《Heir of ruin》 Chapter 01 ?The three walked through the cobbled streets, the cold night air biting at their faces. Up ahead, a towering building loomed, its golden letters gleaming under the dim streetlights: A.O.M.C.¡ªthe Association of Mutual Cooperation. ? ?For centuries, it had stood as a fragile bridge between two factions that had torn the world apart: the Blessed Ones¡ªthose with cursed blood¡ªand the Unblessed¡ªthose without. The A.O.M.C. was meant to keep the peace. Whether it actually did was another matter entirely. ? ?Micheal, a nineteen-year-old with messy black hair and sharp emerald eyes, rubbed his hands together, trying to warm them. ¡°Damn. Could it be any colder?¡± His voice was low, his breath forming small clouds. ¡°Think they¡¯ll let us go back to our dorms?¡± ? ?Beside him, Lily flicked her long black hair over her shoulder. Her almond-brown eyes gleamed with amusement. ¡°Doubt it. We¡¯ll probably be assigned new ones based on our discipline.¡± ? ?Micheal groaned. ¡°Right. Because nothing says ¡®Welcome to your future¡¯ like being thrown into separate rooms.¡± ? ?Lily nudged him with her elbow. ¡°It¡¯s only four years.¡± ? ?¡°Only?¡± Micheal scoffed. ¡°That¡¯s a whole eternity.¡± ? ?On his other side, Angelica walked in silence, her crimson eyes fixed ahead. The mask she always wore concealed most of her face, but Micheal didn¡¯t need to see it to know she wasn¡¯t interested in their conversation. She never was. ? ?They crossed the garden and approached the imposing gates of the A.O.M.C. Two guards, dressed in golden uniforms¡ªfire manipulators, clearly¡ªbowed slightly in Lily¡¯s direction. A silent acknowledgment of her status as a princess. She responded with a small nod, but otherwise, her expression didn¡¯t change. ? ?Inside, Micheal¡¯s eyes widened. The marble floors stretched endlessly through grand halls lined with chandeliers and towering statues. The sheer wealth on display was overwhelming. ? ?¡°Okay,¡± he muttered. ¡°I get why people want to be part of this.¡± ? ?Lily barely spared the place a glance. ¡°Eh. It¡¯s alright.¡± ? The story has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation. ?Micheal scoffed. ¡°Yeah, yeah. We get it. You grew up in a palace.¡± ? ?A cool, mechanical voice rang out from the speakers: ? ?¡°The Department of Finances will remain closed until further notice. Kindly wrap up any remaining business before midnight. All fourth-years, please proceed to Hall A and join the queues for your chosen discipline.¡± ? ?Micheal swallowed hard. He knew this was coming¡ªso why hadn¡¯t he made a decision yet? Fire, nature, assassination¡­ None of them felt right. ? ?Lily perked up. ¡°Oh! Hall A? I was there when we dropped off Axel for his fourth year!¡± ? ?Micheal barely registered her words, his mind racing. ? ?Lily turned to him, smirking. ¡°Wait. Micheal¡­ are you actually nervous for once?¡± ? ?¡°What? Hell no.¡± ? ?¡°Oh my God.¡± Lily gasped dramatically. ¡°You don¡¯t even know what you¡¯re picking yet, do you?¡± ? ?¡°Obviously, I do.¡± ? ?¡°Mmhmm. What is it, then?¡± ? ?Micheal hesitated. ¡°I just don¡¯t feel like telling you.¡± ? ?Lily grinned. ¡°You¡¯re such a bad liar.¡± ? ?¡°I¡¯m not lying.¡± ? ?¡°Uh-huh. Whatever you pick, it better be more useful than being a measly healer.¡± ? ?Micheal grinned as Lily¡¯s face turned red. ¡°Excuse me? Measly?¡± ? ?¡°I mean, healing¡¯s just a subcategory of nature manipulation,¡± he teased. ¡°Might as well go all in and master nature. Easiest one there is.¡± ? ?Lily¡¯s mouth fell open. ¡°You have got to be joking. You¡ª¡± ? ?Before she could go on a full rant, Micheal caught movement from the corner of his eye. Angelica was already walking away, heading straight for the Assassin queue. ? ?¡°Hey! Angie! You can¡¯t just¡ª¡± But she was already gone, disappearing into the crowd. ? ?Micheal exhaled sharply. ¡°What¡¯s up with her?¡± ? ?Lily shrugged. ¡°Same as always. Allergic to emotions.¡± ? ?Micheal frowned, watching Angelica¡¯s retreating figure. ¡°She could¡¯ve at least said goodbye. We won¡¯t see each other for four years.¡± ? ?Lily¡¯s expression softened. ¡°We always find our way back to each other, don¡¯t we?¡± ? ?He didn¡¯t answer. It didn¡¯t feel that simple. Instead, he watched as Lily glanced toward the Healer queue. ? ?¡°Well¡­ I guess this is it.¡± She hesitated. ¡°Are you sure you don¡¯t want to be a healer with me?¡± ? ?Micheal hesitated too. Then, shaking his head, he muttered, ¡°No. That¡¯s not for me. Good luck, though.¡± ? ?Lily¡¯s smile faltered before she nodded. ¡°Good luck, Micheal.¡± ? ?She turned and walked away. ? ?Now alone, Micheal stood there, staring at the signs: Fire. Nature. Water. None of them called to him. ? ?He wanted everything. But that was impossible. Not even the Big Three had mastered all disciplines. ? ?Regret settled in his stomach like a stone. He regretted not preparing for this. He regretted not talking to Angelica. He regretted¡ª ? ?¡°Can¡¯t decide~?¡± ? ?A sultry whisper sent a chill down his spine. ? ?Micheal flinched, whirling around to see a woman with light blue hair smirking at him. Her uniform¡ªmodified from the standard Water Manipulator¡¯s attire¡ªwas cropped at the stomach, her sleeves cut off, her pants swapped for a short skirt. ? ?Micheal knew exactly who she was. ? ?He took a step back. ¡°Miss Mitsuki. I¡¯m in the middle of something.¡± ? ?She stepped closer. ¡°Oh, I can see that¡­ Do you want some guidance~?¡± ? ?His jaw clenched. He was her favorite target¡ªand it pissed him off. ? ?¡°No. I¡¯m fine, thanks.¡± ? ?Mitsuki pouted. ¡°So formal. It¡¯s like you don¡¯t even recognize little old me.¡± Her fingers trailed up his arm. ? ?He swatted her hand away. ¡°Damn it, I¡¯m busy.¡± ? ?Mitsuki smirked wider. ¡°Oh, of course~ And clearly, you need help. Let¡¯s talk about it¡­ over drinks.¡± ? ?Micheal groaned. ¡°I¡¯m being serious.¡± ? ?¡°So am I~¡± She looped her arm through his. ¡°You thought you could just disappear for four years without a proper goodbye?¡± ? ?He sighed in defeat. ¡°Damn you.¡± ? ?Her smile turned victorious. ¡°That¡¯s the Mikey I remember~ Now come on. I saw this amazing tavern down the street. We¡¯ll talk about your¡­ whatever it was.¡± ? ?They did not, in fact, talk about any such thing. ? ? ? ? ? Chapter 02 The sky was covered by dark gray clouds that stretched endlessly over the horizon, the sun hidden entirely. The air carried the pleasant yet heavy scent of impending rain¡ªmaybe even a storm. It had been brewing for days now. Not a single bird was in sight as people hurried to their homes, motels, or any shelter they could find. ? ?Inside a brothel, a similar scene was unfolding. ? ?"No clients today, Alisa¡­ Mrs. Valery has asked to shut all the doors," a woman¡¯s voice called out. ? ?Alisa turned to face her friend Jenny, nodding. ? ?"I know¡­ I just need to make sure my dogs are safe." ? ?Jenny sighed, arms crossed. "You and those damn strays¡­ You¡¯re gonna catch a cold one day fussing over them." ? ?Alisa smirked. "Wouldn¡¯t be the first time." ? ?Jenny shook her head, but there was no real heat in it. "Just don¡¯t take too long, alright? Storm¡¯s rolling in fast." ? ?Alisa pulled on her coat and stepped outside into the strong breeze. A storm was definitely coming. ? ?She pushed forward through the overgrown grass toward a small abandoned shed, checking the roof coverings to make sure no rainwater would seep through too easily. The strong winds could knock the old structure down, but there was little she could do. Barely having her own room in that damn brothel, bringing the dogs inside wasn¡¯t an option. ? ?A soft smile graced her lips at the sound of padding footsteps. An old brown dog wagged her tail in delight, approaching Alisa and licking her palm. She gently stroked the dog¡¯s back and head. ? ?"That¡¯s a good girl¡­ Where are your babies, sweetheart?" ? ?As if on command, three small puppies waddled out from behind their mother, sniffing at Alisa, their tiny tails wagging as they recognized her scent. ? ?The sharp crack of thunder made the animals cower in fear. Alisa sighed. She couldn''t stay here any longer. Making sure the dogs had enough food and water, she shut the door securely before stepping back into the pouring rain. Cold seeped into her bones as she tightened her scarf around her neck, rain soaking through her clothes. ? ?As she trudged through the damp grass, a faint sound made her stop in her tracks. She hesitated, thinking she was imagining it, but then it came again¡ªsoft, weak, barely audible over the storm. ? ?A child. ? ?Her heart pounded as she quickened her pace, moving toward the noise. ? ?There, in a drenched cardboard box, a small figure was wrapped in a thin blanket, green eyes wide and bawling. ? ?Alisa gingerly reached out, lifting the child into her arms. It wasn¡¯t uncommon for parents in this impoverished area to abandon their kids, but that didn¡¯t make it any less heartbreaking. ? ?Hugging him close to her chest, she tried to comfort him while shielding him from the rain. ? ?"Shh¡­ It¡¯s okay¡­ I¡¯ve got you now. We¡¯ll get you someplace warm." ? ?Her voice was soft, soothing, and the child slowly calmed, his tear-streaked cheeks still trembling. She smiled down at him, gently stroking his face. ? ?"I¡¯ll take care of you¡­ Don¡¯t worry." ? ?When she finally made it back to the warmth of her small, messy room, she looked down at a crumpled paper stapled to the child''s blanket. The ink had bled from the rain, but one word was still legible: Micheal. ? ?The parents had probably hoped he¡¯d be adopted. ? ?"Hello, Micheal¡­ I¡¯m Alisa. I hope we can get along." ? ? ?--- ? ?Micheal jolted awake, groaning as a dull, pounding headache reminded him of last night¡¯s activities. The tale has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation. ? ?He didn''t remember booking this room. He didn¡¯t remember taking off his clothes. All he remembered was drinking with Mitsuki. ? ?Sitting up, he rubbed his eyes, the movement making his headache worse. Spotting a water bottle on the bedside table, he grabbed it and took small sips. His mind drifted back to the dream he¡¯d just had. ? ?A familiar ache settled in his chest as he thought about the women who raised him. What he wouldn¡¯t give to have a moment with them again¡­ with Jenny¡­ with Alisa. ? ?But there was no time for that now. ? ?Reality crashed back in as the events of last night pieced together in his mind¡ªMitsuki, the A.O.M.C., the bar... the choice. ? ?His heart skipped a beat. ? ?"Shit!" ? ?He stumbled to his feet, yanking on his clothes. He couldn''t be late. He couldn''t have missed it. ? ?He¡¯d be a year behind if he did. ? ?Micheal ran, heart hammering, lungs burning. Rainwater mixed with sweat, his hair a tangled mess. The lingering stench of alcohol and sweat made him feel even worse. ? ?Finally, he reached his destination. His stomach dropped. ? ?The doors were shut. ? ?He¡¯d missed his chance. ? ?Groaning in frustration, he slumped against the wall, catching his breath. ? ?"Damn it¡­ Fuck you, Mitsuki." ? ?For a moment, he just sat there in silence. Then, distant voices caught his attention. ? ?Looking up, he spotted two figures in the distance. ? ?The taller man had a permanent cocky smirk, his hair dyed light pink, dressed in casual jeans and a button-up shirt. A small crown sat atop his head. That was Axel¡ªthe crown prince, the fastest and strongest man alive, and the leader of the Big Three. ? ?Beside him stood a shorter man in a yellow-gold shirt with buttoned cuffs, thin black gloves over his hands. His brown hair was carelessly ruffled, and a mask covered his face, hiding his expression. But his eyes were sharp and serious. Knox. The Fire Saint. The second part of the Big Three. Widely regarded as the second strongest and smartest fighter alive. ? ?Micheal was in awe. ? ?He inched closer, trying to listen. ? ?"My dear Knox¡­ It seems to me like you¡¯re just afraid to face me in a proper duel." Axel¡¯s voice was teasing, but there was something under it¡ªsomething longing. ? ?"Afraid?" Knox scoffed, crossing his arms. "I don¡¯t waste my time on meaningless fights. Unlike you, I don¡¯t have the luxury of treating combat like a game." ? ?"Oh, come on. You wound me." Axel placed a hand over his heart dramatically. "You make it sound like I¡¯m reckless." ? ?"You are reckless," Knox deadpanned. ? ?"I prefer the term ¡®adventurous.¡¯" Axel leaned in slightly. "Besides, a duel between us wouldn¡¯t be meaningless. It would be¡ª" He paused, searching for the word. "Exciting. Intimate, even." ? ?Knox narrowed his eyes. "If by ¡®intimate¡¯ you mean ¡®a potential disaster that could level half the city,¡¯ then sure." ? ?Axel grinned. "I¡¯d be gentle with you." ? ?Knox exhaled sharply. "Enough. Try acting like the crown prince for once." ? ?"And what better way than by besting the great Fire Saint?" Axel¡¯s smirk faltered for half a second¡ªso quick it was almost unnoticeable. ? ?Before Knox could respond, a branch snapped. ? ?Their gazes locked onto Micheal. ? ?Knox¡¯s fingers ignited with fire. ? ?Axel just smirked. "Oh, look who it is¡­ It¡¯s the guy who¡¯s been sleeping with your dear sister, isn¡¯t he~?" ? ? ? Chapter 03 ?Micheal¡¯s heart dropped. ? ?He was in trouble. ? ?Sleeping with Mitsuki¡ªhe hadn¡¯t even considered how Knox would take it. Hell, he hadn¡¯t thought he¡¯d ever have to find out. Mitsuki had been with plenty of men and women, as far as he knew, but now, standing in front of her brother¡ªthe Fire Incarnate, a man who could turn him to ash in seconds¡ªMicheal felt a new kind of fear settle in. ? ?The air thickened, heat pressing down on his skin like an unrelenting weight. It wasn¡¯t just uncomfortable¡ªit was suffocating. A warning. ? ?Then, Knox exhaled, slow and measured. When he finally spoke, his voice was steady, but there was an unmistakable sharpness beneath it. ? ?