our king if you recklessly touched her!¡± Dera warned.


    Aleric''s brow furrowed. "That''s strange. As far as I know, I haven''t conquered that kingdom... yet." His voice dripped with arrogance and mockery. "And my future title is emperor, not king. So how are you a future queen?" He turned to Ingrid, his expression genuinely puzzled.


    Dera''s heart sank, a sense of foreboding creeping over her. As far as she knew, the Crown Prince and Ingrid had no connection other than their dance at the ball. Could something have happened between them that she didn''t know about? Impossible! The spy they sent to ensure that the young lady of Lennox was behaving appropriately would have reported if they had seen anything suspicious.


    ¡°Did you mistake her for someone else?¡± The Crown Prince eyed everyone around them, his eyes warning them to choose their words correctly.


    Deli looked at his fellowmen, an understanding passing among them. There were ten of them, excluding Seli, who now looked like a useless decoration at the very corner. Though her magic isn¡¯t that suitable for combat, she can be a very good support. Meanwhile, there is only the crown prince, and he is even without a sword.


    If they could kill the crown prince today, they would be eliminating a future threat to their kingdom and would surely be rewarded by their king. It would be killing two birds with one stone.


    ¡°Uhm, your highness, I think it¡¯s time to take out your weapon,¡± Ingrid said, sensing the danger in their eyes.


    ¡°Weapon?¡± Aleric looked at Ingrid, confused. ¡°What weapon?¡±


    ¡°Your weapon!¡± Ingrid¡¯s hand gripped Aleric¡¯s hand as Dera and her companions moved towards them.


    ¡°Well, I don¡¯t have a weapon.¡±


    ¡°Hah?¡± Ingrid looked at Aleric¡¯s apathetic face in disbelief. ¡°Did you join the hunt without a weapon?¡±


    Come to think of it, before the hunt started, she did notice that Aleric was the only one without a weapon. But she assumed that he has some sort of artifact that he uses to hide it. Who would actually think he truly, literally did not bring any weapons?


    Ingrid felt a headache coming. It looks like life of her only hope would be cut short.


    Ingrid felt a hand on her shoulder. She looked up and saw the crown prince smiling at her without any care, as if their lives weren¡¯t in imminent danger.


    Crown Prince Aleric unhurriedly kissed the back of her pearly white hands. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, there is a thing we call primitive hunting.¡±


    That¡¯s when Ingrid saw it¡ªthe traces of dried blood on his fingertips. A shiver ran through her spine.

 9. Bloodbath

    Ingrid froze like a beautifully sculpted statue as she watched the carnage that happened right before her eyes. She wanted to close her eyes, but she couldn¡¯t. She wanted to scream, but her mouth felt like it was glued shut. So she could only watch in horror as torn limbs and flesh scattered everywhere, their blood creating a pool on the uneven ground.


    The last of the echos of the shrilling scream of the mage finally ended as Crown Prince Aleric separated her head from her body and aimlessly threw it away. He then stretched his arm, showing off his perfectly toned muscles that, in a different circumstance, would have made even Ingrid blush.


    However, at that very moment, all Ingrid could see were arms of death that could easily take her life in a single misstep.


    A grin was plastered on Crown Prince Aleric¡¯s lips, amused by how weak his enemies were. The only thing worth noting about them was their superhuman speed. But apart from that, they were as weak as an ant.


    However, the smile on his face was soon wiped off when his bloodshot eyes landed on a pale-looking maiden, standing like a block of ice. He was so immersed in his bloodletting that he had momentarily forgotten that a beautiful but extremely fragile lady was with him.


    ¡°That must have startled you.¡± Aleric sighed.


    Startled was an understatement. Ingrid looked like she was about to pass out!


    Now, this would be difficult. With the young lady of Lennox now traumatized, will he have to cross out his plan of utilizing the grand dukes military?


    ¡°You killed them," Ingrid croaked, interrupting Aleric''s thought. ¡°With your bare hands.¡± Her eyes moved towards Aleric¡¯s hands, which were still dripping with blood.


    "Scared?" Aleric''s eyes probed hers.


    Ingrid bit her lip, but her head shook with resolve.


    Crown Prince Aleric¡¯s eyes dimmed. He crossed the distance between them in big strides and grabbed Ingrid¡¯s face with his bloody hand. ¡°Then why are you trembling?¡±


    Ingrid gasped. She wanted to puke as she felt the wet and clammy texture of the blood on her skin¡ªits unbearable stench assaulting her nose.


    She tried to push Aleric away, but his grip on her jaw only tightened. With her little strength, she was helpless against his hold. So she stopped fighting and closed her eyes, waiting for his verdict.


    Will he tear her limbs into pieces like he did with them?


    Seeing the pitiful look on Ingrid''s face, Aleric squeezed his eyes shut. What was he doing? She''s already extremely afraid; why was he scaring her even more?


    "I''m sorry," he whispered, gently releasing her jaw. Aleric rested his forehead on hers with his eyes shut to calm himself.


    The forest was eerily silent, save for the sound of their heavy breathing. Their heartbeats pounded like two horses chasing each other¡ªone furious, the other afraid. But slowly, the rhythm of their hearts slowed to normal, fusing into one indistinguishable beat.


    ¡°Hey, you highness, are you a fan of ruining festivities?¡± Ingrid suddenly asked.


    ////\


    Chaos erupted in the hunting lodge when Crown Prince Aleric emerged from within the forest bathed in blood. In his arms, he snuggled Ingrid, pale and trembling.


    Aleric expected Ingrid to cower away after what she had just witnessed. He expected her to be running and screaming after her initial shock was gone. But much to his astonishment, despite shaking at his mere touch, she chose to use the opportunity to put on a show and further establish the so-called blooming relationship between them.


    ¡°Ingrid!¡± called the grand duke and quickly snatched her daughter from Aleric¡¯s arms. ¡°What happened? Quick call the doctor,¡± he shouted frantically when he saw the blood on Ingrid¡¯s face and clothes.


    ¡°I-its okay, papa, it isn¡¯t my blood!¡±


    However, the grand duke did not listen and still took her to the medical tent. Crown Prince Aleric silently followed behind them, leaving the crowd of spectators wondering what had transpired.


    Grand Duke Rasmus was only at ease after Ingrid was thoroughly checked and found without any injury.


    If you spot this story on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.


    In the middle of her medical inspection, Lily arrived completely hysterical. But Ingrid ended up laughing at her plight. There were small twigs and leaves on top of her messy hair. She ironically had more scratches and wounds than Ingrid, who had just escaped from a very dangerous situation.


    ¡°Seli told me that the Grand Duke called me, so I went to meet the Grand Duke. But when I went there, Grand Duke said he didn¡¯t call for me. That¡¯s when I felt that something was amiss, so I quickly headed back. But when I came back, you were no longer there. I sort of panicked, so when someone told me they found you heading towards the forest along with your knights, I went after you. Waaaah! I¡¯m really glad you are fine.¡± Lily began to sob.


    Ingrid wrapped Lily in her embrace. After everything, she was glad to have Lily beside her. Right now, she was the only one left that she could truly trust.


    Her eyes dimmed at the thought of Seli. Until now, she still couldn''t fathom how she could betray her.


    ¡°What exactly happened?¡± The grand duke asked in a solemn voice. Based on Lily¡¯s account, he could more or less guess what has transpired.


    ¡°It seems that one of your servants turned wolf, your grace,¡± Crown Prince Aleric, who had been watching them silently, said. He has now changed from his earth-colored garb that was covered with blood to a clean white shirt and simple trousers.


    The grand duke shifted his attention to the crown prince of Aradhya. He was so engulfed in his worry for his child that he hadn¡¯t even noticed the crown prince or the person who was standing beside him.


    ¡°Ah, this is my right hand, Vernon. He came here after hearing the commotion,¡± Aleric introduced, after seeing where the grand duke was looking.


    The man beside Aleric stepped forward and bowed towards the grand duke. ¡°Greetings, your grace, my ladies. I am Vernon Elsher, the right-hand man of the Crown Prince of Aradhya.¡±


    Grand Duke Rasmus couldn¡¯t hide the surprise in his eyes when he heard his name. Within the ranks of Crown Prince Aleric¡¯s subordinates was a person whose name resounds within the continent, not because of his monstrous power but because of his great intelligence.


    ¡°I never thought the great tactician of the west would be this young,¡± Grand Duke Rasmus marveled. The man in front of him looked to be of the same age as the crown prince. Yet he heard that Vernon had been with the prince ever since the beginning of his conquest. So there is another monster within the Crown Prince¡¯s rank apart from himself.


    What the Grand Duke doesn¡¯t know is that there is more than one monster among the crown prince¡¯s subordinates. Most of them are.


    ¡°It seems that the King of Serus is pretty determined to get your daughter,¡± said Aleric when he noticed the grand duke had momentarily forgotten the issue at hand.


    Grand Duke Rasmus¡¯ eyes darkened. ¡°That bastard! I will never rest until I have his head on a spike!¡± He bellowed. The people inside the tent shook in fear at the sound of his voice.


    There is a reason why the grand duke is feared in their empire. When it comes to his daughter, he tends to become irrational.


    ¡°I heard what happened!¡± The emperor entered at the wrongest possible time,  with the empress and their entourage following behind them.


    The room chilled as the grand duke glared at the emperor. ¡°Cecil, I pray that you don¡¯t have a hand on this or else!¡±


    ¡°Papa!¡± Ingrid grabbed her father¡¯s arm.


    Tension filled the air as the people inside the tent shifted their eyes back and forth between the grand duke and the emperor.


    ¡°Grand Duke, you may be my brother, but I am still your emperor! I will not tolerate such disrespect, even from you!¡± The emperor growled.


    Ingrid grew even more anxious and tightened her grip on her father''s arm. Even with the ongoing tension between them, her father and the emperor had never fought this openly before. If word gets out, who knows what kind of mess will follow?


    At that moment, her eyes shifted toward the only person in the room who might have the power to break the tension. She looked at him, begging him with her eyes.


    Aleric raised his brow at Ingrid¡¯s silent plea. It was as though she had forgotten her fear of him. He found that quite amusing.


    With a playful grin on his lips, he put his hand on the grand duke''s shoulder. "Grand duke." A series of gasps could be heard inside the tent. Out of all the people in the room, he¡¯s probably the only one who has the guts to do that. ¡°You¡¯re scaring your daughter.¡±


    The grand duke¡¯s eyes shifted toward his daughter''s pale face, and his heart ached.


    He glared at the emperor one last time. ¡°We will settle this some other time.¡± With that, he gently collected his daughter in his arm and left the tent with Lily trailing behind them.


    The people inside the tent sighed in relief once the grand duke was gone. They really thought it would be the end of them.


    Emperor Cecil didn¡¯t linger either and stormed out furiously. Meanwhile, the empress, who couldn¡¯t hide the joy in her eyes, took her time to leave.


    ¡°What are we supposed to do now, your grace? It seems that their plan has failed,¡± Duchess Camilla asked when there was no longer anyone around.


    ¡°What of it?¡± The empress smirked. ¡°Regardless of their failure, we still got what we wanted.¡±


    ¡°But won¡¯t the grand duke grow suspicious of us? He knew that the hunting lodge was heavily guarded, even doubled thanks to the sudden appearance of Lady Ingrid. He¡¯ll surely think that an insider helped those men enter.¡±


    ¡°Suspicions are mere suspicions unless they can bring forth solid proof. That brainless crown prince did not even think of keeping one of them alive for interrogation. Not that he can get any important information from them,¡± she mocked.


    ¡°Grand Duke Rasmus tends to become irrational when it comes to her daughter. He even publicly disrespected the emperor this time. My husband would surely not let that slide.¡± The Empress paused when they reached her own tent.


    Duchess Camilla quickly opened the tent¡¯s door for the empress. ¡°But is the emperor capable of making his brother submit?¡±


    The empress smiled. ¡°Not on his own, no. But in this vast empire, there are countless people who would want nothing else but to see the grand dukes downfall. Now that the relationship between the grand duke and the emperor has turned hostile, I¡¯d expect to see them emerge one by one in the coming days.¡±

 10. A New Maid

    It was the middle of the night. Ingrid was deep in her sleep, filled with unpleasant dreams. Her brows were contorting as though she were in immense pain. Sweat ran down the side of her face, her low whimpers echoing through her quiet chamber.


    Within the darkness of her room, a man suddenly materialized from the shadows. His movements were so silent and subtle that it''s like he was floating in the air rather than walking.


    With an almost predatory grace, the man glided towards the bed. His eyes held an unfathomable emotion as they fixed upon the sleeping form of Ingrid, who remained trapped inside her disturbing nightmare.


    The man reached for the necklace on Ingrid''s neck. With a gentle touch, he removed the tear-shaped pendant, replacing it with an identical one. The exchange was so swift and seamless that it would have gone unnoticed by any casual observer.


    Looking at the new pendant on her neck, only the most discerning eye could probably detect the subtle difference between the two¡ªa barely noticeable shift in its glow.


    As the man successfully replaced the pendant, a transformation began to unfold on Ingrid''s face. The taut lines of anxiety across her forehead gradually eased, smoothing into a serene calm. Her whimpers trailed off into silence, as if the oppressive grip of her nightmare had finally been loosened.


    After completing his task, the man retreated into the shadows, leaving no trace of his intrusion except for the newfound peace that now graced Ingrid''s face.


    As if guided by an unseen hand, Ingrid''s eyes fluttered open, her lashes fluttering like delicate butterflies emerging from their cocoons. She sat up in bed, her gaze drawn to the chair in the corner of her room. A pang of disappointment tugged at her heart when she found it empty.


    Ingrid reached for the pendant that rested against her skin on an unconscious impulse.


    She never saw the crown prince again after the hunting festival. And she found herself in a field of uncertainty. What if he realized the immense risk of helping her, and so he decided to cast her aside?


    Ingrid wished that he would magically materialize out of thin air, with the usual arrogant grin on his handsome face. But at the same time, she dreaded the possibility of ever seeing him again.


    The memory of his actions haunted her even in her dreams. The way he brutally tore the bodies of his opponents as though he were shredding paper. She could still hear their terrified cries in her mind, their blood staining the ground crimson.


    Yet, amid the fear that took hold of Ingrid, a small, stubborn flame of faith flickered within her heart. Against all logic and reason, she clung to the belief that the crown prince would never harm her. It was a belief as fragile as a glass, yet it offered her a glimmer of hope in the midst of her despair.


    Perhaps it was the gnawing desperation that made her feel that way.


    There was a secret buried deep within her, a fragment of her experience in that accursed kingdom that she had never dared to share. The very thought of revealing this secret sent shivers down her spine. She feared that the mere act of giving it voice would unleash a new wave of misfortune.


    Ingrid was afraid of the ears that might hear, especially those that belonged to the greedy. She even dreaded the wind, lest it carry her secret on its wings and whisper it to the world. So she buried her secret in the depths of her heart and sealed her lips, swearing to never speak of it.


    Ingrid approached the window, her gaze drawn to the moon above, its ethereal glow illuminating the night sky. If an observer had witnessed this scene, they would have been struck by an uncanny phenomenon. The moon, usually a beacon of celestial splendor, appeared to dim in the presence of the solitary figure standing by the window.


    Ingrid remained rooted to the spot, her form as motionless as a statue. She stood there in silence until dawn broke. Her vigil was observed only by the stars and the moon, and her sorrow was mirrored in the fading moonlight.


    ////\


    The atmosphere within the Duke''s residence was rather heavy. All of the servants were being extra careful with their movements, afraid that a slight mistake would cost them their heads.


    Seli''s betrayal has spread throughout the entire residence, and now everyone is paying the price, especially those who were close to her. Only Lily, whom Ingrid sees as her own blood sister, was spared from the hellish interrogation.


    A new maid also arrived to replace Seli''s post. It came as a surprise to everyone. They thought that after what happened, Ingrid wouldn''t recklessly let another person enter her palace anymore.


    But to their surprise, she suddenly came back with a foreign woman following behind her after an afternoon walk. That maid was also raised to become her second lady-in-waiting, much to everyone''s confusion and Lily''s strong disapproval.


    No one likes this new maid, mainly because her sudden appearance is fairly suspicious. Not to mention, Ingrid fought tooth and nail against the grand duke to keep her. That made the other servant jealous.


    Furthermore, Iris doesn''t seem suited to become a maid. She doesn''t even know the basics of courtesy inside the palace and had to be taught by Lily.


    This novel is published on a different platform. Support the original author by finding the official source.They feel like their mistress is making a huge mistake by accepting her.


    However, they couldn''t even approach their mistress nowadays to air their grievances. The new maid''s hulking figure, with her masculine physique devoid of any feminine grace, intimidated them into begrudging silence.


    When Iris came knocking at their door, she explained how she was a resident of the village of Agda, a territory at the border of the empire ruled by the duke of Clement. However, the entire family of the duke and all the citizens of his dukedom had all been wiped out after a barbarian attack seven years ago.


    Ingrid remembered that time as her father, who did not care about her safety, brought her with him as they marched to save the people there. However, they were many days late, and they could only find a few survivor.


    Iris said that she was one of the many young survivors saved by the grand duke at that time. After that, she vowed to grow strong and serve the grand duke.


    While she was explaining those things, her hand expertly handed Ingrid a secret letter without anyone noticing.


    Ingrid felt happy, then troubled, then disappointed when she saw the note written by the crown prince explaining about Iris. A surge of relief washed over her, seeing the confirmation that their bargain still held and that the lifeline she had so desperately grasped had not been severed. At the same time, she''s wondering why the crown prince couldn''t just explain it to her directly.


    "Iris, how do you know so much about the house of Clement?" Ingrid asked after Lily left for an errand.


    "Because I really am a survivor of that tragic place," she answered with a shrug.


    While Ingrid was left looking at her with her mouth wide open.


    "But I am not one of those rescued by the house of Lennox," she continued. "It turns out, my mother was a barbarian. One of the warriors who attacked the fief was my uncle. He recognized the necklace my brother and I were wearing that our deceased mother left us. He took us with him."


    "From then on, we live with our uncle. He had no children and treated us as his own. Then one day, an army of the empire marched on the village and began killing everyone in retaliation for their previous offense."


    "Our uncle made us escape through a hidden tunnel while he stayed to fend off the army. The tunnel led to a vast forest where we learned to survive all on our own. Until the crown prince found us and recruited us to his army. Now my brother and I served as his general.


    Ingrid''s lips formed a thin line. She never expected Iris'' backstory to be that sad.


    "My lady, I know I am not the right person for this job, but we didn''t bring that many men on this journey, and Aradhya is too far away," Iris explained when she saw Ingrid''s reaction. "It would take many days for a suitable person to arrive, even with the use of the fastest transportation, so I hope that my lady can forgive me for my inadequacy."


    "No, no! It''s okay," Ingrid quickly said while waving her hands. "I just thought, isn''t it too conspicuous for a general like you to do this kind of job?"


    "Fret not, my lady. With my brother and those other bastards running around like rabid dogs in the crown prince''s army, I get easily forgotten."


    ////\


    "So they are finally tired of playing sheep," said the duke as he read the report Elias handed over.


    Nobles, both of low and high rank, are severing their business ties with the dukedom one by one. However, neither the grand duke nor Elias, his secretary, seemed worried by the dwindling number of their supporters.


    "Then, does this prove that the emperor has a hand on..." Elias trailed.


    The relationship between the grand duke and the emperor had turned for the worst. Emperor Cecil broke all pretenses and decided to show open hostility towards the grand duke.


    During the morning courts, he would try to oppose whatever decisions and suggestions the grand duke made, regardless of whether they were a good plan or not. Emperor Cecil did not even care that the court was splitting into two thanks to his childish actions.


    "No. I know my brother more than anyone. Though he is greedy, he''s also a fool and coward at that; he''ll never trifle on such a risky business," Grand Duke Rasmus answered as he slowly shred the paper in his hand into pieces. "But it proves that someone in the emperial family is¡ªone who could easily manipulate the emperor to do his bidding. Who do you think it is?"


    Elias looked at the grand duke, his eyes filled with reverie and respec. "The empress?"


    The Grand Duke took a sheet of paper and began writing. "The empress was once jealous of my late wife''s beauty," he said, his eyes filled with affection and longing at the mention of his beloved. "I still remembered how she held a grand banquet in the palace in celebration of my wife''s death while the dukedom was in mourning." Grand Duke Rasmus'' eyes darkened.


    Elias remembered that day very clearly. He was still a teenage boy at the time, serving as his father''s apprentice, who was then the grand duke''s secretary. It was early in the morning. They were heading for the grand duke''s office when they heard a commotion. They quickly went to investigate and found the servants outside of the grand dukes and duchess chamber, weeping.


    When his father opened the door, they found the grand duke with unfocused eyes, tears streaming, and hands trembling in disbelief. There in his arms lay his beautiful wife, cold, pale, and devoid of life.


    They said the duchess died in her sleep. But her death was so sudden that no one could believe it.


    He himself couldn''t believe it. He had just spoken to their mistress the night before that. She was still brimming with life, her face as beautiful as ever. She even complimented him for his talent, telling his father that he had brought up a good son. But now... It was like someone had played them a terrible joke.


    "With my wife gone, the empress'' beauty became uncontested in the empire. But it was short-lived. My daughter ended up growing to be as beautiful as her mother, and as the fame of her beauty grew, so did the empress'' jealousy." The Grand Duke sighed.


    "I always knew that she''d been secretly cooperating with the kingdom of Serus, but I was so busy warding off those disgusting men that were after my daughter that I forgot that an envious woman was as much a danger as those lustful men."


    "Then why not dispose of her?"


    "If I did, without any suitable reason, then she''ll take my daughter down with her. She''ll twist the truth with her lies and paint my daughter as the bad guy who used her beauty to charm the entire court into deposing a poor and helpless empress."


    Elias fell silent. Indeed, the empress is capable of doing that. She''s quite good at using her tears to gain the sympathy of the emperor. It was unnerving.


    "Then, is there nothing we can do?"


    "For now, there isn''t," he answered. "I do commend her for being good at hiding her tracks. If only she had stayed silent for all her life after her first attempt." A dangerous glint appeared in the Grand Duke''s eyes. "Go get me some things to break. Then have some people spread the news that the grand duke has been greatly angered and has been cursing the emperor''s name."


    "As you wish, my lord."


    He isn''t really worried that the grand duke might get summoned into court for desecrating the emperor''s good name. Because even if he does, no one is brave enough to stand witness against his lord.

 11. The Choice of the Desperate

    Aleric''s eyes narrowed as he observed Ingrid''s attempts to make herself small in his presence. A hint of irritation flickered across his face. However, he regained his patience, knowing it was his fault in the first place.


    ¡°What brings you here today, your highness?¡± Ingrid asked, her voice lacking her usual confidence. She rubbed her sweaty hands on her clothes.


    This morning, she had just decided that she would seek out the crown prince herself if he did not show up another day. But now that he is here, she can hardly speak without cowering. All the courage and resolve she had gathered completely vanished into thin air.


    ¡°Afraid?¡± He teased.


    Ingrid looked away. ¡°No.¡± She is.


    Though for some odd reason that nighmerish day had already stopped visiting her in her sleep, the memory of it still burns in her mind. There is no way she will forget about that day.


    ¡°Then look at me.¡±


    Ingrid flinched at his command. Slowly, she turned her head, her gaze meeting Aleric''s. However, the only thing she sees is the memory of the cruelty etched in his eyes¡ªthe cold indifference of the monster on that hunting ground as he tore the bodies of his prey limb by limb with his bare hands. She quickly averted her gaze, unable to bear looking at him any longer.


    Aleric watched her, a sigh escaping his lips. He had sought her hand in marriage not just because he needed her father''s army but because she could look him in the eye¡ªa reason many would probably find ridiculous. But now, with her eyes refusing to meet his, she was no different from everyone else.


    "Let us end this deal then," he said, his voice laced with a hint of resignation. He had hoped to find an ally, a partner who could stand by his side, but instead, in his carelessness, he broke her.


    Ingrid''s eyes widened in disbelief. Her mind froze for a moment, unable to process his words.


    "Don''t worry," he said nonchalantly. "Since this is my fault, let''s just consider that none of this ever happened."


    "But what about my father''s army?" she asked, her voice trembling with a mixture of confusion and panic. "I thought you needed it?"


    Aleric rose from his seat. "Indeed, things would be convenient if I had your father''s army in my arsenal," he admitted with a shrug. "But it''s not like it''s our only option. It''s just the most convenient one."


    "I see," she said, a hint of disappointment showing on her face.¡°Well, it was an honor to meet you, my lady.¡±


    Aleric began to leave, but then...


    "Wait!" Ingrid called out.


    Aleric paused, his head tilted slightly to the side, and his eyes fixed on her with an intensity that made Ingrid''s heart pound in her chest. He was waiting for her to continue, his expression unreadable.


    Ingrid took a deep breath, summoning all her courage, and met his gaze with a newfound determination.


    "I''ll... let''s... let''s not end our deal."


    "Are you certain?" he asked with a raised brow. "There would be no turning back from here."


    Ingrid nodded, her eyes unwavering, her trembling hands hidden behind her back.


    "I am."


    Aleric studied her for a moment longer, his gaze piercing, searching for any hint of doubt or hesitation. But he found none. Her eyes, though filled with fear, held a resolve that he had not seen before.


    "Then look at me in the eyes," he challenged.


    Ingrid met his gaze once more. The memory of that day and the horror she had witnessed flashed before her eyes, but this time, she forced herself to hold his gaze.


    Aleric was taken aback by her unusual determination. The desperation in her eyes was uncanny. He couldn''t help but wonder why a woman blessed with riches, love, and great beauty could look so utterly miserable.


    This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.


    "I will walk towards you," he said, his voice dark and low. "If you can hold my gaze until I reach you, then I will honor your wish."


    Ingrid swallowed hard, her heart pounding in her chest. She wished for something solid to lean on, her legs threatening to give way under the weight of fear and anticipation.


    Aleric took a step forward, his eyes never leaving hers.


    Ingrid fought against the urge to look away, to break the connection that bound her to this man. She forced herself to meet his gaze, her eyes locking onto his with a fierceness that surprised even herself.


    Aleric took another step, and then another. His movements were almost teasing, testing her resolve. The room seemed to stretch endlessly, each second ticking by like an eternity.


    Ingrid could feel the blood rushing to her face and her heart pounding in her ears like a drum.


    But she was determined. She had made her choice, and she would not turn back now. Even if it meant living with a monster, she would choose her own path.


    When Aleric finally reached her, Ingrid let out a sigh of relief, her legs giving way beneath her. But before she could hit the ground, Aleric''s arm snaked around her waist, pulling her into the safety of his embrace.


    "Good job," he murmured. His voice had a hint of playfulness that sent a shiver down Ingrid''s spine.


    Ingrid''s cheeks flushed red when she realized their intimate closeness. She could feel his warm breath on her face. His smell¡ªa combination of leather and wood¡ªand the fresh scent of the earth after it rained sent her nerves tingling.


    She felt his gaze travel down her face, from her eyes to her nose to her lips, lingering there for a moment longer than necessary. The intensity of his stare made her breath catch in her throat.


    Before she could even process what was happening, his soft lips were against hers, moving with a slow, gentle exploration that sent a million butterflies fluttering in her stomach.


    Ingrid was heading to the Grand Duke¡¯s palace to join her father for breakfast.


    Behind her were Lily and Iris, who had just entered their household a few days ago. It would have been Seli, following behind Ingrid, if not for her betrayal, which still left an ache in both her and Lily¡¯s hearts.


    At first, a lot of the other servants are wary of Iris. Even the grand duke is quite suspicious of Iris'' sudden arrival. However, upon investigation, her story corroborates the result. She really was a survivor of that horrific day. The only lie in her story was that it wasn''t among the survivors whom the grand duke had taken under his wing.


    With Iris beside her, Ingrid felt a lot safer going around their dukedom, and so did the grand duke. She proved herself to be worthy of her title as a general after sparring with the soldiers inside the grand duke''s residence and defeating all of them. Though Iris did not get to battle her father''s military commanders, Ingrid was sure she could hold her own against them and perhaps even defeat some of them.


    Ingrid felt really thankful to the Crown Prince for lending her Iris.


    But the thought of the Crown Prince automatically put a crimson color on Ingrid¡¯s cheeks. Remembering the kiss that they shared made her want to bury her face somewhere.


    ¡°My lady? Is there something wrong?" Lily, who was quick to notice Ingrid¡¯s subtle changes, asked, ¡°You¡¯re completely red, my lady. Are you having a fever? Do you want to head back? Shall I inform the grand duke?¡±


    Lily¡¯s series of questions made Ingrid more embarrassed.


    She quickly shook her head to stop Lily from making a bigger fuss. ¡°I¡¯m fine, really. Oh yeah, don¡¯t you think the servants are acting a bit weird today?¡± She asked, hoping to divert her lady-in-waiting¡¯s attention.


    Lily''s eyes darted around the hallway, taking in the somber atmosphere that hung heavy in the air. Her gaze fell on the faces of the servants, their expressions etched with worry and nervousness, a stark contrast to the joyous celebration she expected.


    Turning to Ingrid, she whispered, "That''s really odd, my lady. They are supposed to be celebrating. After all, it''s been a long time since you visited the main palace."


    Iris, her curiosity piqued, couldn''t help but ask, "The lady''s arrival is supposed to be celebrated? Why?"


    Lily, with a hint of smugness, explained, "Because they believe that Lady Ingrid is lady luck. They think that if they see our lady''s face in the morning, they will be lucky throughout the entire day."


    Iris''s brows furrowed in confusion. The notion struck her as absurd, a baseless superstition. Her eyes swept over Ingrid, taking in every detail of her appearance. Indeed, Lady Ingrid is quite the beauty¡ªno, even the word beautiful isn''t enough to describe her. But in the end, she''s still a mortal, isn''t she? What power does a mortal have to influence luck?


    Lily, sensing Iris''s skeptical scrutiny, shot her a sharp look. "Hey, how dare you look at my Lady Ingrid like that?" she reprimanded.