¡°She¡¯s not my actual sister.¡± ? ?Axel, completely unfazed, leaned in slightly, his smirk playful but his eyes watching Knox with quiet intensity. ¡°She¡¯s still your family, isn¡¯t she?¡± ? ?A muscle in Knox¡¯s jaw twitched. ¡°She¡¯s her own person. Who she sleeps with is none of my concern.¡± ? ?Axel let out a low hum, tilting his head. ¡°That so? You sure about that, Saint?¡± ? ?Knox¡¯s eyes flicked to him, sharp as daggers. ¡°What¡¯s it to you?¡± ? ?Axel¡¯s smirk didn¡¯t waver, but for a fraction of a second, something flashed in his eyes. Something restrained. Then, just as quickly, it was gone, replaced with feigned amusement. ? ?¡°Oh, just making sure,¡± Axel said smoothly. ¡°It¡¯d be a shame if there were any¡­ complications.¡± ? ?Knox inhaled sharply, visibly reigning himself in. Then he turned to Micheal, gaze raking over him like he was barely worth the effort. ¡°Why are you here?¡± ? ?Micheal swallowed hard, trying to shake the tension. ¡°Uh¡­ I was supposed to enroll in a discipline yesterday, but¡ª¡± If you find this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the infringement. ? ?¡°You missed the queues?¡± Axel cut in, grinning like this was some private joke. ? ?Micheal hesitated. ¡°Yeah, because¡ª¡± ? ?¡°You were too busy sleeping with my sister,¡± Knox finished flatly. ? ?Micheal winced. The words weren¡¯t loud, but the weight behind them was enough to make his skin crawl. Even behind the mask, Knox¡¯s bitterness was palpable. It wasn¡¯t just about Mitsuki¡ªMicheal had a feeling this was something deeper, something he wasn¡¯t privy to. ? ?¡°Yeah,¡± he admitted, his voice barely above a whisper. The air felt heavy again. He risked a glance at Knox, but the Fire Saint¡¯s expression was unreadable. ? ?Then, just as the silence stretched too long, Axel chuckled, stepping forward and slinging an arm over Micheal¡¯s shoulders. The grip, though seemingly casual, was firm¡ªa reminder that Axel was very much in control of this moment. His voice was light, almost teasing, but there was something in the way he held himself that made Micheal uneasy. ? ?¡°Not to worry, young¡­ what was your name again?¡± ? ?¡°Micheal.¡± ? ?¡°Ah, yes. Young Micheal.¡± Axel¡¯s smirk turned sharper. ¡°Lucky for you, I have just the job.¡± ? ?Micheal stiffened. There was no way this would be simple. He could already tell. ? ?Axel began leading him away, his grip still firm. Micheal resisted the urge to look back, but he could feel it¡ªKnox¡¯s gaze burning into his back, searing in a way fire never could. ? ?As they walked through the cobbled streets, Axel¡¯s arm around his shoulder loosened, his nonchalant smile never fading. Micheal finally cleared his throat. ¡°Where are we going? A-and¡­ can you actually help me with my enrollment?¡± ? ?Axel¡¯s gaze remained fixed ahead, his smile unwavering. ¡°No. I can¡¯t help you with that. The royal family doesn¡¯t get to meddle in those issues.¡± ? ?Micheal felt his heart drop, disappointment visible on his face. ¡°Oh¡­ is that so? Then where are we going?¡± ? ?¡°You¡¯ll see.¡± Axel¡¯s vagueness irritated Micheal, yet he kept silent, keeping pace. His thoughts were a jumbled mess of regret and helplessness. Out of nowhere, a thought crossed his mind. ? ?¡°How did you know I was sleeping with Mitsuki?¡± ? ?Axel raised an eyebrow, surprised. ¡°That¡¯s a bit random, isn¡¯t it, Micheal? Either way, my dear sister Lily told me all about you and your other lovely friend¡ªwhat¡¯s her name? Angela-something?¡± ? ?¡°Angelica.¡± Micheal couldn¡¯t help but feel a mix of betrayal and embarrassment at the thought of his existence being discussed so casually. He imagined the Queen, the King, and Axel sitting at the dinner table, laughing as Lily recounted stories of him and Angelica. He shook his head, amused at the foolishness of it. Axel noticed the faint smile curling his lips, and his own smile widened. ? ?¡°Mom and Dad were worried at one point, y¡¯know? Thought Lily would end up marrying an orphan.¡± ? ?Micheal scoffed, cheeks heating up. ¡°N-no way! I¡¯d never date her even if she were the last person on Earth.¡± ? ?Axel¡¯s smile twitched. ¡°Oh? That so? Is she really that bad?¡± ? ?Micheal averted his gaze. ¡°No¡­ she¡¯s not bad. It¡¯s just¡­ I don¡¯t think of her like that. Besides, she¡¯s too busy worshiping Knox.¡± ? ?Axel¡¯s expression darkened for a split second before he smoothed it over, his usual teasing smirk returning, though it felt a bit forced. ¡°Ah, right. Lily and her little Saint obsession.¡± ? ?Micheal frowned, sensing something off in Axel¡¯s tone. ¡°I didn¡¯t mean¡ª¡± ? ?¡°Doesn¡¯t matter.¡± Axel¡¯s voice was lighter now, dismissive. ¡°Anyway, here¡¯s a safehouse. Go freshen up. You¡¯ll be given fresh clothes. We¡¯ll talk when you¡¯re done. Right now, you reek of alcohol.¡± ? ?There was a smile on his face, but Micheal couldn¡¯t shake the feeling that he¡¯d just stepped on a landmine. Nodding silently, he headed into the safehouse while Axel seated himself on a couch, withdrawing a pen and paper from his pocket, writing something down. Micheal was led toward a bathroom, his mind still turning over the strange shift in Axel¡¯s demeanor. ? ? ? ? ? ? Chapter 04 Micheal didn¡¯t see Axel for the rest of the day, which he found strange. He hadn¡¯t planned on staying in the safe house for long, but he wasn¡¯t about to complain. The place was comfortable, and after everything, a little peace wasn¡¯t unwelcome. ? ?Freshly cleaned and dressed in new garments, the stench of alcohol and sweat finally gone, he stepped out of the bathroom. The moment he entered the main room, he noticed someone sitting at the table. A steaming cup of tea rested in front of the man, who looked up as soon as he heard Micheal¡¯s footsteps. ? ?The man had dark hair tied back into a small ponytail, his face unreadable, his eyes sharp and calculating. Despite his composed posture, there was an air of exhaustion about him, as if he had been carrying a burden for far too long. ? ?"Ah¡­ so you¡¯re finally done." His voice was calm, measured. "Axel told me about you. Micheal, right?" ? ?Micheal nodded numbly, his gaze drifting to the sword strapped to the man¡¯s hip. ? ?The man stood and approached him, stopping just a few feet away. ¡°My name¡¯s Aki. This is my safe house. Axel informed me of your¡­ predicament.¡± ? ?Micheal¡¯s eyes widened. Aki? ? ?¡°W-wait, you¡¯re¡ª¡± ? ?¡°Yes, yes, I know,¡± Aki interrupted, waving a hand dismissively. ¡°I¡¯m part of the Big Three. And yes, I am a dual wielder, meaning I can manipulate both lightning and nature.¡± ? You might be reading a pirated copy. Look for the official release to support the author. ?Micheal could only stare, stunned, as Aki studied him with mild curiosity, rubbing his chin as if lost in thought. The silence stretched just long enough to make Micheal uneasy before Aki spoke again. ? ?¡°According to Axel, I¡¯m supposed to train you, starting tomorrow.¡± His tone turned slightly bored, as if he¡¯d rather be doing anything else. ¡°I should warn you, I wouldn¡¯t be doing this if I didn¡¯t owe him money. So don¡¯t¡ª¡± He leaned in slightly, his sharp eyes locking onto Micheal¡¯s. ¡°Get. Cocky. Understood?¡± ? ?¡°W-wait, what!? Training?! B-but I¡ª¡± ? ?Aki sighed, shaking his head in clear exasperation. ¡°Don¡¯t you get it yet, Micheal? Axel doesn¡¯t do things for no reason. Apparently, he saw potential in you¡­ something I fail to see, by the way.¡± ? ?¡°H-hey!¡± Micheal protested, but Aki ignored him. ? ?¡°Either way, you¡¯ll be training under me from tomorrow onwards. For now, Jasmine will show you to your room.¡± ? ?At that, a girl stepped forward from the shadows. She had neatly tied brown hair, soft brown eyes, and tanned skin. She gave Micheal a small, respectful bow but said nothing, merely waiting for him to follow her. ? ?¡°N-no, wait¡­ you can¡¯t just dump this information on me like that!¡± Micheal burst out. ¡°If he knew I had potential, why did he wait for me to miss my enrollment? Why didn¡¯t he just tell me outright?!¡± ? ?Aki let out a slow breath, rubbing his forehead as if Micheal¡¯s presence alone was giving him a headache. ¡°Micheal, think for a second. If the crown prince suddenly recruited some random kid and put him under the Big Three, what do you think the public reaction would be?¡± ? ?Micheal hesitated. ¡°W-well¡­ I mean, it¡¯d¡ª¡± ? ?¡°It¡¯d cause an uproar in the AOMC,¡± Aki finished flatly. ¡°I don¡¯t know if you¡¯re aware, but they¡¯re not exactly on the best terms with the royal family. Never have been. So the soon-to-be king personally recruiting an unknown boy? Not exactly the smartest move.¡± ? ?Micheal blinked, stunned into silence for the third time that day. ? ?¡°W-wait¡­ not on good terms? But¡ª¡± ? ?¡°They¡¯ve never been on good terms, Micheal. The AOMC is a separate entity with one purpose: keeping peace no matter the cost.¡± ? ?Something about the way he said it made the words sit heavy in Micheal¡¯s chest. ? ?¡°So¡­ so then¡­ if I hadn¡¯t gotten caught up with Miss Mitsuki¡ª¡± Micheal stopped himself too late, realizing he¡¯d just said too much. ? ?Aki simply raised an eyebrow. ¡°Who do you think sent Mitsuki to get you?¡± ? ?Micheal¡¯s breath hitched as realization dawned. Before he could ask anything else, Aki smirked¡ªjust barely¡ªand turned toward the door. ? ?¡°Think on that,¡± he said over his shoulder, then stepped outside, leaving Micheal standing there, his thoughts a tangled mess. ? ?A soft voice pulled him from his daze. ? ?¡°Master Micheal¡­ may I escort you to your room?¡± ? ?Jasmine¡¯s voice was gentle, almost hesitant. Micheal glanced at her, then nodded absentmindedly, following her up the stairs, his mind still racing. ? ? ? Chapter 04.2 Lily ? ?It had only been three weeks since Micheal and Angelica had gone their separate ways, but it felt like an eternity. Lily had chosen to be a healer, and she¡¯d known this moment would come¡ªthe moment she¡¯d be apart from her friends for four years. She had prepared herself for it, convinced herself it wouldn¡¯t be that bad. ? ?So why did she feel so empty? Why did it feel like a piece of her heart had gone missing? ? ?¡°Hey¡­ Lily? You okay?¡± ? ?Lily forced a small smile at her¡ªno, not her friend, just her classmate. Katie seemed nice enough, genuinely kind, but she wasn¡¯t Micheal. She wasn¡¯t Angelica. ? ?¡°I¡¯m fine, Katie. Just didn¡¯t sleep much last night.¡± Lily tried to keep her tone casual, but Katie didn¡¯t look convinced. Still, she didn¡¯t push. ? ?Lily missed them. The easy banter, the playful jabs, the way conversations flowed without effort. Here, it wasn¡¯t the same. Conversations felt forced, the air always filled with hesitation. She could feel the eyes on her, sense the way the other students glanced her way before quickly looking down at their notebooks. No one dared to meet her gaze for too long. This novel''s true home is a different platform. Support the author by finding it there. ? ?She knew why. They didn¡¯t see her as Lily, the way Micheal and Angelica had. To them, she was a princess, a member of the royal family¡ªnot just another student. ? ?She had thought about writing to Micheal, more than once. But something always held her back. Maybe she wanted to prove she could make friends on her own. Or maybe¡­ maybe she was just waiting for him to write first. As for Angelica? Lily didn¡¯t even bother. She already knew the girl wouldn¡¯t reply. ? ?¡°Lily¡ª¡± Katie tried again, her voice laced with concern, but Lily barely heard her. Her pencil moved absently over the page, doodling mindlessly as her thoughts spiraled. ? ?She had imagined these four years would be interesting. Yet so far, she had done nothing but history and theory. It was boring. Was this because she had chosen to be a healer? Maybe Micheal had been right. The least you could do is master nature. ? ?Maybe she should have. Maybe she should have helped Micheal choose his path, asked Angelica what she wanted. Maybe she should have been less stubborn. Maybe¡ª ? ?¡°Lily?¡± Katie¡¯s voice cut through her thoughts. ? ?Lily barely registered it. ? ?¡°Lily?¡± A hand shook her shoulder this time. ? ?Lily snapped. ¡°Oh my god, what is it?!¡± ? ?She hadn¡¯t meant to sound so harsh, but the words were out before she could stop them. She saw the flicker of hurt on Katie¡¯s face, but she couldn¡¯t bring herself to care. The silence, the stares, the weight of it all¡ªit was getting to her. ? ?Katie¡¯s expression hardened. ¡°Nothing. You¡¯ve got a letter.¡± ? ?She held out an envelope. ? ?Lily¡¯s heart skipped a beat the moment she saw the seal. Axel. ? ?Without another word, she took the letter and walked out of the classroom, her pulse quickening. Whatever doubts or regrets she had moments ago vanished, her mind singularly focused on the envelope in her hands. ? ?But as her eyes scanned the words inside, her breath hitched. ? ?Her heart plummeted. ? ?No. This couldn¡¯t be real. ? ? Chapter 04.3 ******Angelica***** ? ?One. ? ?Two. ? ?Three. ? ?Four. ? ?Another cut. The blade slices clean, the pain dulling into nothingness. Blood beads at the fresh wound before spilling over, sliding down her fingers in slow, lazy streams. It drips onto the stone floor below, forming a dark pool at her feet. The metallic scent thickens the air, mingling with the stench of death. ? ?One. ? ?Two. Support the author by searching for the original publication of this novel. ? ?Three. ? ?Another cut¡ªdeeper this time, across both wrists. A crimson ribbon blooms, staining her already ruined sleeves. She barely registers the sting. The book had said to do this thrice more. Or was it five? No¡ªfifty. No¡­ thirty different heads, thirty different types of blood. ? ?She¡¯d killed seventy just to be safe. ? ?The library was littered with corpses¡ªlimbs twisted, throats gaping, their bodies nothing more than husks drained of all value. They had been useless. Worthless. Bloodless garbage. Not even fit to be called animals. Without a drop of cursed blood in their veins. They were fit only for slaughter ? ?One. ? ?Two. ? ?Another cut. ? ?Her vision wavers. Her pulse thrums erratically, a distant pounding in her ears. Her knees buckle, but she catches herself against the blood-slicked table. She can¡¯t fall. Not yet. Two more. Just two more. ? ?One. ? ?Her grip trembles as she raises the blade again. Her fingers are sticky, too slippery. The hilt nearly slides from her grasp. She presses down harder. ? ?Another cut. Her world tilts. Her breaths come shallow now, each inhale rattling in her chest. ? ?Zero. ? ?The final cut. The knife clatters to the floor. Her legs give way, but she refuses to collapse among the filth. She stumbles forward, gripping a tree outside the library, her nails digging into the bark. The cold night air bites at her fevered skin, but it does nothing to ground her. The edges of her vision blur, dark tendrils creeping inward. ? ?Still, she hears them¡ªthe whispers. Twisting, curling, seeping into her very bones. ? ?Promising her power. Promising her everything. ? ?A slow, satisfied smile tugs at her lips. ? ?And just before the darkness claims her, she welcomes it. ? ? ? ? Chapter 05 ?Micheal wasn''t sure what to expect at the start of his training, but he definitely hadn¡¯t expected to be jolted awake by ice-cold water at the crack of dawn. ? ?He gasped, sputtering as he shot up, shivering violently. Sleep was a distant memory now. Jasmine stood beside his bed, empty bucket in hand, lips twitching as she fought the urge to smile. ? ?"WHAT THE HELL WAS THAT FOR!?" he managed to choke out between shivers. ? ?Jasmine shrugged. "Aki told me to wake you up. I tried, but you wouldn¡¯t budge, so I had to resort to drastic measures." ? ?Despite her neutral tone, Micheal could hear the amusement laced in her voice. She was enjoying this. ? ?"You could have just shaken me awake, y''know?" ? ?"And get my hands dirty? Do you have any idea how long I spent scrubbing your filthy, sweaty clothes clean?" ? ?Micheal hesitated, suddenly embarrassed. "W-Well..." ? ?"You don¡¯t really have to do that," he muttered, avoiding her gaze. ? ?"Oh, trust me, I don¡¯t want to. But if I don¡¯t, Aki will. And he has enough on his plate without dealing with your mess." ? ?"You talk like I want to be a burden," he shot back, crossing his arms. "What¡¯s he to you, anyway?" ? ?Jasmine¡¯s teasing demeanor faded. "He¡¯s my brother. My older brother." ? ?Micheal frowned, eyeing her critically. Aki¡¯s jet-black hair and cold, piercing gaze were a stark contrast to Jasmine¡¯s warm brown eyes and tanned skin. "You sure about that? You two don¡¯t look alike." ? ?Her expression darkened slightly. "We¡¯re not blood-related. His parents... rescued me." ? ?"Rescued?" ? ?She took a deep breath. "From the 11th Cursed Blood Massacre. Fourteen years ago. I was five. They started rounding up and executing everyone without cursed blood in our district. My parents didn¡¯t make it. His parents saved me." ? ?Micheal stiffened. A slow, creeping disgust curled in his stomach. His face betrayed it before he could suppress it. She¡¯s one of them. ? ?The memories surged forward like a flood. The village bell ringing as the raid began. The shouts outside their door, growing louder. The gunshot. The sound of a body hitting the floor. Mrs. Valery¡¯s lifeless stare. The screams. The gunfire. Jenny¡¯s trembling arms around him as she tried to comfort him. ¡°It¡¯s okay, baby. It¡¯s just fireworks.¡± The lie. The terror. Alisa¡¯s bloodied hands, a deep wound in her chest as she stumbled into the room. Her shaking fingers cupping his face, her love and regret unspoken but painfully clear. Blood soaked her dress, spreading from the deep wound in her chest. Yet she didn¡¯t cry out. She didn¡¯t scream. She just¡­ looked at him. Unauthorized content usage: if you discover this narrative on Amazon, report the violation. ? ?Micheal would never forget that look. The warmth in her eyes, the silent love she poured into him in that single moment. The regret. The sorrow of a woman who knew she wouldn¡¯t live to see him grow up. ? ?Her shaking hands cupped his face, a weak smile forming on her lips even as her strength waned tears of regret streaming down her face ? ?"Mama¡­ don¡¯t cry¡­ please¡­ say something¡­" ? ?Alisa opened her mouth, but no words came. Only a pained gasp. Then her eyes shifted to Jenny. And with her final breath, she whispered one word. ? ?"Please¡­" ? ?Then she was gone. ? ?The world was never the same after that. ? ? ?"As if your people didn¡¯t kill ours before that!" he snapped, his voice trembling with anger. ? ?Jasmine¡¯s eyes widened before narrowing, her own rage flaring. "And what the hell is that supposed to mean? Do you really think innocent, hardworking men and women deserved to die because of what a few fanatics did?!" ? ?"Your few fanatics started the problem!" Micheal shot back. "You should have kept them under control!" ? ?Jenny¡¯s desperate footsteps echoed in his mind. The way she had shielded him, the bullets whizzing past them. The way they had trampled over Alisa¡¯s corpse like she was nothing. His stomach churned. ? ?Jasmine¡¯s voice cut through his thoughts, venomous. "Do you hear yourself right now?! You pathetic excuse for a human being! You¡¯re saying thousands deserved to die for the mistakes of a few?! You¡¯re saying my parents deserved to die?!" ? ?Micheal faltered. "I... I didn¡¯t mean that." ?Jenny¡¯s hands had been shaking as she carried him, her breaths short and panicked. "There! Get her!" The shout came from behind. Gunshots rang out. She held him tighter. Shielded him with her own body. ? ?"Oh, didn¡¯t you?! Because that¡¯s exactly what it sounded like!" ? ?"You¡¯re acting like you¡¯re all saints!" he fired back. ? ?Jenny¡¯s labored breathing. The fall from the third-story window. The sickening crunch as she hit the ground, cradling him in her arms. The way she had crawled into the shed, whispering reassurances even as her blood seeped through her clothes. ? ?"Oh, but we can¡¯t be saints, can we?! That¡¯s only for your people with your so-called special blood!" ? ?Micheal¡¯s anger boiled over. "You should know who your bet¡ª" ? ?"What is going on here." ? ?Aki¡¯s voice was cold, sharp as a blade. ? ?Micheal stopped mid-sentence, his breath hitching. Aki stood at the doorway, arms crossed, his dark eyes unreadable. He took in the scene¡ªJasmine¡¯s trembling fists, Micheal¡¯s heaving chest, the thick tension between them. ? ?"Jas. Go to your room." ? ?Jasmine opened her mouth to argue but stopped when she saw the look in Aki¡¯s eyes. She clenched her jaw, shot Micheal a final glare, and stormed out. ? ?Aki turned his gaze to Micheal. "You need to clear your head. I won¡¯t train a man who can¡¯t accept his past or his present, because a man like that has no future." his voice was cold, blunt almost cruel. ? ?Micheal swallowed hard, still fuming. "You don¡¯t know anything about me." ? ?Aki¡¯s lips curled into something that wasn¡¯t quite a smirk. "Oh, but I do. I know that you are nothing.You¡¯re not special. You¡¯re not important. You¡¯re just another lost orphan, clinging to the past like a coward.All I see is a boy who thinks the world owes him something, A boy too weak to move over the past. A fool with no ambition. Tell me, Micheal¡ªwhere do you see yourself in a few weeks?" ? ?Micheal seethed, his vision blurred with anger. He could feel the burning in his throat, the hot, unwelcome tears stinging his eyes. The rage brewing like a storm. At this moment he didn''t see Aki as one of the strongest, all he saw was a man insulting him. ? ? ?Aki¡¯s tone was cold, merciless. "I think the only reason Axel brought you here was to see just how pathetic you really are." ? ?That did it. ? ?With a furious cry, Micheal lunged at him. His vision blurred with rage. He barely registered Aki moving before he was on his back, the wind knocked out of him, pain radiating through his spine. Aki stood over him, unmoved. ? ?"Prove me wrong," he murmured. "I dare you." ? ?The door closed. Silence filled the room. ? ?Micheal didn¡¯t move. He barely even breathed. The rage had drained out of him, leaving only the hollow ache in his chest. A part of him knew Aki was right but he didn''t want to admit it. ? ?Tears spilled down his face, hot and silent. His body ached, but nothing compared to the pain in his heart. ? ?Jenny¡¯s voice whispered in his mind. Her blood had stained her shirt, the warmth of her arms fading. Her fingers had trembled as they brushed through his hair one last time. ? ?"Micheal¡­ I¡­ I¡¯m sorry¡­ Alisa¡­ I¡¯m sorry¡­ I¡­ I can¡¯t¡­" ? ?Her words broke apart, scattered like dying embers. He had buried his face in her chest, sobbing. He had clung to her even as her grip went limp, even as her warmth faded to nothing. ? ?By the time he finally slept, there was no one left to comfort him. ? ?And when he woke up, her arms were still around him¡ªcold, pale, and lifeless. ? ?Just like his world. ? ? Chapter 05.1 The moment Lily stepped off the train, her eyes darted through the station, searching for Axel. Would he even come to pick her up? Or would it be Knox? That letter was burned into her mind, the rumors had already spread through her class like wildfire. But she hadn¡¯t expected them to reach so far, so fast. ? ?A familiar figure approached, his messy dark hair tousled by the wind, golden cuffs glinting under the dim station lights. Her heart gave an involuntary jolt. ? ?¡°How was your ride back, Your Majesty?¡± Knox¡¯s voice was neutral, but when he reached for her bags, his fingers brushed against hers, sending a shiver up her spine. ? ?¡°It was fine¡­¡± she answered, trying to steady her voice. ¡°Call me Lily, Knox. You don¡¯t need to be so formal. We¡¯ve known each other since we were kids.¡± ? ?Knox simply nodded, his face unreadable behind his ever-present mask of calm. ? ?¡°Knox¡­ that letter¡­ the rumors about Axel. Don¡¯t tell me it¡¯s¡ª¡± ? ?¡°I don¡¯t want to believe it either.¡± His voice was low, careful. ¡°But it¡¯s too much of a coincidence to just ignore.¡± ? ?Lily¡¯s breath hitched. Was Axel actually taking these accusations seriously? ? ?¡°But Axel wouldn¡¯t¡ª you know that! You¡¯ve known him since¡ª¡± ? ?¡°I know he wouldn¡¯t.¡± Knox cut in sharply, his fingers tightening around her bags. ¡°I never said he did. I¡¯m saying that¡¯s why the rumor gained so much traction.¡± ? ?Lily swallowed hard, her heart pounding. ¡°Knox¡­ I can¡¯t believe he would order the murder of seventy people. Or hire an assassin to kill Sean McKeon.¡± This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there. ? ?Her uncle¡¯s name was a dagger to the heart. The news had hit her like a brick wall. ? ?¡°Me neither,¡± Knox admitted. ¡°But think about it, Lily. Sean was the only real threat to Axel¡¯s claim to the throne. He¡¯s been against him since day one.¡± ? ?¡°He¡¯s our uncle, Knox. Axel wouldn¡¯t hurt family. I know it.¡± ? ?Knox sighed. ¡°I hope you¡¯re right.¡± ? ?Lily pulled her hood up, suddenly feeling exposed, but then Knox reached over and adjusted it slightly, his fingers grazing her hair. Her face warmed despite everything. ? ?¡°And the bit about the blood manipulator?¡± she asked, shaking the feeling away. ? ?Knox¡¯s expression darkened. ¡°I don¡¯t want to believe it¡­¡± ? ?¡°What does it even mean?¡± ? ?He hesitated, eyes scanning the platform as if searching for unwanted ears before finally speaking. ¡°Princess¡­ when the first children of cursed blood were born, they were told they could manipulate natural elements. That was the order of things. The balance. But one faction¡­ they wanted more. Led by the smallest clan of the time, they discovered blood manipulation. The Saints tried to stop them¡ªfailed. Their leader slaughtered his entire clan to fulfill the conditions necessary to wield it.