    ¡°Lily, can you ask one of the servants what¡¯s going on?" Ingrid requested before another argument started between them.


    From the very first moment they met, Lily and Iris were never fans of each other. Iris had a rough soldier''s tongue and spoke her mind bluntly, without regard. This irks Lily, who was accustomed to the polished, diplomatic discourse of the nobility.


    Because of their clashing personalities, an argument once broke out between them that almost ended in a fist fight, which would have meant death for Lily, given the size of Iris'' fist. Thankfully, Ingrid was there to stop them.


    "Can you please avoid fighting with Lily?¡± Ingrid pleaded after Lily left. It''s still early in the morning, and she could already feel a headache coming.


    ¡°I¡¯ll try, my lady,¡± Iris answered non-commitedly.


    "Can''t you try harder?" Ingrid said, helpless.


    "I''d like to, my lady," she replied sincerely. "But unless I learned the ways of the nobles, I don''t think Lily would approve of me."


    Ingrid sighed, defeated, knowing Iris was right.


    Iris continued with a hint of wistfullness, "Alas, all of this pretentious courtesy is so foreign to me that it makes me miss the battlefield. At least there, things are simple: you''re either a friend or a foe."


    Ingrid couldn''t help but smile at Iris''s blunt honesty. Despite her rough edges, there was an endearing simplicity about Iris, a refreshing contrast to the often-stifling formality of the noble world.


    "You really are... how should I say this... unfettered?" Ingrid said, filled with a mix of amusement and admiration.


    Iris chuckled, her shoulders relaxing slightly. "I guess you could say that," she admitted. "I''ve always been more comfortable with a sword in my hand than a teacup."


    Lily returned from her questioning of the servants, her face etched with worry. "My lady," she reported, "it seems the Grand Duke is in a foul mood today..."


    But then she paused, her eyes widening in surprise, as she caught sight of Ingrid''s radiant smile, a rare sight that transformed the somber atmosphere into a warm one. The servants around them, too, were affected by the sudden change, their gazes drawn to Ingrid with a mixture of awe and admiration.


    "Did something happen while I was away?" Lily pressed, her curiosity piqued.


    Ingrid flashed Lily a reassuring smile, her eyes twinkling with a hint of amusement. "It''s nothing. Don''t worry," she said, tapping Iris on the shoulder. "Come, let''s go and find my father."


    Lily reluctantly followed Ingrid, her eyes darting toward Iris suspiciously.

 12. Unexpected Visitor

    ¡°Papa, wouldn¡¯t it be better to just apologize to the emperor?¡± Ingrid suggested.


    Her father had just returned from the high court after rumors spread that he had been spitefully cursing the emperor¡¯s name. But just like Elias predicted, they couldn¡¯t find a credible witness to prove the truthfulness of the rumors, and the case was dismissed.


    Elias had already explained to Ingrid that it was all pretending to not make her worry. But she¡¯s still worried. She doesn¡¯t know what her father is planning, but she knows things will be disastrous regardless of whether her father¡¯s plan works or not. The empire will surely fall apart if this ends in an all-out war.


    ¡°I¡¯m afraid it¡¯s already too late for an apology, sweetheart,¡± Grand Duke Rasmus said softly. ¡°It¡¯s not that I don¡¯t want to apologize to my brother.


    However, someone had already fanned his anger before I got the chance to. So regardless, if I don¡¯t do anything, things will still turn out as they are.¡±


    Ingrid¡¯s lips formed a thin line. She began to unconsciously comb her hair as she thought of a way to remedy the situation.


    ¡°If there is someone instigating the emperor, it¡¯s probably the empress,¡± Ingrid said, not realizing that she had said it out loud until the grand duke responded.


    ¡°I think so too. There is also a high chance that she is the one helping the men of King Oliver in their attempt to abduct you.¡±


    But the Grand Duke''s face turned solemn when he noticed Ingrid¡¯s reaction to his revelation. ¡°You knew.¡±


    Ingrid looked away.


    Grand Duke Rasmus heaved a deep sigh. ¡°Ingrid, we¡¯ve already talked about keeping secrets, especially when it involves your safety.¡±


    Guilt was written all over Ingrid¡¯s face, but she kept her silence.


    "Ingrid," Grand Duke Rasmus called in a stern voice.


    She squeezed her eyes shut out of helplessness as she began to speak. ¡°When I was in that ugly Farts castle, I saw him holding a pair of golden pheonix earrings. I later saw it on the empress¡¯ ears.¡±


    A heavy atmosphere enveloped the entire audience chamber. Ingrid hung her head low, afraid to see the anger in her father¡¯s eyes. She brushed her hair with her hand more forcefully, causing some strands of her hair to fall off.


    But a knock on the door broke the tension in the air.


    ¡°Your highness, you have visitors.¡± Elias, the Grand Duke¡¯s secretary, carefully peaked through the small opening of the audience chamber¡¯s door.


    The Grand Duke frowned. ¡°Didn¡¯t I say that I wouldn¡¯t be accepting any visitors today?" He asked, annoyed, thinking it was one of their relatives again. He already had enough of the whining of those greedy fools.


    "Your Highness, I cannot dare turn this guest away," Elias replied, anxious both from the grand duke''s dismissive attitude and the fact that the ducal palace might not be ready for the sudden visit.


    After ushering the visitors in, he would have to rush to the kitchen to see if they had suitable food and beverages prepared.


    Thinking about how he even mistaken their guest for a mere lackey of the branch house made him want to kill himself in embarrassment. He wanted to make it up by doing his best to accommodate their needs.


    ¡°You are the secretary of a grand duke; who in this world can you not turn away?¡±


    ¡®The emperor?¡¯ Elias wanted to answer but decided otherwise. ¡°It¡¯s the crown prince of Aradhya, your highness.¡±


    Ingrid stiffened at the mention of the person she had dreaded encountering.


    Their last interaction had left her heart in turmoil, and she wasn''t ready to confront him again. But before she could think of an excuse to leave, the door opened, revealing a handsome man with an infuriatingly arrogant grin.


    Ingrid and the grand duke were a bit surprised when they saw Crown Prince Aleric and his company both wearing commoner clothing. No wonder Elias looked flustered when he came in. He must not have realized who the visitors were until the last minute.


    "Your Highness, it is an honor to have you in our abode. I wonder what prompted your visit?" the grand duke greeted, bowing as he spoke. "Please, have a seat," he ushered the crown prince to the sofa. ¡°And, sir Esher, I didn¡¯t expect to meet you again this soon.¡±


    You might be reading a stolen copy. Visit Royal Road for the authentic version.


    ¡°As did I, your highness,¡± Sir Vernon Elsher said, bowing elegantly.


    Vernon was quite the handsome man. His face is like that of a gentle river¡ªbeautiful and pleasing to look at.


    ¡°Greetings, your royal highness,¡± Ingrid said sarcastically while bowing towards Aleric. ¡°I¡¯m surprised that our servants didn¡¯t make a fuss with your sudden arrival.¡± There was a hint of resentment in Ingrid¡¯s voice, which made Aleric¡¯s grin grow wider.


    "Well, it was an unplanned visit.¡±


    Ingrid glared at Aleric when she chose to sit on the seat beside hers.


    ¡°I heard that Lennox¡¯s dukedom is the biggest and most prosperous among the lands in the empire, so I decided to take a look," he said after he had taken his seat.


    ¡°And? Like what you saw?¡± The grand duke asked, pleased that someone had taken an interest in the land he had cultivated through years of hard work.


    When the grand duke inherited the dukedom from her grandfather, it was already in decline. Yet, within a few years, he managed to rebuild it and make it more prosperous than ever before.


    Although the grand duke would often say that he was only doing it for her, Ingrid knew that he loved being the grand duke and helping those under his rule. That''s why she always wondered how much her father must have loved her mother for him to give up everything for her.


    ¡°I did. The people living in your dukedom seemed very happy and content. That¡¯s why I couldn¡¯t help but pay its ruler a visit,¡± Crown Prince Aleric said, his face filled with genuine awe.


    ¡°I¡¯m quite flattered, your royal highness.¡± The Grand Duke chuckled. Then his eyes proceeded to his daughter, who doesn¡¯t seem to be planning to leave. ¡°Ingrid, don¡¯t you have some other things to do?¡±


    ¡°Father, my only job is to read books all day; I don¡¯t mind postponing it for a while.¡± Despite her disturbed heart, she still did not forget to do her part and looked at the crown prince with a not-so-hidden interest.


    The Grand Duke coughed at his daughter¡¯s unusual display of boldness. This daughter in front of him was far too different from the daughter who shows indifference in front of any man. He couldn¡¯t help but feel a sense of hopelessness and worry.


    ¡°Well, I¡¯d like to speak with the Crown Prince alone,¡± said the grand duke.


    "Oh," Ingrid said, disappointed. ¡°Well then, can I invite him to my palace afterwards? I still haven¡¯t thanked him for saving me that day.¡± She looked at the crown prince expectantly.


    Before the crown prince could respond, the grand duke cut him off by saying, ¡°No!¡± in a voice louder than he had intended.


    ¡°No?¡± Ingrid repeated, her face contorting as though she had heard a word foreign to her.


    ¡°I mean, no, you can stay here and listen to us talk," the grand duke explained in a more softer tone, helpless.


    Ingrid¡¯s face quickly brightened, her beautiful face becoming even more dazzling. ¡°Thank you, papa! You¡¯re the best!¡± She exclaimed happily and gave the grand duke a peck on the cheek.


    Meanwhile, the grand dukes sagged and were defeated. He planned to cut their conversation short before his daughter could develop any more relations with the crown prince.


    Aleric smiled, amused at Ingrid¡¯s cleverness in establishing her so-called growing interest in him. She really is serious about wanting their secret marriage deal to push through.


    ¡°Speaking of interest, I heard some nobles have pulled out their investment in the grand duke¡¯s various businesses. But the dukedom doesn¡¯t seem affected at all.¡±


    The Grand Duke''s face suddenly darkened.


    Ingrid shifted in her seat at the sudden change in the atmosphere. What is it this time? Why does her father look angry?


    "Before I answer your question, your highness, may I know what this interest of yours means?"


    Crown Prince Aleric chuckled lightheartedly. "Please, Grand Duke, the ¡®interest¡¯ I am having is out of genuine curiosity. As you would have already known, this place is not the type that would make me have that kind of ¡®interest¡¯.¡±


    Ingrid looked back and forth between her father and the crown prince. She couldn¡¯t quite follow what they were talking about. What is this ''interest'' that they are talking about?


    It looked like she was the only one who was in the dark, as Vernon and Elias, who had just returned earlier after running off somewhere, looked as though they didn¡¯t have a problem following their conversation. That annoyed her a bit.


    As a woman who prides herself on her extensive knowledge, she hates being left out.


    ¡°That is why, despite your terrible fame, you still have my respect, your royal highness.¡± The grand duke laughed heartily.


    ¡°As I respect you, grand duke.¡±


    For some reason, Ingrid could feel that some sort of friendship was forming between her father and the crown prince. Ridiculous!


    ¡°Well, to answer your question, your royal highness, whether those nobles stop investing in my businesses or stop trading with us hardly matters. To put it simply, they are investing in my businesses that I don¡¯t mind cutting off,¡± Grand Duke Rasmus explained.


    ¡°I call it my lizard tail. I¡¯ve learned from my mistakes six years ago and have a thick grasp of who I should and should not trust. But of course I have to keep up pretenses for the sake of peace; that¡¯s why I couldn¡¯t completely alienate them.¡±


    ¡°Six years ago,¡± Crown Prince Aleric muttered to himself.


    Six years ago, he was busy building his empire, conquering one kingdom after another with little to no rest. He had neither time to learn about the political turmoil in the faraway empire of Learia nor the resources to investigate it deeply. His knowledge of Learia''s past was limited to what was publicly known.


    Aleric felt a hand tugging at the cuff of his sleeve. He looked down, then up to the owner of the hand, giving her a questioning look.


    Ingrid glared at him, warning him not to speak, as if she knew what he was about to ask.


    Since it was his future wife who had asked him to be silent, he obliged.


    Based on recent events and the way the Grand Duke and Ingrid reacted, Aleric could already conclude what might have happened anyway. And the crux of it all, most likely, was the King of Serus.

 13. The Caged Bird

    The Grand Duke watched his daughter, who was staring at the empty space. She had been like that ever since the crown prince announced that he was going back to his own empire. It seemed that his announcement shocked her terribly.


    For the first time, the grand duke could not tell what the complicated look in her daughter¡¯s eyes meant.


    This time, Ingrid¡¯s reaction was not an act. She was genuinely surprised by Aleric¡¯s sudden departure. Will he come back? How about their agreement? Will he still honor it? But how will they be able to realize it if he isn¡¯t here? Were a few of the thoughts running through her mind.


    The worried grand duke called for her attention, ¡°Ingrid.¡±


    Ingrid looked at her father, half of her mind still far away.


    ¡°Do you... Do you happen to be interested in the crown prince of Aradhya?¡±


    Ingrid¡¯s mind, which had flown out, came back to her body.


    ¡°Will you promise not to get angry?¡± She asked, looked down, and played with her fingers.


    Grand Duke Rasmus sighed. ¡°My child, I know I told you that you have the freedom to choose whom you wish to marry, but can¡¯t you pick a better man?¡±


    ¡°Papa!¡± Ingrid exclaimed, her cheeks turning crimson. ¡°I didn¡¯t even say anything yet! Besides, who could be a better candidate than him? He¡¯s handsome, powerful, and a future emperor of the greatest empire.¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t need you to speak to know that you¡¯ve already taken a liking to that crown prince,¡± he grumbled. ¡°You¡¯re always indifferent towards other men. You don¡¯t so much as look at them, even when they desperately seek your attention. Yet, you were the first one to seek the crown prince during the hunting feast. And earlier¡­¡± the grand duke paused and took a deep breath. ¡°You think I wouldn¡¯t notice your hand pulling the crown prince cuff to get his attention?¡±


    Ingrid bit the interior of her lower lip. It seems that the grand duke misunderstood her previous action. Well, it still worked in their favor. Now the grand duke believes that she does like Aleric to some extent.


    ¡°I wasn¡¯t though,¡± she denied. ¡°The sleeve of my dress was caught on the button on his cuff. I was just trying to pull myself free.¡±


    ¡°Ingrid, the crown prince¡¯s clothes don¡¯t have a button on their cuff.¡±


    Ingrid held her breath so her checks would turn red, and then she spoke in haste, ¡°Oh, look at the time! I remember that I still have some things to do. See you tomorrow, papa!¡± with that, she fled from the room at lightning speed.


    /////\


    Ingrid closed the door to her room with a sigh. Acting is really exhausting.


    "You''re really into this, aren''t you?"


    Ingrid almost jumped in fright. She glared at Aleric, who was sitting in her chair.


    Ever since he started sitting in it, the maids and even Lily had avoided using it whenever they came to her room. When she asked them about it, they said that it didn''t feel right to sit on it, like they would be punished for doing so.


    "I thought you already left," Ingrid said with a raised brow.


    "I couldn''t without saying goodbye to my fianc¨¦e," he responded, his words flowing smoothly from his mouth.


    Ingrid frowned. "I am not your fianc¨¦e."


    "Isn''t a fianc¨¦e a woman you are pledged to be married to? Are you saying you''re backing out of our deal?"


    Ingrid pursed her lips. She was annoyed that he had outwitted her and even more annoyed that she couldn''t think of a rebuttal.


    "So, what brings you here?" she asked, changing the subject. She sat in the chair across from him, crossing her arms.


    "To say goodbye, as I said," Aleric replied. He watched the emotions play across Ingrid''s eyes like a movie, some easily identifiable, while others seemed written in a foreign language he couldn''t understand. ¡°I¡¯ve been gone for a bit too long, and some of my subjects are growing anxious. So I have to go back to provide them some peace.¡±


    Ingrid noticed the sarcasm in his voice when he said his last sentence. She suddenly felt pity for whoever it is that the prince wants to provide some "peace".


    ¡°Whoever needs your explanation,¡± Ingrid muttered, looking away. She was trying to act arrogant and tough but ended up failing miserably. Instead, she looked the part of a spoiled brat that was overly loved.


    For some reason, he didn''t find her annoying for acting that way. But rather, he found it amusing.


    ¡°If you''re worried about our deal, then you don¡¯t have to. As I said before, I¡¯m in need of your father¡¯s assistance. Now that you¡¯ve conveniently thrown yourself at me, how can I back down?¡¯


    This story has been stolen from Royal Road. If you read it on Amazon, please report it


    ¡°I did not throw myself at you!¡± It was too late before Ingrid realized how loud her voice was.


    She froze when they heard a knock on the door.


    ¡°My lady? Are you all right?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m fine!¡±


    ¡°Well, please call us if you need anything.¡±


    ¡°I will thank you!¡±


    Ingrid sighed in relief and then glared at Aleric, who had a smug look on his face. How she wishes she could smack that grin off him right now.


    ¡°That mage from the kingdom of Serus said you were pledged to King Oliver for marriage; how did that happen?¡±


    Ingrid flinched at the mention of the name that she never wanted to remember. ¡°That ugly fart abducted me six years ago and told me he was going to marry me.¡±


    The pieces of the puzzle in Aleric''s mind began to fall into place. His guess was right: King Oliver was the reason for the squabble between the emperor and the grand duke.


    Given Emperor Cecil''s cowardly personality, he must have stopped the grand duke from marching south with all his might, afraid that the entire Learia empire would be implicated. If that happened, they might lose the support of the Serus kingdom, including its mages.


    Aleric also thought that King Oliver was quite smart. The Learia empire was known as the number one gold importer on the continent, and most of this gold came from the kingdom of Serus.


    On one of his previous explorations, Aleric incidentally found that Serus seemed more lenient in its requirements for lending its mages to Learia compared to other kingdoms. He wondered what kind of benefit Oliver got from this but didn''t give it much thought as it didn''t have anything to do with him anyway. However, he might have just found out the answer.


    He looked at Ingrid, whose beautiful face was contorted with annoyance. Her perfectly proportioned lips formed a thin line, and her defined jawline tensed.


    ¡°By the way, how did you escape?¡±


    Ingrid looked even more upset than before. She hated recalling that specific past, but still, she answered, ¡°I did not eat and spent my days crying. They tried to use some sort of magic to force-feed me, but it didn¡¯t work. So he..." Ingrid hesitated. ¡°He said he''d allow me to return to my father. After all, I¡¯m still too young. However, once I''ve grown, he will come back for me, and I have to go back to him obediently.¡±


    Her hands trembled as memories of that day began flooding her mind. Even if she dies, she will never marry that old and ugly man!


    ¡°I find it weird,¡± Crown Prince Aleric said.


    ¡°Find what weird?¡±


    ¡°That your uncle seemed oddly determined to fight an all-out war with your father over a small misunderstanding,¡± he answered. ¡°If things get worse, the grand duke might just decide to overthrow the current emperor. As I see it, your father is more than capable of doing that. Emperor Cecil most likely knew that as well, and with his cowardice, it is out of his character to provoke the grand duke like this.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s the empress,¡± Ingrid stated without hesitation.


    ¡°Oh, how can you be so sure?¡± Intrigue, Aleric leaned forward and rested his jaw on his clasped hands.


    ¡°During one of my attempted escapes in that ugly man¡¯s palace, I saw him placing a pair of golden Phoenix earrings inside a black box. I heard the person beside him ask if it was worth giving away such a precious item, as it was one of a kind. I didn¡¯t know what he said next as I hurriedly left. But after I was returned, I found those same earrings, hanging on the empress¡¯s ears.¡±


    The more Ingrid spoke, the more her serene eyes burned with intensity. Her lips, painted with soft shades of pink, held a subtle tension, an indication of her spilling emotions. And a faint flush, like the first blush of sunrise, graced her cheeks.


    Aleric was bewildered. Ingrid was showing her raw and unfiltered anger towards the empress without any attempt to remain graceful. Yet, even when her face was painted with such an ugly emotion, it did not take away from her beauty but instead added a different kind of allure.


    ¡°Why didn¡¯t you tell the grand duke about this before?¡±


    Ingrid heaved a sigh, frustrated with all his questions. "Because if I did, my father would have done everything to destroy her regardless of whether there was any evidence. And there isn''t any other evidence except for my testimony. And I''m too beautiful to be credible," she said, her voice tinged with frustration.


    "They''d think I charmed my father into believing that the empress was guilty. That I''m abusing my beauty and power to frame a poor and sweet empress."


    The crown prince''s lips quivered, and his eyes sparkled with suppressed amusement. He tried to stifle his laughter, but his eyes betrayed him, glinting with mischief. In the end, he couldn''t help but let out a small, muffled snicker that released his built-up laughter.


    ¡°Why, what¡¯s funny?¡±


    Aleric shook his head as he tried to keep himself together.


    ¡°What is it?¡± Ingrid started to get annoyed.


    Aleric took a deep breath. ¡°In all the kingdoms I¡¯ve been in, I haven¡¯t met one woman who is worried about being called a liar, all because she is beautiful. Most of them would use the charm of their beauty to win people, mostly men, to their side instead.¡±


    ¡°Tch, I hate men. I hate how their eyes look at me. It makes my skin crawl.¡± She crossed her arms tightly, her jaw set.


    ¡°Which makes you both naive and stupid.¡±


    Ingrid snapped her head and glared at Aleric.


    ¡°Beauty is power, my princess,¡± Aleric said, ignoring Ingrid¡¯s angry stare. ¡°You said before that with beauty comes arrogance. But arrogance is not the only thing that comes with beauty, power too. Yet, for a woman endowed with beauty unparalleled, you are powerless against a mere kingdom; it makes me want to laugh.¡±


    ¡°Huh? You think a mere smile from me can stop that ugly king¡¯s plan? Aren¡¯t you the one being stupid and naive?¡±


    ¡°Do you know that more than half of the men in your father¡¯s army joined because of you? They were so charmed by your beauty that they have pledged their lives to protect yours.¡±


    Aleric stood up from his seat. In a blink of an eye, he was already leaning on Ingrid¡¯s chair, causing the latter to gasp in surprise.


    ¡°Tell me, how many princes, kings, generals, and knights fell for your face?"


    Ingrid looked away. "Who knows."


    "Of course you wouldn''t know, because you never looked their way," Aleric said sarcastically.


    He grabbed her chin and forced her to look at him. His eyes traveled all over her face, as though he were memorizing every single detail.


    "With the power of this face, you could have protected yourself from that king. Heck, you might have even been able to destroy him given the right circumstances. But you wasted all your pawns all because of your misused arrogance. Now look at you all, vulnerable and powerless.¡±


    Aleric released Ingrid¡¯s jaw and left, leaving her in her empty room, shaken. She couldn''t sense the anger she felt in his voice. More importantly, she couldn''t understand him at all!


    ¡°Wasn¡¯t that too much?¡± Asked Vernon, who emerged within the shadow of one of the pillars in Ingrid¡¯s terrace.


    ¡°It¡¯s a waste for a beautiful bird to remain sitting in a cage. She needs to realize that she has wings.¡±


    ¡°But if she learns how to fly on her own, do you think she will still come to you?¡±


    Aleric paused. ¡°Well, that¡¯s a problem for another day,¡± he said nonchalantly before vanishing into thin air.

 14. The Power of Darkness

    Another banquet was held in the palace to celebrate the Crown Prince of Aradhya¡¯s departure. It was a party more boisterous than the first, lasting for an entire week¡ªa blatant expression of their joy at the Crown Prince¡¯s departure.


    Though Crown Prince Aleric never showed his so-called tyranny during the weeks of his visit, the shadow of the cities he trampled and the kingdoms he destroyed loomed over him like a thick curtain of darkness.


    But fear could never stop a man¡¯s greed and ambition. Almost all of the nobles who joined the celebration still swarmed the crown prince like annoying flies in hopes of forming a relationship with the future emperor of Aradhya and expanding their businesses in the great empire.


    The grand duke of Lennox, who is still at odds with his majesty, was also in attendance. In front of their foreign visitor, they still needed to act as a united empire.


    Of course, the greatest beauty in the land could not be absent. Rumors have spread like wildfire that their beautiful goddess has finally been ensnared by a mortal in the guise of the Crown Prince. This was further proven when they saw Ingrid''s brooding face throughout the entire banquet.


    They assumed that she was saddened by the Crown Prince¡¯s departure.


    Although Ingrid rarely smiles, they could feel that this time it was different. Some who got close to her even said that they could feel the air of sadness surrounding her. They couldn''t help but pity her¡ªtheir once proud beauty who was brought low by the heartache of her first love.


    However, Ingrid wasn¡¯t really acting this time. But she isn¡¯t exactly sad. Rather, she was both annoyed and frustrated.


    Ingrid''s mind wrestled with the implications of Aleric¡¯s words, trying to decipher the connection between beauty and power that he seemed to believe she possessed. However, she couldn''t fathom how one''s appearance could determine one''s ability to rule or influence the fate of an entire kingdom.


    ¡°You look pretty angry.¡±


    Ingrid shot an exasperated glance at Aleric, who had effortlessly maneuvered his way beside her without drawing any attention. He was dressed in a midnight blue suit, the insignia of the Aradhya empire gleaming on its buttons and cuffs.


    He looked rather ¡®princely¡¯. The suit accentuated his regal bearing, lending him an air of authority and charm that could undoubtedly warm the hearts of his people and soothe their troubled spirits.


    Yet Ingrid was painfully aware of the beast that lurked beneath that charm, a creature capable of tearing its prey to shreds without a flicker of remorse.


    ¡°I was pretty insulted,¡± she responded with sarcasm.


    Aleric chuckled in disbelief. ¡°By what I previously said?¡± he asked, his voice laced with amusement.


    ¡°Who said it was about what you said?"


    Aleric looked at her with an arrogant smile. ¡°Because among the people you often interact with,¡± he acted as though he was counting the handful of people that Ingrid knew¡ªa number so small he could count it with his fingers. ¡°I¡¯m the only one who can.¡±


    Ingrid wished she could punch him in the face. But with how thick his face is, she¡¯ll just end up hurting herself.


    ¡°I once read of a queen who was endowed with great beauty,¡± Ingrid said. ¡°She slept with powerful men to protect her kingdom.¡±


    "And..." Aleric trailed, urging Ingrid to continue.


    ¡°Are you saying that I should sleep with powerful men to gain power?" She asked accusingly.


    Aleric shook his head in disappointment. He grabbed a glass of wine from a try held by a passing servant and drank it in one go. ¡°If that¡¯s how you see it, then that¡¯s all you¡¯re amounting to.¡±


    Ingrid frowned, feeling like she had been insulted yet again. But before she could say another word, she found that the crown prince was no longer beside her. What remained was his lingering warmth, which slowly faded away.


    Time drifted quickly while she pondered his words.


    Aleric¡¯s words really troubled her. She thought about it all the way home to her palace, but still she couldn¡¯t find an answer.


    Ingrid entered her room with her mind still somewhere else, and she didn¡¯t realize that there was a man leaning on the wall close to the door.


    ¡°What took you so long?¡±


    Ingrid quickly closed the door shut out of reflex and looked at Aleric with eyes wide-open. ¡°What are you doing here?¡±


    This book is hosted on another platform. Read the official version and support the author''s work.


    ¡°Come with me. I¡¯ll show you something,¡± Aleric said, ignoring her question.


    But then they heard a knock on the door.


    This wasn¡¯t the first time that they ended up in such a situation, but Ingrid was still nervous.


    ¡°My lady, we¡¯ve brought your bath water,¡± said the maid outside her door.


    ¡°Send it back. I¡¯m really tired today. I think I¡¯ll just bathe tomorrow,¡± Ingrid replied, making her voice sound tired and weary.


    ¡°Then, shall we help you remove your dress?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s okay. I already took it off.¡±


    Ingrid glared at Aleric, who then eyed her like a pervert. She hugged herself defensively.


    ¡°Didn¡¯t you hear the lady say she was tired?" She heard the intimidating voice of Iris intervening. ¡°Why are you still bothering her?¡±


    Ingrid heard a series of footsteps scurrying away. She profusely thanked Iris in her heart, relieved. It¡¯s such a blessing to have someone who knows about her burdensome secret.


    ¡°Let¡¯s go,¡± Aleric said impatiently, pulling Ingrid toward him by the waist.


    ¡°Whoa, where exactly are we going?¡± She asked in a low voice and tried to push Aleric away to no avail. ¡°And how do you possibly think we can get there?¡±


    Aleric smiled mischievously and said, ¡°I¡¯ll let you in on a little secret, but you have to promise not to tell anyone.¡±


    Ingrid swallowed hard. As if she has the guts to. Just thinking about the consequences is enough to put a lid on her mouth.


    ¡°Stay close to me,¡± Aleric whispered close to her ears, making her body tingle.


    A sudden chill swept over Ingrid as she felt an ominous presence that seemed to wrap itself around her. She made the mistake of glancing down, and her eyes widened. Her body was slowly being devoured by a void of darkness, so dark that it swallowed even the light of the mana lamps in her room.


    Driven by an instinctive fear, Ingrid burrowed herself into Aleric''s broad chest. His warmth calmed her nerves a little. She closed her eyes tightly, her heart pounding against her ribs, ironically dreading the moment when she opened her eyes and found herself in complete darkness.


    "We''re here," Aleric announced. Sensing her distress, he gently rubbed her back, his touch surprisingly soothing. If she were in her right mind, she would have mocked him in disbelief that his cruel hands were capable of giving comfort.


    Yet, there she was, nestled within those same hands, seeking solace in their touch, finding an unexpected refuge in his embrace.


    It took a few minutes before Ingrid finally regained her composure.


    Her face flushed crimson as she slowly disentangled herself from Aleric''s embrace, a wave of embarrassment washing over her.


    "What exactly was that?" she asked, her eyes darting around the place, avoiding Aleric''s gaze.


    "That was my power," he explained, his voice soft and calm. "I have the ability to command the darkness, to bend it to my will."