¡± ? ?Lily¡¯s stomach twisted. ¡°And this man¡ª¡± ? ?¡°Was supposedly defeated by the Lightning Incarnate of that era,¡± Knox finished. ¡°But that story has little basis in fact. For all we know¡­¡± ? ?She blinked. ¡°He¡¯d be dead by now, wouldn¡¯t he?¡± ? ?Knox exhaled, his gaze hard. ¡°Not necessarily. Blood manipulation may have allowed him to halt his own aging.¡± ? ?¡°H-how?¡± ? ?¡°I don¡¯t know. I wish I did.¡± ? ?Lily struggled to process it all. ¡°But this is just speculation, right?¡± ? ?Knox shook his head. ¡°Not entirely. The North has a hidden chamber¡ªno one in your family has ever been allowed access. Not your father. Not Axel. It¡¯s one of the kingdom¡¯s biggest conspiracies.¡± ? ?Lily¡¯s pulse quickened. ¡°How do you even know all this?¡± ? ?Knox gave a dry laugh, looking at her for the first time with something bordering on exasperation. ¡°Lily, what did you think me, Axel, and Aki did when we weren¡¯t working? We¡¯re the Big Three. We function beyond the AOMC. That¡¯s why we¡¯ve kept this under wraps. The AOMC has classified documents related to this exact mystery.¡± ? ?Her mind spun. ¡°How does any of that tie back to my brother?¡± ? ?Knox¡¯s face hardened. ¡°Why won¡¯t you understand, Princess? Your brother is being accused of working with a new blood manipulator. Do you realize how serious that is?¡± ? ?The castle loomed in the distance. The guards at the gates straightened, opening the entrance as they approached. ? ?¡°I¡­¡± Lily found herself at a loss for words. ? ?¡°Regardless of what we believe, the public has already made up their minds,¡± Knox continued. ¡°That doesn¡¯t change the fact that someone¡ªsomeone powerful¡ªis out there, targeting non-cursed blood people.¡± ? ?He nudged her forward, stopping at the entrance. ? ?¡°W-wait, Knox¡ª¡± she reached out, but he stepped back. ? ?¡°I¡¯m sorry, Princess. Your brother has requested you remain in the castle until things settle down. I have to go.¡± ? ?He turned on his heel, walking off before she could stop him. ? ?¡°Knox!¡± she called after him, but he didn¡¯t turn back. ? ?Lily stood at the castle gates, her hands clenched into fists. Bewildered. Frustrated. And more afraid than she wanted to admit. ? ? Chapter 05.2 Angelica ? ?"Please... stop it." ? ?His pathetic whimper barely reached her ears. Angelica stood motionless, staring down at the bloody, quivering man at her feet. He was bound tightly, his arms twisted behind his back, his body a mess of bruises and torn flesh. His eyes¡ªwide, desperate¡ªdisgusted her a bloodless heathen unworthy of the power he''s been born without. ? ?She flexed her fingers, the blood she had so painstakingly mastered swirling around her hand like a serpent awaiting its master''s command. Her mask concealed her expression, but her voice carried all the cruelty he needed to hear. ? ?"Now, tell me again¡ªwhat are you going to do for me?" Her tone was low, mocking, laced with an amusement she did not feel. ? ?"P-please... please, I¡ª" ? ?She rolled her eyes. Another useless plea. ? ?With a flick of her fingers, she willed his own blood to betray him. A crimson spike tore free from his arm, slicing through his flesh like a blade. He screamed, thrashing against the pain, his body jerking violently as he writhed on the cold stone floor. This story has been taken without authorization. Report any sightings. ? ?"For the last time, you worthless, bloodless pig," she said, her voice now carrying a razor-sharp edge. "You''re going to frame your precious prince, Axel, for maintaining secret ties with the northern armies." ? ?His breath came in ragged gasps, his sobs choking him. "P-please... I... I can''t... they''ll kill me. I have a wife and child. Please, they''re all I have¡ª" ? ?How utterly revolting that these creatures had the nerve to procreate. ? ?Her expression twisted behind the mask, revulsion curling in her gut. He still clung to the illusion that his family was alive. If only he knew. ? ?The woman¡¯s body hung from the ceiling in her chamber, suspended by a rope fashioned from her own blood. The child¡ªhis beloved son¡ªhad barely made a sound as his tiny veins emptied in an instant. A single blink, and he had gone cold. ? ?Angelica exhaled softly, steadying her patience. No, she wouldn''t tell him. Not yet. Let him believe he still had something to live for¡ªsomething to lose. Desperation made people obedient. ? ?"I''ll go for them next," she warned instead, her voice a quiet, venomous whisper. ? ?The effect was immediate. He convulsed, sobbing harder, his body wracked with terror. "N-no, please! They¡¯re all I have! Don¡¯t hurt them! Please, I¡¯ll do anything¡ª" ? ?Angelica''s patience snapped. ? ?Her fist connected with his face with a sickening crunch, sending him sprawling. His jaw went slack, dislocated from the force of the blow. He let out a choked, guttural moan of pain, his mouth now hanging uselessly, words reduced to incoherent noises. ? ?"Damn it... you''re useless now," she muttered, clicking her tongue in irritation. ? ?The pitiful sounds leaking from him grated against her nerves, and she silenced them with a final gesture. The blood in her palm solidified into a slender dagger, and with a flick of her wrist, it drove straight into his chest. The blade merged with his bloodstream, vanishing into his body. ? ?A single thought ignited it. ? ?His body convulsed violently as fire erupted within his veins, searing him from the inside out. His screams turned to gurgles, then silence, his body reduced to a smoldering husk in mere moments. ? ?Angelica sighed, stepping back to avoid the stench of burnt flesh. ? ?What a waste. ? ?No matter. She¡¯d find another pawn. ? ?She always did. ? ? Chapter 06 ?---it had been two days since she''d last spoken to him.....until ? ?"Are you gonna keep sulking forever?" Jasmine¡¯s voice was light, almost teasing, but Micheal could hear the thread of irritation beneath it. He didn¡¯t respond, keeping his gaze fixed on the cup in his hands. ? ?She stirred the soup in front of her with deliberate slowness. "Y''know, if you keep this up... I might actually start liking you." ? ?He didn¡¯t rise to the bait. He didn¡¯t even glance at her. Aki¡¯s words still rang in his head: You''re an orphan who thinks the world owes him something. ? ?Wasn¡¯t that true? Where did he even see himself in a few weeks? Months? Years? He had no answer. ? ?Jasmine sighed, tapping her spoon against the bowl. "You''re actually kind of cute when you''re not spewing racist shit." ? ?He took a slow sip from his cup, the warmth spreading through him, but his silence was pointed. ? ?"I''ll tell Aki you''re ignoring me." ? ?"Go on." His voice was dry. "He already puts me through hell in training." ? ?"You deserve it." ? ?"Yeah, sure I do." ? ?"Yes, you do," she shot back immediately. "There was no reason to be so mean to me." ? ?"I''m sorry..." His voice was flat. "I''ve already said that. But that doesn''t change how I see your type." ? ?He caught the flinch. Just a flicker in her expression before she masked it. A flash of guilt curled in his gut, but he ignored it. ? ?"So you''re just a racist." ? ?"No. I recognize patterns. You guys detest us because we''re better." ? ?"Bullshit. You''re people have carried out more raids on us than we ever have you can''t expect everyone to be okay with that" ? ?His lip curled. "As if you''re any better? You hate those with cursed blood, don¡¯t you?" ? ?Her hands clenched into fists. The hurt in her eyes was gone, replaced by something sharper. "No. I''m not a racist like you." ? ?"Oh, sure you aren¡¯t." His voice dripped sarcasm. ? ?"You know what? I might not hate all of you cursed freaks..." She inhaled sharply, steadying herself. "But I have no trouble admitting how much I detest you." ? ?"Good to know. The feeling¡¯s mutual. Except I know all of you bloodless are the same." ? ?Her jaw clenched, her knuckles white. Then, a long pause. A heavy silence stretched between them. ? ?Finally, she exhaled and crossed her arms. "Do you at least want to talk about it? Maybe if I understand why you hate me so much... I¡¯ll be able to do something about it?" ? ?His stomach twisted. He knew he was being unfair. Knew he was lashing out for no reason other than that it was easy. But that didn¡¯t mean he could stop himself. ? ?"You can¡¯t do anything about it. It¡¯s just the way you are." ? ?Another flash of hurt. This time, she didn¡¯t hide it fast enough. If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. Please report it. ? ?"Then..." She hesitated. "Just for the sake of both our sanity¡ªwanna talk it out?" ? ?He almost said yes. Almost gave in to the exhaustion in his own head, the weight of his bitterness. But no. He wasn¡¯t that weak. He couldn¡¯t be that weak. ? ?"Why do you care?" ? ?She hesitated again, then exhaled. "Because... well... I don¡¯t think anyone is born inherently evil." Her voice was softer now. Careful. "I just want to understand what made you the way you are." ? ?His fingers tightened around the cup. "You wouldn¡¯t understand." ? ?Jasmine¡¯s patience was wearing thin. "Can you stop acting like you''re some misunderstood, tragic villain? I¡¯m trying to help, and you''re acting like the world revolves around your misery." ? ?His face twitched, but he didn¡¯t snap back. He knew she was right. He just hated hearing it. ? ?"Just drop it, okay? I¡¯ve got training soon anyway." ? ?She let out a frustrated sigh and pushed her chair back. "Oh well. Have fun getting your ass kicked. I¡¯m here if you wanna talk." ? ?She grabbed her bowl, pausing for just a second before turning toward the kitchen. "And wash your own damn cup." ? ?Micheal rolled his eyes but stood up anyway, taking his cup with him. As he reached the sink, he turned the tap on, rinsing it out. ? ?Jasmine raised an eyebrow. "Wow. You might actually be useful... if you could just learn to put a filter on that mouth of yours." ? ?He fought the urge to smile. "Don¡¯t get used to it." ? ?"Oh, I already am." She smirked, then winked. "Now get out of my kitchen. Go on. You''re ruining it with you''re racist presence, and you''re dropping water everywhere" ? ?She shoved him lightly toward the door before shutting it in his face. ? ?Micheal blinked, standing in the hallway, his hands still slightly damp. He didn¡¯t move for a long moment, staring at the door, confused. ? ?He wasn¡¯t sure why, but he didn¡¯t hate that interaction as much as he thought he would. ? ?Aki was in his room, as usual, sitting with his back to the door, eyes closed, legs crossed in meditation. The space was simple¡ªbare walls except for a few framed pictures of people Micheal didn¡¯t recognize and an assortment of swords hanging in perfect alignment. The air carried a faint scent of incense, adding to the stillness. ? ?Micheal had seen this sight countless times, yet he never got used to it. The contrast between Aki¡¯s stillness and the brutal beatings he delivered during training was almost eerie. And now, Micheal braced himself for yet another round of humiliation. He¡¯d tried¡ªagain and again¡ªto land a single hit on Aki, but it was useless. He didn¡¯t even have the motivation to try anymore. ? ?The moment he stepped inside, Aki¡¯s eyes snapped open, sharp as a blade. But this time, he didn¡¯t rise. Instead, he sighed, an unusual break from his usual, near-mocking readiness to fight. ? ?¡°Come here, Micheal. Sit in front of me.¡± ? ?Micheal hesitated. No condescending smirk? No instant move to attack? What the hell was this? Still, he obeyed, lowering himself onto the hard floor, wincing slightly. How did Aki sit on this thing for hours? ? ?Aki studied him, his expression unreadable, hands resting in his lap. His silence stretched, making Micheal shift uncomfortably. Then, finally, Aki spoke. ? ?¡°I want to make one thing clear. It¡¯s been nearly a week, and I haven¡¯t seen a speck of progress from you.¡± ? ?Micheal rolled his eyes, already knowing where this was going. Another lecture. ¡°Yeah, yeah, I know¡ªI¡¯m worthless and¡ª¡± ? ?¡°If this carries on,¡± Aki cut him off sharply, voice cold, ¡°I¡¯ll just have to send you back to whatever dump you crawled out of and write a detailed apology to Axel, explaining how much of a disappointment you are.¡± ? ?Micheal flinched. Even though he was used to Aki¡¯s insults, hearing them phrased like that¡ªlike he wasn¡¯t even worth keeping around¡ªhit differently. ? ?Aki sighed, his tone softening just slightly. ¡°But I don¡¯t want to dump more burden onto his shoulders¡ª¡± ? ?¡°No, wait¡ªthat¡¯s exactly what I want! Kick me out. Let me go back to my friends so I can¡ª¡± ? ?¡°No, you cannot.¡± Aki¡¯s voice was firm, unyielding. ¡°Neither of your friends are currently engaged in any of the training programs at AOMC.¡± ? ?Micheal¡¯s stomach twisted. ¡°Wait, what?¡± ? ?Aki sighed, crossing his arms. ¡°Lily has been called back to the palace under security concerns due to recent activity.¡± ? ?Micheal¡¯s heart dropped. ¡°W-wait, what recent¡ª¡± ? ?¡°Your other friend, Angelica, hasn¡¯t been enrolled in any of the disciplines. In fact, she hasn¡¯t been seen since registration.¡± ? ?His breath caught in his throat. Missing? Angelica was missing? Why the hell hadn¡¯t anyone told him this? A strange, creeping dread coiled around his chest, tightening with every second. ¡°B-but¡­ why wasn¡¯t I informed?¡± ? ?¡°Axel thought it¡¯d affect your training¡ª¡± ? ?¡°Screw that, man! I don¡¯t care about training! They¡¯re my friends! My family!¡± ? ?¡°Calm down, Micheal.¡± Aki¡¯s voice was sharp, but it did nothing to cool the rising panic in his chest. ? ?¡°There has been a resurgence of terrorist activity targeting citizens without cursed blood.¡± ? ?Micheal almost said good. Almost. But Aki¡¯s stare pinned him down like a blade against his throat, and for once, he kept his mouth shut. ? ?¡°There are fears of a new blood manipulator terrorizing civilians. And, on top of that, Axel has been framed for most of the attacks¡ªparticularly the death of his uncle Sean, seventy political figures, and the foreign minister Jean, along with his wife and child.¡± ? ?Micheal clenched his jaw. The murder of an innocent child sent a rare pang of guilt through him, but there was something else, too¡ªconfusion. ¡°Wait¡­ Axel? There¡¯s no way in hell.¡± ? ?¡°Yes. Axel.¡± Aki¡¯s expression didn¡¯t change. ¡°There¡¯s no concrete proof yet, but the events are too overwhelming to brush off as coincidence.¡± ? ?Micheal swallowed hard. ¡°¡­You mean¡ª¡± ? ?¡°Either Axel has lost his mind, or someone powerful is playing a long game, framing him for something catastrophic. Either way, Micheal, there¡¯s a war brewing. If Axel saw even a sliver of potential in you, now would be the time to prove it.¡± ? ?His throat felt dry. ¡°That¡¯s¡­ a pretty high expectation, don¡¯t you think?¡± ? ?Aki¡¯s lips curled slightly, but it wasn¡¯t a smile. More like amused disdain. ¡°Don¡¯t kid yourself, Micheal. I expect absolutely nothing from you.¡± ? ?Micheal¡¯s face burned with shame and anger, his fists clenching. ? ?¡°I¡¯m simply stating the obvious,¡± Aki continued. ¡°An attention-seeker like you should be thrilled at the opportunity. Imagine all the eyes on you, all the glory you could grab. Isn¡¯t that what you want?¡± ? ?Micheal wanted to snap back, but he couldn¡¯t. Because, deep down, Aki wasn¡¯t entirely wrong. ? ?Still, he forced himself to focus on what mattered. ¡°I still want to see Lily and Angelica.¡± ? ?¡°Princess Lily is under heavy guard. Angelica has been missing for a while now. I don¡¯t think you¡¯ll be meeting either of them.¡± ? ?¡°But I¡ª¡± ? ?¡°Besides,¡± Aki cut in, ¡°Axel sent a letter with specific instructions: You are to continue training under all circumstances. Lily will meet you when things settle down.¡± ? ?Micheal¡¯s shoulders slumped. There was no way around it. No loophole. No argument that could change Aki¡¯s mind¡ªor Axel¡¯s. ? ?He exhaled sharply. ¡°And I guess nothing I say will convince you otherwise?¡± ? ?¡°Precisely.¡± Aki stood, cracking his knuckles. ¡°Now, get up and grab a sword. We¡¯ve wasted enough time.¡± ? ?Micheal dragged himself to his feet, grabbing a wooden blade from the wall. The dread hadn¡¯t left him. If anything, it had only gotten worse. ? ?Something was very, very wrong. And he had no idea what to do about it. ? ? ? ? Chapter 06.1 Lily ? ?Lily sat in her chambers, her hands clenched tightly in her lap as she fidgeted anxiously. The silence of the room was suffocating, offering no comfort as her thoughts raced. Everything in the kingdom was unraveling, and she couldn''t make sense of it. The murders, the whispers of rebellion, the rumors about Axel... It was all happening too fast. ? ?The door swung open, and Axel stepped inside. His usually immaculate pink hair was slightly disheveled, dark bags resting under his eyes. He looked exhausted, weighed down by something far heavier than just sleepless nights. Her chest tightened at the sight. ? ?Without hesitation, she crossed the room and wrapped her arms around him. He held her just as tightly, his grip lingering as if grounding himself in the moment. When he finally pulled away, she caught a flicker of something in his gaze¡ªrelief, maybe¡ªbut it was fleeting, replaced by the same weary detachment that had become his mask. ? ?"Axel¡­ what¡¯s going on? Knox told me about¡ª" ? ?"The murders." His voice was flat. "Yeah. I know. Don¡¯t worry, Lily. I''m working on it. I''m sorry for pulling you from your classes, but¡ª" ? ?"No, I understand. But Axel¡ª" She hesitated, searching his face. "The rumors¡­?" ? ?A shadow passed over his features. For a moment, something raw surfaced in his expression before vanishing behind a smirk that didn¡¯t reach his eyes. ? ?"Ah. Of course. You think I¡¯m some kind of deranged maniac now too?" ? ?Her heart clenched. That wasn¡¯t what she meant, not at all. "No¡­ no, Axel, that¡¯s not what I¡ª" ? ?"It¡¯s fine," he interrupted, brushing past her words. "Don¡¯t worry about it. Mom and Dad have canceled their trips. They¡¯ll be returning soon." ? ?Lily stiffened. Part of her was relieved¡ªshe missed them. But the other part¡­ She wasn¡¯t sure how they¡¯d react to the accusations swirling around Axel. ? ?"Axel..." ? ?His gaze met hers, sharp yet tired. "Lily. Do you believe I killed Uncle?" ? ?She inhaled sharply. "W-well, no¡ª" ? ?"Do you think I ordered the massacre of seventy people for opposing me?" ? ?"Axel, that¡¯s not what I¡ª" ? ?"Answer me." ? ?His voice was low, strained. The weight of his words settled on her like a stone. She swallowed, her pulse quickening. ? ?No. No matter what the rumors said, she refused to believe her brother would sink that low. ? ?"No," she said firmly. "I don¡¯t believe you¡¯d kill someone without reason." ? ?For the first time that night, his expression softened¡ªjust slightly. A flicker of gratitude crossed his face, brief but undeniable. It was as if he had been holding his breath, waiting, hoping for her answer. ? ?"Thank you." His voice was quiet. "Mom and Dad will be here soon. Let¡¯s talk about everything over dinner, okay?" ? ?She hesitated. There was so much more she wanted to ask, so much she didn¡¯t understand. But Axel looked exhausted, and pressing him now wouldn¡¯t help. ? ?"Y-yeah. Okay¡­ but you¡¯d better explain everything, Axel." ? ?He placed a hand on her shoulder, his grip reassuring. "I will. Just¡­ get some rest while you can." ? ?She wanted to argue, to demand more from him, but the weariness in his eyes stopped her. He gave her shoulder a small squeeze before turning and walking toward the door. Royal Road is the home of this novel. Visit there to read the original and support the author. ? ?Lily stood frozen as she watched him go, her stomach twisting with unease. The Axel she knew was confident, arrogant even, but never like this. He was tired, drained, and¡­ afraid. ? ?She hated seeing him like that. ? ?She hated knowing there was nothing she could do to help. ? ?Lily found no rest at all. The moment Axel left, she tried to sleep, but her mind was restless, circling the same worries over and over. Eventually, she gave up and decided to distract herself, picking up a cloth and beginning to tidy her already spotless room. It wasn¡¯t much, but it gave her something to focus on. ? ?The door creaked open, and Maria, a young maid with neatly tied-back hair and brown eyes, stepped inside. Her eyes widened in horror as she took in the sight of the princess cleaning her own room. ? ?¡°Y-Your Highness! Please... allow me!¡± Maria rushed forward, looking as if she might snatch the cloth from Lily¡¯s hands. ? ?Lily smiled, shaking her head. ¡°No, it¡¯s okay. I can handle it. I usually clean my own room. You¡¯re new, so you wouldn¡¯t know.¡± ? ?Maria hesitated, clearly uncomfortable with the idea of royalty doing such a thing, but after a moment, she bowed in reluctant acceptance. ¡°As you wish, Your Highness.¡± ? ?¡°Just Lily,¡± she corrected gently. ? ?Maria¡¯s lips parted as if to argue, but instead, she simply nodded. ¡°R-Right. Is there anything I can help you with?¡± ? ?Lily paused, glancing at the mess she had made in her attempt to distract herself. But that wasn¡¯t what she needed help with. Her heart quickened as another thought formed in her mind¡ªone she had been pushing away. ? ?She had tried not to think about the way her heart had fluttered when Knox¡¯s fingers had brushed against her skin the other day, how his gaze had locked onto hers with an intensity that left her breathless. The warmth of his touch still lingered, a ghost of a feeling she couldn¡¯t shake. She took a deep breath, trying to steady herself. ? ?¡°Actually¡­ yes, there is.¡± The words left her lips before she could stop them. She hesitated, feeling her pulse quicken in anticipation. ¡°Can you get me a pen and paper? I... I need to write a letter.¡± ? ?Maria blinked but didn¡¯t ask questions. Instead, she bowed. ¡°Of course, Your Highness¡ªI mean, Lily.¡± She turned and quickly left the room. ? ?Lily exhaled, placing a hand on her chest, trying to will her heart to slow. What was she even going to say? The idea of writing to Knox felt ridiculous, yet she knew she wouldn¡¯t have peace until she did. She just needed to get the words out, no matter how foolish they seemed. ? ?Maria returned swiftly, setting the pen and paper on Lily¡¯s desk before bowing out of the room to grant her privacy. Lily swallowed hard, settling into her chair. Her fingers trembled as she picked up the pen, pressing it against the parchment. ? ?At first, she hesitated, unsure of where to begin, but then, as if her hands had a mind of their own, the words began to flow. ? ?She was only halfway through when a sharp voice cut through the silence, muffled by the thick doors. ? ?An argument. ? ?Her heart stopped. ? ?She recognized the voice instantly. ? ?Dad. ? ? ? ? ? Chapter 07 ?Training had been brutal. Again. Micheal had failed¡ªagain. He hadn¡¯t even come close to landing a hit on Aki, and now, sprawled on his bed, he stared blankly at the ceiling. Every muscle ached, his bones felt heavy, and exhaustion clawed at him like a relentless predator. His head lolled to the side, and before he could even form another bitter thought about his failure, sleep dragged him under. ? ?A damp sensation against his face pulled him back to consciousness. His brows furrowed as a low groan escaped him, his body still too drained to move. Slowly, his heavy eyelids lifted, revealing a pair of familiar brown eyes gazing down at him. Jasmine. ? ?For a moment, he thought he was hallucinating. But no¡ªshe was actually here, sitting beside him, her hand carefully dabbing at his face with a wet cloth. ? ?Something flickered in her eyes¡ªsomething soft. Not pity, not amusement. Something else. He should have been annoyed, or at least skeptical. But strangely, he wasn¡¯t. His body remained still, too tired to speak, too tired to push her away. So he just¡­ let her. ? ?Jasmine seemed equally surprised by his silence, though she didn¡¯t comment on it. Instead, her lips quirked into a small smile as she continued tending to his wounds. A strange but not unwelcome silence filled the space between them, interrupted only by the distant chirping of birds outside. ? ?¡°You know¡­¡± she said, her voice quiet but teasing, ¡°you¡¯re actually kinda cute when you shut up.¡± ? ?Micheal let out a slow, amused huff, the corner of his lips twitching into something resembling a smirk. ¡°Ha. Ha. You¡¯re hilarious,¡± he mumbled, voice thick with fatigue. ? ?Jasmine¡¯s smile widened slightly, but there was something else in her expression¡ªdisappointment, perhaps? Like she had been expecting something else from him. He couldn¡¯t tell. He was too damn tired to think about it. ? ?¡°Do I even need to ask how training with Aki is going?¡± she teased, dipping the cloth into a bowl of water before pressing it gently against a cut on his cheek. ? ?Micheal let out a groan at the sting. ¡°I mean¡­ you tell me. Weren¡¯t you cheering every time my back hit the floor?¡± ? ?¡°Oh, absolutely.¡± Her smirk was pure mischief. ¡°It was the highlight of my day.¡± ? ?He rolled his eyes, though he felt something almost¡­ lighthearted. Something he hadn¡¯t felt in a while. ? ?¡°So you enjoy watching me suffer?¡± ? ?¡°I wouldn¡¯t say enjoy¡­¡± she mused, tilting her head. ¡°More like¡­ appreciate?¡± The tale has been illicitly lifted; should you spot it on Amazon, report the violation. ? ?¡°Wow. That¡¯s so much better.¡± ? ?¡°Oh, trust me. Watching you fail is what gets me out of bed in the morning.¡± ? ?Micheal let out a dry laugh, shaking his head. The room drifted back into that oddly comfortable silence, the golden afternoon light filtering through the window, casting soft shadows over Jasmine¡¯s face. He found himself watching her¡ªnoticing the way her hair caught the light, the way her lips pursed slightly as she focused. The realization unsettled him. ? ?¡°Hey¡­¡± His voice was quieter now, almost hesitant. ¡°This might be a bit random but¡­ how exactly did Aki¡¯s parents save you?¡± ? ?Her hands stilled for a fraction of a second. It was so brief he almost missed it. Then, she exhaled softly and leaned back a little. ¡°They presented me as their own daughter when the raiders came. Aki¡¯s mom and mine¡­ they grew up together. My mom¡¯s last wish was for her to keep me safe.