    Ingrid''s eyes widened in a mix of fear and awe. The rumors of his extraordinary abilities were no exaggeration, she realized. In fact, they may be an understatement of his true potential.


    ¡°Where exactly are we?¡± She asked.


    Standing atop an unfamiliar building, Ingrid surveyed the bustling cityscape below. She recognized the landmarks¡ªthe towering spires and grand plazas¡ªthat marked the heart of the empire''s capital. Yet, the maze of streets and alleyways was foreign to her.


    ¡°This is a famous street in the capital. How come you don¡¯t know this place?¡± Aleric asked, a bit astonished.


    She glanced around, her eyes taking in the vibrant scene unfolding before her. Despite the late hour, the streets were teeming with life. Vendors hawked their wares from makeshift stalls, their voices weaving a lively tapestry of sound that echoed through the night.


    ¡°They are celebrating a festival today. That¡¯s why the streets are pretty crowded, though it¡¯s already pretty late,¡± Aleric explained.


    Aleric noticed the deeming glow on Ingrid¡¯s eyes as she spoke, ¡°I¡¯ve only been to three places in the capital. The palace, the hunting lodge and¡­ the central plaza¡­¡± Her voice filled with inexplicable sadness shook at the mention of the last place as she was once again reminded of the terrible memories attached to it.


    Despite being the daughter of the richest and most powerful noble in the empire, Ingrid''s world had been confined inside her luxurious palace. She had never ventured outside of their dukedom, never experienced the vibrancy and chaos of the streets, and never tasted the freedom of exploring on her own terms¡ªexcept for that one time she ended up being abducted.


    Her isolation stemmed from her unique circumstances¡ªpossessing an unparalleled beauty. But it wasn¡¯t the grand duke who had confined her. In fact, the grand duke wishes so much that she could live a normal life. So in his striving to balance her freedom and protection, he would often bring her with him when he traveled outside the palace so she could experience the world.


    That was before what happened six years ago. After she was returned, Ingrid locked herself in her room. Despite the grand duke¡¯s coaxing, she was unmoving. She never joined the grand duke on his travels again.


    So in fear that someone would take her while he was away. The Grand Duke built the Dahlia Palace¡ªa well-guarded palace comparable to a war fortress filled with warding spells and traps to stop outsiders who dare sneak in. It did it¡¯s job quite well, until the crown prince came.


    Long story short, it was Ingrid who had constructed her own cage, shielding herself from the world but also denying herself the chance to experience it.


    ¡°So, what exactly are we doing here?" She asked to distract herself from the nightmares trying to claw their way out of the deepest corner of her mind.


    ¡°We¡¯re here to learn about your power,¡± Crown Prince Aleric answered.


    Ingrid frowned, confused. How is she going to learn about this so-called power in this place?


    Aleric patted Ingrid on the shoulder and pointed at someone in the crowd. ¡°See that man with gold chains on his neck? Watch him closely.¡±


    Ingrid easily found the man Aleric was pointing at. He was a rather short man, though his width was almost double his height, occupying a large area of the street as he walked. He was wearing clothes that looked rather expensive. The jewelry around his hand and neck glittered in the light of the lanterns.


    A tall man with a body packed with muscle followed close to him. Perhaps a bodyguard.


    Ingrid was about to ask Aleric why she needed to watch this short man when suddenly, an ugly-looking woman bumped into him. The man staggered at the weight of himself and almost fell, if not for the quick hands of his bodyguard. All the muscles on the body guards arms flexed as he tried to steady his master.


    She couldn¡¯t hear what they were saying from where they were, but she could tell that the woman was repeatedly apologizing.


    But the woman was sent flying after the bodyguard backhanded her under the fat man¡¯s command.


    A gasp escaped Ingrid¡¯s lips while the woman lay motionless on the side of the road. No one dared to help her, afraid of the giant man beside the fat man.

 15. Caught

    Ingrid wanted to run and help the woman. But they were currently standing at the top of a tall building. She looked at Aleric with pleading eyes.


    Aleric raised his brow in amusement. She wanted him to use his power again to save the woman, completely forgetting how scared she was when he previously used it.


    Aleric shook his head. However, Ingrid misunderstood it and thought he was unwilling to help. She glared at Aleric.


    Seeing the judgmental look on her face, Aleric helplessly explained, ¡°My lady, I¡¯m sure you¡¯re quite aware of what kind of face you own. They may not have seen your real face, but I bet they''ve seen at least one of your portraits. Are you sure you still want to go down there?¡±


    Ingrid pursed her lips. If they found out who she was, they''d surely create a commotion. If that happens, it won''t be a matter of time before her father finds out that she sneaked out of her palace with the person that he hated. The chaos that may happen afterwards is unimaginable.


    ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Vernon is there,¡± Alerix coaxed when he saw her pouting like a cute little kitten. It took a lot of willpower not to poke her pinkish cheek.


    As if he heard his name being mentioned, Vernon appeared before the crowd. He was wearing a commoner¡¯s clothing, just like when he first met him in their home. On his head was a hat typically worn by farmers, probably meant to hide his noble face that would never pass as a commoner.


    Even during their unexpected visit to the duke¡¯s palace, Ingrid noticed how he looked like a mismatched puzzle in those clothes. No matter how he looks at him, his delicately handsome face makes him stand out, even if he wears a rag.


    Everyone watched in confusion as Vernon walked towards the woman lying unconscious on the ground. He gracefully picked up the woman in his arms. Then he left with her without saying a word.


    Vernon was already gone before the fat man and his bodyguard could make sense of what happened.


    ¡°Happy? Now, can you focus your gaze on our guy?¡± The crown prince said sarcastically.


    Ingrid rolled her eyes, but she still did as he commanded.


    The fat man waltzes on the crowded street like a king, waving the other passersby¡¯s with his giant body. Those people could only glare at him in silence, in fear of the giant man beside him.


    From where they were, Ingrid could easily see the fat man, no matter which street he went.


    Most of the time, the fat man would check out some goods displayed by the vendor, intimidate them into lowering the price, and then leave happily after almost robbing the poor vendor with his goods. She was infuriated by it.


    Ingrid wished she could wrangle the man by the neck, though he seemed to be lacking one.


    Bored of watching the annoying fat man, Ingrid looked at Aleric. They have been observing the fat man for over an hour, yet there is no hint of impatience on his face. Meanwhile, she was about to burst into anger.


    He was as still as a lake, without any ripple. Like a predator stalking his prey, his eyes were completely fixated on the fat man, and with such intense concentration, you¡¯d think he wouldn¡¯t notice anything else.


    ¡°My lady, I know I¡¯m quite handsome, but let¡¯s not get distracted,¡± he said, his gaze still on the fat man.


    Ingrid quickly looked away, her cheeks flushing as heat rushed to her pretty face.


    ¡°Who¡¯s looking at you?¡± She grumbled.


    She once again focused her eyes on the fat man, determined not to get distracted again.


    Meanwhile, a faint smile appeared on Aleric¡¯s lips.


    Then a familiar scene unfolded. Another woman bumped into the fat man, causing him to lose his balance. However, from where they were, Ingrid could see that this time it wasn¡¯t an accident. The woman deliberately bumped the fat man.


    Ingrid frowned.


    The woman was wearing a red dress with a high neckline, accentuating her beautiful neck and sharp jawline. Her face was way prettier than that of the first woman who accidentally bumped into the fat man. However, Ingrid, who was used to seeing her own face in the mirror, thought that the woman¡¯s face was nothing but normal.


    ¡°By the way, by human standards, she¡¯s quite attractive,¡± Crown Prince Aleric remarked.


    Ingrid raised her eyebrow, obviously confused by his words. She couldn¡¯t see which part of her was attractive, nor did she understand what human standard he was talking about when she was also human.


    If you encounter this story on Amazon, note that it''s taken without permission from the author. Report it.


    Aleric stifled a laugh. ¡°If we use your face as the standard of this world, then those who can be deemed above average can be counted with one finger. A few may fall on the average scale, but the rest can only be considered ugly.¡±


    Ingrid wasn¡¯t happy with his compliment. For some reason, she felt annoyed instead. She didn¡¯t like how she was being treated like a species, different from a human. Though the people around her often made her feel that way most of her life, that doesn¡¯t mean she is used to it.


    ¡°Wait, is she robbing him?¡± Ingrid asked in surprise when she saw the woman swiftly take off the ring from the fat man¡¯s finger while helping him up. She acted pitiful while apologizing.


    The fat man, on the other hand, waved his hand. He seemed to be telling her that it was fine, his grin almost reaching his ears. He didn¡¯t even notice that another piece of jewelry on his wrist had been taken. Even his bodyguard, who was also enthralled by the woman¡¯s face, did not notice.


    ¡°Are they blind?!¡± She exclaimed in disbelief.


    ¡°It¡¯s more accurate to say that they were blinded.¡±


    Ingrid turned toward Aleric. She was taken aback when she found him looking at her.


    Ingrid had noticed it before, but his eyes are really beautiful. It¡¯s like she was staring at a pool of amethyst¡ªa mesmerizing pair of orbs that commands attention and admiration.


    ¡°They were blinded by what?¡± She asked breathlessly, and her gaze remained on his eyes as though she were enchanted.


    It''s quite an ironic twist, if someone would say so. The beauty who is supposed to be the one charming people is the one being charmed.


    ¡°Her beauty,¡± Aleric answered, staring directly at her eyes, making her heart skip a beat.


    As though the magic was dispelled, Ingrid shifted her gaze to the woman who was happily leaving, blending herself into the crowd of people. No matter how she looked at her, she couldn¡¯t see the beauty he was talking about.


    The fat man must have been deprived of a woman for so long for him to be easily beguiled by such a face.


    Ingrid stiffened when she felt Aleric¡¯s presence behind her. He placed his hand on her shoulders and whispered with his deep voice, ¡°If a woman like her can blind a man, imagine what the woman deemed the most beautiful in the world can do."


    His words, coupled with the hotness of his breath on her soft skin, made her instantly shiver.


    ////\


    Ingrid let out the breath she was holding when she felt the familiar scent of her room. Though her experience of being engulfed by the darkness while being teleported this time was better than the first, the fear was still there. It¡¯s like she could still feel the ominous darkness crawling on her skin.


    Slowly, she freed herself from the crown prince¡¯s embrace. She was about to utter something when a terrifyingly familiar voice suddenly spoke.


    ¡°So where have you been at this time of the night?¡±


    Ingrid froze. Like a cranky old metal who had not been oiled in a long time, her head turned to look at the owner of the voice.


    Ingrid instinctively pushed the crown prince behind her and protectively stood in front of him to face her father. She was kind of surprised that she did that. But it was already too late to regret her action.


    Aleric''s lips slightly tugged in amusement. Meanwhile, the scowl on Grand Duke Rasmus¡¯ face grew deeper as he watched what her daughter did.


    ¡°P-Papa¡­ what are you doing here?¡± Ingrid nervously asked. She swept her eyes across the room and found that he wasn¡¯t the only person there.


    On his left was Elias, whose eyes were filled with a mixture of worry and relief. Lily was on his other side, whose tear-filled face was full of question and surprise. And beside her was Iris, with a hunched shoulder and head bowed like a soldier who had failed her mission.


    ¡°The servants said you were already asleep, but I saw from the garden window that the lights in your room were still on. I thought you were really tired and forgot to turn it off, so I silently went inside to turn off the lamps. But then, I saw that your bed was empty. I panicked and woke all the servants to search for you, but we couldn¡¯t find you, so I sounded the alarm,¡± Lily narrated, tears once again forming at the corner of her eyes.


    Ingrid squeezed her eyes shut in frustration. She never expected that her father would find out this way. Her mind was in clamor as she searched for an excuse that would satisfy her father.


    ¡°Papa, I can explain¡­¡±


    ¡°Your highness,¡± the grand duke cut her off. ¡°If I am correct, you are leaving for Aradhya tomorrow.¡±


    Aleric nodded. ¡°Yes.¡±


    ¡°And I assume that you plan on coming back?¡±


    Ingrid wanted to speak, but the grand duke glared at her, causing her to swallow back her words.


    ¡°In three months time, yes.¡±


    ¡°Then we shall speak when you return,¡± Grand Duke Rasmus said dismissively and waved his hand. ¡°You may leave, crown prince. And I thank you for taking my daughter home...safe.¡±


    Ingrid looked back and forth between Aleric and the grand duke, completely confused about the situation.


    ¡°Then I shall take my leave, grand duke,¡± Aleric said, bowing. He took a step back, but Ingrid grabbed his hand, her fearful eyes begging him not to leave her alone with her father.


    ¡°Ingrid.¡± The grand duke''s deep and low growl made her jump. She helplessly let go of Aleric¡¯s hand.


    Tendrils of darkness appeared from within the crown prince''s shadow. It wrapped around his body, slowly moving up as though eating him bit by bit until there was nothing left.


    Aleric gave Ingrid a comforting smile before the darkness fully engulfed him.


    The remnants of the darkness also vanished, along with the crown prince. What was left was the lingering fear that the people in the room felt after what they had just witnessed.


    ¡°Ingrid.¡±


    Ingrid flinched at the sound of her father''s voice. With her head bowed, she turned to look at her father. Dozens of thoughts are running through her mind as she fidgets with her hands.


    She lifted her eyes to see his father¡¯s reaction but quickly looked away when she found him staring at her with a grim expression. Cold sweats started running down her back.


    ¡°Ingrid.¡±


    She swallowed and meekly answered. ¡°Yes.¡±


    ¡°Are you in love with the crown prince?¡±


    Ingrid was taken aback. Her brows furrowed, confused by her father¡¯s question. She did expect him to ask what her relationship with the crown prince was, but not outright. She thought he¡¯d ask her about where she went first, when he started meeting the crown prince, and whatnot. Then he¡¯d drop the nuclear question at the end.


    She wasn¡¯t prepared to be questioned like that at the very beginning!


    Ingrid sighed. With a clenched fist, she lifted her head and met her father¡¯s eyes. Then she answered, ¡°Yes.¡±

 16. An Unexpected Proposal

    It was time for the crown prince and his entourage to depart. The emperor, together with the empress and the three grand ducal households, were present to send the crown prince off¡ªa rather extravagant send-off no other envoy of any other kingdom has ever experienced.


    It was hard to tell if they were doing it out of great fondness for the crown prince or perhaps out of fear of displeasing him.


    Ingrid was also present.


    She was honestly surprised to be there. Ingrid expected that she¡¯d be locked up in her palace for a long time. After she answered her father¡¯s question about whether she loved the crown prince, the grand duke left without saying another word.


    She assumed he was really angry and didn¡¯t want to see her. However, she woke up this morning with Elias outside of her door, informing her to prepare for the send-off of Crown Prince Aleric.


    So now she is here watching the crown prince, who is currently speaking with the emperor, who was obviously kissing up to him. He is wearing an emerald-green tailored suit embroidered with gold, which brings out the beautiful purple color of his eyes.


    Weirdly enough, the more she sees him wearing his princely garments, the more regal he looks in her eyes than before.


    ¡°It was nice seeing you here, Grand Duke Rasmus,¡± Grand Duke Eleazar of the house of Hatton greeted.


    The House of Hatton has great military power, just like the House of Lennox. But comparing their strength would be like comparing a puddle to a lake.


    The House of Haton was as powerful as a grand ducal household should be, while the House of Lennox¡¯s power ran deeper.


    It was known to everyone that the house of Lennox and the house of Hatton were not on friendly terms. They believed it was because of their pride as great military houses, so they often competed over who was more powerful.


    ¡°Indeed, it is a pleasure, Eleazar,¡± Grand Duke Rasmus responded perfunctorily.


    However, known to a few, the House of Hatton was one-sidedly chasing after the House of Lennox¡¯s shadow. Or is it more accurate to say that Grand Duke Eleazer is chasing after the mere afterimage of Grand Duke Rasmus¡ªa pitiful but noteworthy struggle?


    Some say that the House of Lennox has strength comparable to that of a kingdom, and some say their power is equal to that of the empire itself. But apart from that one time that he almost destroyed an entire kingdom because of his daughter, the Grand Duke hadn¡¯t been showing the extraordinary power of his house apart from what is expected from a grand ducal household.


    Grand Duke Eleazar sneered at Grand Duke Rasmus¡¯ arrogance and said, ¡°I heard you have been eyeing a certain copper mine in the province of Poro. As you know, his majesty has awarded the entire province to me for subjugating the barbarians at the eastern border. If you still want that copper mine, I can give you a fair price. Given the amount of copper that can be harvested from that mine, I think a hundred thousand gold coins is enough. How about it?¡±


    Grand Duke Rasmus mocked the Grand Duke of Hatton in his heart. Given as a reward? Who were they kidding? It¡¯s more likely given to him because the Emperor heard of the news that the House of Lennox was eyeing that newly discovered mine.


    Ingrid looked at her father, whose face remained calm despite Grand Duke Eleazar¡¯s provocation. She secretly pinched her father¡¯s hand to remind him that he was supposed to react.


    Grand Duke Rasmus¡¯ eyes quickly changed. He glared at Grand Duke Eleazer. ¡°Why don¡¯t you just say that you wanted to rob me? That copper mine could mostly generate 10,000 gold coins in a year, and you want a hundred thousand for it?¡±


    A look of delight appeared on Grand Duke Eleazar¡¯s face when he saw how angry Grand Duke Rasmus was. He was about to provoke him further when a feminine voice chimed in.


    ¡°A hundred gold coins.¡± Everyone¡¯s eyes turned to the Grand Duchess of Somerset, who suddenly joined the conversation.


    ¡°Grand Duchess Melissa, would you be so kind and stay out of this?" Grand Duke Eleazar said, sounding polite, though his words weren¡¯t.


    ¡°I would love to, but your dumb estimates are getting on my nerve.¡± The Grand Duchess rolled her eyes. Unlike the other two houses, the strength of the house of Somerset comes from their great wealth. Their house came from a long line of merchants who gained fame in the world of business.


    The current Grand Duchess, Melissa, more specifically, is deemed a genius among her predecessors. However, she wasn¡¯t supposed to be the next matriarch of their house.


    Though she was the eldest daughter of the previous grand duke, she wasn¡¯t named as the successor, not because she was incompetent but because she¡¯s a woman. And a woman would soon have to marry out of the family.


    Support the author by searching for the original publication of this novel.


    ¡°I also had my eyes on that mine when it was first discovered. I was the first to send a team of miners and prospectors to check that deposit. It turns out it was just a mid-size mine. At most, you can get about 4 tons of copper from there. A ton of copper can be sold for 2000 copper coins or 4 silver coins at most. If you mine that deposit for a year without stopping, you''ll mostly earn 1,460 silver coins. Converted to gold, that¡¯s about 121 gold coins per year.¡±


    Grand Duke Eleazar¡¯s face turned black and blue.


    "Oh, cost and labor aren¡¯t even included in that calculation yet,¡± Grand Duchess Melissa added. ¡°So about a hundred gold coins or even less is a correct estimate. That¡¯s just pocket money for my nephews in a month.¡± The Grand Duchess shook her head.


    Ingrid watched the grand duchess in awe.


    The previous grand duke of Somerset really wanted to give his position to his eldest daughter, Melissa. However, he also doesn¡¯t want his daughter to live a lonely life. Sitting in that position means she¡¯ll have to give up the prospect of getting married. There were, however, too few men who would willingly give up their family name for a woman. And most who want to are only after their wealth.


    Grand Duchess Eliza of the House of Lennox was one lucky woman. She wasn¡¯t just endowed with great beauty; she had a great husband who willingly left his family and his title in order to be with her.


    But to become the grand duchess of the House of Somerset, Grand Duchess Melissa gave up on such a dream. She swore to never marry unless it was with someone who, like the grand duke of Lennox, was willing to leave everything for his wife.


    ¡°Hmm, then I guess it¡¯s my luck that I did not end up buying that copper mine,¡± Grand Duke Rasmus said while nodding his head as if he never thought that the mine would generate so little profit.


    Grand Duchess Melissa gave him a complicated gaze. She didn¡¯t believe that the Grand Duke knew nothing about how useless that mine is to them, who are abundant in wealth. But she kept her silence.


    ¡°Well, I guess that copper mine is all yours, Grand Duke Eleazar.¡± Grand Duke Rasmus let out a hearty laughter and slapped Grand Duke Eleazer, who is now completely red in anger, by the shoulder.


    On the other hand, while the two Grand Dukes and the Grand Duchess are busy in their casual banter, Iris managed to slip behind the crown prince without anyone noticing.


    ¡°Your highness, about last night..." Iris trailed.


    ¡°Mmm, it was quite suspicious, wasn¡¯t it?¡± The Crown Prince said while smiling at the crowd. ¡°Do you think my ability has gone quite dull? To think that I would actually forget to turn the mana lamps off.¡±


    Iris lowered her eyes and said, ¡°You didn''t forget your highness. I went and double-checked after you and the lady left. The lights were off.¡±


    A noble holding a box made of ebony stepped forward. Iris quickly retreated into the shadows.


    The man handed the gift to Vernon, who was standing beside Aleric, before bowing to the crown prince.


    ¡°Crown Prince, I am Count Clifford. I trade rare gems for a living,¡± he introduced.


    Vernon opened the ebony box, and inside lay an elaborate necklace that features a string of small oval-shaped emeralds, intricately set in a chain made of white gold encrusted with tiny diamonds. The size of the emerald¡¯s grew bigger and bigger as it reached the center, where the biggest emerald, the size of a woman¡¯s thumb, lay beautifully.


    Aleric gestured for Vernon to hand over the box to him.


    Count Clifford smiled when he saw the interest in the Crown Prince¡¯s eyes and eagerly explained, ¡°That necklace is called Celeste. It means celestial beauty and grace. Since we have the gems, we plan on extending to the jewelry-making business, and that is the best among our very first creations.¡±


    ¡°Count Clifford, is it?¡± said the crown prince.


    ¡°Yes, your royal highness.¡±


    ¡°Can you make me a set of earrings and a bracelet to go along with this?¡±


    ¡°Of course, your highness!¡± Count Clifford quickly replied.


    Aleric nodded approvingly. ¡°I will be back after three months. I expect it to be finished by then.¡±


    ¡°As you wish your highness," Count Clifford bowed and retreated, joy evident on his face. He really struck luck this time.


    Crown Prince Aleric handed the ebony box back to Vernon. ¡°Keep that safe.¡±


    ¡°Your highness,¡± Iris patiently called after the count left. Aleric motioned for her to continue. ¡°That night, I stood guard by the shadows outside Lady Ingrid¡¯s chamber. However, I never saw Lily enter her room.¡±


    Aleric fell silent for a moment.


    ¡°Did you tell Ingrid about this?¡± He asked. His gaze landed on Ingrid, who seemed amused while watching the leaders of the three power houses in their empire banter. Her lips were slightly tugged upward, and her emerald eyes twinkled like the beautiful stars.


    ¡°No, your highness. The lady loves Lily very much. It¡¯s still unclear what Lily¡¯s motives are. Telling the lady now would prove to be counterproductive.¡±


    Aleric nodded. ¡°Keep an eye on that Lily in the meantime. If she proves to be a danger to my wife, eliminate her. Preferably in silence.¡±


    Aleric walked towards where the grand dukes and grand duchess were standing and greeted them with a smile. ¡°I never knew that the three grand ducal houses were this close.¡±


    ¡°Crown prince!¡± The three of them greeted Aleric as they bowed.


    ¡°Have you thought about my proposal, your highness?¡± Grand Duchess Melissa asked as the crown prince kissed her gloved hand.


    ¡°It was indeed a rather enticing proposal, Grand Duchess. I shall give you my reply upon my return to my empire.¡±


    Grand Duchess Melissa smiled, pleased.


    The crown prince then moved to where Ingrid was, who was trying her best to make herself small beside her father. A cunning smile appeared on Aleric¡¯s lips as he took the back of her hand and placed it on his lips.


    Ingrid lifted her eyes, and their gazes met. In their minds, both of them were complimenting how beautiful the other¡¯s eyes are.


    ¡°Ehem,¡± Grand Duke Rasmus coughed to break the annoying spark between them. Ingrid quickly took back her hand and looked away.


    ¡°Grand Duke Rasmus,¡± Aleric said with a smile.


    ¡°A month," Grand Duke Rasmus said.


    Ingrid, Aleric, and all the people around them who heard what he said looked at the grand duke with a confused expression.


    ¡°If you return after a month, I shall give you my daughter¡¯s hand in marriage,¡± he declared in an unusually loud voice.


    ¡°Papa?!¡±


    Everyone¡¯s jaw dropped in surprise. The crowd then broke into commotion as people began to speculate as to what caused this sudden turn of events.


    The news quickly traveled to where the emperor and the emperor is. The Empress''s face quickly became unsightly as a hint of jealousy appeared in her orbs. Meanwhile, the emperor looked like a fish who had been taken out of the water. To think that the crown prince had attentively listened as he subtly insulted his brother with his words.


    Meanwhile, Crown Prince Aleric¡¯s smile broadened.


    ¡°Then I look forward to getting my bride in a month.¡±

 17. The Crying Giant

    ¡°Papa.¡±


    ¡°Papa!¡± Ingrid repeatedly called as she chased after her father. ¡°Papa!" She grabbed the grand dukes arm.


    The grand dukes halted in his footsteps.


    ¡°Are you really marrying me off to the crown prince?¡± she asked, her voice filled with uncertainty.


    ¡°Didn¡¯t you say that you love the crown prince? I am only doing as you wanted," the grand duke said, his voice accusingly harsh.


    But this isn¡¯t what she wanted¡­ She wanted to say. But instead, she let go of her father¡¯s arm, defeated.


    The grand duke continued walking without looking back.


    Elias handed the grand duke a handkerchief once he entered his office. Grand Duke Rasmus accepted it without a word and began wiping his eyes.


    ¡°Isn¡¯t it too early for you to cry, my Lord?¡±


    Grand Duke Rasmus glared at Elias. ¡°Do you even have a heart? I am about to lose my daughter to a tyrant foreigner!¡±


    ¡°You were the one who gave her to him,¡± he reminded him.


    The grand duke glared at Elias once again. The latter quickly raised both his hands in defeat, as his master can be really petty and unreasonable.


    When they found out that Ingrid was gone, for the first time in a very long time, Elias saw the horror in the face of the most fearless man he had ever met. The grand duke showed no fear even when they marched towards the home of the giants living south of the empire. Or that time when he was attacked by a mystical beast after accidentally wandering in its lair.


    Even in the face of rulers famed for their tyranny and strength, the grand remained fearless and immovable.


    But at the news of his daughter being gone, he saw how the grand duke''s confidence and sanity slowly crumbled. If it weren¡¯t for Elias by his side, directing him to the next rational action, he would have already turned the entire kingdom upside down to find her.


    However, who would have thought that while looking for clues in Ingrid¡¯s chamber, the daughter he was worriedly searching for would suddenly appear out of thin air while wrapped protectively in Crown Prince Aleric¡¯s embrace?


    Elias witnessed the various emotions that played in the grand duke¡¯s eyes, one of which he could clearly tell was a look of relief but also of miserable defeat.


    ¡°When Ingrid was still in her mother¡¯s womb, I often prayed that she wouldn¡¯t take after her mother, for that would mean inheriting her fate. Did you know that I was one of the first to discover that the daughter of the grand duke of Lennox was endowed with beauty that the world had never witnessed before?¡±


    Elias¡¯ thoughts were cut off. He watched as Grand Duke Rasmus walked towards his window. His eyes lacked their usual vitality as he stared at the blue sky.


    ¡°I first met her while I was on a mission outside of the capital and hiding inside a forest. There was a sack over her head, and her hands and feet were tied. Weirdly, a soft cushion was laid beneath her, and cotton padding was put underneath the rope that tied her. Even the daughter of the archduke who was once abducted was never given such careful treatment by her abductors.¡± He chuckled.


    ¡°When night came, I snuck inside their camp and saved her. But when I removed the sack covering her head, I was met with a face so beautiful it was almost blinding. I remembered myself trembling at the sight of her. That¡¯s when I understood why they were treating her like fragile glass.¡±


    Elias could truly understand how the grand duke felt. He also felt that way when his father first introduced him to the duchess. He still remembers being unable to speak at the sight of her. In the end, his father ended up introducing him to him.


    ¡°At that time, there was a rumor circulating in the capital that the duke of Lennox was hiding her daughter because of her extreme ugliness. But as it turns out, it was the opposite. Father was hiding her because he knew her beauty might either destroy her or the world.¡±


    Elias face became solemn. He knew how many fights the grand duke fought to protect his wife. Even after they were married, people who coveted the grand duchess still kept coming. Some tried to entice the duchess with greater wealth and power, while others were a bit more forceful in their approach. But the grand duke managed to deter them all.


    ¡°Then the thing that I dreaded the most came true. My daughter ended up inheriting her mother¡¯s fate.¡± The Grand Duke¡¯s voice quivered. ¡°They were really right when they said never to repeat the same trick twice. I tried to do what my father did and spread rumors that my child was ugly. But nobody believed it. Instead, it made people even more curious about her countenance. And soon the news of my daughter''s beauty was revealed.¡±


    Anyone who had never seen Ingrid before would probably think that the grand duke¡¯s words were both arrogant and ridiculous. After all, there is not one woman in the world who could look beautiful in the eyes of everyone. But not Ingrid. Her beauty is so great that even those who hate her become incapable of uttering the word ugly, even if it¡¯s just to spite her.


    Stolen from its rightful place, this narrative is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.


    ¡°I tried my hardest in order to protect my daughter. But in the end, I failed,¡± he said, his eyes darkening as the memory of what happened six years ago resurfaced. ¡°And what happened last night made me realize a lot of things. Had the crown prince of Aradhya abducted Ingrid and taken her away, I wouldn¡¯t have been able to do anything. Although I hate to admit it, that hateful crown prince is stronger than I am,¡± he grunted.


    A small smile appeared on Elias¡¯ lips when he saw the childish demeanor of the grand duke.