¡± ? ?Micheal frowned. ¡°Last wish? But why didn¡¯t she protect your mom too? She could have presented her as her sister or something.¡± ? ?Jasmine¡¯s expression shifted¡ªsomething unreadable passing through her eyes before she smirked playfully. ¡°Oh wow. Is this the Micheal, the biggest, most shit-mouthed racist of all time, actually showing concern for us poor, bloodless heathens?¡± ? ?Heat rushed to his face. ¡°I¡ª¡± He clenched his jaw, suddenly feeling foolish. ¡°I¡­ I¡¯m sorry.¡± ? ?Jasmine let out a small chuckle, shaking her head. ¡°Don¡¯t be. I can tell how hard it is for you not to gag in my presence.¡± ? ?¡°I don¡¯t¡ª¡± he began, then sighed. ¡°That¡¯s not¡­¡± ? ?Her smirk softened, just a little. ¡°Dad had already been captured by the raiders. Mom handed me to Aki¡¯s mom to keep me safe. But she couldn¡¯t leave Dad behind, so she went back.¡± Her voice was light, almost casual, but there was something brittle beneath it. ¡°She chose him over me.¡± ? ?Micheal had no idea what to say to that. He¡¯d never been good at emotions. His gut twisted uncomfortably. He wanted to say something, anything, but everything felt wrong. So, instead, the words that slipped from his mouth were: ¡°I¡­ I don¡¯t feel the urge to gag in your presence.¡± ? ?Silence. Then, Jasmine let out a small, genuine laugh. ¡°Wow. What a compliment. I feel so special.¡± ? ?Micheal groaned, covering his face with his arm. ¡°Shut up.¡± ? ?Jasmine stood up, stretching her arms above her head. ¡°Well, it¡¯s a start, at least. Maybe one day, we¡¯ll be able to be in the same room without you breaking into hives.¡± ? ?He peeked at her from under his arm, a small smirk tugging at his lips. ¡°I¡¯d say it¡¯s a pretty good start.¡± ? ?Jasmine tilted her head slightly, her gaze lingering on Micheal as if she were contemplating something. Then, without another word, she stood up, stretching her arms above her head before making her way toward the door. ? ?"Follow me." ? ?Micheal hesitated. He felt... empty? The warmth she had provided, however brief, was gone, leaving behind a strange hollowness. Shaking off the thought, he nodded and got to his feet, trailing after her. She led him down the halls with a small, knowing smile. ? ?"Aki''s out for some meeting," she said casually. "I think I¡¯ve got something that might help." ? ?"Help?" He raised a brow. "Me¡­ or you?" ? ?She rolled her eyes. "As amusing as it is to see you fall on your ass over and over again¡­ it¡¯s getting kind of pathetic. I can¡¯t have that in my house." ? ?Micheal scoffed. "So, what¡¯s your grand plan? You don¡¯t even¡ª" He caught himself mid-sentence, barely stopping before he said something offensive. He knew exactly where that road led, and he wasn¡¯t eager to walk it again. ? ?Jasmine smirked, tilting her head as if daring him to finish his thought. When he didn¡¯t, she chuckled. "Yeah, yeah, I know. I don¡¯t care. But I do know where Aki keeps his personal manuscripts." ? ?She led him into a study filled with shelves of books and neatly stacked scrolls. Without hesitation, she began rummaging through them, pulling out journals and tomes. ? ?Micheal groaned. "You want me to -study-?!" His complaint was cut off as a book flew straight at his face, smacking him square on the nose. "Ow! Hey!!" ? ?Jasmine grinned, unfazed. "Quit whining." She strolled over with a fresh stack of books and unceremoniously dumped them on top of his head, nearly making him stumble. "I''ll be the one overseeing your new training." ? ?Micheal scowled, rubbing his nose. "You''re insufferable." ? ?"Only for you," she shot back with a chuckle, crossing her arms as she took a seat beside him. ? ?He glanced at her, exasperated but unable to stop the small smile tugging at his lips. As she began stacking books into neat piles, he sighed and dropped onto the floor beside her. If he was going to survive Aki¡¯s training, maybe¡ªjust maybe¡ªhaving Jasmine¡¯s help wouldn¡¯t be the worst thing in the world. ? ? ? ? ? ? Chapter 08 ?¡°Are you sure this is actually helping?!¡± Micheal finally snapped, his patience wearing thin after three grueling weeks of ¡°training¡± with Jasmine. She was currently perched on his back as he struggled through another round of push-ups, her smirk widening with every strained breath he took. ? ?¡°I didn¡¯t tell you to stop,¡± she quipped, smacking him lightly on the head with the pen in her hand. She was enjoying this far too much. ? ?Micheal groaned but pushed on, arms trembling as he lowered himself again. As bad as Aki¡¯s training was, Jasmine¡¯s was somehow worse. They had done their best to keep these sessions a secret from him, but Aki¡¯s presence was always felt, a constant reminder of why Micheal was here in the first place. ? ?¡°Forty-eight,¡± she counted, tapping the pen against her palm idly. His muscles screamed in protest as he fought to keep pace. ? ?¡°Forty-nine.¡± Sweat dripped from his brow, splattering onto the wooden floor. Every fiber of his being burned, his arms barely holding up under the pressure. ? ?¡°Fifty.¡± The moment the word left her mouth, Micheal collapsed onto the ground, gasping for breath. His body ached, every inch of him drenched in sweat. Jasmine stretched lazily, looking completely at ease as she handed him a towel. ? ?¡°Not bad for a racist,¡± she teased, watching as he forced himself upright, leaning back against the wall while dabbing his face. ? ?¡°Ha¡­ ha¡­ you¡¯re hilarious,¡± he muttered, voice dripping with sarcasm. ? ?¡°Aww, that¡¯s so sweet. Keep working on it, and maybe you¡¯ll come up with a compliment better than ¡®I don¡¯t feel the urge to gag in your presence.¡¯¡± She flashed him a wicked grin. ¡°Just don¡¯t strain that tiny brain of yours.¡± ? ?Micheal¡¯s face flushed. She was definitely Aki¡¯s sister, all right. He shot her a glare, but exhaustion kept him from snapping back. Her smirk widened at his silence. ? ?¡°Looks like training is finally teaching you to keep that shitty mouth of yours shut,¡± she mused. ? ?¡°God¡­ you¡¯re insufferable,¡± he groaned, burying his face in the towel. ? ?A beat of silence passed before she spoke again, this time with genuine curiosity. ¡°Hey¡­ what element do you have, anyway?¡± ? ?He hesitated before answering. ¡°Well¡­ I managed to pull off a little fire when Aki trained me the other day. So I guess fire?¡± ? ?Jasmine¡¯s eyes narrowed in contemplation. Without another word, she got up and started rummaging through the pile of books they had stacked in the corner. ? ?Micheal peered over her shoulder. ¡°What are you looking for?¡± ? ?¡°I think I read something about elemental manipulation somewhere in here¡­¡± she muttered, flipping through the pages trying to ignore the way her heart fluttered at his proximity. ? ?He scoffed. ¡°Even if you find something, Aki¡¯s a dual wielder. No way I¡¯d be able to follow in his footsteps.¡± remaining oblivious to the small shiver that passed through her body. ? ?Jasmine shot him an unimpressed look. ¡°So you¡¯re not even going to try?¡± ? ?Micheal shrugged. ¡°I guess it¡¯s worth a shot.¡± ? ?She smirked. ¡°Good. Then we start by adjusting your diet.¡± ? ?His stomach dropped. ¡°You¡¯re taking away my eating privileges now?¡± ? ?Rolling her eyes, she sighed. ¡°This is why no one likes you.¡± ? ?¡°Hey! I¡¯ll have you know a lot of people love me!¡± ? ?¡°Doubt it.¡± She smirked at his indignation before finally stopping on a page and running her finger down the text. ¡°Alright. Let¡¯s try you out with Aki¡¯s basic regime.¡± ? ?Turns out, ¡®basic¡¯ was a lie. Micheal managed to grasp the techniques in five minutes, but it took him another fifty to execute them properly. By the end, he was a panting, sweat-drenched mess, his arms littered with red marks from every time she smacked him for slacking off. ? ?¡°You¡­¡± he wheezed, sprawled out on the floor, too exhausted to move. ¡°You are the worst thing that has ever happened to me.¡± ? ?Jasmine stood over him, arms crossed, a glint of pride hidden in her amused gaze. ¡°Likewise. But hey, your flame was actually better than those pathetic little wisps you were making before. So, progress.¡± For a moment there was something softer in her gaze... something that drew him in. But then it was gone. This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there. ? ?"Hah....don''t get used to complimenting me like that" he scoffs trying to brush off how his heart had raced a moment ago ? ?She smirks back. "Don''t get used to it either" ? ?Jasmine walked toward the couch, lowering herself onto it with a quiet sigh. She studied him for a few moments, her gaze unreadable. Micheal, feeling the weight of her stare, averted his eyes, letting the silence stretch between them. Finally, she broke it, her voice softer than before. ? ?"Aki¡¯s coming back from his meetings sometime next week¡­ maybe he¡¯ll actually be proud of your progress?" ? ?Micheal scoffed, his gaze fixed on a random spot on the wall. "Hah¡­ doubt it." ? ?He didn¡¯t want to admit it, but the thought of being acknowledged¡ªespecially in a good light¡ªwasn¡¯t all that bad. ? ?"He''s not all that bad, y''know?" Jasmine continued. "He¡¯s actually nice when you get to know him." ? ?Micheal didn¡¯t have trouble believing that. He¡¯d seen the way Aki¡¯s sharp gaze softened whenever Jasmine entered a room, how his voice lost its edge. Compared to that, the way Aki looked at Micheal made him feel like the most repulsive creature alive. ? ?A thought crept up on him before he could push it away. The words tumbled from his lips before he had the sense to stop them. "Hey¡­ I-I¡¯m sorry. For the way I treated you earlier. I¡­ I shouldn¡¯t have said all that." ? ?Jasmine raised an eyebrow, masking her surprise behind an amused smirk. "Oh? Your poor little brain forged its first coherent thought?" ? ?Micheal sighed, his frown deepening. "I¡¯m being serious." ? ?"That¡¯s concerning. I didn¡¯t know you had it in you to be honest." ? ?He rolled his eyes. "God, can you just¡ªlisten for a moment?" ? ?Something in his tone made her pause. She studied him again, this time without the teasing glint in her eye. Finally, she sighed, her smirk faltering slightly. "You realize an apology won¡¯t suffice, right?" ? ?"I¡­ I do." He swallowed hard. He had known that. The damage was too much to be fixed by a few mumbled words. ? ?"I¡­ I didn¡¯t mean it¡ª" ? ?"Don¡¯t lie to me, Micheal." Her voice was quiet, but firm. "You meant every word." ? ?His chest tightened. He didn¡¯t want to admit it, but she was right. At the time, he had meant it. But now, standing here, facing her¡ªhe was beginning to realize just how unfair he had been. ? ?"I¡­ I¡¯m sorry," he murmured. "I really am." ? ?Jasmine¡¯s arms remained crossed, but something in her expression shifted. She looked away, as if gathering her thoughts, before speaking again. "You were a rude, arrogant racist. You said people like me deserved to be wiped out." ? ?Another pang of guilt stabbed through his chest. He lowered his head, his jaw clenching. Was this what Alisa would have wanted? That thought alone made his anger stir again¡ªbut he swallowed it down. He couldn¡¯t let it destroy whatever fragile thing he was building with Jasmine. The thought of losing her now¡­ it hurt more than he cared to admit. ? ?"I know there¡¯s no excuse for what I said," he admitted. "I know I was horrible. I know I wasn¡¯t fair. I just¡­ I just want to make it right. Please." He hesitated, inhaling sharply before continuing. "If there¡¯s anything I can do to make it up to you, just¡­ give me a chance." ? ?For a moment, neither of them spoke. Jasmine¡¯s heart stuttered at his words, but her mind refused to forget. She clenched her fists, her nails digging into her palms. She couldn¡¯t bring herself to look him in the eyes. ? ?"I won¡¯t pretend I forgive you, Micheal," she whispered. "I don¡¯t think I can." ? ?His heart dropped. He should have expected this. Still, he forced himself to nod. "I¡­ I understand." ? ?A long silence stretched between them before she finally spoke again. ? ?"But¡­ if you beat Aki¡ªif you manage to land even one hit on him¡ªI¡¯ll consider giving you a chance." ? ?His eyes widened, snapping up to her face. His heart pounded. That was all he wanted¡ªa chance. ? ?"I¡­ I will," he promised, determination flaring in his chest. "I swear it. I¡¯ll be better." ? ?Jasmine studied him for another long moment before a small, almost imperceptible smile tugged at the corner of her lips. ? ?"We¡¯ll see about that." ? Chapter 09 ?The door creaked open, and both Micheal and Jasmine tensed. This was it. The moment they had been training for¡ªweeks of sleepless nights, relentless sparring, and pushing past limits all led to this. Micheal took a deep breath and stood, his fists clenched at his sides. The exhaustion in Jasmine¡¯s eyes was replaced by a mix of excitement and anticipation as Aki stepped inside. ? ?He raised an eyebrow, his gaze flicking between them as he set his sword down. ¡°Did I miss something? You two are actually within sight range and not trying to kill each other? Or has Mitsuki drugged my drink again?¡± His voice was flat, tinged with confusion. ? ?Before Micheal could respond, another head peeked out from behind Aki, stretching lazily. ? ?¡°Oh hey! Micheal! Did you miss me?¡± Mitsuki¡¯s smirk was unmistakable. ? ?Micheal stiffened, eyes widening. He hadn''t seen her in so long, and the suddenness of her presence threw him off balance. Jasmine, beside him, tensed, her lips pressing into a thin line. Aki, on the other hand, remained impassive, though his confusion lingered. ? ?¡°Mitsuki insisted on coming along,¡± Aki said with a tired sigh. ¡°She wouldn''t shut up about it.¡± ? ?¡°I just wanted to see my best friend~¡± Mitsuki chimed in. ? ?Micheal¡¯s face flushed. ¡°I¡¯m not your ¡®best friend¡¯!¡± he snapped. ? ?Mitsuki gasped, placing a hand dramatically over her heart. ¡°Ah, you wound me! I thought we were getting along so well.¡± ? ?Jasmine¡¯s patience visibly snapped. ¡°Excuse me,¡± she cut in, her tone sharp, eyes narrowed. ¡°Who exactly are you?¡± ? ?Mitsuki smirked at her, sensing the tension. ¡°Oh, nothing important. Just an acquaintance of your boyfriend, Micheal.¡± ? ?Jasmine sputtered, turning red. ¡°He¡¯s not my boyfriend!¡± ? ?Aki rolled his eyes and stepped between them. ¡°Enough,¡± he muttered before turning to Micheal, his gaze sharp. ¡°Now, are you going to tell me why you¡¯re standing there like you¡¯re bracing for war?¡± ? ?Micheal swallowed hard. His body was already wound tight, ready to move. Being humiliated in front of Jasmine would have been bad enough. Now, Mitsuki was here too. Still, he forced the words out. ¡°I... I want to give it another shot.¡± ? ?Aki¡¯s lips curled into an amused smirk. He cracked his knuckles, rolling his shoulders as he stepped forward. ¡°So desperate for another beating, huh?¡± ? ?Jasmine stepped back, her anxiety barely concealed, while Mitsuki¡¯s grin widened in amusement. ¡°Oh, this should be good.¡± ? ?Micheal steadied himself. He had trained for this. He had studied Aki¡¯s moves. This time, he wouldn¡¯t go down so easily. ? ?Aki lunged. ? ?He moved like a blur, faster than Micheal could register, his fist already swinging toward Micheal¡¯s ribs. Micheal barely managed to twist away, but the wind from the blow alone sent a shiver down his spine. No time to hesitate. Aki was already shifting, his knee shooting up toward Micheal¡¯s stomach. ? ?Micheal saw it coming¡ªjust barely¡ªand jumped back, his feet sliding against the floor as he tried to create distance. Aki didn¡¯t let up. He closed the gap instantly, throwing another punch aimed at Micheal¡¯s jaw. This time, Micheal didn¡¯t retreat. ? ?He ducked, the air crackling past his ear as Aki¡¯s fist whizzed overhead. He countered on instinct, pivoting on his heel and launching a sharp kick toward Aki¡¯s midsection. Aki twisted, dodging most of the impact, but Micheal saw it¡ªan instant of surprise flickering in his opponent¡¯s eyes. ? ?Aki¡¯s smirk faltered. ¡°Huh. You¡¯re not as slow as before.¡± A case of literary theft: this tale is not rightfully on Amazon; if you see it, report the violation. ? ?Micheal didn¡¯t answer. He pressed forward, launching a flurry of strikes¡ªpunches, kicks, anything to keep Aki on his toes. Aki deflected them with practiced ease, his arms moving like an impenetrable shield. But Micheal wasn¡¯t stopping. He wasn¡¯t letting Aki control the fight. ? ?Aki dodged left, and that¡¯s when Micheal saw it¡ªan opening. Without thinking, he surged forward, his fist flying. ? ?His knuckles collided with Aki¡¯s cheek. ? ?Aki stumbled back a step, a thin trail of blood sliding down from the corner of his mouth. The room went still. ? ?Micheal¡¯s breath was heavy, his heart pounding like a drum in his chest. He stared at his clenched fist in disbelief. Did he really just¡ª? ? ?Aki wiped the blood from his lip with his thumb, then looked up at Micheal. He wasn¡¯t angry. He was grinning. ? ?¡°Now that,¡± Aki murmured, stretching his neck, ¡°was interesting.¡± ? ?Micheal turned toward Jasmine. Her eyes were wide, stunned¡ªbut then, slowly, a smile broke across her face. She gave him a small, shaky thumbs-up. ? ?He exhaled, chest rising and falling, as the reality sank in. ? ?He had done it. ? ?For the first time, he had landed a hit on Aki. ? ? ?His happiness didn''t last long however, Micheal barely had time to register the impact before Aki¡¯s fist slammed into his ribs, sending him hurtling backward like a ragdoll. He hit the wall with a sickening crack, the force rattling his bones. His vision blurred, a sharp pain flaring in his chest as he coughed up blood. ? ? Aki wasn¡¯t done. ? ?¡°Come on,¡± Aki called, rolling up his sleeves as arcs of lightning crackled across his fingertips. The usual stoic mask was gone¡ªhis lips curled into a smirk, his eyes gleaming with something that almost looked like excitement. "You''re doing so well. Don''t give up now." ? ?The words weren¡¯t mocking. They were encouraging. And that made it all the more terrifying. ? ?Gritting his teeth, Micheal forced himself to his feet. His breathing was ragged, but the thin flames he¡¯d spent weeks trying to master flickered to life across his knuckles. He tightened his fists. The heat pulsed beneath his skin, steady, controlled. He wasn¡¯t out yet. ? ?For a second, there was only silence. A pause. A sharp inhale. ? ?Then Aki moved. ? ?He was a blur, closing the distance in the blink of an eye. Micheal barely had time to react before a fist streaked toward his face, crackling with raw energy. He twisted, throwing himself backward onto his hands, flipping away just as Aki¡¯s knuckles grazed past his nose. The shockwave of the near-miss sent dust scattering. ? ?But Aki was relentless. He pivoted, launching a knee toward Micheal¡¯s ribs. Anticipating it, Micheal dodged sideways, but Aki was already there, twisting mid-air. A heel slammed into Micheal¡¯s stomach, sending him stumbling, the breath knocked from his lungs. He barely had time to recover before Aki was in front of him again, a fist flying at his chest. ? ?Micheal reacted on instinct. ? ?He ducked¡ªjust barely avoiding the strike¡ªand in the same motion, drove his fist upward. His knuckles connected with Aki¡¯s jaw in a clean, powerful hit. The impact sent Aki stumbling back a step, blood trailing from the corner of his mouth. ? ?Micheal¡¯s eyes widened. He did it. He landed a hit. Again. His heart thundered in his chest as he stared at his clenched fist. Then up at Aki. ? ?For the first time, Aki looked surprised. But not angry. Excited. ? ?Before Micheal could process it, Aki moved again. Faster than before. He seized Micheal¡¯s leg mid-step, yanking him forward before slamming him into the ground with bone-crushing force. The air fled from Micheal¡¯s lungs as pain exploded through his back. He gasped, but he couldn''t afford to stop. ? ?Gritting his teeth, he twisted, slamming his foot into Aki¡¯s ribs. The hit connected, forcing Aki back. Taking the opening, Micheal surged forward, throwing a flurry of punches, each one backed by flames. Aki deflected most, his arms coming up in a fluid defense, but Micheal pressed on, refusing to let him breathe. ? ?Then he saw it¡ªan opening. ? ?Ignoring the throbbing in his skull, Micheal pulled back, then drove his forehead straight into Aki¡¯s. Pain lanced through his head like a lightning strike, but it worked. Aki¡¯s guard slipped for the briefest second. ? ?Micheal didn¡¯t hesitate. He reeled back a fist, aiming straight for Aki¡¯s face. ? ?But his body faltered. ? ?The lack of air, the exhaustion, the sheer toll of the fight¡ªit all caught up to him at once. His vision blurred, his strength drained in an instant. He collapsed to his knees, gasping for breath. ? ?A beat of silence. ? ?Aki stood over him, wiping a trickle of blood from his forehead. He smirked, shaking his head in something between amusement and approval. ? ?¡°Not bad, kid,¡± he said, stepping back. "Maybe you¡¯re not completely useless after all." ? ?Jasmine rushed forward, her hands immediately going to Aki¡¯s face. "Oh my god, you''re bleeding!" ? ?Aki chuckled, waving her off. "Relax. It¡¯s nothing." ? ?Micheal, still catching his breath, shot Jasmine an indignant look. "Hey! I¡¯m hurt too, y¡¯know!" ? ?Jasmine barely spared him a glance, though a smirk tugged at her lips. "Yeah, and? You¡¯re already getting forgiven, aren¡¯t you? Don¡¯t expect me to fuss over an injured racist." ? ?Micheal frowned, but relief washed over him at the word ¡®forgiven.¡¯ ? ?He exhaled, shaking his head. "God, you¡¯re insufferable." ? ?Jasmine rolled her eyes but didn¡¯t bother hiding the small smile playing at her lips. ? ?Mitsuki stretched, letting out an exaggerated yawn. ?¡°Boooring¡­ Knox does it better,¡± she teased with a smirk. ? ?Both Micheal and Jasmine turned to glare at her¡ªJasmine looking particularly offended. Aki only chuckled, shaking his head. ? ?¡°She¡¯s not wrong,¡± he admitted. ¡°Real fights are a lot more intense. But for a beginner, you did well.¡± ? ?Micheal felt a mix of gratitude and disappointment. He appreciated the acknowledgment, but the reminder that he was still leagues below actual fighters stung. ? ?¡°He¡¯s still twice the fighter you¡¯ll ever be,¡± Jasmine snapped at Mitsuki, her irritation bubbling over. ? ?Mitsuki¡¯s smirk didn¡¯t waver. If anything, it widened as she tapped her chin, feigning innocence. ?¡°Oh wow¡­ You¡¯ve got yourself a little guardian angel, huh, Mikey?¡± ? ?Heat crept up Micheal¡¯s neck, but he wisely kept his mouth shut, unwilling to get caught in their brewing argument. ? ?Jasmine¡¯s glare sharpened. ¡°And how exactly are you and Micheal ¡®acquainted¡¯?¡± ? ?Mitsuki¡¯s eyes gleamed with mischief. ¡°Oh, let¡¯s just say we share a very¡­ intimate history. Right, Mikey~?¡± ? ?Jasmine bristled, something unfamiliar and unwelcome twisting in her chest. She didn¡¯t like it. ?¡°Stop being vague! Just say it already!¡± ? ?Mitsuki giggled. ¡°So impatient~ But I¡¯m not sure he¡¯s ready for you to know yet. I¡¯ll let him do the honors.¡± ? ?Jasmine snapped her gaze to Micheal, seething, and he suddenly felt very small. Just as the tension threatened to boil over, Aki casually draped an arm around Micheal¡¯s shoulders. ? ?¡°Relax. The kid¡¯s exhausted. This conversation can wait till tomorrow.¡± ? ?¡°Aww, but where¡¯s the fun in that~?¡± Mitsuki pouted. ? ?¡°Zip it, Mitsuki,¡± Aki snapped, sharper this time. ? ?Mitsuki huffed but backed off, pouting dramatically. Jasmine clenched her jaw but finally, reluctantly, nodded. Micheal shot Aki a grateful look as he let himself be led away, relieved to escape Mitsuki¡¯s game¡ªfor now. ? ? ? ? Chapter 09.1 *Angelica ? ?The shards of glass and rubble crunched under her boots as she stepped into what used to be her childhood home. Childhood? As if she''d ever had one. Her lips pressed into a thin line as memories surfaced, unbidden and unwelcome. The cursed blood she commanded coiled around her fingertips like living rings, responding to her rising anger. ? ?The earliest memory she could grasp was distant, foggy. A living room, the sharp sting of shame, a shattered vase at her feet. A woman¡ªher mother, though that word felt foreign now¡ªtowered over her, face contorted with rage. Then came the slap. Angelica hit the floor, pain blooming across her cheek. She didn¡¯t cry. She had learned not to. Instead, she picked herself up, head bowed. ? ?Wham! Another slap sent her sprawling. ? ?A small whimper escaped before she could stop it. Fingers gripped her hair, yanking her head up so she was forced to meet her mother¡¯s eyes¡ªeyes filled with nothing but hatred. ? ?"You... you''re the reason I¡¯m like this, you damn pig... you little bitch!" ? ?Wham! Another blow, harder this time. ? ?"You and your cursed father! I should have known better than to trust a man with blood as filthy as his! I should have known you¡¯d be just as disgusting!" ? ?Another slap. Her vision blurred. A metallic taste filled her mouth. One of her teeth was loose. ? ?"M-Mama... please¡ª" ? ?Her mother slammed her head into the wall. The world went dark. ? ?Now, standing in the ruined remnants of that same house, Angelica curled her fingers into a fist. Blood hardened around her knuckles, forming a jagged shell. She punched the nearest wall, her fist going clean through. Weak. She had been so weak back then. ? ?She took another step forward, voice low and venomous. "I know you''re in here, old man... Come out, and maybe I¡¯ll make it quick." ? ?A lie. None of them deserved mercy. The bloodless were pigs, parasites. Just like her mother. ? ?"Freak." "Look at her..." "My mom says she has filthy blood." "Gross... look at her face. It looks like it has worms in it." "She even smells like trash." ? ?The whispers echoed in her mind, relentless. She had grown up in the South, a land that loathed her very existence. She had once been na?ve enough to hope. ? ?"H-Hey... c-can... can I share my art with you?" she had asked a girl once, a girl whose face she could no longer recall. ? ?"O-Oh..." For a moment, there had been hesitation. But then another girl had wrapped an arm around her. "Don¡¯t talk to her, Amelia. My mom says she¡¯s not normal. She¡¯s not stable." The narrative has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident. ? ?Isolation. Pain. Nights spent bandaging her own wounds, biting her lip to keep from sobbing. She