    ¡°He will do better at protecting my daughter. Beside, my daughter fancies him so her happiness wouldn¡¯t be compromised.¡±


    The Grand Duke pressed the handkerchief on his eyes as he began to sob.


    Elias turned to look away. It was hard to see such a giant man cry.


    ///\


    Ingrid sighed.


    ¡°He¡¯s probably crying right now.¡±


    ¡°Did you mean the grand duke, my lady?" Iris asks, a basket of apples in hand.


    She looked at Iris, surprised. ¡°How did you know I was talking about papa?¡±


    ¡°I saw him by the window of his office while getting this,¡± she said, waving the apples she got from the orchard behind the grand duke¡¯s palace. ¡°He had giant tears falling off his eyes.¡±


    ¡°Tch, if he¡¯s going to cry like that, then why did he promise my hand to the crown prince in a month,¡± she grumbled.


    ¡°But isn¡¯t this great, my lady? Now you don¡¯t have to make an effort to convince the grand duke to marry you off to the crown prince.¡±


    Iris was right, but still, she wondered why her father decided to do that. After what happened, she really thought he would convince her to stay away from Aleric, not the other way around.


    ¡°It¡¯s probably to protect you, my lady,¡± Iris said, guessing her mind. ¡°By announcing your betrothal with the crown prince to that many important people, it is equivalent to announcing it to the whole world. Now, anyone who would try to have bad thoughts toward you will have to second guess, with his highness in the picture.¡±


    No wonder Aleric looked really amused back then. He must¡¯ve understood what her father¡¯s intention was. With Aleric now at the forefront of the battle for her hand, he also made sure that Aleric became sore in King Oliver''s'' eyes.


    With just a simple sentence, the grand duke made sure that the Aradhya and Serus became enemies. This way, King Oliver will have to back down if he doesn¡¯t want to go to war with the empire of Aradhya for a mere woman.


    However, there is one thing that none of them knew. King Oliver is aware of Ingrid¡¯s secret. And for that secret, he may just be willing to sacrifice millions of lives to get Ingrid.


    ¡°Are you alright, my lady? You look pale,¡± Iris asked worriedly.


    Will war really happen because of her?


    Ingrid shook her head. ¡°I¡¯m fine. By the way, I haven¡¯t seen Lily today.¡±


    Iris¡¯ eyes darkened, but Ingrid was looking somewhere else, so she didn¡¯t notice. ¡°She¡¯s probably still sulking in her room.¡±


    Ingrid sighed once again. ¡°I do want to tell her about the crown prince, but I was afraid that the information might be too much for her, and she would end up hinting my father. I wanted to wait until everything was settled to tell her, but who would have thought that she would find out this way?"


    Lily was her only friend. She never intended to hurt her feelings.


    ¡°Should I go and explain myself to her?¡±


    ¡°I think it¡¯s best if you let her be for the time being, my lady. Once she thinks things through, she¡¯ll surely come around,¡± Iris advised. ¡°Beside, though she is your friend, she is still your servant. The servant''s job is to follow the master, not question her every move. If you go to her now, it will leave a bad impression on the other servant. They may also end up resenting Lily for having the audacity to make you apologize.¡±


    Ingrid fell silent.


    ¡°Wait, since when did you learn so much about noble etiquette?¡± Ingrid asked, surprised by Iris¡¯ knowledge.


    ¡°I¡¯m a fast learner, my lady, and Lily was a good teacher.¡±


    Ingrid smiled. She was glad to see that at least the two of them seemed to be a bit closer than before.


    ////\


    Meanwhile, outside of the capital, a group of people was moving at an inhuman speed. They were moving so fast that the air split and blasted the surrounding area in their wake.


    They were riding on top of an extremely rare breed of magical horses capable of moving at lightning speed. Though these horses looked normally like average horses, when in need of more speed, they are capable of growing in size and shaping their muscles in certain ways that can help them increase their velocity.


    ¡°The Grand Duke of Lennox is being ridiculous!¡± Vernon said who was riding beside Aleric. ¡°Even with the Lightning Horses, it would take two weeks at most to reach Aradhya if we traveled without rest. But he wants us to return within a month?¡±


    Aleric smiled in amusement. ¡°The grand duke is trying to test me.¡±


    ¡°Test you for what? You created an entire empire from scratch at a very young age. You¡¯ve destroyed countless cities and kingdoms, famed for being indestructible. Isn¡¯t that enough of a testament to your great power?¡±


    "Well, it can¡¯t be helped. My rival isn¡¯t someone ordinary after all. He wanted to see if I could stand against him.


    ¡°But can you?¡± Vernon asked, his voice a mixture of worry and sarcasm.


    Crown Prince Aleric grinned. ¡°I¡¯ve never fought the King of the South before, so who knows?"


    Vernon pursed his lips. He didn¡¯t like the uncertainty in their odds. As Aleric¡¯s tactician, he never executes a plan he isn¡¯t sure they can win. However, he isn¡¯t also someone who likes to play it safe. Instead, he is the kind who creates unexpected variables to secure their victory. But doing so takes time and a lot of thinking.


    Time is something they currently don¡¯t have, especially if they want to proceed with their plan to take down Selite.


    He couldn¡¯t help but sigh. If the south really ends up becoming a problem, they might end up postponing their conquest of the north. This was an oversight on his part. Had he known that Ingrid had already attracted the eyes of the southern king, he would have never tried to use the grand duke as a variable in their plans while at the same time snagging a bride for his master and friend.


    ¡°Augustus!¡± Crown prince Aleric called. A buff knight broke from their formation and, together with his horse, rode beside Aleric.


    ¡°Yes, your highness.¡±


    ¡°Settle yourselves at the border of Learia. Only Vernon and I are going back to Aradhya.¡±


    Vernon looked at him in surprise. ¡°Your highness, you don¡¯t mean to..."


    ¡°We¡¯re pressed for time. It¡¯s the only way we can get home fast. Let¡¯s go!¡±


    Vernon gazed at Aleric, his expression complicated. Though, in the eyes of others, Aleric seemed to be quite reckless, he had never seen someone as meticulous as that man. Yet, right now, he¡¯s doing something rather impulsive.


    Could it be that he¡­


    Vernon¡¯s expression became even more complicated as he followed behind him.

 18. The Empire of Aradhya

    In the Empire of Aradhya...


    ¡°Your Majesty, though we all agree that the current Crown Prince has some great capabilities, that¡¯s only when it comes to conquering lands. However, he doesn¡¯t seem to have any talent for ruling one,¡± criticized Duke William.


    ¡°I agree, your majesty,¡± Countess Victoria seconded. ¡°I heard that he went to a foreign land to chase after some woman, completely neglecting his duties as the crown prince!¡±


    The Emperor¡¯s eye turned grim as he listened to the members of the Council of Nobles grumble. It was always like this. In the absence of the crown prince, they criticize him, but in his presence, they were as meek as lambs.


    Duke William bowed deeply toward Emperor Marius. ¡°If I may be so bold to say, your majesty, I think the second prince is better suited for the crown than the first prince. Though the second prince is still young, he has been showing a rare intelligence that makes him a better fit as an emperor.¡±


    ¡°Have you all forgotten the law?¡± joined yet another noble. ¡°Only the offspring of the empress can inherit the throne. which means there is no other rightful heir than our current crown prince!¡±


    Though he sounded like he was siding with Crown Prince Aleric, the emperor knew he was actually on their side. He couldn¡¯t help but be disappointed with these subjects of his, who, because of greed, would use an eight-year-old child to further their gains without batting an eye. From there, Emperor Maruis could already guess where this argument was heading.


    ¡°That is why we propose that Lady Fabia be conferred as the new empress,¡± said Countess Victoria. ¡°Lady Fabia is a respectable and kind lady. She will do nicely as the mother of our empire.¡±


    The emperor held his head as it throbbed. He wished they would shut up, or he might really end up acting in a way unbecoming of an emperor.


    Meanwhile, Lady Fabia, who was sitting on a distinguished seat below the emperor and empty empress¡¯ throne, shifted in her seat at the mention of her name. She tried to retain a humble attitude, as if all of these didn¡¯t matter to her.


    ¡°Your majesty,¡± Countess Victoria continued, softening her voice as she tried to look as empathic as she could. ¡°We are well aware that the crown prince loved her mother, the late empress, quite dearly and doesn¡¯t want anyone else sitting on his mother¡¯s throne. But he is no longer a child, and we no longer need to give in to his tantrum. We¡¯ve already left the empress¡¯ throne empty for quite a long time.¡±


    Emperor Marius¡¯ eyes flashed red at the mention of his late wife, whom he dearly loved. He glared at Countess Victoria. He was about to open his mouth to speak when the giant doors of the throne room were pushed open.


    ¡°I was just out for a month, and already this council has become more audacious.¡±


    Everyone¡¯s eyes almost fell out of their socket at the sight of the person whom they never expected to see. The room fell into silence.


    Only the sound of the person walking, his footstep echoing on the marble floor, could be heard. He paused when he reached the place where Countess Victoria was, whose face had now turned deathly pale, and smiled.


    ¡°What was it that you suggested to my father? I couldn¡¯t quite hear it from behind those thick doors. Repeat it for me,¡± he commanded with a smile that did not reach his dangerous eyes.


    Relief washed over the emperor¡¯s face when he saw his son. Had he not arrived, he might¡¯ve ended up blowing up after what the council had just suggested.


    ¡°Crown Prince Aleric, we were merely suggesting that the empress¡¯ throne not be left empty. It¡¯s been years since the late empress left this world, and there are certain things in the empire that can only be done by an empress.¡± It was Duke William who spoke, saving Countess Victoria, who seemed to have lost her tongue in the presence of the crown prince.


    Aleric nodded his head as though thinking. ¡°And you think Lady Fabia is the right person for this role.¡± He shot Lady Fabia a glance, who was sitting meekly below his father¡¯s throne.


    She kept her silence while the council debated for her sake. She maintained a benevolent facade to show that she was content with her position and only wished to serve the emperor out of love¡ªa farce that often makes Aleric want to puke.


    ¡°Of course, your highness. Lady Fabia is..."


    ¡°The woman who climbed my father¡¯s bed while he was drunk in his sorrow for my mother¡¯s death,¡± Aleric cut Duke William off. ¡°If that is what you are trying to say, I agree.¡±


    Their mouths fell open at the crown prince¡¯s coarse words. Meanwhile, Lady Fabia¡¯s face turned bright red at the mention of the shameless deed she had been trying so hard to bury.


    ¡°Please mind your words, your highness. Ehem, you¡¯re still the crown prince.¡± The Emperor coughed, embarrassed by his mistake that led to this current situation.


    This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road. If you spot it on Amazon, please report it.


    Aleric ignored his annoying father and looked at the cowardly council. ¡°You¡¯ve already forced my father into making her a concubine in the name of the so-called law. And it seems that gave you the confidence to further push your luck. Now you want to crown her an empress and make her equal to my mother?¡±


    He swept his gaze toward the crowd. The guilty ones quickly averted their gazes, unable to look him in the eyes.


    ¡°My mother was intelligent, wise, beautiful, and respectable. To allow a woman who snaked her husband the moment she left this world to sit on her throne is nothing but despicable. The whole lot of you seem to really love disrespecting the late empress.¡± Aleric¡¯s voice became cold and dangerous, causing everyone to shiver.


    Even the emperor felt a slight tremor in his heart when he looked at his son, who seemed to be ready to massacre everyone in the room if they continued to force their way.


    ¡°Crown Prince, I know that you hated me, but apart from bearing another child for your father, what wrong have I exactly done against you?¡± Lady Fabia spoke against her better judgment, her eyes teary, making her look small and helpless against Aleric, who was famed for being a tyrant. This caused the surrounding people to pity her.


    Seeing how poor Lady Fabia was being treated, Countess Victoria finally found her courage and spoke, ¡°Crown Prince, how can you bully your father¡¯s concubine like that?" She then looked at the emperor. ¡°Your Majesty, are you just going to watch while your son bullies your wife? Even if you don¡¯t love her as much, she is still the mother of your child!¡±


    The emperor¡¯s eyes darkened. ¡°It is because she is the mother of my child that her head is still intact despite my eldest son aching to tear it off her neck, Countess Victoria.¡±


    Lady Fabia shivered as he looked at Crown Prince Aleric, whose cold and emotionless eyes stared back at her. She unconsciously touched her neck and looked away.


    ¡°It is best for you to remember that I only have one wife, and that is the late empress. No one else!¡± The emperor warned. At that very moment, they saw a glint of resemblance between the crown prince and the emperor.


    Everyone inside the room fell silent. They had never seen their emperor this angry before. It was also because they knew that the emperor was extremely kind that they had the audacity to say what they had previously said. But who would have thought that Countess Victoria would end up stepping on the emperor¡¯s sore spot?


    Countess Victoria quickly spoke in a stuttering voice, ¡°Y-yes, your majesty.¡±


    Aleric looked at the trembling countess and commanded, ¡°Leave us. I want to speak with my father alone.¡±


    The council members wanted to tell Aleric that they could not be dismissed without the emperor¡¯s command, but they swallowed their words and retreated.


    The emperor¡¯s shoulder sagged the moment the councilors left. ¡°When are you planning to let me retire?¡± He sighed.


    ¡°Why the hurry? Don¡¯t you like being the emperor?¡± Aleric smiled mischievously.


    Emperor Marius glared at his son. ¡°You ingrate! You saw what happened just now. Do you think that was enjoyable? All I want right now is to sit idly in your mother¡¯s garden and pass the time until I can be reunited with her.¡±


    Though his words were the truth, they were also meant to console his son, who can be quite petty when it comes to his mother. He still remembered how Aleric made all his attendants go on a holiday while giving him more work after he once sided with that concubine. That horrific week still makes him shiver every time he remembers it.


    ¡°I don¡¯t think Mother will accept you for how you betrayed her,¡± Aleric said sarcastically.


    The Emperor sighed in frustration. ¡°How many times do I have to tell you that it was a mistake? I was mourning for your mother and got drunk. The next thing I knew, I woke up to that hateful woman lying by my side. Though the law forced me to make her my concubine after bearing my child, I never accepted her, nor did she have any space in my heart. I am and will always be loyal to your mother!¡±


    Aleric nodded his head as if thinking about it, then smiled and said, ¡°I think you can serve a few more years as an emperor to show your sincerity towards Mother.¡±


    ¡°My son,¡± emperor Marius held Aleric¡¯s hand. ¡°How about I just go and kneel in front of your mother¡¯s grave? Just take this crown off of me. I¡¯m going crazy just trying to remember the number of territories we have, and yet you kept adding one after another. Do you really plan on working me to death?¡±


    Aleric placed his hand on top of his father¡¯s and said, conceding. ¡°Just until the future empress can get used to the culture of the palace and get ready for her responsibilities. How about it?¡±


    He knew how much his father worked his hardest all these years after he threw one land after another to add to their territory. Thanks to his father, the empire was stable despite the fractures in culture and beliefs between some of their acquired territories.


    The emperor¡¯s shoulder eased. ¡°Alright, that¡¯s a deal.¡± Then his eyes went wide when he realized. ¡°Wait, future empress? You finally found a suitable wife?¡±


    Aleric smiled mysteriously. ¡°If there¡¯s nothing else, I shall take my leave. There are still a lot of things I need to do and so little time.¡±


    "Hey, you ungrateful son! You can¡¯t just say something like that and leave!¡±


    Aleric simply waved his hand and left through the side door. He was met by Vernon, who was patiently waiting for him on the other side.


    But the moment Aleric closed the door, he quickly fell on his knees. The color on his face completely vanished, while his legs trembled.


    Vernon quickly ran to his side and helped him stand. ¡°You forcefully traveled such a long distance. Your magic is completely drained, yet you still went and attended the morning assembly even when you didn¡¯t have to. For what? Just so you could spite them?" He lectured.


    ¡°Well, it was worth it¡­¡± he coughed repeatedly.


    Vernon rolled his eyes as he helped the crown prince to a secret chamber under the palace. It was a room he often used to recuperate from his wounds without anyone knowing. He helped Aleric on the bed and quickly turned all the Mana lamps on.


    Aleric instantly felt better, his breathing slowly going back to normal.


    Mana lamps aren¡¯t simple lamps. When used by magicians, it can help them advance faster in their cultivation, heal their wounds, or restore their magic quickly. But some merchants also sell them as luxury goods to rich nobles as some sort of eternal lamp that does not die out.


    However, only if it is used by a person without any magic will it last for eternity.


    ¡°It seems that they forgot to replace the Mana lamps after we left for Learia,¡± Vernon said when he noticed the dimming lights of the lamps. ¡°Stay here. I¡¯ll get some new ones.¡±


    Aleric waved his hand and shooed Vernon away. ¡°It¡¯s not that I have a choice,¡± he said in a weak voice, closing his eyes.

 19. Assassination (1)

    It¡¯s been a week since Crown Prince Aleric left for Aradhya. Ingrid¡¯s day had once again become peaceful.


    It took a while, but Lily began talking to her again. She told him about her secret rendezvous with the crown prince. However, she guiltily twisted some of the details and made her believe that their secret meetings were because of their growing affection for each other and not for a deal and his threats.


    She knew that Lily was the kind of person who could not lie, especially to the grand duke. If she were pressured, there is a high chance she would end up telling her father the truth.


    ¡°My lady!¡± Lily exclaimed while running towards where Ingrid was while waving an off-white envelope in her hand. ¡°Look!¡±


    Ingrid¡¯s brow furrowed.


    ¡°It¡¯s an invitation!¡± Lily told herwhile catching her breath. She was rather excited, knowing it was the very first time her mistress was invited to a party after so many years.


    The last time Ingrid was invited to such an event was four years ago. Lady Alecia, the daughter of a duke, invited Ingrid to her birthday party. Ingrid did not really want to go. Even though it¡¯s been almost three years since she was kidnapped, that horrible day permanently scarred her. It was even hard for her to stroll in their own territory without shaking¡ªhow much more if it were outside?


    But Grand Duke Rasmus, who was worried about her own well-being, convinced her to go. In return, he promised to go with her and bring as many knights as she wanted them to bring.


    Under the grand duke¡¯s persuasion, Ingrid reluctantly agreed.


    Amid all her worries, the party went well without a hitch. She managed to talk to a few of the ladies and saw some hope in finally finding new friends, apart from her servant, Lily. This elevated her mood significantly.


    But then, for some unknown reason, none of the ladies contacted her again, nor was she ever invited to their parties anymore. Then, a few weeks later, she found out that Lady Alecia¡¯s fiance had ended their engagement. The reason? He fell deeply in love with someone else, to the point of becoming lovesick. A month did not even pass after he ended their engagement, and the House of Lennox had already received a marriage proposal from their house.


    And so, like a monster in the old folktales, the parents of the noble ladies in the kingdom began warning their children never to befriend the Lady of the House of Lennox. Or else they will never get married.


    Ingrid stared at the envelope for a moment. Though she isn¡¯t as excited as Lily, she is still curious. Who in their right mind would invite her to a tea party?


    Slowly, she opened it. Inside, a few simple words of greeting, followed by the official invitation, were written in gold ink.


    ¡°It is indeed an invitation,¡± she confirmed. ¡°For a tea party hosted by the new duchess of the house of Pembroke.¡±


    ¡°So it¡¯s the young duchess who just got married a few weeks ago,¡± Lily said.


    Now Ingrid knew why she was invited. The Duchess came from a very remote village. Perhaps the fame of her love-stealing beauty did not reach there.


    ¡°Lily, prepare a gift for the duchess and send her my best regards,¡± Ingrid said, folding the invitation.


    Lily¡¯s excitement vanished as she asked, ¡°You aren¡¯t going, my lady?¡±


    Ingrid shook her head. ¡°When the other ladies find out that I¡¯m invited, I¡¯m sure they¡¯ll convince the young duchess to disinvite me. It would be in the duchess''s best interest if I didn¡¯t go. Besides,¡± she rested her chin on her palm, accentuating her beautiful face. ¡°It would be a problem if the duke fell for me.¡±


    It wasn¡¯t out of arrogance that she said it. Rather, it was a fact that everyone in the empire knew.


    She grabbed the book she was previously reading and picked up where she left off.


    Lily pouted her lips in disappointment. However, she no longer tried to convince Ingrid, knowing no one could change her mind once she decided on something. Though there might be someone who can.


    ////\


    A simple carriage traveled through the bustling streets of the capital. There were no insignia carved on the carriage, and although the knights guarding it did not wear any emblems to indicate to which house they belonged, the quality of their armor suggests that it wasn¡¯t a normal household.


    Ingrid sighed and closed her eyes. How did she end up agreeing to join the tea party again? Oh yes, it¡¯s because her father found out and convinced her. He even hired a famous designer to make a hat with a veil to cover her face, just so she would go.


    ¡°Are you alright, my lady?¡± Iris asked worriedly. ¡°We should have really used the official carriage. This one is just too uncomfortable for a lady such as yourself.¡±


    Lily was supposed to be the one coming with them, but a stomach flu broke out in the residence yesterday. Some maids and knights were affected, including Lily. So they ended up having to leave her crying behind.


    ¡°I¡¯m okay, Iris. Don¡¯t worry,¡± she assured. ¡°Beside, the official carriage is just too conspicuous. I don¡¯t want to end up becoming a nuisance to the common people.¡±


    The author''s narrative has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon.


    Ingrid peered through the small opening of the window and watched the lively streets. The look of contentment in the commoners eyes was always a wonder to her. She couldn¡¯t understand how those who don¡¯t have much are mostly happy and thankful for what they have, while those who have many are still greedy for more.


    ¡°Speaking of the common people, my lady, why do the people line up on the street when they see your carriage?¡± Iris asked, cutting Ingrid¡¯s train of thought.


    Ingrid shook her head. ¡°I don¡¯t really know. As you¡¯ve already known, I rarely go outside of my own palace, much less the dukedom. But one day I did, and they were all acting like that.¡±


    ¡°And you did not try to find out why?¡±


    ¡°Iris, can you see my trembling hands?¡± Ingrid lifted her arms and showed her shaking fingers.


    Iris looked at them in surprise. The tremor in her hands was a stark contrast to the serene calm she saw in her face. But when she looked directly into Ingrid''s eyes, she was taken aback. There, she found a hint of nervousness that was masked by her beautiful countenance.


    Now she understood why it was hard to see through Ingrid¡¯s emotions. It isn¡¯t because she was good at hiding it. But because people get so mesmerized by her face, they can¡¯t look beyond it. And she was one of those people.


    ¡°I¡¯m always a nervous wreck when I go out of the dukedom,¡± Ingrid sighed.


    Suddenly, their carriage stopped.


    Iris quickly placed her hand inside the pouch hanging at the waist of her maid uniform, her eyes turning sharp.


    ¡°My lady,¡± called the coachman.


    ¡°What is it?¡± Ingrid asked, feeling more nervous than before.


    ¡°It seems that the road up ahead is blocked due to ongoing construction. We may have to take a detour to reach the dukes mansion,¡± the coachman informed.


    Ingrid sighed in relief. For a moment, she really thought that they were being ambushed. It was a ridiculous thought, knowing that they had just gotten off the main road. Besides, they are surrounded by her father¡¯s elite knights. They would have heard the sound of clashing if they were attacked.


    ¡°Will my lady be fine if we use the forest road? It¡¯s the closest route towards Pembroke¡¯s residence, but the road is not paved, so it will be quite bumpy.¡±


    ¡°Yes, I¡¯ll be fine.¡±


    ¡°Very well, my lady."


    Iris finally eased up and removed her hand from her pouch. For a fleeting moment, Ingrid wondered why Iris reached for her small pouch. What kind of weapon would fit in such a small pocket meant for coins? But the thought flew out of her mind the moment the carriage moved.


    The carriage bounced uncomfortably as the wheels moved through the unpaved road. Iris was not the kind who easily felt nauseous, but the constant bouncing of the carriage is making her feel dizzy.


    Ingrid was in no better shape. The last time she traveled through an unpaved road was back when she was a child, when she would often join the grand duke in his expeditions.


    She was about to tell the coachman to stop for a bit when, all of a sudden, the carriage uncontrollably swerved from side to side.


    ¡°Aaah!¡± Ingrid screamed while her hands searched for something to hold on to. If not for Iris, who swiftly held her waist, she would have been flung all over the carriage and hurt herself.


    ¡°Are you alright, my lady?¡± Iris asked.


    Ingrid nodded her head and tried to calm her fast-beating heart.


    ¡°What was that about?¡± Iris asked the coachman angrily. However, an eery silence answered her. Iris instantly felt that something was amiss and pushed Ingrid down the carriage floor.


    ¡°My lady¡­ugh!¡±


    Ingrid¡¯s swallowed a gasp when she heard a loud thud, followed by the sounds of swords getting drawn and the captain of the knight squad commanding his troops to protect the carriage.


    But not long after, they heard a series of sounds of people groaning in pain before falling to the ground. She grabbed Iris¡¯ arm nervously. Meanwhile, the latter pulled out something from her pouch and secured it in her palm.


    Iris was about to peek through the window when an arrow pierced through the carriage door. Then, a volley of arrows rained down them, turning their carriage into a porcupine.


    Everything happened so fast that Ingrid did not even have time to scream. Iris swiftly pulled her by the waist with one arm and kicked the carriage wall opposite the door open.


    The moment they landed on the forest floor, Iris scanned their surroundings while hiding Ingrid behind her. Her eyes landed on the coachman¡¯s lifeless body with an arrow lodged in his throat. Meanwhile, the rest of their knights lay dead on the unpaved road.


    Iris''s face turned grim. The men they brought aren¡¯t just some normal soldiers. They are among the best in the Grand Duke''s Army. Yet they all fell down without a fight.


    Another volley of arrows flew towards them. But with the nimbleness of a seasoned soldier, Iris managed to dodge them all with Ingrid in tow. She couldn¡¯t see where their assailants were, but from the direction of the arrows, they were mostly hiding beneath the forest opposite them.


    But Iris wasn¡¯t given any time to think as, one after another, arrows rained in their direction. Iris pushed Ingrid behind her and then touched the tear-shaped pendant hanging from Ingrid¡¯s neck. Suddenly, the pendant emitted a blue light. It grew larger until it formed a dome over and around Ingrid.


    ¡°Stay here, my lady, and no matter what happens, don¡¯t. ever. come. out.¡± She emphasized every word.


    Augustus contacted her a few days ago and told her that they were staying outside of the capital and that only Vernon and the crown prince left for Aradhya. Since she activated the protection spell on the necklace, Kevian''s spell caster would have already been notified.


    Ingrid watched as Iris flung the thing she had been holding in her hand in the air. It was a toy axe with a dual blade. She looked at it, confused. However, while the toy axe hung in the air, it suddenly doubled in size, then tripled, then quadrupled, until it became a giant double-bladed axe that seemed impossible for a normal person to carry.


    It landed on Iris hand, and she effortlessly swung it to deflect the oncoming arrows. She carried the axe with one hand as though it didn¡¯t carry any weight.


    ¡°Aaah!¡± Ingrid screamed when one of the arrows strayed in her direction and hit the dome that surrounded her before falling to the ground.


    Her eyes went wide. It flew so fast that she didn¡¯t even realize it was coming until it hit the dome that was protecting her.


    Only then did it dawn on her. Whoever was attacking them was trying to kill her. But why? Who could be after her head? The Empress? But she most likely had some secret deal with the king of Serus so she wouldn¡¯t recklessly touch her. So then, who? Who would benefit from her death?


    ¡°Who are you?¡± Ingrid¡¯s thoughts were cut off by Iris¡¯ question.


    From within the thick forest, three men wearing pure white robes emerged. They did not respond to Iris¡¯ question and instead waved the silver swords they were holding and simultaneously attacked Iris.


    Iris¡¯s lips formed a thin line. She could sense how strong those three men were. They might be as strong as her. Then there is also the problem of the marksmen hiding within the forest; their number is still uncertain.


    Iris tore the hem and sleeves of her dress as she prepared to fight. The necklace that the crown prince gave Ingrid was just something that Kevian made in a rush. At most, it could probably hold for two hours as long as it didn¡¯t receive too much damage. Hopefully their reinforcement won¡¯t brush off the emergency signal and arrive before the barrier loses all its energy.


    But for the time being, she will have to entertain their guests. Iris cracked her neck. She once fought for an entire day and night during a war campaign with the crown prince. Two hours is a piece of cake.

 20. Assassination (2)

    Ingrid knew that Iris was strong. But witnessing her take on three opponents simultaneously left her in greater awe of her skills. The trio, clad in white robes, showed a level of skill that surpassed the soldiers Iris once fought in their residence. Their movements were swift and elusive, making it difficult for Ingrid to keep up with their actions. Yet, despite their immense strength, Iris managed to inflict heavy wounds on them while sustaining only a few minor scratches.


    Her weapon and her skillful mastery are probably one of the reasons why she swiftly gained the upper hand. It has the ability to shrink and expand at her will, granting her unparalleled flexibility on the battlefield. This made the three men cautious about getting too close to her, as they were uncertain when she would decrease or increase the size of her weapon.


    With a swift swing of her double-bladed axe using her right hand, one of the men, with his robe now adorned with blood, was forced to veer to the left. But before he could realize his mistake, in a mere millisecond, Iris swiftly shifted the giant axe to her left hand, propelling it towards him with lightning speed.


    His eyes went wide as he hastily used his sword to parry Iris¡¯s oncoming assault. The resounding clash of metal resonated in the air as their weapons collided, sending a powerful shockwave through their surroundings. The man gritted his teeth as he tried his best to stand his ground. But the force of her blow was so immense that his sword cracked under the strain, causing him to be hurled backward, crashing into a nearby tree. The impact left him gasping for breath and coughing up blood, and he was momentarily incapacitated.


    Iris gaze then shifted to the other two, ready to attack them. But then something unexpected happened.


    ¡°Iris!¡± A gasp escaped from Ingrid¡¯s lips, her hand instinctively flying to cover her mouth, when an arrow pierced through Iris¡¯ left forearm.


    The attack was extremely swift, catching Iris completely off guard. Throughout their confrontation, the arrows had been directed at Ingrid, so the sudden shift in target took her by surprise. It seems that seeing one of their allies get defeated made them realize that she was a bigger threat than they had anticipated.


    ¡°I¡¯m fine, my lady,¡± Iris assured her as she broke the shaft of the arrow and threw it on the ground, annoyed. Their marksman is really accurate. That arrow was meant to hit her heart. If not for her quick reflex, she would have already been dead.


    The two robed men took the opportunity to attack Iris, believing they now had an easier time fighting her with her left arm injured. But who would have thought that she would still switch hands, disregarding her injury? The man on her left ended up paying the price for underestimating Iris. With a wave of Iris¡¯s axe, his head was cleanly separated from his neck and rolled on the ground.


    The movement of the last remaining man halted when he saw his comrade getting killed. They were so confident with their movements before, but now he seems to be hesitating. One of them is dead, and the other is heavily injured. The tide of the battle is slowly going against them.


    ¡°Now, is any of you willing to tell me why you¡¯re after my lady¡¯s life?¡± Iris asked dangerously. Her bloodshot eyes gleamed with wild intensity. Disheveled strands of hair framed her face while her torn clothes hung on her body. With each heavy breath, her nostrils flared like a raging bull.


    Over an hour has passed since the battle started. Yet, despite the prolonged fight, there were no signs of her strength diminishing. Instead, it felt like she became stronger and stronger the longer they fought.


    Another arrow zoomed towards Iris. But the arrow wasn¡¯t as accurate as the previous one, and she easily caught it with her bare hand. She looked in the direction of the forest with a taunting grin as she let the arrow slowly slide off her palm and fall to the ground.


    The robed man¡¯s eyes burned with anger, and he attacked her in a frenzy while arrows rained here and there. Iris, even with the gradual numbness of her injured arm, still held her ground against them.


    ¡°Urgh!¡± Iris let out a pained groan when another arrow found its mark, piercing her calf. With a grimace, she was forced to kneel on the ground as surprise and disbelief flickered across her face.


    What is going on? She was sure she had evaded that arrow. Was her movement too slow? Could it be? She looked at the broken arrow still lodged on her skin. Was the arrow poisoned?


    ¡°Iris!¡± Ingrid shouted worriedly. She wanted to run and help her, but what exactly could she do? Besides, she was trapped inside the dome that protected her and couldn¡¯t get out.


    The last remaining man took advantage of the situation and tried to sneakily attack Iris. But because of the poison, Iris¡¯s senses were impeded.


    Seeing the precarious situation, Ingrid desperately screamed, ¡°STOP!!!¡±


    As though he were compelled by a force, the man¡¯s movement stopped. He looked at Ingrid with glaring eyes. But when his gaze landed on her face, his mouth went wide open.


    ¡°Please don¡¯t hurt my friend," Ingrid begged, her eyes glittering with tears. She was a sight to behold to begin with, and her tears added an allure of vulnerability that makes anyone just want to lay down the world under her feet.


    As though hypnotized, the man swallowed, while his grip on the hilt of his sword loosened. Iris took the chance and swung her axe towards the man¡¯s hips, whose eyes seemed to be permanently glued to Ingrid¡¯s enchanting face. Ingrid averted her gaze as Iris¡¯ axe cleaved the man in half, his blood spluttering everywhere.


    If you encounter this tale on Amazon, note that it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it.


    Iris sank to her knees while panting. The poison from the arrow coursing through her body has taken its toll on her, leaving her left arm numb and useless. As she fought to be conscious, dizziness washed over her, threatening to send her collapsing to the ground.


    But she can¡¯t afford to lose consciousness here. Not yet. There are still the marksmen that she needs to take care of. ¡°Ugh! What¡¯s taking those assholes so long?" She groaned. With the speed of the lightning horses, they should have already arrived.


    Iris¡¯s senses have been so completely numbed that she has failed to notice the man who was previously lying under the tree slowly rising to his feet. With blood smeared across his mouth, he charged towards Iris with a raised sword, his eyes filled with fury.


    Ingrid''s heart ran up to her throat when she saw the charging man. "Iris, watch out!" She yelled while banging the dome.


    Iris turned her head and saw the man coming her way. She tried to dodge, but her body felt like it was chained to the ground, preventing her from moving. That last swing had completely drained her of her last remaining strength.


    Ingrid¡¯s heart skipped a beat as she witnessed the man¡¯s sword gradually descending towards Iris neck. It was as though the world slowed its motions. Tears fell from her eyes.


    Will she really have to watch her friend die?


    ¡°No, Iriiiiis!!!!!!!¡± She kept screaming and banging the dome with her fist until they were bruised and bleeding.


    As the sharp edge of the sword slid through the skin on Iris¡¯ neck, suddenly, a figure flashed towards the man in a white robe. It was so fast that the dust on the unpaved road billowed and obscured the view, creating dense fog that made it difficult to see.


    Ingrid¡¯s heart raced with worry and anticipation as she strained to make out what was happening within the haze. Amidst the confusion, she caught a glimpse of a silhouette, but it was hard to make out what the person looked like.


    ¡°Iris!¡± She anxiously called. But nobody answered. ¡°Iris!" She kept calling, as fear gnawed on her with every passing moment. Coincidentally, the magic on the pendant ran out and the dome shattered like glass. But with the dust storm, it was impossible for her to move around.


    When the dust finally settled, Ingrid froze when she saw a tall and muscular man with hideous arms filled with scars standing on the unpaved street. One scar in particular caught her attention¡ªa deep gash on his chest, resembling the mark of a colossal bird¡¯s claw. Ingrid couldn¡¯t fathom the origin of such gruesome wounds. But what truly struck her was the uncanny familiarity of the man¡¯s appearance.


    The man¡¯s gaze shifted towards Ingrid, and his eyes widened with a flicker of recognition. His reaction fueled her curiosity even more, and she began to ponder where she might have seen him.


    Then suddenly, the man moved towards her with superhuman speed. Ingrid stood still like a statue, paralyzed with fear. She closed her eyes, assuming she would be hit or stabbed. But then the pain she anticipated did not come.


    Slowly, Ingrid opened her eyes and found the man holding an arrow that was supposed to hit her across the forehead. A chill ran down her spine.


    ¡°Felix,¡± the man said in a rough and dark tone. That¡¯s when Ingrid noticed that the man wasn¡¯t alone. There were two others with him: a woman with short, wavy hair and a pleasant face, and a sweet, innocent-looking boy.


    The young boy, Felix, gave the man a playful salute before darting towards the forest.


    Ingrid watched the young boy go, feeling a mix of curiosity and confusion, when moments later, screams echoed from the depths of the forest, making her hair stand on end.


    ¡°Are you alright, my lady?¡± The scar-filled man towering over her asked.


    Ingrid nodded. She watched the man with curious eyes. With his giant build and ugly scars, she never expected him to sound really gentle.


    ¡°My lady, your hands,¡± the man pointed.


    Ingrid looked down and realized that her hands were bleeding. She stared at her palm absentmindedly. If the man hadn¡¯t pointed it out, she wouldn¡¯t have noticed that he was wounded.


    ¡°Naz, come here, hurry!¡±


    The two of them quickly turned toward where the voice was coming from.


    ¡°Iris!¡± Ingrid cried out when she saw the person lying on the ground, unconscious. A woman was kneeling beside Iris with her hands hovering above her, a green light emanating from her palm.


    ¡°She¡¯s been poisoned with the devil¡¯s trumpet, and it is spreading rapidly. I can slow down its progression with my healing magic, but,¡± she looked at them with a grim expression. ¡°Without the antidote, I¡¯m afraid she won¡¯t make it.¡±


    Ingrid''s ears rang. No, she won''t let Iris die.


    She kneeled in front of them and begged, ¡°Please heal her. As long as you heal her, I¡¯ll do anything. I am the daughter of the grand duke of Lennox, and no matter how much you ask, I can give it.¡±


    ¡°Please calm down, my lady!¡± Naz said, flustered. He quickly helped Ingrid off the ground. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, my lady. Even if I have to scour the entire world for the antidote, I won¡¯t let your friend die.¡±


    "Yeah, I don¡¯t think we have that much time,¡± the woman interrupted.


    ¡°What do you mean?¡±


    ¡°She was poisoned with the Devil¡¯s Helmet. It¡¯s a poison that slowly kills the nerve. The first symptom is the numbing of the surrounding areas of the wound, and then, in a few minutes, you will begin to lose your senses. After an hour, you will lose all feelings of touch, and then you¡¯ll become deaf and blind. In just two hours, you¡¯ll die. But the Devil¡¯s Helmet is a flower that only grows deep within Darkwood Forest. There aren¡¯t that many people who have seen that flower, much less know that it¡¯s poisonous.¡±


    ¡°Yet these people are using it like this poison flower grows in their backyard,¡± Naz said while checking the tips of the arrows scattered on the ground.


    ¡°Then do you know the antidote?¡± Ingrid asked nervously. She held Iris''s cold hands, her face filled with worry and self-reproof. This all happened because of her. If Iris died, she would never forgive herself.


    ¡°There is only one antidote to it known at present. The Angel¡¯s Trumpet is an even rarer flower than the Devil¡¯s Helmet. It¡¯s so rare that the last sighting of it recorded was 40 years ago.¡±


    Ingrid¡¯s heart sank. She began combing her hair as panic and anxiety washed over her. No, Iris can¡¯t die. She couldn¡¯t allow her to die just like that!


    ¡°There might be another solution.¡±


    Ingrid''s desperate eyes quickly turned towards Naz.


    ¡°But before I say it, you must swear your secrecy to the Rose first,¡± Naz commanded.


    Although confused, Rebecca followed his command and pressed her hand on a small pouch hanging on her side. ¡°I swear on the Rose to keep whatever I see or hear at my grave; otherwise, the grave will seek me.¡±


    The thing inside her small pouch glowed for a second the moment she said it.


    "Now, can you tell me what this other solution is?¡± Ingrid asked impatiently, slightly surprised by their sudden oath-taking in such a situation.


    Naz looked directly into Ingrid¡¯s eyes and said, ¡°Your blood, my lady.¡±


    Ingrid¡¯s eyes went wide with horror, and her body trembled.

 21. A Friend or a Foe

    ¡°Your blood,my lady.¡±


    Ingrid¡¯s heart pounded rapidly in her chest. She instinctively took a step back, fear evident in her eyes. "How... who are you?¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t be afraid, my lady. We are not your enemies,¡± Naz said with his hands raised in the air.


    But Ingrid became even more suspicious of him. The number of people who said that to her to deceive her was too many to count. Such words will never trick her!


    ¡°My lady, I swear I will explain everything to you. But for now, we have to save your friend.¡±


    Ingrid¡¯s eyes became complicated. She never expected that there would be someone else who knew about the secret she so desperately wanted to keep. She thought she had hidden it well.


    Her gaze shifted towards Iris, still lying unconscious on the ground. She looked so weak and helpless¡ªa contrast to the Iris she knew, who always stood like an immovable tree beside her.


    She clenched her fist. It doesn¡¯t matter now. If it¡¯s to save Iris¡¯s life, then she is willing to trade her secret.


    With a deep sigh, she took one of the arrows lying on the ground.


    ¡°My lady, that¡¯s¡­!!!¡± But before Naz could finish his sentence, Ingrid had already sliced her own palm.


    If the arrow poisoned her, then that means her blood isn¡¯t capable of removing the poison from Iris¡¯s body. In that case, dying with her doesn¡¯t seem pretty bad.


    Blood dripped from her hand as she walked towards Iris, leaving a trail behind her. She kneeled beside Iris and allowed her blood to drip over her slightly parted lips.


    Naz watched her with a hint of worry. Once it¡¯s over, he quickly takes out a handkerchief and gently wraps it around Ingrid¡¯s wounded palm.


    Rebecca forced herself not to laugh when she saw how focused her captain was. It was as though he was handling fragile glass that would easily break.


    An inaudible snicker escaped from Rebecca¡¯s mouth when her captain¡¯s pinky finger unconsciously rose as he tied the knot. But Naz, who had a very good sense of hearing, heard her and glared in her direction. Rebecca quickly averted her gaze and pretended to be checking Iris¡¯s pulse.


    However, her eyes suddenly went wide. She looked at Iris¡¯s face, saw the color slowly returning, and went to check her pulse again in disbelief.


    ¡°What the miracle working power is this?!¡± she exclaimed.


    ¡°What is it? Is Iris okay?¡± Ingrid asked nervously.


    ¡°She¡¯s more than okay! The poison is slowly disappearing from her system, and look at this!¡± Rebecca showed them the cuts on Iris¡¯s arms. ¡°Her wounds are slowly closing! This is more effective than my healing magic!¡±


    Ingrid flinched and looked down when she saw an illusion of someone she never wanted to remember overlapping with Rebecca''s eyes. Her heart hammered in her chest. She began to fidget nervously with her hands, which caused her wounds to bleed again.


    Naz, who noticed Ingrid¡¯s reaction, was about to speak when a young boy came out of the woods screaming, ¡°Naz!! Rebecca!!¡±


    Their heads turned in the direction of the voice, and they saw Felix from a distance running towards them at top speed. His whole body was covered in so much blood that it was hard to recognize his cute and boyish face anymore.


    Ingrid¡¯s first reaction when she saw him was worry. She thought that the young boy was wounded. But seeing how lively he is while running, the blood on his body probably isn¡¯t his.


    Remembering the dying screams she heard from the forest, her gaze towards Felix became complicated.


    ¡°What is it? Did someone manage to escape?¡± Naz asked.


    ¡°Huh? Are you looking down on me?¡± Felix asked while glaring at Naz as though he was ready to pick a fight.


    If you encounter this tale on Amazon, note that it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it.


    Ingrid found it amusing. With his tiny body versus Naz¡¯s giant bulk, the young boy looked like a tiny rabbit challenging a lion.


    ¡°How dare you glare at me? I¡¯m your captain.¡± Naz smacked him in the head.


    Felix rubbed his head with a pout. ¡°That hurts, you know,¡± he complained, feeling extremely wronged.


    ¡°So what is it that made you come running back?¡± Rebecca asked.


    ¡°I saw some soldiers of Aradhya heading this way," Felix grumbled, still pouting. ¡°That annoying crown prince, why does he have to follow us everywhere? And what¡¯s with those Lightning horses? They said it was the fastest creature on the planet. Tch, they can''t even catch me.¡±


    Naz pondered for a moment and glanced at Ingrid. ¡°I don¡¯t think they are here for us,¡± he speculated.


    ¡°Huh? Then who are they here for?¡±


    Naz ignored him and took out a small pouch from his waist and placed it on Ingrid¡¯s palm. ¡°My lady, I¡¯m afraid we will have to cut our reunion short. But this will make you understand that I am on your side, hopefully."


    Felix''s eyes went wide in surprise when he recognized the mahogany-colored pouch on Ingrid¡¯s hands. "Hey, that¡¯s~¡± but before he could finish his sentence, he was dragged away by Naz.


    ¡°Until we meet again, my lady,¡± Rebecca said, her eyes lingering for a few seconds on the small pouch before following behind the two.


    ¡°Why did you give her that thing?" Felix asked with a frown, ¡°Isn¡¯t that super important to our group?¡±


    ¡°Because it¡¯s hers to begin with,¡± Naz vaguely answered as they disappeared beyond the forest.


    A few seconds later, a group of people riding on top of Lightning horses arrived on the scene.


    ¡°Quickly check the surroundings! Protect the lady!" The man at the head of the group commanded as he dismounted from his horse. He walked towards Ingrid with giant strides and knelt before her with one knee. ¡°My lady, forgive us for being late.¡±


    ¡°You are Sir Augustus, right? You were one of the delegates that came with the crown prince,¡± Ingrid said, her voice distant as her mind flew somewhere else.


    ¡°Indeed, I am my lady,¡± he replied, his face grim. They didn¡¯t rush over, assuming that things weren¡¯t that bad with Iris and the grand duke¡¯s elite soldiers protecting her. But who would have thought that there was someone capable of wiping out the grand dukes soldiers and injuring Iris?


    ¡°Kevian!¡± Augustus called.


    A man with long black hair that reached until his hips dismounted from his horse. He was the only one not wearing armor in the group. Instead, he was wearing a long robe and a purple cape.


    Kevian quickly rushed over when he saw Iris lying on Ingrid¡¯s lap. ¡°My lady, may I?" He asked while bowing towards Ingrid.


    She nodded her head.


    Kevian placed his palm on Iris¡¯s forehead and closed his eyes. His hand started to glow with a blue hue. After a while, he opened his eyes again, and the glow on his hand slowly faded.


    ¡°How is she?¡± Augustus asked. Worry was etched on his face, not just for Iris¡¯s well-being but also for the faith that awaits them once the news reaches the crown prince. Who knows what the crown prince Aleric would do if he found out that they weren¡¯t able to protect his future wife and even almost lost one of their strongest general in the process?


    ¡°She has been poisoned,¡± Kevian answered with a frown. ¡°But it looked like she already had the antidote.¡±


    ¡°Reporting to the general!¡± A scout said and kneeled before Augustus.


    ¡°Report!¡±


    ¡°We found several marksmen inside the forest. One of them was tied to a giant tree, so we brought him with us for questioning.¡±


    As if on cue, two soldiers appeared holding a man wearing a white robe, tied with a vine.


    ¡°Release me! How dare an insect like you touch me with your filthy hands!!!¡± He roared condescendingly.


    ¡°And what about the rest?¡± Augustus asked ignoring the man¡¯s annoying screams. One of the soldiers couldn¡¯t take it anymore and shoved a cloth over his mouth.


    ¡°They were already dead when we arrived. Their bodies were filled with slashes, probably from a small weapon¡ªmost likely a dagger.¡±


    Augustus fell silent. Iris¡¯s weapon is a giant dual-bladed axe. Besides, she wouldn¡¯t have had the chance to take care of the marksmen while protecting Lady Ingrid.


    Then he remembered the kid covered in blood that blocked their way earlier. He knew that kid. He was one of those his highness the crown prince referred to as "wild boars¡± that he had been trying to catch and tame all these years. As far as he knew, that kid lived in the south. So why is he in Aradhya?.


    He ordered his men to catch the young boy, but who would have thought that even with the speed of the Lightning Horses, the kid still left them in the dust?


    ¡°Lady Ingrid, by any chance did you meet a young boy before we arrived?¡± Augustus asked.


    Ingrid clenched the small pouch in her hand, weighing her answer. For whatever reason, those trios are running away from the crown prince¡¯s men. She was afraid that she would harm them if she told the truth. After all, they saved her life. She doesn¡¯t want to become the reason that they get caught. But if she denies seeing them, they might begin to speculate about how Iris got the antidote to the poison, and her secret would be in danger of being discovered.


    ¡°Lady Ingrid?¡±


    Ingrid swallowed and said, ¡°Well¡­when Iris was¡­in a pinch, something did come in a flash to save her. But¡­it was so fast that the dust on the road flew around and created a fog of smoke. So I don¡¯t know who or what it was. And when the dust settled, there was only Iris lying on the ground.¡±


    ¡°They must have been the ones who gave Iris the antidote,¡± Kevian concluded. There was a hint of awe and curiosity in his eyes. No wonder the crown prince was so desperate to recruit them into his army. To be able to swiftly identify a poison that even he isn¡¯t sure about and detoxify it, in this world, only a handful of people are capable of doing that.


    ¡°My lady, allow us to escort you back to the grand duke¡¯s residence,¡± Augustus said.


    ¡°Okay,¡± Ingrid replied, secretly hiding the pouch on her sleeve.

 22. The Captains Meeting

    The grand ducal residence turned upside down the moment Ingrid returned home, escorted by the crown prince¡¯s soldiers. Their best scouts and assassins were quickly deployed to investigate, while the security around the Dhalia palace was further tightened.


    ¡°How did it go?¡± Grand Duke Rasmus asked with a dark expression. The aura he emitted was like a heavy pressure that pressed on everyone¡¯s shoulder.


    The captains had to tread lightly while talking to him, afraid to set him off. Only Elias, who was used to the Grand Duke''s unpredictable mood, remained at ease.


    ¡°Upon investigation, we found out that the house of Pembroke did not send an invitation for the lady of our house," Elias informed them of their findings. "But the duke of Pembroke said that the seal on the letter our lady received was authentic."


    ¡°Their statement is rather contradictory," Martin, the captain of the Blue Squad in charge of protecting the ducal palace, said with a frown. ¡°They didn¡¯t send an invitation, but they confirmed that the seal was theirs. So which exactly is it?¡±


    ¡°I believe that someone is trying to use the celebration in the House of Pembroke to abduct the lady,¡± Elias replied as he placed a thin translucent stone with a deep and vibrant shade of purple on the table. Several inscriptions could be seen on its smooth surface.


    The thin stone glowed when Elias injected mana into it, projecting a hologram for everyone to see.


    ¡°The image you are looking at right now is the invitation that the House of Pembroke sent out. Then,¡± he manipulated the hologram, and another image appeared. This one is the invitation that our lady received.¡±


    The captains injected mana on the table, and a screen popped in front of them, where a mini-hologram of the invitations appeared. Each of them studied it carefully.


    ¡°Both letters are in cursive, but the letter our house received had a thinner stroke than the one they allegedly sent out. Also, the letters sent out by the house of Pembroke used silver ink, while the one we received was written in gold.¡± Alfir, the captain of the Silver Squad, assigned to the central district of the dukedom, pointed.


    "Gold, huh?" All eyes turned towards Leon, the captain of the Red Squad, responsible for the security of the Dahlia Palace. There was a hint of anger in his cat-like eyes as he spoke. ¡°There is only one person in this kingdom who uses gold ink.¡±


    Suddenly, the temperature inside the room became even colder. Everyone braced themselves, waiting for the grand duke to blow. In their hearts, they silently cursed Leon for mentioning the wicked witch when the grand duke was already pissed as it was.


    But the storm didn¡¯t come like they expected.


    ¡°Grand duke, if you begin acting irrational, none of us will be able to stop you,¡± Elias said, placing a hand on the grand duke''s shoulder. ¡°In that case, I will have to go and wake Lady Ingrid, who had just rested after experiencing something so horrible, to convince you to stop,¡± he added while smiling like a creep. It made everyone¡¯s skin crawl.


    That quickly soberred Grand Duke Rasmus up.


    Elias clapped his hand like nothing happened and said, ¡°Now that we got that out of the way, let us now focus on the problem at hand. Calix, the team captain of the White Squad, will brief us of their discovery at the Duke of Pembroke¡¯s residence.¡±


    A man who looked like your typical drunkard stood from his seat. He had a thick beard that seemed like it hadn¡¯t been trimmed for weeks. His clothes were worn and tattered. He looked more like a homeless man than a team captain.


    ¡°Greetings to you, my fellow captains, grand duke, and sir Elias,¡± he said in a raspy voice, like he had been eating sand. ¡°Excuse my clothes. It was an emergency, so I did not have time to change into something more presentable. Anyway, we found Serunian assassins lurking outside the duke¡¯s of Pembroke''s mansion. More specifically, my team and I followed them there.¡±


    What Captain Calix said quickly got everyone¡¯s attention.


    ¡°As everyone here already knows, we¡¯ve been receiving secret intelligence from the South for a few years now. We still don¡¯t know who has been sending this intelligence, but we¡¯ve already confirmed it to be real and accurate. The intel this time was about a group of Serunian assassins who disguised themselves as refugees.¡±


    Captain Calix dropped a tiny memory stone on the screen in front of him. The screen absorbed it, and an image of a secret letter appeared on the giant hologram and on everyone¡¯s screen.


    Written on the letter was detailed information about what the assassins look like, where they are headed, and what their purpose is. As everyone expected, it was to abduct Lady Ingrid.


    They unconsciously looked at the grand duke to see his reaction. But to their surprise, the grand duke remained calm¡ªor at least he was trying to be.


    ¡°As you can see, the information they gave was only up until how those soldiers were to join the refugees that the Duke of Pembroke planned to house in celebration of his marriage. But how and when they would execute their plan of abduction was something that we didn¡¯t know. So we followed them there, disguised obviously.¡±


    ¡°Then, we found out a week ago that the new Duchess was preparing for a tea party. One of my subordinates managed to get his hands on the guest list, but to no surprise, our lady¡¯s name wasn¡¯t on it. However, knowing who our opponent is, we did not want to take any chances. So I wrote a letter informing the residence of our findings. But we never got a reply.¡±


    Grand Duke Rasmus¡¯ frown deepened. ¡°I never received a letter,¡± he said, looking at Elias.


    Elias shook his head in response. ¡°It seems that someone might¡¯ve intercepted the letter before it reached the residence.¡±


    ¡°That would be impossible,¡± Captain Calix replied while playing with his overgrown beard. ¡°The letter was hand-delivered by my trusted aide, Regar. Unfortunately, the grand duke and Sir Elias weren¡¯t around when he arrived. However, I specifically told him to return before the sun set, or else our target might suspect something. So after half a day of waiting, he decided to leave it on the grand dukes table and left.¡±


    This story originates from a different website. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.


    Elias lowered his head as he began to piece together all the pieces of information in his head, then asked, ¡°Captain Calix, what day did you send the letter?¡±


    ¡°It was a Wednesday, three days before the tea party. I had Regar set off at dawn, and with his speed, he most likely arrived at five or six in the morning.¡±


    ¡°Wednesday,¡± Elias murmured to himself. ¡°Coincidentally, we received a distress letter from the southern border a night before, indicating that a group of Elite giants led by an Elder giant is attacking. The grand duke and I had to leave at midnight. When we returned that same night, I went to check if there were important files left for the grand duke that day, but I didn¡¯t find any letters.¡±


    The room fell silent for a moment. Things had become even more complicated.


    ¡°Calix, summon Regar here.¡± The grand duke¡¯s booming voice broke the silence.


    Captain Calix bowed and said, ¡°As you wish your highness, however, Regar is currently in the dukes territory. It might take some time.¡±


    ¡°It doesn¡¯t matter. Just let him hear. And while you¡¯re at it, clear out those pests.¡±


    Captain Calix gave the grand duke a meaningful smile, bowed his head, and left.


    ¡°Alright, while Captain Calix is gone, let¡¯s talk about our other problem,¡± Elias started, pushing an arrow on the table. It rolled around the flat surface until it stopped at the very center. ¡°That is one of the arrows that wiped out the entire Purple Squad and attempted to take Lady Ingrid¡¯s life.¡±


    All eyes unconsciously landed on the captain of the Purple Squad, who had his head bent all this while. His face was pale and evidently sick, but after hearing what happened to his squad members, he forced himself to attend the meeting despite the healer¡¯s dissuasion.


    ¡°Isn¡¯t it odd?" Captain Leon blurted, his cat-like eyes turning into a thin slit. ¡°If I am correct, a week ago, three of the members of the Purple Squad were beaten on the streets.¡±


    "Hmm, that did happen,¡± Captain Alfir of the Silver Squad chimed in. ¡°It occurred in the central district, so I personally handled the case. Those three got beaten by a group of traveling mercenaries after getting drunk, and they ended up with several broken bones. But those three are elite among the elite. Mercenaries aren¡¯t a match for them, even when drunk. So we made a thorough investigation and found that those idiots went to the Velvet Shrine.¡±


    Captain Alfir shook his head disapprovingly.


    ¡°That place has allegedly been using a special kind of incense called the flower of temptation. On its own, it doesn¡¯t do anything. However, when paired with a special wine, it causes people to hallucinate and even impair their cognitive abilities. That¡¯s how The Velvet Shrine has been scamming their clients out of their money. We¡¯ve been on their tail these past few months, but unfortunately, we couldn¡¯t get any credible evidence to incriminate them.¡±


    ¡°What about their victims? Based on what you said, there should be many,¡± asked Captain Martin.


    ¡°Captain Amiel,¡± Captain Alfir called the youngest among the captains who had been silent this whole time. ¡°You¡¯re a noble. If you happen to get drunk in a pleasure house and find yourself stripped of all your valuables, would you file a case against the said pleasure house?¡±


    ¡°Me?¡± Captain Ameil pointed at himself innocently. ¡°E-even if I die¡­I won¡¯t g-go into a ple-pleasure house!¡± He declared, completely red and flustered.


    The captains chuckled, amused by their youngest. Even the grand duke¡¯s face, which had been wearing a scowl, slightly softened.


    ¡°We knew that,¡± Captain Leon said, rolling his eyes. ¡°You even run away when you see a woman, much less enter a pleasure house. It¡¯s a hypothetical question. Just answer it.¡±


    ¡°Well, if it¡¯s hypothetical..." he murmured and played with his hand like a child. It was a wonder even to the other captains how such a naive and timid boy became a captain. "Then, I don¡¯t think I would. As a noble, I was taught to be careful of my every action and to not do things that may tarnish the reputation of our house. Getting caught entering a pleasure house is embarrassing enough. Getting scammed is even worse. Filing a complaint against the pleasure house? My family would probably disown me. Or worse, I¡¯d be castrated.¡±


    Captain Alfir motioned his hand, gesturing that what Amiel said was the answer to Captain Martin¡¯s question.


    ¡°Most of their targets are rich nobles who would rather be mimed than air their dirty secrets. Luckily and unluckily, they targeted our men this time, so we managed to gain both evidence and witnesses and shut all of their business down.¡±


    ¡°Wait, you said all their targets are rich nobles. And because of that, you¡¯ve been having a hard time catching them," Captain Martin repeated.


    ¡°Yes, that¡¯s right.¡±


    ¡°So why did they target three soldiers who didn¡¯t have any noble titles?"


    Captain Alfir was taken aback. He was so overjoyed by the fact of finally being able to catch the people running The Velvet Shrine that it didn¡¯t occur to him. But now that he thinks about it, it was rather odd. The reason they weren¡¯t able to catch them all this time was because of how meticulous they are when choosing their target.


    His feet were itching to leave and investigate, but before he could excuse himself, captain Leon spoke: ¡°Two days after that incident, six people were sent to the medical ward when the training room exploded after they used tainted mana lamps during their training. One of them was a member of my squad. But the other five were from the purple squad.¡±


    ¡°And a day before the tea party, a few members of my squad, including my vice captain, and I suddenly had food poisoning alongside some other servants,¡± Captain Zion added with a clenched fist. Anger and pain swirled in his heart as he thought of his fallen members. ¡°I didn¡¯t think much about it. I thought it was just a coincidence that all the first members of the squad met in an unfortunate incident. It never crossed my mind that we were being targeted.¡±


    Captain Grace of the Green Squad taps Captain Zion on the shoulders to comfort him. Meanwhile, the rest of the captains took a moment of silence to show respect and honor their fallen comrade.


    ¡°On their own, these incidents just seem to be mere unfortunate coincidences. But if you piece it together, you could tell that there is a certain pattern. Whoever did this wanted to make sure that all team 1 members of the Purple Squad were incapacitated before the tea part,¡± Captain Leon concluded.


    "But how did they know who the team 1 members are? That is classified information that only a few people in the residence knew," Captain Alfir asked.


    The atmosphere in the room became colder. There is only one thought on everyone¡¯s mind: There is a traitor in their residence.


    A knock on the door disturbed their discussion.


    ¡°Your highness, I have brought Regar.¡±


    The door of the meeting room was pushed open, revealing Calix still wearing his worn and tattered clothes. But the captain, who has an extremely sensitive nose, quickly smelled an odd but familiar scent on his body¡ªthe metallic smell of blood. As he walked in, their eyes landed on his bloodied hands and clothes, which he didn''t bother to hide.


    Beside Captain Calix was a young child, no more than ten. He was trying his best to keep up with Captain Calix¡¯s long stride using his short legs while keeping a straight face. Even an adult would cave when standing in front of so many powerful men, but the young child was unfazed.


    "Greetings, your highness,¡± the young boy Regar said in a small and steady voice that was unlike his age.


    ¡°Come here, child,¡± the grand duke said in a gentle voice.


    Regar walked towards the grand duke with steady strides.


    ¡°Can you tell me about the letter your captain asked you to send to me?¡±


    Regar nodded his head and began recounting the events. Just as Captain Calix said, he arrived at five in the morning and was received by the head keeper of the grand duke¡¯s palace, Diem. Diem led him to the grand duke''s office, where he waited obediently for almost eight hours.


    Apart from Diem, who sent him breakfast, snacks, and lunch, he did not come into contact with any other person in the residence. After waiting for too long, he decided to leave the letter on the grand duke¡¯s table, remembering his captain''s instructions.


    Diem was also summoned.


    The moment he entered the room, he quickly kneeled in front of the grand duke and said, ¡°Forgive me, your highness.¡±


    The grand duke¡¯s face darkened. ¡°And what is it that you¡¯ve done wrong?¡±


    ¡°I shouldn¡¯t have trusted others to relay information to you. That day I was really swamped with work, as the explosion from the training room really did a lot of damage to the left wing of the palace. So when I met Lily, who was heading to your office, I asked her to tell you about the letter Regar left as I had another errand to run.¡±


    ¡°Lily?¡± Elias asked.


    ¡°Yes, Lily,¡± Diem repeated.

 23. Chaos in the Empire

    "My lady,¡± Lily called while knocking on Ingrid¡¯s door. But no one answered. ¡°My lady, are you okay?¡±


    There was a moment of silence before a soft voice spoke from within the room. ¡°I¡¯m fine, Lily. I¡¯m just tired. Please tell everyone not to disturb me. I¡¯ll call when I need something.¡±


    ¡°Then, if ever you need someone to talk to, just call me, my lady.¡±


    Ingrid did not respond. She simply curled into a ball and buried her face on her knees.


    Hearing no reply from her mistress, Lily pursed her lips and retreated. But she was met by the captain of the Red Squad, Leon, as soon as she turned around.


    ¡°Miss Lily, please come with me.¡±


    ///\


    Lily looked around the room curiously, unaware of why the grand duke summoned her with all the captains around. She nervously fidgeted with her fingers as she felt the powerful pressure coming from the group.


    ¡°Lily,¡± the grand duke called. ¡°Diem said he previously asked you to deliver a message to me.¡±


    Lily¡¯s eyes wandered towards the corner of the room where Diem was standing with his head bowed. As though she suddenly remembered something, her eyes went wide.


    She quickly bowed and said, ¡°Forgive me, your highness! Last Thursday, I did remember coming across Sir Diem. He asked me to deliver a message to you about a child named Regor who left a letter on your office table. But while heading to your office, I met the courier who brought an invitation letter for the lady. I got so excited that I snatched the letter from him and ran off to tell Lady Ingrid the news, but I completely forgot about it. Please forgive me!¡±


    One second¡­two¡­


    A minute¡­


    Lily did not hear a response from the grand duke. Sweat trickled down the side of her face. Her hips and legs began to feel numb because of her position, but she did not dare lift her head. It was her fault for forgetting, so it¡¯s only natural for her to suffer the consequences.


    ¡°That¡¯s all. You may now leave.¡±


    Lily was stunned for a moment. She swallowed the urge to explain herself and exited the room without raising her head.


    Once the door of the meeting room shut, the grand duke said, ¡°Calix. For the meantime, focus all your effort on cleaning our own backyard." His eyes then turned towards the other captains. "All captains are to cooperate with Calix. I want whoever these vermin are to be rid of before they can cause more damage.¡±


    ¡°As you command, your highness,¡± the captains said in unison.


    ////\


    A heavy atmosphere enveloped the entire grand ducal residence. People would often be seen eyeing the grand duke¡¯s palace, their eyes filled with anxiety and worry. Despite the reassurance of the captains of each district, the citizens couldn''t feel at ease. They could sense the brewing storm within the palace of their ruler.


    The grand duke decided to hold a grant funeral for the fallen members of the Purple Squad. It was held in the central square of the grand dukedom and witnessed by thousands of people.


    The event caused an uproar throughout the entire empire.


    When Augustus'' group escorted Ingrid home, they did not use the main road and instead used a secret passage that Ingrid told them. So no one knew that such an unfortunate event happened to the jewel of their empire until the grand funeral.


    Everyone began to wonder and speculate about how such a tragedy occurred. And as the news spread far and wide, fear followed.


    The citizens of Learia see the grand duke of Lennox¡¯s army as a strong pillar that shields them from harm''s way. To them, they are invincible. That is why, despite being surrounded by enemies from all sides, they could live in the safety of their homes without worry.


    The impact of the deaths of the most elite soldiers from the Grand Duke''s army on the morale of the entire empire was extremely huge. A lot of the citizens began retreating to their homes earlier than usual.


    Compared to usual, the streets now gradually became empty and deserted whenever the sun set, affecting numerous businesses. The once bustling night streets of the numerous city centers turned into a scene of desolation.


    Crimes and robbery also began to increase, all except in the grand duke of Lennox¡¯s dukedom. Ironically, the one place whose economy was unaffected by the tragedy was the very place where the tragedy originated. Although citizens of the dukedom are also worried, their worry is not for their safety but for the grand duke and their young lady.


    Only they know how much the grand duke suffered when his daughter was abducted by that evil king.


    Unauthorized usage: this tale is on Amazon without the author''s consent. Report any sightings.


    Meanwhile, the rest of the empire of Learia was in chaos. Every day, several merchants and nobles would come to the palace to ask for an audience with the emperor and demand a solution. Some also came knocking at the doors of the grand duke of Lennox¡¯s residence, including those who had previously cut ties with them in support of the emperor. But the doors of the grand dukedom were completely shut for them.


    The situation made the emperor¡¯s head ache. Because of his previous disagreement with Grand Duke Rasmus that still hasn¡¯t been resolved, Emperor Mattias has been trying to postpone summoning the grand duke to the palace. But with the letters piling up on his desk and the constant urging of the members of his court, he was finally forced to write an edict.


    His chamberlain himself brought the edict to the grand duke¡¯s residence. However, when he arrived, he was met by Diem, who told him that the grand duke wasn¡¯t around before he could even tell him he had brought an edict.


    ¡°''Because of the current unrest, his highness the grand duke had to visit the borders in order to ensure that the giants and the barbarians would not take advantage of the situation and attack.'' Is what he said."


    Emperor Mattias was furious when he heard this. He knew the grand duke was doing this on purpose. That despicable brother of his was the source of the unrest, and he even had the audacity to act like a valiant hero!


    ¡°Your highness, if this goes on, the economy of the empire will surely collapse!¡±


    The emperor glared at the chamberlain, displeased. ¡°Do you think I don¡¯t know that? Instead of stating the obvious, why don¡¯t you offer a solution!¡± Emperor Mattias bellowed angrily.


    The chamberlain bowed his head in fear. Then suddenly, an idea came to his mind. ¡°What about the lady, Ingrid? Her beauty might be capable of soothing everyone¡¯s worried heart. Perhaps we could let her appear in public and tell the people that there is nothing to worry about. They would surely believe her!¡± he said, remembering how the commoners revered Ingrid as though she were a goddess.


    Emperor Mattias nodded his head approvingly. ¡°Hurry! Summon my beautiful niece to the palace!¡±


    The chamberlain did not waste any time and went back to the grand duke''s residence. However, Diem met him by the gate once again, as though he had been expecting him.


    ¡°The emperor wishes to summon Lady Ingrid, his dearest niece, to the palace,¡± the chamberlain announced, all dignified.


    But as soon as he said it, Diem¡¯s face darkened, as though he had said something he shouldn¡¯t have. ¡°I¡¯m afraid that cannot be done.¡±


    The chamberlain¡¯s eyes narrowed. "Sir Diem, are you trying to disregard the words of his majesty the emperor?¡± He asked in a threatening voice.


    Head Keeper Diem bowed his head deeply and said, ¡°That is truly not my intention, your Lordship. However, two weeks ago, our lady received an invitation to the new duchess of Pembroke¡¯s tea party. As you know, because of our lady¡¯s unmatched beauty, she never gets invited to tea parties, so she was really looking forward to it. She even began to meticulously pick clothes to ensure she wouldn¡¯t upstage anyone.¡±


    The chamberlain frowned, wondering why Head Keeper Diem was telling him this.


    ¡°However, a day before the tea party, we found out that the invitation did not come from the duchess of Pembroke. Someone else sent it in order to embarrass our precious lady.¡±


    The chamberlain¡¯s eyes went wide. Who is actually bold enough to pull that kind of prank on the most powerful house in the entire empire?


    He began to feel anxious. The young lady is their only hope right now. His majesty will surely skin him if he returns empty-handed. But he had a bad feeling about where Diem''s words were heading.


    "Luckily, we discovered it beforehand, or it would have really ruined our lady¡¯s reputation,¡± Diem continued, ignoring the pale complexion of the Chamberlain. ¡°But the news still hurt Lady Ingrid, and she has locked herself in her room ever since. Unfortunately, we were all helpless in persuading her to come out.¡±


    But the chamberlain, desperate and unwilling to give up just yet, suggested, ¡°How about you tell Lady Ingrid that her uncle, the Emperor, wishes to see her? Perhaps she will agree.¡±


    Diem forced a smile to hide his irritation. He didn¡¯t know, which in his words did he not understand, that he was not welcome in their residence, nor was his hen-pecked emperor.


    ¡°Very well, I shall tell the lady. Please wait here, Lord Chamberlain,¡± he said, leaving the Chamberlain waiting by the gate.


    The chamberlain was left standing outside under the glaring sun. No one bothered to offer him as much as a chair or a refreshment. The servants coming to and fro ignored him as though he weren¡¯t there.


    This made him furious. But he held it down, knowing it wouldn¡¯t be good to pick a fight with mere servants. After all, he is the emperor¡¯s chamberlain; he should act like a bigger person.


    An hour later, Diem returned to find the chamberlain covered in sweat. His face was extremely red from the heat, and his clothes were soaked, with the moisture even seeping through his outer robe. He could have gone to his carriage to escape from the scorching heat of the sun, but he was too restless to sit idly.


    ¡°Forgive me, your lordship. I did my best to convince Lady Ingrid, but to no avail,¡± Diem said with a defeated expression.


    The chamberlain''s face became redder than it already was. He did not stand under the scorching heat for an hour only to receive such an answer!


    ¡°Take me to her. I will speak to the lady myself!¡± He commanded annoyance evident in his voice.


    ¡°I¡¯m afraid I cannot allow that,¡± Diem said firmly. ¡°Because of the tragedy that happened to our lady¡¯s personal guards, the Dhalia palace was placed in lockdown. Visitors are barred from entering. Even if the Emperor himself comes today, I''m afraid he won¡¯t be permitted entrance.¡±


    ¡°How dare~¡±


    ¡°His highness the grand duke also instructed us before he left that anyone who tries to force entry into our residence while he isn¡¯t around is to be considered hostile. In such a case, we are given the freedom to use force to protect the residence and the lady regardless¡­¡± He paused and looked at the chamberlain directly in the eyes. ¡°... of who the enemy may be.¡±


    The chamberlain''s face turned purple. However, he knew that Diem was not joking when he said that.


    The people serving the grand duke are only loyal to him alone. This arrogant man doesn''t even respect the authority of the emperor. Nothing good will come out if he provokes them.


    Unable to find any words to counter Diem, the chamberlain angrily flicked his robe and departed.


    Diem watched the departing carriage with his hands behind his back, a placid expression carved on his face.


    ¡°Did the grand duke really say that?¡± Captain Calix, who suddenly appeared out of nowhere, asked. His hand unconsciously reached for his beard but ended up touching the stubble on his chin. He totally forgot that he shaved them this morning.


    ¡°By any chance, if the grand dukedom or the residence is attacked while the grand duke isn¡¯t around, what do you think he will have us do?" He asked back and left Captain Calix, who was still rubbing his chin.

 24. Nightmare and Chaos

    Ingrid''s behavior drastically changed after the incident. During the day, she would sit in the corner of her bed, hugging her knees and shaking in fear. At night, the nightmares that her young mind had previously sealed to cope leaked into her dreams, haunting her like vengeful spirits and threatening to consume her whole.


    Day and night, she locked herself in her room, hiding in the safety of the darkness where no one could see her. The mere sight of her bedroom door opening makes her hysterical. No one could enter her room without setting her off¡ªeven Lily and the grand duke. For two days, she stayed in her room without eating.


    Everyone was completely worried.


    Ingrid¡¯s situation made them helpless to the point where they began to wonder if they needed to resort to tying her and forcing her to eat. But none of them dared to do it to their precious young miss.


    They don¡¯t know what happened to her when she was held against her will in the kingdom of Serus for several months. One day, they just found her on their doorstep, standing like a lifeless doll. She didn''t speak for months after that. And when she finally did, they did not dare ask, afraid that they would lose her again.


    That is why they were always careful with how they treated her. But now that she has reverted to how she was before, they don¡¯t know what to do.


    The grand duke, deeply affected by Ingrid''s current condition, could barely function. The servants often caught glimpses of him staring into the distance, his expression filled with sorrow. At night, the sound of weeping could be heard from his bedroom.


    Fortunately, Elias was there, keeping things together so the dukedom would not fall into chaos.


    They hoped for some miracle to happen¡ªfor their young lady to return to her former self. They couldn''t bear to see the misery of their masters, who had been nothing but good to them.


    And as though their prayers were heard by the heavens, a miracle did arrive in the form of Iris.


    After being discharged from the infirmary, Iris headed directly to the Dahlia Palace. That''s when she learned of Ingrid''s current situation.


    Knowing that she is the second-closest person to their lady as of late, the servants of the Dahlia Palace asked her to try speaking to Ingrid.


    It was a desperate request. Iris has only been in the dukedom for a month and a half. If Lily, who has been with Ingrid for 18 years, can''t coax her to come out, what can Iris do?


    But to their joy and astonishment, Ingrid opened the door the moment she heard Iris''s voice. However, she simply pulled Iris inside and slammed her door shut again.


    Still, they were overjoyed, knowing their young lady wouldn''t be alone anymore.


    The grand duke was the happiest when he heard the news. He broke down into a sob in front of Elias as the anxiety that''s been weighing on his shoulders finally eased.


    It took Elias by surprise. He had seen the grand duke cry countless times. But that was the first time, after six years, that the mighty grand duke wept like a vulnerable child. Anger welled in his heart. He swore to make each one of them pay twice as much as the tears that fell from the young lady''s and the grand duke''s eyes.


    ¡°My lady, should we let a little sun grace your room?¡± Iris suggested it in a gentle voice. ¡°It¡¯s not good for your health to always sit in the dark, you know.¡±


    As usual, only the silence answered Iris. It''s been almost two weeks since Ingrid locked herself in her room. But the only progress Iris made was convincing her to eat a few spoonfuls from time to time and allowing her to light a single mana lamp, enough to light her bedside.


    ¡°I don¡¯t remember.¡±


    Iris looked at Ingrid, a bit surprised. The number of times that Ingrid spoke these past few days was even fewer than the times she ate.


    ¡°That time when I was held captive in the kingdom of Serus, I don¡¯t remember much of it. Yet I vividly remember his mad eye as he told me that when the time comes, he will come back for me, and I must obediently return with him.¡± Ingrid shivered and began rocking back and forth. ¡°I don¡¯t want to go back to that place. I would rather die than go back there.¡±


    Despite not remembering anything, every cell of Ingrid''s body was telling her to never let King Oliver take her back. She felt like if she ever went back to that place, she would truly lose her sanity.


    Unauthorized use of content: if you find this story on Amazon, report the violation.


    Iris wrapped Ingrid in a tight embrace. ¡°It¡¯s okay, my lady. You don¡¯t have to worry anymore. I will protect you no matter what," she swore, not just to Ingrid but to herself as well.


    Something didn''t make sense to Iris as she observed Ingrid''s broken state. She was certain that the people who attacked them were not sent by King Oliver. Knowing the mad king''s obsession with Ingrid, he will be the first to destroy whoever dares to lay their hands on her. Perhaps something had happened in that forest that she wasn''t aware of.


    The last thing she remembered before she passed out was a phantom kicking the man in a white robe on the chest. When she woke up, she was already in the infirmary with her calf and upper arm wrapped in bandages.


    According to Kevian, who stayed to look after her, they were saved by a teenage boy who finished all of the archers in the forest. However, she vaguely felt that there were other people there apart from that boy. In her delirious state, she seemed to have heard voices speaking as though they were in a hurry.


    They must''ve been the ones who gave her the antidote. She already has an idea of who they are. Assuming her assumption is correct, the young boy would never leave the company of the other two. That means the other ones with them could only be them.


    Iris''s eyes landed on the mahogany-colored pouch on the bedside table. That wasn''t there two weeks ago. But when she asked Ingrid about the pouch, she instantly became guarded.


    Her gut feeling is telling her that those people and that pouch had something to do with Ingrid''s sudden changes. But what could it be?


    ¡°I¡¯m really scared.¡± Ingrid sobbed, pulling Iris back to reality.


    Iris rubbed Ingrid¡¯s back, soothing her as she gently whispered, ¡°You don¡¯t have to be afraid, my lady. I¡¯m here. I will always protect you."


    -


    Iris stood silently, gazing at Ingrid''s sleeping form, her heart heavy with concern. As she leaned to remove a few stray hairs from her face, she noticed a single teardrop rolling down the side of Ingrid''s cheek, and her own eyes welled up with emotion. Even in her slumber, Ingrid was tormented by her troubles. She wished she could enter Ingrid''s dream and destroy her nightmares so she wouldn''t have to suffer anymore.


    The intense feeling of emotion Iris felt in her chest took her by surprise. She had shed so much blood that she thought her heart had become hardened.


    She stared at her sleeping mistress. It seems that the rumors about the beauty of the young lady of Lennox being able to soften even the hardest of hearts were true. Iris began to wonder if the young lady would also be capable of taming her master''s heart.


    With a hopeful expression, she gently wiped Ingrid''s tears away before silently leaving the room.


    "Iris."


    Iris was startled when she suddenly heard someone call her name. She snapped her head toward the direction of the voice, her hands reflexively going for her hidden weapon.


    However, her movement halted when she saw Elias standing a few feet from her. But she did not let her guard down.


    It was the middle of the night. The servants were already sound asleep. With the heightened sense of a seasoned soldier, she could easily pick up even the slightest of noise. Yet she never noticed his presence until he called her name.


    Now that she thinks about it, Elias has always had an unremarkable presence. She thought it was because he was often standing beside the grand duke, whose presence commanded everyone''s attention. But it seems that wasn''t the case. The only people she knew that hide their presence as well as he does are the shadow warriors of his highness.


    "You don''t need to be so wary of me. As you can see, I''m weaponless," he said, raising his arm and even turning around to show her he was harmless. "Even if I wanted to kill you, I don''t have the means to."


    Iris turned stiff for a second. She had never felt threatened by someone''s words before. But at that moment, her beastly instinct was screaming danger!


    "Are you saying that you''re capable of killing me if you had a weapon?" she asked after regaining her composure.


    Elias simply shrugs. "Don''t worry, despite lying about your background, I don''t have any reason to take your life," he said coolly, as though he were saying something of no importance.


    Iris froze. She stared at Elias, surprise evident in her eyes.


    "You knew..."


    A smile that made Iris''s hair stand on end graced Elias''s lips.


    "Of course, I knew. Whenever you tell a lie, you tend to stare a few milliseconds longer, so it was quite easy to distinguish the lie in your story. Besides, didn''t it ever make you wonder how, despite being extremely strict with the young lady''s protection, you were easily hired?"


    She really underestimated Elia. Iris thought he was just a normal secretary. But no normal person could make her blood turn cold like he did.


    Iris felt bitter in her heart. Who would expect that a mere millisecond was the reason she got caught? And just what kind of monster is he to actually notice such a tiny difference?


    "If you''ve already known from the very beginning, why are you only telling me now?"


    "Because you''ve finally proved yourself trustworthy."


    Iris''s eyes went wide when Elias suddenly bowed a hundred and thirty degrees towards her.


    "Wha-what are you doing?" Iris''s ears turned red, flustered.


    "Thank you for saving our young lady."


    Iris was shaken. Whenever she saw Elias, he was always calm and composed. He was like a body of water, free of any ripple. Regardless of the situation, he remained steady a ground.


    If the grand duke is the pillar, then Elias is the brace that keeps things together. But now the brace is thanking her with a cracked voice as he tries his best to hold his tears back. It was quite a sad sight to look at. The grand duke was finally back to his old self, and the entire household is doing well. But despite being in the middle of the night, where his only witnesses were the cold wind and a soldier whom he knew would never tell a soul, he still couldn''t allow himself to cry.


    Elias''s bowing image bothered Iris so much that she didn''t realize that she actually went back to Ingrid''s room instead of going to her own. However, she was awakened from her stupor when she saw a tall figure standing close to Ingrid''s bed.


    A gasp escaped from her lips, and she quickly kneeled to the floor.

 25. His Return

    "Your Highness," Iris exclaimed in a silent whisper.


    "Iris, what happened while I was gone? Why is my wife crying in her sleep?"


    Iris swallowed. "Forgive me for my incompetency, your highness."


    Aleric walked towards his favorite seat, his footstep as silent as a phantom. He sat with his legs crossed, exuding the temper of a powerful sovereign.


    "Iris, kindly brief me on what happened while I was gone." But there is not an ounce of kindness in his voice.


    Crown Prince Aleric is not the kind who verbally lashes out when angry. Nor is his anger visible on his face. That is why a lot of people who knew the crown prince wondered why he was called a barbaric prince when he has a very good temper.


    However, only those who have served under him for a very long time know the terrible temper of the crown prince of Aradhya.


    They may not be able to see it on his face, but they could feel it from the way the atmosphere would suddenly turn cold and gloomy. The Crown Prince also tends to become reckless when he''s angry. Half of the cities and kingdoms they destroyed were because the crown prince was in a bad mood. But that isn''t the reason why he got his barbarian title. It was because of something else that he did a long time ago.


    Iris was about to speak when they heard movements. Their eyes shifted toward the bed, and they saw a slender figure slowly rising from her cradle.


    The dim light failed to hide her ethereal countenance. Her audience, hiding in the dark corner of the room, was left in astonishment as they watched her eyes flutter open. It was as though they were watching the climax of a play¡ªno one dared to move or make a sound in anticipation.


    A pair of beautiful emerald eyes graced her dumb-stricken audience while she tried to get used to the darkness. But there seems to be something wrong with her pair of orbs. They look lifeless. Like a jewel that lost its shine.


    Ingrid''s eyes wandered in the dark room until they settled on a certain place.


    ¡°You¡¯re back!" She exclaimed in a tone slightly louder than a whisper, her voice a bit livelier than it had been these past few days.


    Iris didn''t know which surprised her more: the fact that the mere presence of his highness easily livened Ingrid''s face or how Ingrid managed to notice Crown Prince Aleric despite how dark it was. Furthermore, she was certain that the room had become darker than before as it reacted to Crown Prince Aleric''s mood.


    Like a child who met her father after a long time, Ingrid got off the bed, stumbling in the dark as she tried to find Aleric in the darkness. That''s when Iris realized that Ingrid did not see the crown prince¡ªshe sensed his presence. But that doesn''t make it any less surprising.


    It wasn''t long since Lady Ingrid met the Crown Prince. The times that they interacted could be counted with one finger. So how could she easily tell that the presence she felt was not Iris''s or someone else''s?


    Aleric caught Ingrid by the waist before she fell on her face.


    ¡°You¡¯re back¡­hic¡­you¡¯re finally back¡­¡±


    There was relief in her voice.


    Iris finally understood. The reason she locked herself in her room, hiding in the darkness, was not because she wanted to hide from those who wanted to harm her. It was because she felt safe in the darkness the way she did around the crown prince.


    All this time, could she be waiting for Crown Prince Aleric to arrive?


    ¡°I¡¯m back,¡± Crown Prince Aleric whispered, wrapping her in a tight embrace. He lifted Ingrid off the ground and placed her on his lap as he sat in his favorite seat.


    Ingrid nestled in his arms, her shoulders heaving as she continued to cry her eyes out. Aleric, who knew nothing about comforting a lady, intuitively began rubbing Ingrid''s back to soothe her while giving her tiny kisses here and there.


    You might be reading a stolen copy. Visit Royal Road for the authentic version.


    Iris watched as all of this unfolded. She made herself invisible, not wanting to disturb them.


    If she were to be honest, she was extremely worried. Those people who ambushed them aren¡¯t ordinary. Although the guard knights with them that day were from the second team, it was still not that easy to deal with them. She would know. After all, she sparred with them before. To be able to avoid their detection and swiftly kill them without a fight...there are only a handful of people she thinks could achieve such a feat. But none of them fits the profile.


    When she fought those men in white robes, she could tell how eager they were to kill Lady Ingrid. Since their first assassination attempt failed, they are most likely going to attack again. This time, they will be sending stronger assassins. That was why, these past few days, she had been on guard. Although the Dahlia Palace is probably the safest place in the empire, with a traitor in their midst, she wasn¡¯t so sure about that anymore.


    It is a good thing that his Highness, the crown prince, has returned. With him around, she could stand, relieved that Lady Ingrid would be safe.


    ¡°It seems that a lot of things happened while I was away."


    Iris was pulled back to reality. She was so deep in her thoughts that she didn''t notice that Ingrid had once again fallen asleep on Crown Prince Aleric''s lap.


    Iris began to recount everything that occurred. She told Aleric everything, including her speculation about the young boy and the identities of the two adults that were possibly with him.


    ¡°They must have already stabilized their stronghold in the south. It seems that their next target is the east,¡± Crown Prince Aleric muttered to himself. ¡°How lucky! I¡¯ve been worried about where to insert a visit to the south to catch them in my schedule. Who would have thought that they would come out on their own? It seems that the heavens are helping me ha ha!¡±


    Iris, used to the Crown Prince monologue, did not reply.


    "Oh, and what about that little traitor?¡±


    Iris¡¯ eye cautiously glanced at Ingrid, who was sleeping like a child, as she answered, ¡°Forgive me, your highness. She was more cunning than I expected. I believe she may be the one working with those unknown assassins. But she couldn¡¯t have done such a giant and intricate operation on her own. As the grand duke might¡¯ve already guessed, there might be more moles hiding in the dukedom.¡±


    "No, there is only one mole,¡± he stated. ¡°The rest are probably just unfortunate puppets who were manipulated to do her bidding. Some of them might not even know they were being used.¡±


    ¡°Then, what should we do?¡±


    ¡°What can we do?¡± Aleric stood from his seat, carrying Ingrid with him. ¡°To catch a mouse, you need a trap. And to lure the mouse into the trap, you will need the perfect bait that she cannot resist."


    Crown Prince Aleric gently laid Ingrid on the bed. Ingrid frowned when she felt the warm embrace leave her. He smiled, amused, and began smoothing the creases on her forehead.


    ¡°What about the pouch, your highness? Should we check its content?¡±


    Aleric placed a finger on his lips. His missing warmth has caused Ingrid to wake up. He smiled helplessly at the situation.


    ¡°It¡¯s rude to open a gift that isn¡¯t yours," he said, patting Iris on the shoulder before attending to Ingrid.


    ¡°You''re awake. How are you feeling?¡±He asked in a gentle voice foreign to Iris.


    Ingrid froze for a moment. She strained her eyes to look at the man beside her with a hint of surprise.


    ¡°You¡­why are you here?¡±


    Aleric was taken aback. It seems that she didn¡¯t remember what happened earlier. Could she have been sleepwalking?


    He teasingly smiled and said, ¡°Of course, to get my bride.¡±


    ¡°But there¡¯s still three days¡­¡± Realizing what she just said, Ingrid quickly closed her mouth.


    ¡°What three days?¡± He asked, making his voice sound sensuous on purpose as his face leaned closer to Ingrid.


    Aleric chuckled when she looked away, flustered. It is really fun teasing her.


    ¡°It¡¯s stuffy in here. Why don¡¯t we open the windows?¡±


    "Okay," she said, like an obedient child.


    Iris was stunned. Who knows how many times she tried to convince Ingrid to open the windows in her room? But every time, she was met with silence. Yet she easily agreed with the crown prince. Iris felt like her heart had cracked a little.


    Aleric signaled Iris to open the windows.


    "Are you afraid?" He asked when he noticed Ingrid''s hesitant eyes.


    Ingrid shook her head. "It just seems so long ago since I last saw the sun. I wonder what it looks like..." She paused. Her eyes narrowed. Why does it feel like she heard someone say that before?


    Aleric''s amused chuckle disrupted his thought. "The sun is still the same sun."


    Ingrid froze when, all of a sudden, Aleric kissed her forehead.


    ¡°It''s good that you are not afraid. Though there isn''t anything to be afraid of in the first place. Your father is the most powerful man on the continent, while your husband is the most powerful person in the world. Aren''t you a bit too lucky?"


    ¡°I¡¯m not your wife,¡± she muttered, and pushed him away.


    Aleric smiled mischievously. He pulled her back in and whispered in her ear, ¡°Yet.¡±


    His breath tickled Ingrid¡¯s senses, and her entire being burned.


    Ingrid opened her mouth to retort, but she was disrupted by the light that suddenly penetrated her room. She sat there agape as the light swallowed the darkness that surrounded her chamber.


    For some reason, an overwhelming emotion began weighing on her chest. Seeing the sun after so many days made her tear up a little. It was like seeing a close friend after a very long time.


    ''This must be how he felt when he saw the sun for the very first time after ten years.'' Wait...he? Ingrid was stricken by her thoughts. There it is again. Who exactly is he?

 26. Emblem

    The Dahlia Palace became livelier than usual. The kitchen is in full blast. Servants moved back and forth, holding several trays of food. It was as though they were preparing for a feast.


    Well, they are. After locking herself in her room for over two weeks, their precious lady finally graced them with her presence. Several maids burst into tears when they saw their lady walk out of her room for the first time. When they saw her face, it was still as beautiful as ever. They were relieved. Although she seemed thinner than before, her glowing face told them she was in good health.


    Soon everyone in the residence found out, including the old chef of the Dhalia palace, who quickly organized a feast to celebrate the return of their only jewel. Although they were still careful to keep their distance, afraid they would stimulate her. They were content to watch her from afar.


    ¡°My lady, the kitchen prepared this for you.¡± Iris placed a chocolate cake filled with a lot of strawberries on top of the low table.


    There was a glint of amusement in Ingrid¡¯s eyes as she looked at the cake. This was the third time that the kitchen sent them food this morning.


    The old chef knew how little she had been eating the past few weeks and made sure to give her a light meal. But after getting used to rarely eating, she did not manage to finish it, even though it was delicious. An hour later, she was given her first snack. A freshly baked cookie that melts right through the mouth. She managed to eat a whole cookie, which made the old chef happy.


    Another hour has passed since then, and this is her third snack.


    ¡°Should I put some more, my lady?¡± Iris asked when she noticed Ingrid watching her put a tiny piece of cake on a platter. ¡°That old man said to only give you a little. But you can have more if you want.¡±


    ¡°No, that would be enough. Thank you.¡±


    Ingrid felt warm in her heart. They knew she didn¡¯t have that much appetite yet. But they still made an effort to cheer her up by preparing her favorite food while trying not to pressure her too much to eat. By just looking at the dishes, she could tell how relieved and happy they were to see her again.


    Iris watched as Ingrid began eating the bite-size cake. She¡¯s been hiding in the darkness for so long that she almost forgot how beautiful she is.


    It doesn¡¯t sense at all. Despite not receiving sunlight and often having a lack of sleep for a long time, she did not appear sickly at all. Her cheeks even have a pinkish glow on them!


    The universe is unfair. How could they pour all the beauty in the world into a single person?


    ¡°My lady!¡±


    Their eyes turned in the direction of the voice, and they saw Lily running towards them, her face filled with tears. But before Lily could reach Ingrid, Iris stood and blocked her way. Lily staggered after bumping into Iris''s giant frame and almost fell.


    ¡°What was that for?¡± Lily angrily asked while holding her hurt forehead.


    ¡°When did you become so tactless? You knew what Lady Ingrid went through these past two weeks. You know better than to come running towards her like a hyperactive dog,¡± Iris scolded her, making sure to lower her voice to avoid being heard by Ingrid.


    Lily looked at Iris indignantly. ¡°How dare a one-month-old maid like you scold me? Can''t I be excited to see my mistress? Why are you acting as if I did something grave?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s not grave?¡± Iris scoffed. ¡°If Lady Ingrid ended up getting overwhelmed by your presence and started locking herself in her room again, would you take responsibility?¡±


    ¡°Look here," Lily said, placing her hands on her hips. "I have been with Lady Ingrid the longest time. The lady and I grew up together. She is more used to my presence than a month-old maid who thinks she¡¯s special just because she¡¯s the only one who can accompany the lady these two weeks. Know. your. place.¡±


    ¡°Are you two fighting again?¡±


    Lily and Iris glared at each other and looked away with a hump.


    Ingrid shook her head, amused. It seems that they still don¡¯t get along.


    ¡°Lily, why don¡¯t you join us?¡±


    Lily gave Iris a triumphant look and flipped her hair against Iris''s face. She sat beside Ingrid and hugged her waist like a child.


    ¡°My lady, I missed you! You¡¯ve lost a lot of weight!¡±


    Iris pursed her lips. Ingrid loves Lily. The way she looked at Lily was like that of a doting older sister. If she finds out that the woman she treasures like a sister stabbed her in the back, how devastated would she be?


    It seems that the best course of action is still to get rid of Lily in silence and make it look like an accident. She can¡¯t let Lady Ingrid revert to how she was these past two weeks.


    This text was taken from Royal Road. Help the author by reading the original version there.


    ¡°Iris! Why are you just standing there? Come and join us.¡±


    Iris plastered a smile on her face and walked towards them. She will do everything in her power to protect her highness, even if it means betraying her trust.


    ///\


    It was early in the evening. Ingrid was heading back to her room after having her dinner. Behind her were Iris and Lily, who are still not on speaking terms.


    Lily was about to step forward to open the bedroom door for Ingrid, but Iris beat her to eat. Ingrid saw them glaring at each other, but she pretended not to see. It¡¯s exhausting being their referee sometimes.


    As Ingrid entered her room, the pouch on the bedside was the first thing that caught her eye. Her footstep halted. Yes, there is still that. A lot of things had happened that she had forgotten all about.


    ¡°Lily, Iris, you may leave now. I would like to be alone.¡±


    Lily and Iris looked at each other, confused by her sudden command. Doesn''t she need help to get out of her clothes?


    ¡°Well then, I¡¯ll be right outside, my lady, if you ever need me,¡± Iris tactfully said with a bow. She retreated from Ingrid¡¯s room while pulling Lily away with her.


    Ingrid took a deep breath as the door closed and began to approach the bedside table. She could feel her heart ramming in her chest. The closer she got, the heavier her footstep became. Numerous thoughts ran through her mind. That person knew about her special constitution. What if that pouch contains a threat? But he did say it was something that would make her know who he was. So what could it be?


    She sat on her bed and reached for the pouch. She took another deep breath before untangling the gold-colored rope tied around it. With trembling hands, she reached for its content.


    Her brows furrowed when she touched something cold and hard. She began feeling it with her hand and realized that it was a circular object the size of her palm. Brimming with curiosity, she took it out.


    Ingrid¡¯s head tilted, confused, when she saw that it was an emblem with a symbol that seemed to be poorly drawn. After looking at it for some time, she finally made sense of the drawing. It was a lone rose sitting on top of numerous rose vines filled with thorns that looked like nonsensical scribbles at first glance. Just what kind of family would use such a ridiculous crest?


    Disappointed, she was about to stuff the emblem back into the pouch when it suddenly glowed blue. Then, from it, an excited voice suddenly spoke, ¡°Lady Ingrid! You finally opened it!¡±


    Ingrid almost dropped the emblem in surprise. That familiar voice¡ªshe can never forget it.


    ¡°Who-whose Lady Ingrid?¡± She made her voice sound bigger in an attempt to trick him.


    ¡°Are you sick, my lady? Your voice seemed a bit different.¡± Naz¡¯s voice sounded worried.


    Ingrid¡¯s eyes twitched. ¡°I¡¯m not Lady Ingrid,¡± she insisted. How is he even sure that she is indeed her?


    ¡°That can¡¯t be true. The medallion can only be activated by Lady Ingrid.¡±


    "Lies! As if such a thing exists!"


    "I would never lie to you, my lady!" Naz exclaimed. He sounds like he is being wronged. "I swear to the Rose that if what I said was a lie, then I would die this instant!"


    Ingrid''s eyes went wide when the circular emblem in her hand suddenly glowed red.


    "Why did it suddenly glow red?"


    "Because I swore an oath on the Rose. Every member of the Prickly Rose is connected to the emblem you are holding. A swear on the Rose is binding. If we go back on our oath, we will receive the repercussion."


    Ingrid fell silent for a moment.


    "You''re lying to me, aren''t you? You''re just trying to trick me into believing you."


    "My lady can test it out. Just say I swear on the rose and state what you wanted to swear and the consequence if you fail to fulfill your oath."


    Ingrid hesitated. That annoying crown prince had been teasing her so much that she could no longer trust the words of any man.


    She sighed. Well, it''s still worth trying.


    "I swear to the Rose that if my next word is a lie, I will fall on my bed," she said, and distanced herself from the edge of the bed.


    "I...do not miss the crown prince." She uttered the last words almost in a whisper.


    Ingrid waited for a moment for something to happen. But nothing.


    "See, you were lying to me!" She exclaimed with fury.


    "Why don''t you say the opposite, my lady?"


    "What do you mean? Are you implying that I..." Ingrid couldn''t finish her sentence. The thought of it was just ridiculous!


    "No, my lady! I''m not implying anything. But perhaps it would work?"


    "You..." Ingrid sighed. This is absurd. Why is she even letting this stranger sway her thoughts?


    "My lady?..."


    "I swear to the Rose that if the next word I say is a lie, I will fall out of bed."


    She clenched the emblem tighter. "I..." Why did it suddenly become hard to speak?


    "I don''t miss the crown prince," she uttered in an inaudible whisper.


    Ingrid waited a second...a minute... "You sca~aack!"


    She fell to the floor with a loud thud.


    "My lady, are you alright?" Naz and Iris, who is standing guard, asked in unison.


    "Forgive me, my lady, I''m coming in!''


    Ingrid gasped and put the emblem back in the pouch. She quickly hid it under her pillow and sat like an obedient child, her back straighter than usual.


    "Are you alright, my lady?" Iris asked while scanning her surroundings with vigilant eyes. "Just now, why did my lady scream?"


    "Ugh, it''s...because my book!" she blurted and grabbed the book from her bedside table. "The book I was reading fell and missed my toe by an inch. I was extremely startled!"


    Iris scanned the room once again. Sensing no threat, she sighed in relief.


    "Please be careful, my lady. I will be outside if you need anything."


    "Yes, thank you."


    Ingrid watched Iris leave. The moment she saw Iris close the door behind her, she quickly took the pouch from under the pillow and fished out the emblem.


    "Who exactly are you?"


    ¡°I am Naz, my lady,¡± Naz replied.


    ¡°I know. I remember that girl Rebecca who was with you calling you that.¡± Ingrid rolled her eyes.


    ¡°You gave me that name.¡±


    Ingrid froze. Her brows creased. She gave him his name? How can that be?


    "How...why...did I give you that name?"


    "Because I lost mine."


    Ingrid fell silent.


    "It happened in Serus. I was escaping from the royal soldiers who were trying to catch me. You found me hiding under the garden bushes and saved me."


    A familiar fear crept into Ingrid¡¯s heart at the mention of that dreaded place. She swallowed.


    "That time, I was on the verge of death. You gave me a drop of your blood to heal me. That¡¯s how I knew your blood had healing powers.¡±


    Ingrid''s breathing hitched, and her hand shook. She seems to have a vague recollection of it. A boy with eyes as desperate as hers before she lost all hope¡ªhis body full of ghastly wounds that made her skin crawl.


    Ingrid held her head when it suddenly ached. The more she tried to recall her memory of that boy, the more her head hurt until it became unbearable.


    "I''m sorry," she said as she tried to regulate her breathing. "I can''t remember."


    There was a long pause on the other side.


    ¡°It doesn¡¯t matter," Naz said with a voice full of resolve. "Even if I am the only one who remembers, I will still fulfill the promise that we made.¡±

 27. Welcoming

    Iris watched Ingrid perturbed. Ingrid has been sitting by the window for a few hours now, staring at the empty space. When Iris entered her room this morning, she was already there. She didn¡¯t even notice her coming.


    ¡°My lady, it¡¯s time for breakfast,¡± Iris said with great gentleness, worried that she may be reverting to how she was a few days ago.


    ¡°Hmm¡± was her only reply.


    This got Iris even more worried. She began recalling what they did yesterday in hopes of finding the cause of her lady¡¯s sudden mood. Last night, Lady Ingrid made them leave early.


    Iris shifted her gaze to the bedside table. She noticed that the golden ribbon tied to the pouch was loose. Her eyes darkened. What did Lady Ingrid see inside that made her like this?


    ¡°Iris, today is the third day, am I correct?"


    Iris bowed her head and replied, ¡°Yes, my lady. His Highness the Crown Prince is probably already on his way here with a parade of delegates at this very moment.¡±


    Ingrid rested her chin on her elbow. ¡°How do you think I should react? Should I act surprised at his return, or should I look like I¡¯ve been expecting him?¡±


    ¡°This...¡± Iris paused for a moment. She couldn¡¯t tell what was going on in Ingrid¡¯s mind. Although she was asking her a question about the arrival of the crown prince, she could tell her mind wasn¡¯t on it.


    ¡°Hmmm?¡± Ingrid looked at Iris when she took too long to respond.


    ¡°Uh, well, given the previous rumors circulating between you and his highness, I think my lady should look like you¡¯ve been expecting his return.¡±


    Ingrid nodded her head in agreement. ¡°Very well, please call the maids. Tell them to pick a dress that makes me look like I¡¯m excited to meet my fiance.¡±


    Iris bowed her head and retreated from the room. But as she closed the door, her worried eyes lingered on Ingrid¡¯s lonely form.


    /////\


    The entire grand ducal castle was in chaos as they prepared for the arrival of the delegates headed by the crown prince of Aradhya. They were informed two days ago that the Crown Prince was coming, as he had sworn, but two days is barely enough to prepare a welcome for such important guests. On top of that, the grand duke still hasn¡¯t returned from the border.


    Everyone was worried. Knowing the character of that fickle Crown Prince who does whatever he wants, what if he takes advantage of the grand duke''s absence and harasses their lady? Thinking about it made their blood boil.


    They have already informed the grand duke of the crown prince''s arrival. Hopefully, he will arrive on time.


    The Dahlia Palace also made their preparations. Since they still haven''t caught the people behind the attempt on Ingrid''s life, it was decided that Ingrid remain in her palace for her safety''s sake. This also means that the crown prince can''t carelessly harass their lady, as it is her turf.


    If only the captains knew that most of the harassment Ingrid experienced happened in her palace and her very bedroom, they wouldn''t have made such a decision.


    ¡°Why does everyone have a brooding  expression?¡± Ingrid asked curiously when she noticed that the servants seemed to have a uniform expression today. Their expression looked like they were preparing for a funeral and not a celebration.


    ¡°That¡¯s because they didn¡¯t want you to marry the crown prince, my lady,¡± answered Lily.


    ¡°Why not? What¡¯s wrong with his highness, the crown prince?¡± Asked Iris, feeling offended by her animosity against her master.


    ¡°Everything! Even though he is handsome, that cannot erase the fact that he is a barbaric prince who kills others without mercy. Some even say that he drinks the blood of his enemies. How can our sweet and beautiful young lady marry such a man?¡±


    ¡°So you¡¯re basing your judgment of his Highness the Crown Prince on baseless rumors.¡±


    ¡°Every rumor is based on truth,¡± Lily argued.


    ¡°And every rumor can be exaggerated to destroy a person¡¯s character!¡±


    "Okay, stop it, you two,¡± Ingrid intervened. Just listening to them is giving her a headache.


    ¡°The grand duke!¡± A young man came running to the garden with an excited expression. ¡°The grand duke has arrived!¡±


    You might be reading a pirated copy. Look for the official release to support the author.


    A few meters behind her, Grand Duke Rasmus entered with giant strides. The servants around the garden quickly lined up in two rows and bowed.


    ¡°Welcome back, Your Highness!¡±


    Ingrid quickly stood up and met her father with a bright smile. It¡¯s been so long since she last saw her father. She missed him very much.


    ¡°Papa!¡± She exclaimed and allowed herself to be swallowed by her father¡¯s wide-open arms.


    ¡°My child, my precious jewel, my world, oh how I¡¯ve missed you!¡±


    Ingrid¡¯s ears turned red as she heard her father¡¯s unmanly sobs. She buried herself deeper in his arms out of embarrassment. The servants also bowed their heads lower to restrain their laughter.


    ¡°Papa, why did you come here? Aren¡¯t you supposed to be receiving our guest?¡±


    ¡°Tch, who cares about that sly prince!¡± he said, annoyed. ¡°I already knew that he arrived three days ago. He even single-handedly killed one of the elite giants before vanishing. That scum of a prince! He knew I couldn¡¯t leave the borders yet, so he took the opportunity to see you! I swear, I will destroy him if that is the last thing I do!¡±


    ¡°Papa!¡±


    ¡°But your Highness, you never said I couldn¡¯t see my fiance before the allotted time. You just said I have to return in a month.¡±


    All heads turned to the entrance of the garden. There they saw the crown prince of Aradhya in all his regal form, smiling mischievously.


    ¡°What are you doing here? Didn¡¯t I tell Diem to lead you to the receiving hall?¡±


    Just as the grand duke said, Diem appeared behind the crown prince. Seeing the amount of sweat he was releasing, he must¡¯ve run all the way here from the grand duke¡¯s palace.


    ¡°Forgive me, Your Highness the Grand Duke! I swear, I just looked away for a second, and he was already gone!¡±


    "Tch, what am I going to do in your palace? My fianc¨¦e isn¡¯t there. And aren¡¯t you here too?¡±


    ¡°Ehem!¡± Grand Duke Rasmus faked a cough. ¡°So what if I am here? Do I have to seek permission to see my daughter? Also, will you stop calling my daughter your fianc¨¦e? It¡¯s making my ears hurt.¡±


    Crown Prince Aleric leaned on the arc that leads to the garden and waved his finger as though he were casting a magic spell. ¡°But my fianc¨¦e is my fianc¨¦e. You said you would give Lady Ingrid to me as my wife if I returned in a month, and I did. That means she is now my fiancee. So what¡¯s wrong with calling her my fianc¨¦e?¡±


    ¡°You...¡± Grand Duke Rasmus¡¯ face and neck turned completely red from anger.


    Ingrid decided to intervene before they made a mess out of her beautiful garden. ¡°Why don¡¯t we continue our conversation in the dining hall? I¡¯m sure the both of you are hungry from the journey.¡±


    She gave Aleric a warning look, to which the crown prince only responded with a shrug.


    It seems that Crown Prince Aleric has an odd hobby of pissing people, and his current target is the grand duke. Throughout the meal, he did not forget to anger the grand duke to the point that he almost drew his sword. If Ingrid wasn''t, they might¡¯ve ended up fighting all out.


    ¡°Was it fun teasing my father?¡± Ingrid asked when there were only the two of them.


    ¡°Not as fun as teasing you,¡± Aleric retorted with a grin.


    Ingrid rolled her eyes at him.


    An emergency message came from the border saying that the giants were preparing for a new wave of attack. This time, the scale was bigger than before. The grand duke announced the deaths of the members of the purple squad on purpose to make trouble for the court. It was his way of retaliating against the empress, who had a hand in the deaths of his soldiers and the attempt on his daughter¡¯s life, regardless of whether it was indirect.


    That was why he did not show his face the first time the giants attacked and simply commanded his men in the shadows. He wanted to prolong the court''s suffering, although Elias advised him against it.


    But the message this time contained very horrible news. They had already had their first casualty. The news shook the grand duke to the core that he didn¡¯t bid his farewell to Ingrid and left hurriedly.


    ¡°Will Papa be fine?¡± Asked Ingrid worriedly.


    ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I¡¯ve already sent Vernon and the Sun Knights to assist them. However, I don''t think their help would be necessary. Those simple-minded giants would surely pay for their arrogance."


    Now that he mentioned it, she no longer found Vernon, who was following behind them. Or did she just assume that he was following behind, as he always does? Wait, come to think of it, she knew how Aleric could vanish and appear out of thin air. But how does Vernon do it?


    ¡°It seems that you have something to ask,¡± Aleric commented, noticing the curiosity in Ingrid¡¯s eyes. ¡°Rather than keep it to yourself, why not ask away?¡±


    ¡°Well, I was wondering what Vernon¡¯s power is, your highness.¡±


    Aleric opened the door to Ingrid¡¯s bedroom for her. Normally they would have already said their farewells there (not that a young man is allowed to escort a young lady to her room, and alone at that). But Aleric followed her inside.


    ¡°His power is light,¡± he answered.


    ¡°Oh, light and darkness,¡± she murmured. ¡°I¡¯ve never heard of such powers before. If I hadn¡¯t seen it, I wouldn¡¯t even believe that they existed.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s because our powers didn¡¯t come from this continent," he replied. "Would you believe me if I told you that Vernon and I originally didn¡¯t have any magical powers?¡±


    Ingrid studied Aleric for a while, looking for any trace of lies on his face. But she didn¡¯t find any.


    ¡°That¡¯s impossible. All magicians manifest their powers before the age of ten. Once that age has passed, the chance of magic ever manifesting is zero.¡±


    Aleric nodded his head in agreement and sat in his favorite seat. ¡°That is true. But what if I tell you that there is a way to forcefully awaken someone¡¯s magic who has already passed the supposed age?¡±


    It took a while for Ingrid to process what she heard. A way to awaken someone¡¯s magic. Is that even possible? She looked at Aleric with complicated eyes. If what he said was true, then is his magic caused by forced awakening?


    ¡°Unfortunately, it¡¯s knowledge I can only share with my wife. If you want to know, you¡¯ll have to marry me first.¡±


    ¡°You...¡± Ingrid glared at Aleric. He really can¡¯t last a day without teasing her.


    Aleric chuckled, amused by her reaction. ¡°So what is it that you want to talk about?¡±


    Ingrid frowned. ¡°What do you mean?¡±


    ¡°My lady, you¡¯ve been staring at me since lunch as though you can¡¯t wait to pull me aside. I¡¯d like to flatter myself and think that it¡¯s because you have fallen for my charm. But I assume that isn¡¯t the case. Or is it?¡±


    ¡°Of course not!¡± She said it faster than she expected. ¡°It''s... I''d like you to accompany me somewhere.¡±

 28. Sealed Memories

    Aleric looked at the woman buried deeply in his chest. She looked like a tiny little chick hiding underneath a mother hen for protection. He smiled at his thoughts. To think that he would be comparing himself to a hen now.


    ¡°We¡¯re here,¡± he said, and he patted her head gently.


    Ingrid took a deep breath as she slowly moved away from Aleric¡¯s embrace. It was the first time that she was out of her palace after so many weeks. Ingrid thought she was already over what happened a few weeks ago. But the moment her eyes landed on her surroundings, she instantly imagined an arrow coming her way and involuntarily flinched.


    ¡°It¡¯s okay, I¡¯m here,¡± she heard Aleric say, kissing her forehead.


    She did not know when it started, but she noticed that Aleric had been constantly kissing her forehead.


    "Let''s go," Aleric ushered.


    Ingrid lifted her head. She was met by Aleric''s mesmerizing purple eyes. For a moment, she was lost in his gaze.


    Everything in this world pales before her beauty. But not him¡ªnot his eyes that seem to hold the galaxy.


    She was pulled back to reality when she felt his hand intertwine with hers, and they began to walk.


    Ingrid scanned her surroundings. She was familiar with this manor called the Rose Residence. It made headlines in the capital when it first came into the market thanks to its extravagant price tag. It was being sold for 500,000 gold coins.


    Even high nobles thought it was absurd. Despite it being located within the city center with easy access to the main road and the market place, Ingrid agreed with the nobles opinion.


    The maximum price this manor can probably be sold for would be no more than a hundred thousand gold coins. Inflating the price to several hundred thousand felt like they didn''t want the manor to be sold at all. Her speculation was further fueled when she noticed that the owner had no plans to lower the price, despite nobody taking any interest in buying the property.


    Ingrid never expected that there would be someone insane enough to buy the Rose Residence. But it turns out there are.


    When Ingrid first met Naz, he didn¡¯t seem to have the aura of a noble or a rich merchant. Instead, he looks like a typical traveling mercenary. That was why she was really surprised when Naz told her that he was the buyer who made headlines in the capital after buying this overpriced property. She wondered how he could afford to buy it. Does being a mercenary pay that well?


    Hopefully, the seller did not scam him out of his money. From their previous interaction, he seemed to be the kind that can be easily deceived.


    As they were heading to the main mansion, Ingrid noticed something odd. They literally landed in their courtyard, but the several servants that they passed by did not bother with them. They even bowed in their direction before returning to whatever task they were doing.


    Ingrid was about to point it out to Aleric when the giant double door swung open. A man in a butler uniform was standing in the middle of the hall with his head bowed as though he was expecting their arrival.


    ¡°Welcome, lady Ingrid, and your highness the crown prince,¡± the butler greeted.


    ¡°Johannes!¡± Aleric grinned and gave the butler a big slap on the shoulder.


    If it were someone else, their shoulder would¡¯ve been dislocated with how strong that slap was, but Johannes continued to bow his head as if it were a normal greeting.


    ¡°Why are you here? Aren''t you supposed to be taking care of the main base?¡±


    ¡°We are going to transfer the base here in Learia. I am here to supervise the transition,¡± he answered.


    There is no use lying to the Crown Prince of Aradhya. After all, there is no outsider in the world who knows a lot about the existence of the Prickly Rose apart from him. Furthermore, the crown prince may annoy his master a lot, but he is a trustworthy man.


    Crown Prince Aleric was taken aback. Their hold on the south cannot be trifled with. Even the Kingdom of Serus, which is the greatest powerhouse of the south, cannot touch them that easily. So why are they abandoning their strongest stronghold for a place where they still haven¡¯t established a stable footing?


    "This way, your highness, my lady, the master is waiting.¡±


    ¡°You know him?¡± Ingrid asked curiously as soon as Johannes turned his back.


    ¡°I¡¯ve been trying to tame them. But they get wilder as the years pass instead,¡± he said while shaking his head, an amused smile etched on his lips.


    Ingrid looked at him weirdly.


    Johannes led them to a long, winding staircase and into a giant mahogany door. He knocked on the door and announced, ¡°Master, Young Lady Ingrid of Lennox and Crown Prince Aleric Joaquin Kensington have arrived!¡±


    ¡°Tch, do you have to say my full name?¡± Aleric grumbled.


    Stolen from its original source, this story is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.


    Johannes ignored him and opened the door. ¡°You may now enter your highness, my lady.¡±


    Ingrid felt her heart ramming into her chest. After their conversation through the emblem, she had a lot of questions that were left unanswered.  Like if he were that boy with desperate eyes. And what kind of promise did she make to him?


    "Greetings, your highness, my lady,¡± Naz and Felix said in unison as they bowed.


    There were only the two of them in the room. Naz is wearing a black vest, while Felix is wearing a blue one. They would be very much mistaken for nobles with their attire if not for the uncomfortable look on their faces.


    Ingrid¡¯s eyes travel towards Johannes. It was easy to guess who forced them into wearing those. She couldn''t stop her lips from slightly rising upward.


    ¡°Please, my lady, your highness, have a seat,¡± Naz said in an awkward attempt to sound like a proper noble.


    Aleric almost burst out laughing after seeing Naz try his best to be formal. It was so unlike Naz. Aleric reminded himself to thank Johannes later for allowing him to witness such a side of this hard-headed bull.


    ***


    The four of them sat across from each other in silence. They were looking at one another as though they were waiting for the other to start the conversation. To say that it was the most awkward silence Ingrid had experienced would be an understatement.


    ¡°Will one of you start talking already!¡± Flex, who couldn¡¯t take it anymore, groaned in annoyance. ¡°Don¡¯t you know how itchy this outfit is?!¡±


    Naz smacked Felix in the head. ¡°You¡¯re the one who asked to be here, and now you''re complaining?¡±


    ¡°I didn¡¯t know I would be forced to wear ridiculous clothing! I swear I¡¯m going to murder whoever invented them!¡± He blurted while pulling on the collar of his shirt.


    ¡°Felix, manners!¡± Johannes who had just arrived, bringing a tray of refreshment, scolded him.


    Felix instantly closed his mouth. But his pouted lips clearly indicate his silent rebellion.


    ¡°Please excuse this child¡¯s behavior, my lady. Felix grew up in the wild, so he isn¡¯t quite used to the nobles''s etiquette.¡±


    There was also another person who seemed unused to it. Naz has been holding it back, but his forehead was sweating as he tried his best to hold the urge to rip the itchy clothes off.


    Johannes placed their drinks on the table, and to Felix¡¯s delight, he quietly left the room.


    ¡°Sir Naz, I came here because I have a lot of things that I wanted to ask,¡± Ingrid started.


    Naz shifted on his seat and unconsciously straightened his back as he saw the seriousness on Ingrid¡¯s face. It reminded him of the unsmiling version of her younger self. But at least now her eyes don¡¯t look empty, unlike before, and that made him relieved.


    ¡°Before that, I''d like to see the scars on your arms again."


    The two men in the room were surprised by Ingrid''s odd request.


    "Hmmm, I heard that the more beautiful the lady, the more unusual their taste in men is," Felix stated while rubbing his chin and looking at Aleric mockingly. "What are you going to do, your highness? It seems that your future wife is going to be stolen thanks to my master''s scars. Hahahha~argh! Ouch!"


    Ingrid looked at Felix, who was holding his head after getting smacked by Naz in confusion. Why would she get stolen by a scar?


    "Please forgive this child, my lady! He''s still very young and blabbers a lot of nonsense."


    Ingrid waved her hand and said, "Don''t worry about it. I just want to see your scars to confirm something. But if you''re not comfortable about it, I won''t force you."


    "No! I-it''s fine, my lady. I don''t mind."


    Naz began taking off his outer coat, but then realized something and looked at Ingrid with a blushing face.


    "Forgive me, my lady. Allow me to go to another room and remove my clothes," he said, taking off before they could even respond.


    "So, how long have you known Naz?" Ingrid asked when there were only the three of them left.


    "Hehe." There was a proud expression on Felix''s face. "It may not look like it, but I am Captain''s first companion. I was with him even before the Prickly Rose was created."


    "Is that so? How did you two meet?"


    "We met at the Tunnel of Trials. It''s a tunnel full of powerful monsters. My mission was to survive in that tunnel for five days so I could become a full pledge assassin. But according to the captain, that tunnel was a hidden tunnel connected to the palace of the king of Serus..."


    Ingrid was taken aback. After learning about the Prickly Rose from Naz, she began digging for more information about it. From what she learned, Prickly Rose was established four years ago. If she guessed correctly, Felix is about 14 years old right now. If it happened before the establishment of the Prickly Rose, how old was he at that time when he was thrown in that tunnel for a so called trial?


    "Felix, how old were you when you met Naz?" Ingrid asked.


    "I was 8 at that time," Felix answered as though he were remembering a happy memory.


    On the contrary, Ingrid had a painful expression on her face. She heard rumors about a certain organization that kidnaps children and trains them as assassins from a very young age. But she never expected it to be true. She thought they were mere tales meant to scare children.


    Her fist tightened. She couldn''t understand what kind of cruel person would do such an evil thing. How can they destroy a child''s childhood and innocence for the sake of their greed?


    Ingrid felt a warm hand gently squeezing her shoulder. She looked up, and she was met by Aleric''s playful smile. For some reason, looking into his eyes calmed her raging emotions.


    "I''m sorry for the wait, my lady!"


    Naz returned with only a sleeveless shirt, revealing the gnarly scars on his skin. They aren''t the normal scars that you see on mercenaries or soldiers who have been through many battles. His scars were shaped in such odd ways that it was hard to guess what may have caused them.


    Ingrid was drawn by a particular scar on his left arm that ran from his wrist until his elbow. It was as though the skin in his arm were peeled away, and all that''s left to be seen are scar tissues.


    But while staring at those scars, an image of a young boy with dark looking flesh falling from his arm suddenly flashed through her mind.


    "Where did you get this wound from?" a young girl asked while holding her breath as she removed the dead flesh from the young boy''s arm. It must have hurt a lot, but the young boy did not flinch even a little.


    "From an experiment," he answered, his eyes clouded with fear as though he were reliving the memory.


    "They were testing a potion that can aid in the skin''s regeneration. At first they cut my arm, then apply the potion and the wounds would instantly be gone. But they wanted to test if the potion can restore a skin that is completely lost. So they scrapped off the upper layer of my skin. But it didn''t work. It was really painful. They did not even give medicine for the pain. They just stormed off the lab angrily."


    Her skin crawled as she listened to his story.


    Then, all of a sudden, the scenery changed. She was inside a giant chamber filled with a lot of toys when a giant hand appeared in front of her face. In her attempt to evade, the hand missed her arm and got a hold of her dress instead.


    The hand yanked her dress away, exposing her young and slender back.


    "NO please!!! Nooo!!" she screamed when the hand started caressing her back.


    Her eyes went wide with horror when the next thing she felt was his wet and disgusting lips brushing against her shoulder.


    "Nooooo!" A high-pitched scream came out of her mouth. Then everything turned black.

 29. Fever

    Ingrid woke up gasping for breath.


    "My lady, you''re finally awake! Are you okay?" She heard several voices simultaneously ask, making her head throb.


    Ingrid''s drowsy eyes wandered around the room, and she saw Naz among the crowd of worried faces.


    Her tears instantly fell as she asked with a trembling voice. "What did he do to me?" She sobbed. "What did he do to me...?"


    A look of horror appeared on Naz''s face. Among the people in the room, he was the only one who instantly understood what she meant.


    He quickly kneeled before Ingrid and was about to hold her hand, but he stopped himself. Instead, he placed his hands on his lap as he bowed and said, "My lady, he did nothing to you. That night, Consort Maeren arrived and stopped him before he could do anything. I swear on the Prickly Rose that this is the truth or else I will die!"


    But still, Ingrid couldn''t stop herself from crying. It was as though she could still feel his tongue on her skin, like a burning acid eating away at her flesh. Her stomach churned. She wanted to vomit.


    "I want to go home." She looked at Aleric like a lost child, begging a stranger. "Please take me home."


    Aleric did not respond. Instead, he held out his hand while staring at her, as though telling her to come to him of her own accord. He wasn''t volunteering himself to be her savior, but his hand was a promise that if she came to him, he would protect her.


    Without hesitation, Ingrid took his hand and jumped into his embrace. The crown prince held her protectively in his arms. In the blink of an eye, we were both gone, leaving behind the crippling coldness.


    Iris went to greet them the moment they arrived in Ingrid''s room.


    "My lady, what happened?" she asked when she noticed Ingrid''s puffed eyes.


    "It''s nothing," Ingrid said in a small voice. "Please prepare me a bath," she added, and she walked towards the bathroom without looking back.


    Iris looked at the crown prince, looking for an answer. But the heavy atmosphere surrounding the crown prince stopped her from asking. She respectfully bowed her head and went outside to ask the servants for bathwater.


    "Scrub it harder," Ingrid commanded the maidservant who was scrubbing her shoulder.


    The maidservant paused for a moment, worried. She was already scrubbing the spot quite hard¡ªher pale skin had already turned extremely red, causing her to worry that her lady''s skin would begin bleeding. Yet Ingrid is still asking her to rub it harder.


    "Why did you stop?"


    The maidservant flinched. That was the first time that she heard Ingrid speak in such a cold and harsh tone. But still, she was worried that if she continued scrubbing Ingrid''s shoulder, she''d begin bleeding.


    Feeling the maidservant''s hesitation, Ingrid sighed and said, "I''d like everyone to leave."


    "But my lady~"


    "Do I have to keep repeating myself?"


    The servants fell silent and reluctantly left, their faces filled with worry. They don''t know what may have caused their mistress to act that way, but that isn''t like her at all.


    The moment Ingrid heard the door closing, her body shook. She sank into the tub while rocking herself back and forth. Tears began streaming down her face.


    ***


    Ingrid was met with silence when she came out of the bathroom. A tinge of displeasure appeared on her face. Her maidservants were supposed to be waiting for her, so why did they leave?


    But Ingrid soon found her answer when she saw the man standing in the middle of the room with his back turned against her. Her mood worsened. She hates how he always does what he wants.


    Every time he''s around, her chamber loses its privacy. She had always put up with it since she was in desperate need of his help. But her terrible mood made her lose all inhibition.


    "Forgive me, your Highness, but could you please leave? I would like to rest."


    But Aleric did not respond and stood motionless as though he did not hear her.


    Ingrid''s face turned sour. Disregarding that she was only wearing a robe, Ingrid pulled Aleric''s arm to face her.


    "Seriously, leave~"


    Ingrid was taken aback when she was met by Aleric''s bloodshot eyes and unfocused gaze. She shifted her attention when she felt a burning feeling underneath her palm and realized it was because of Aleric''s arm she was holding.


    "Your Highness!" Ingrid gasped. "You''re burning!"


    As though awakened by her voice, Aleric''s gaze focused on Ingrid. His brows furrowed, and the surrounding air suddenly turned cold. Iris, who was standing guard by the door, froze when she felt the ominous aura and quickly took out her weapon.


    The narrative has been taken without permission. Report any sightings.


    But Ingrid, who was overtaken by worry, did not notice anything odd at all. She placed her palm on Aleric''s forehead to check his temperature, unaware of the brewing storm.


    "Iri~" Before she could finish calling her name, the door opened, revealing Iris carrying her dual-bladed axe. Her eyes were narrowed as she looked for the source of danger.


    "What are you doing? And why are you taking out your weapon? Come help me with his highness, it seems that he is having a fever."


    The moment Iris heard the word ''fever'' she was startled. Cold sweats trickled down the side of her face, as her horror-filled eyes looked at Ingrid standing close to the crown prince.


    "M-my lady, please get away from the crown prince."


    Ingrid''s brow furrowed. "What do you mean to get away from him? I''m not that fragile to catch his fever just because I''m near him. Wait...could it be that his fever is caused by a viral disease?!"


    "N-no my lady, it''s not like that!" Iris responded while waving her hands animatedly. But with her double-bladed axe in hand, her action looked quite threatening.


    "If it isn''t like that, then I''ll be fine." Ingrid shrugged.


    She pulled Aleric by the arm and helped him in bed. To her surprise, the crown prince followed her command like an obedient child.


    What Ingrid didn''t know was that Iris was growing paler and paler as time went by.


    Several thoughts began racing in Iris''s mind. Earlier, his  Highness arrived while the maidservants were inside, waiting for Lady Ingrid to come out of her bath. Luckily, the maids had their backs against him, so they did not notice his arrival. But she was so focused on driving the servants away that she did not realize there was something wrong with his highness.


    "Are you alright, Iris? You look so pale."


    "I-I''m fine... my lady."


    His highness becomes something else completely when he is sick. Whenever he is high with a fever, he becomes an irrational monster that massacres every living creature he senses within a thousand-mile radius.


    She had only witnessed it once before. But it was forever burned in her memory.


    They were in the middle of a war campaign at the time when the crown prince suddenly became sick with a fever. She was still a soldier in training at that time.


    One day, they heard a loud explosion. They thought the enemy was attacking them. But when they arrived at the scene, they found the crown prince with eyes as red as blood and saliva trailing down his chin, fighting with the generals. Five of their strongest generals managed to hold him down, but a few seconds later, they all flew away in different directions.


    They were told to evacuate, so she did not see what happened next. When they came back a day later, their entire camp was gone. The generals were sitting on the ground, blood trickling down gaping wounds on certain parts of their bodies. None of the generals were left unscathed¡ªeven Vernon, who was rumored to be as strong as the Crown Prince, had a giant wound on his forehead.


    Without explaining anything, Vernon told them to prepare to head to the enemy camp. Because of the tremendous shock, they only realized when they were halfway through the march that some of them did not bring their weapons with them.


    But their worry was needless. When they arrived at the enemy camp, what met them were scattered limbs and dead bodies. The new soldier recruits couldn''t help but vomit at the site. Even Iris, who has seen numerous deaths since she was young, still had goosebumps at the sight.


    One of the dead soldiers had an arm missing. From the looks of his wound, his arm was forcefully separated from his body through sheer force. Another soldier had a giant hole in his chest. His eyes were wide open even after his death. You could see the terror in his lifeless orbs.


    And amid all those lifeless bodies was the crown prince, bathed in blood and sleeping rather soundly.


    That day, the Crown Prince of Aradhya gained another atrocious title to his name. He started to be hailed as the barbaric prince¡ªthe fear of nations and the nightmare of kings.


    "Iris, can you get me a cloth and a basin of warm water?" Ingrid''s command awoke Iris from her stupor.


    She looked at the crown prince, who had his eyes closed. Ever since that day, all of the soldiers, including her, would panic whenever the crown would cough.


    According to Vernon, the Crown Prince only becomes like that when he has an extremely high fever. And right now, his highness has a fever. Can she leave Lady Ingrid alone with his highness?


    "Iris? What are you still doing there?" Ingrid asked with a frown.


    Iris was about to open her mouth to explain when they heard a soft knock on the terrace door. The curtains were closed, but Ingrid could already guess who it was. There are only two people in the world who brazenly appear in her castle without alarming her guards.


    "I''m sorry for disturbing my lady, but may I ask if his highness is with you?"


    Relief washed over Iris when she heard Vernon''s voice.


    "Indeed, his highness is here, with a fever at that."


    There was a long pause.


    "Sir Elsher?" Ingrid called when she didn''t hear his response after a while.


    "Y-yes." Vernon cleared his throat. "My lady, may I ask if you could check his highness''s temperature?"


    "I''ll get the thermometer!" Iris volunteered and ran towards the location of the drawers. In a few seconds, she came back holding a thin glass rod.


    Ingrid took the rod and placed it on Aleric''s palm. After a second, the rod glowed a blue hue, and then all of a sudden it shattered into pieces.


    "My lady!" Iris exclaimed and quickly ran to Ingrid''s aid. However, her footstep halted when she noticed a thin strand of darkness surrounding Ingrid, protecting her from getting hit by the glass shards.


    "What happened?" Vernon asked worriedly.


    But Iris couldn''t respond as she watched the crown prince slowly sit up from the bed. Iris swallowed.


    "The thermometer broke. His fever must be high." Ingrid answered, her voice filled with worry. "And you, mister, lie back down. Iris, the basin, please!"


    "Y-yes!"


    Vernon stood with a stunned expression in front of Ingrid''s closed terrace door. How could it be? The crown prince''s fever is far above the normal threshold, but he didn''t turn wild.


    "Sir Elsher? Are you still there?"


    "Yes, my lady."


    "His highness''s fever is extremely high. I don''t think a mere basin of water would cut it. How about you transport him to the closest hospital?"


    "That won''t be necessary, my lady!" Vernon responded faster than he intended. "His Highness is sick due to mana exhaustion."


    "Mana exhaustion?" Ingrid repeated.


    "To return to Learia within the given time, his Highness used his ability to teleport to Aradhya, exhausting his power. And after regaining it, he used it once again to teleport back."


    Ingrid was stunned. He looked at Aleric with an inexplicable expression. So when he took her to see Naz, he was using his magic despite being exhausted?


    Her hand flew into her mouth. But when she saw him earlier in the day, he still looked fine.


    While they were at Naz''s manor, she did notice that he was unusually silent. But she thought it was because he didn''t want to interrupt them. Did he just pretend to be fine? But why?


    Vernon no longer needed to speak further to show Ingrid what Aleric had done for her, as he intended. He wanted her to feel more indebted to Aleric. If she is indeed the reason why his highness did not succumb to madness this time, then he will do everything in his power to keep her on the crown prince''s side.

 30. Eyes of Fear and Loneliness

    Ingrid was sitting next to her window with a distant expression, her locks of golden brown hair swaying softly as the wind blew. She looked like an ethereal being¡ªa magnificent sight none in the world could ever compare. Charmed by her outlandish beauty, the maidservant''s passing by her window paused to revel at her sight¡ªuntil a small crowd had gathered.


    The servant''s eyes spoke of how much they adored the lady. They felt extremely lucky to have been able to serve the greatest beauty this world has ever seen. However, what they couldn''t see was that beyond her beautiful face were sad eyes marred with loneliness and fear.


    Ingrid''s young mind erased the worst of her memories of that kingdom of Serus so she could keep on living. At the same time, she retained some crucial ones¡ªlike the madness in that ugly King''s eyes¡ªso she could survive.


    However, now all her memories are slowly coming back to her. They hunt her in her dreams. They come in a flash during her moments of weakness, and it makes her feel like she is going crazy.


    Ingrid turned her head when she heard the rustling of sheets. Crown Prince Aleric sat up while rubbing his eyes, his hair all over the place. He looked around the place, still a bit disoriented after his long slumber.


    "You''re finally awake," Ingrid said in a monotone voice, her blank eyes staring at him.


    Ingrid pressed her hand on her chest. For some reason, whenever she looks at his face, her troubled mind turns a serene calm.


    "Huh? Why am I here?" Confusion was evident in the Crown Prince''s eyes¡ªa contrast to his usual confident and arrogant gaze.


    "You had a fever the last few days."


    "The last few days?" Aleric repeated.


    "Yes. You''ve been asleep for four days."


    Crown Prince Aleric''s eyes turned wide with surprise.


    "Don''t~" But before she could finish her sentence, he vanished into thin air.


    "How rude," she muttered lifelessly.


    Ingrid''s lips formed a thin line. There was a sense of loss and emptiness in her eyes as she turned her eyes outside the window once again.


    ***


    The Prickly Rose¡ªthe defender of the weak and the bringer of justice for the poor. They are a group of people feared and hated by the kings and nobles of the South, yet greatly loved and respected by the common people. That is because when the law fails to serve its justice, the Prickly Rose does it for them.


    Ingrid always avoided hearing news about the South, as it gave her nightmares. The grand duke has also banned the mention of that place in her presence. That''s why she did not realize how famous Prickly Rose is.


    When she asked the White Squad for information about the Prickly Rose, Ingrid was surprised by the amount of information she got. From what they have gathered, the Prickly Rose mostly targets nobles and government officials. Those whom they have found to be guilty are executed, and their sins are revealed in every town square for all the people to see.


    Because of it, they have become a thorn in every southern ruler''s side. However, it was also due to their existence that the crime rate in the South significantly decreased¡ªespecially their corruption.


    However, the information that the White Squad gathered may have been a lot, but Ingrid could tell that it was merely superficial. Despite the White Squad being the best at uncovering the most hidden of information the only information they managed to get was the one already known by the public.


    To this day, no one knows who the members of the Prickly Rose are or where they are. They are like phantoms who appear and disappear as they like without leaving any trace.


    This content has been misappropriated from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.


    "So you''re saying that the Prickly Rose is mine?" Ingrid reiterated.


    Naz''s heart throbbed when he saw the coldness in Ingrid''s eyes. It was like seeing her younger self all over again. He was quite familiar with those eyes of hers that seemed like a pair of dying embers that lost hope, and his heart ached.


    Had he known this would happen, he wouldn''t have allowed her to see his scars¡ªno he would never have tried to meet her again. All he wanted was to see her safe and happy. But his existence only unlocked the nightmares she had been running from.


    "Forgive me, my lady," he said in a downhearted voice.


    "Hmm? What do you mean?"


    "Had I known I would cause you to lose your liveliness again... I shouldn''t have~"


    "What are you talking about?" Ingrid asked, cutting him off. "You did nothing wrong. I was already remembering parts of my past even before I met you. But I thought they were mere nightmares. Well, they are nightmares. I just never thought they would chase me even outside of my dreams."


    Ingrid rested her cheek on her palm as she stared at the distance.


    "Out of desperation and yearning to live a normal life, I erased my memories. But I should have known. As long as I have this face that stands above all others, I could never live a normal life."


    Ingrid looked at Naz, a bitter smile on her lips.


    "Isn''t it ironic, that I hold the most beautiful face in the world? On top of that, I was born with a golden spoon. But I''m not happy. It''s like the universe gave me the greatest luck in the world just to curse me through it."


    Naz''s hand clenched tighter. It was as though the ache in Ingrid''s voice pierced his heart too.


    "But I''m glad you are here, Naz. This may sound cruel, but I am relieved to know that I am not alone in my suffering in that place."


    A tear fell from Ingrid''s eyes. She swatted it away as she tried to swallow the lump in her throat.


    "I''m glad that I''m not the only one who suffered. I''m such a terrible person, aren''t I?"


    "My lady..." Naz kneeled before Ingrid. "Knowing that my suffering has comforted your heart, even if it''s just a little, then I''m glad that I suffered."


    "Please don''t say that." Ingrid looked away.


    "When you saved me back in Serus, you gave me greater hope than the sun that I have been yearning to see for ten years. It was because of my lady that I am alive today. So use me as you must, my lady. My life belongs to you alone."


    ///\


    "Thank you, Sir Elsher," Ingrid said while staring at the window.


    Vernon''s movement halted. There was a hint of surprise in his eyes. He did not make any sound when he appeared, but she instantly noticed him.


    "I have sent Naz back to his manor, my lady," Vernon informed her in a polite tone.


    "Thank you."


    Vernon looked at Ingrid with a complicated gaze. Ever since she and His Highness went to visit Naz, something in her has changed.


    When he first saw Ingrid, she had cold and distant eyes that seemed to scream, ''No one is worthy of being a subject of my gaze.'' However, these past few days, though her eyes are still cold and distant, there is no longer arrogance in them. Instead, her eyes looked empty and sad.


    "Then I shall excuse myself, my lady."


    Vernon took Ingrid''s silence as a yes and vanished into thin air.


    He reappeared in a dark room with nothing but a lone chair, where a man surrounded by a dense aura of death was sitting.


    "Your Highness." Vernon bowed towards Crown Prince Aleric.


    "Vernon, will killing Ingrid Lennox interfere with our plan?"


    Vernon froze. He lifted his head and looked at the crown prince with eyes full of surprise.


    Aleric was biting the back of his finger. There was a dangerous glint in his eyes, as though he was truly planning to do it.


    "May I ask why your Highness has come to this decision?" Vernon asked.


    Aleric turned his eyes toward him. That''s when Vernon saw that amidst his murderous glare was a sense of panic and uneasiness.


    "That woman is dangerous."


    Vernon''s face turned extremely red, as he forced himself not to laugh. He loosened the tie on his neck while trying to maintain a stoic expression as he asked, "Your Highness, what made you think that Lady Ingrid is dangerous?"


    Crown Prince Aleric opened his mouth and then closed it again. He looked away and began biting the back of his index finger once again.


    Aleric looked like a lost child, unsure of what to do¡ªa very odd sight to see in the face of a crown prince who had never wavered even in the face of the most fearsome enemies. But it was also because Crown Prince Aleric was only ever exposed to blood and war since he was young that certain aspects of his life have not been developed well.


    When Vernon proposed that he take Ingrid as his wife to gain the support of the grand duke in his campaign against Selite, he agreed without giving it any thought. He must''ve thought of Ingrid as just another pawn¡ªanother hurdle he needs to conquer to get to his goal. The fact that he wasn''t phased by her beauty, which enchanted even the most strong-hearted men, Vernon knew that there was something wrong with his highness.


    He began to pity Ingrid. But then again, he was the one who placed her in that position. And as much as he pitied her, she was an important piece of their plan.


    That is why, to pay for his crime against the most beautiful woman in the world, Vernon began coming up with plans to at least help her marriage be a little less lonely. But seeing how his highness is acting right now, it seems that there is no need for all those plans.


    "Your Highness," Vernon called for his attention. "Why don''t you go see the lady before making any decisions?"

 31. Worthiness

    As Ingrid woke up, she felt a gentle tickling sensation on her lashes. Curiosity piqued, she opened her eyes, only to find a hand suspended in mid-air, just inches away from her face. Ingrid turned her head to get a better look at the owner of the hand.


    "Why are you here?" she asked in a slightly hoarse voice. However, there was no hint of surprise in her face, as though it was only natural for him to be there¡ªto be by her side.


    Aleric did not respond. He had a frown on his face as he looked at Ingrid intently¡ªlike she was a difficult problem he had a hard time solving.


    Ingrid took the time to study Aleric''s face as well. In this world, there is not one single face that she finds attractive apart from her own, and that fact remains. Yet, time and time, she finds herself looking at him¡ªdrawn by his charm as though she was spellbound.


    Perhaps he also practiced witchcraft. Then it would make sense why countless women eye him like hungry hyenas wherever he went despite his terrible reputation.


    It is quite regrettable that none of them were courageous enough to present themselves in front of the tyrant and barbaric crown prince. They longed to be that one special woman whom he would treat differently from the others. But they were cowards. Had they been bold enough to step up and meet his gaze, perhaps they would have gained his interest.


    The thought made Ingrid''s heart throb. If not for her father''s army, would the crown prince even ask for her hand in marriage? Or will she be just another insignificant woman in his eyes?


    Ingrid''s hand moved on its own and touched Aleric''s prominent nose. Seeing that he didn''t mind, she became bolder and began tracing his thick brows, down to his well sculpted jaws until her fingers stopped on his ruddy lips.


    Ingrid swallowed. She could still remember how soft they were¡ªlike clouds of sweetness and warmth. Her face turned red at her own thoughts. Ingrid quickly pushed Aleric to hide her embarrassment. But before she could escape from the confines of her bed, a strong arm pulled her back and felt something soft and hot smash on her supple lips.


    He kissed her as though he was trying to devour her, his tongue exploring every corner of her mouth. It was a dizzying kiss full of lustful desire that sparked an unknown flame in her and she willingly allowed herself to burn.


    A soft moan escaped from her lips as Aleric¡¯s hand traveled from her shoulder down to the arc of her waist. She gasped when she felt a hand grasp her well-endowed chest, giving it a light squeeze that sent a tingling sensation to her core.


    "My lady?" Called a maidservant''s voice while knocking on the door.


    As though freed from a spell, Ingrid''s eyes went wide and she quickly push Aleric away. There was a hint of annoyance on Aleric''s as he glared at the door with murderous eyes.


    "Y-yes?" She croaked, while giving Aleric a light squeeze on the shoulder, warning him not to do anything stupid. But who would have thought that such an innocent gesture would reignite the dying flames.


    Ingrid''s eyes went wide when Aleric gobbled her lips once more. And amidst all rationality, she found herself responding to his kiss clumsily¡ªin the best way she could.


    "It is time for lunch, my lady. May I ask where you would like to have your meal?"


    Ingrid gasped realizing the made is still there. She pushed Aleric away and he relented after giving her another deep kiss.


    ¡°My lady?¡±


    "T-the dining hall! I''ll eat in the dining hall!" Ingrid answered hastily, flustered.


    "Very well my lady."


    Love this novel? Read it on Royal Road to ensure the author gets credit.


    Ingrid glared accusingly at Aleric as they heard the leaving footsteps of the maidservant. However, an awkward silence soon followed. She buried her face in her pillow as realization of what had transpired dawned on her.


    "If your highness could please leave," she asked in shame, still hiding her face.


    "How heartless," Aleric lamented dramatically. "I''m quite sure we were heading towards something more in~hmmp!"


    Ingrid quickly pressed her hands on Aleric''s mouth, her face filled with a mixture of horror and embarrassment.


    "You...do you have any shame?!"


    Aleric licked Ingrid''s palm causing the latter to quickly pull her hands. He couldn''t help a low rumble of laughter to escape from his mouth while looking at her angry face. Her cheeks were puffed and her beady eyes looked as though they were about to start shedding tears.


    "Why, what''s so wrong about what we did? He asked in a low teasing voice as he leaned towards her.


    Ingrid backed away, but felt the headboard behind her. A series of emotions danced around her emerald eyes¡ªpanic, nervousness, anticipation...desire. She pressed her eyes closed when Aleric''s lips were a hair''s-breadth from hers. However, the anticipated kiss did not happen. Instead, she felt his breath tickle her ear.


    "Once we''re married we''ll be doing a lot of those and more..."


    Ingrid felt shivers run down her spine. But when she opened her eyes the crown prince was no longer anywhere to be found.


    Ingrid took a deep breath, trying to settle the turbulence on her chest. She bit her lips as she looked back to what happened earlier. If it wasn''t for the maid...his hand...


    She groaned and buried her face in her hands.


    "I must have gone crazy."


    After finally calming down Ingrid stepped out of her bed and headed for her closet. But as she walked past her full body mirror her movement stopped.


    Ingrid turned red from head to toe when she saw the girl reflected in the mirror. Her hair disheveled. Her lips swollen. Meanwhile one side of her robe was off her shoulder, revealing a glimpse of her well-endowed chest.


    Ingrid fell on the floor while covering her face with her palm in shame.


    ***


    Inside the drawing room within the grand duke of Lennox¡¯s castle, two men could be seen sitting across each other. One was glaring at the other as though he would kill him and any given moment. While the other sat languidly with a grin, unbothered by the other person¡¯s piercing gaze.


    ¡°I assume you already found the mole in your midst, grand duke.¡± Crown Prince Aleric brought about.


    Grand Duke Rasmus¡¯ darting glare towards Aleric became even more sharper.


    ¡°I don''t think the affairs of my house are any of your business, your imperial highness.¡±


    The Crown Prince placed his leg on top of the other and said, ¡°But of course. I know my boundaries. However, this incident does concern my fiancee and future empress, so I have no choice but to meddle.¡±


    ¡°You¡­¡± the grand duke sighed as he tried to rein in his anger. ¡°Your imperial highness, my daughter is precious to me. If it is my army you need for your conquest of the north, I would gladly aid you. Furthermore, I swear to assist you in any way I can in your future conquests as well.¡±


    Aleric leaned forward his lips arching upward. However, the Grand Duke''s next words instantly erased the smile off his face.


    ¡°In return, I humbly implore your highness to leave my daughter be. I do not wish for her to be used like a tool. She has already suffered enough.¡±


    Aleric''s hand clenched. What the grand duke said should have been music to his ears. Grand Duke was offering his assistance to him without him needing to marry his daughter. Yet, it made him anxious instead.


    ¡°I am not marrying your daughter merely for the sake of your army grand duke. I am genuinely interested in her.¡±


    The words that came out of his own mouth surprised him. What was he saying? What is this desperation he is suddenly feeling?


    ¡°I was interested in archery once,¡± Grand Duke Rasmus shared. ¡°For a bit I committed myself into practicing the art. But after some time, I stopped because I never grew to love it as much as I thought I would. Now the priceless bow I fought the greatest archer in the empire to get is sitting in one of my storehouses somewhere, gathering dust.¡±


    An awkward silence enveloped the entire room. Only the ticking of the golden clock attached on the wall could be heard.


    The Grand Duke stood up, breaking the silence.


    ¡°If I may be bold your highness, your wealth and power does not make you worthy of my daughter. As a matter of fact it makes you the most unworthy candidate for her hand. Your world filled with danger and carnage is not a world I wish my daughter to be a part of. I do not care if my daughter marries the poorest man in the world. As long as she can be happy, safe and loved. As long as the man she married can make her eyes lit up and make her feel secure enough to grace him with her beautiful smile. That is all that matters.¡±