had begged the world for kindness, only to be met with cruelty. ? ?BAM! A wall exploded under her fist. Her fury only grew. ? ?"Eugh! What¡¯s wrong with your face?!" ? ?She could still see their expressions. The revulsion. The fear. The blank, faceless tormentors from her past. It had hurt. It had hurt so much that she could barely breathe. Every time, she swore it wouldn¡¯t get to her. Every time, the tears still came. ? ?"GET OUT HERE, YOU WORTHLESS PIG! FACE ME!" Her roar ripped through the empty house. A cabinet splintered as her blood-infused fist tore through it. Mocked. Scorned. Belittled. She felt nothing for the lives she had taken. She would feel nothing for the lives she was about to end. ? ?"I... I honestly don¡¯t even know her. Trust me. I¡¯ve never seen this girl before." ? ?Her mother¡¯s voice. The words that had shattered what little remained of Angelica¡¯s soul. The mob had come for her that day, and her mother had abandoned her without hesitation. She had begged. Screamed. ? ?"Mama! Mama, please! I love you! Help me!" ? ?No help came. She had woken up in a cell the next morning, still expecting to see those familiar brown eyes. Eyes that never looked at her again. ? ?"Mama... I made cookies for you..." ? ?She had tried. She had wanted to make things right. One last attempt at earning love. ? ?"This?! You think I¡¯d eat something made with cursed hands?! You disgusting pig! How dare you!" ? ?She remembered the beating. But the physical pain had been nothing compared to what she had felt the next morning when she saw the cookies¡ªthrown in the trash, untouched. ? ?A table flew across the room as she sent a blast of blood at a sealed door. The wood cracked, then shattered. The scent hit her then. ? ?Fear. ? ?She was close. ? ?She remembered the knife. The way they had held her down, carving their insults into her skin. The agony. The helplessness. The way the mask she now wore covered the scars, but never the memories. ? ?Finally, she kicked aside another chair and saw the quivering form in the corner. A frail, aging woman. Brown eyes wide, mouth agape. Her mother. ? ?Guilt and recognition hit the woman like a hammer. Her gray hair was tangled, her frame thin and weak. Trembling, she reached out with a shaking hand, her voice barely above a whisper. ? ?"Angelica... my baby..." ? ?Internally, Angelica wanted to unleash every ounce of rage she¡¯d held onto for years. To make her suffer. To make her understand. But instead, she held back, her face eerily calm. ? ?The old woman trembled, cautiously cupping Angelica¡¯s cheek. A pathetic attempt at comfort. A lie. For a moment she let her giving her a false sense of security. ? ?Then her eyes narrowed. In a single, fluid motion, she gripped the woman¡¯s arm and ripped it from her shoulder effortlessly. ? ?A strangled scream tore from her mother¡¯s throat as she collapsed, writhing in agony. Dark red blood pooled beneath her, staining the already ruined floor. Her wide, tear-filled eyes flickered between pain, terror¡­ and something else. Guilt. ? ?¡°A-Angie¡­ p-please¡­¡± The woman sobbed, clutching the empty space where her arm had been. ¡°I¡ªI¡¯m sorry, I¡ª¡± ? ?Sorry? Angelica almost laughed. Meaningless. Worthless. ? ?She crouched down, meeting the woman¡¯s desperate gaze. The blood swirling around her hands twisted, molded, reshaping into something familiar. Small, round shapes. ? ?Cookies. ? ?¡°I made you cookies,¡± Angelica whispered, her voice laced with mock sweetness. ? ?Her mother¡¯s breath hitched. Realization dawned in her eyes, followed swiftly by terror. ? ?¡°N-no, please¡ª¡± ? ?With a flick of Angelica¡¯s wrist, the blood-forged shapes shot into the woman¡¯s mouth, forcing their way down her throat. She gagged, clawing at her own neck, but it was futile. ? ?Angelica let the moment stretch, let her feel it¡ªthen, with a thought, she set the mock cookies ablaze. ? ?The fire ignited from within, spreading through flesh and bone. Her mother convulsed, her shrieks rising into a broken, gurgling sound before dissolving into silence. ? ?But it wasn¡¯t enough. ? ?Clenching her jaw, Angelica raised her hand and fired a thin slash of blood at the charred corpse, splitting it open. Then another. And another. ? ?Again. Again. Again. ? ?Yet still, the rage burned. ? ? ? ?Drenched in blood, her breathing heavy, Angelica exited the abandoned house, leaving nothing but a bloody mess behind her. One by one, piece by piece, she''d eliminate every last one of those meaningless scum that roamed this earth. Not out of revenge, not out of vengeance, but for them. For the only two people she could still bring herself to care about, even slightly. ? ?¡°Micheal... Lily...¡± The names slipped from her lips, soft and bitter, as she pulled a ragged old picture from her pocket. They were young, foolish, sitting on a park bench. Micheal stuck his tongue out at the camera, and Lily rolled her eyes in the middle of it. Angelica¡¯s expression softened briefly as she stared at the photo. ? ?She had to protect them. She had to ensure they lived in a world that was better. Fair. And what better way to do that than to eliminate the source of all discord¡ªthe non-cursed. Every last one of those heathens. Even if it meant hurting the two of them along the way. ? ?¡°Forgive me for what I¡¯ll do.¡± She mumbled the words to herself, her mind made up. She would clear the obstacles from her path¡ªAxel, the royal family¡ªwhatever it took to ensure complete domination. She would sit on a throne carved for just the three of them, and maybe, just maybe, she¡¯d smile for the first time in years. ? ?She took a deep breath, her expression hardening, narrowing in resolve. But for now, she had one last task to handle. Micheal needed a visit. ? ? Chapter 09.2 ? Lily ? ?The voices were growing louder. Her grip on the pen faltered, and it clattered to the floor. Heart pounding, she got up and rushed toward the door, stepping into the main hallway as the shouting intensified. ? ?She recognized her father¡¯s gruff, stern tone. ? ?"Is this what we taught you to become?! Is this how you plan to rule? A ruthless, mindless dictator?!" ? ?Her brother¡¯s voice followed¡ªfrustrated, pleading, hurt. ? ?"How many times do I have to tell you?! I never ordered any deaths! Why would I ever order executions?!" ? ?"Bullshit! You¡¯re telling me all your political rivals just dropped dead on their own? That, after months of peace, there¡¯s suddenly an insurgence of terrorists¡ªwho only happen to kill those that threaten your power?!" ? ?"I never even wanted the throne, Dad!" ? ?"And I never wanted you as a son." ? ?Lily¡¯s breath hitched. The words hung in the air, heavy and suffocating. She could feel them settle over the room like a death sentence. Even from behind the door, she could feel Axel''s pain. She could hear it in the crack of his voice when he responded, raw and disbelieving. ? ?"Y-you... you don¡¯t mean that¡ª" ? ?"That¡¯s what I thought too... turns out I meant every word." ? ?His voice was cold, venomous. ? ?"H-honey... maybe you should calm down¡ª" their mother¡¯s soft, pleading tone barely cut through the tension. ? ?Axel latched onto it like a lifeline. "M-Mom... you believe me, right? Y-you know I¡¯d never... I¡¯d never kill without reason. You know that, don¡¯t you?" ? ?Lily hesitated before peeking through the small crack in the door. ? ?Her mother¡¯s lips quivered, but she turned away. She couldn¡¯t look at Axel. ? ?Lily¡¯s heart ached. The pain on Axel¡¯s face was unbearable, his eyes filled with a desperate hope that crumbled into silent devastation. She wanted to move, to step in, to say something¡ªanything¡ªbut the words caught in her throat, the fear and tension keeping her rooted in place. ? ?Axel stood motionless for a moment. Then, without a word, he turned and walked away. His usual cocky confidence was gone. He looked hollow. ? ?Lily stepped inside, her voice shaky. "Dad¡ª" ? ?Her father¡¯s gaze snapped to her. He looked just as she remembered¡ªhis crown atop his head, dressed in royal garments. The disappointment in his eyes softened slightly when he saw her. Her mother, however, still couldn¡¯t meet her gaze. ? ?"Ah... sweetie, we missed you," her father said, his tone notably softer. ? ?She forced a small smile. "I... I missed you too, Dad, but¡ª" ? ?He cut her off. "You¡¯re the Crown Princess now, Lily. You understand that, right?" ? ?Her eyes widened. Her heart dropped to her stomach. ? ?"W-what?" ? A case of literary theft: this tale is not rightfully on Amazon; if you see it, report the violation. ?Her mother looked just as shocked and horrified. ? ?Axel froze mid-step, his grief turning to rage in an instant. ? ?"No! Don¡¯t you dare! She¡¯s too young for this!" ? ?The king¡¯s gaze hardened. "Don¡¯t tell me what I can and can¡¯t do... you disgraceful boy." ? ?Axel flinched, just barely. But then, he masked it behind clenched fists and fury. ? ?"Are you serious?! You¡¯re putting your own daughter through this?! Punish me however you want, but leave her out of it!" ? ?"I am not punishing her. I¡¯m giving the throne to someone who deserves it." ? ?"I don¡¯t give a damn about your fucking throne! That¡¯s my sister! And I¡¯ll be damned if I let you put her through hell!" ? ?Lily¡¯s chest tightened, a whirlwind of anxiety and affection for her brother crashing over her. He was hurting¡ªyet even now, his first instinct was to protect her. And for that, she loved him all the more. ? ?The king¡¯s expression remained unreadable, but the weight of his authority pressed against them both. ¡°It is not your choice to make, Axel.¡± ? ?Axel stepped closer, fists clenched so tightly they trembled. ¡°And what? It¡¯s hers? She had no warning! No say in this!¡± He turned to Lily, eyes burning with urgency. ¡°Tell him, Lily! Tell him you don¡¯t want this!¡± ? ?Lily opened her mouth, but nothing came out. ? ?She didn¡¯t want this. She wasn¡¯t ready. But the way her father looked at her¡ªexpectant, certain¡ªmade her stomach churn. Would he turn on her too if she refused? Would she be cast aside like Axel? ? ?She swallowed hard. ¡°I...¡± ? ?Axel¡¯s face fell. ¡°Lily, please¡ª¡± ? ?¡°Enough.¡± Their father¡¯s voice was final. ¡°You will not interfere in matters of the throne.¡± ? ?Axel scoffed, a bitter laugh escaping him. ¡°Right. Of course. Because I was never meant to be part of it, was I?¡± He took a step back, shaking his head. ¡°You know what? Fine. Take your perfect heir. See what happens when you break everything you touch.¡± ? ?Lily saw the moment the last shred of hope left him. The moment he stopped fighting for their father¡¯s approval and let himself fall into the inevitability of it all. ? ?Axel turned on his heel and stormed out. ? ?¡°Axel¡ª¡± Lily started, but he was already gone. ? ?She wanted to go after him. She wanted to tell him she didn¡¯t want the throne, that she still needed him. But as she turned back to face her father, his gaze pinned her in place. ? ?¡°You will be a better ruler than he ever could have been.¡± ? ?She wasn¡¯t sure if it was meant to be reassuring. It only made her feel sick. ? ?Her mother finally spoke, her voice hesitant. ¡°Lily, you don¡¯t have to¡ª¡± ? ?¡°Yes, she does,¡± her father cut in. ? ?Lily exhaled shakily. She had always been a survivor, adapting to whatever life threw at her. ? ?She just never thought it would throw this. ? ?And Axel... ? ?She had to find him. Before it was too late. ? ? ?Lily shifted on her feet, her body tensed as if ready to run after Axel. But her father¡¯s presence loomed over her, heavy and immovable. ? ?¡°You will be a better ruler than he ever could have been,¡± he repeated, watching her closely, as if daring her to defy him. ? ?She barely heard him. Her heart was pounding in her ears, screaming at her to go after her brother, to tell him this wasn¡¯t what she wanted. But she couldn¡¯t just turn her back on the king¡ªnot yet. ? ?Her mother¡¯s worried gaze flickered between them. ¡°Lily, you don¡¯t have to decide anything right now¡ª¡± ? ?¡°Yes, she does,¡± her father snapped, his voice final. ¡°The kingdom needs stability. Axel has proven himself incapable. You will take his place, and you will do what he never could¡ªlead. He''ll be held accountable for his crimes". ? ?Lily clenched her fists, nails digging into her palms. She wanted to scream at him, to tell him he was wrong, that Axel wasn¡¯t the failure he made him out to be. But she knew better. Arguing with him wouldn¡¯t change anything. ? ?So she swallowed the lump in her throat and nodded. Not in agreement, but in understanding. ? ?Her father seemed satisfied. ¡°Good. We will begin preparations immediately. You¡¯ll have much to learn.¡± ? ?Lily barely waited for him to finish before she turned and left the room, her pace quickening with every step. She needed to find Axel. ? ?She needed to make sure he was okay. ? ? ? ?She found him in the dimly lit study, hunched over her desk. At first, she thought he was just sitting there, staring into nothing. But then she saw the parchment in his trembling hands. ? ?Her letter to Knox. ? ?Lily¡¯s breath caught in her throat. ? ?Axel¡¯s fingers gripped the edges of the paper so tightly it crumpled slightly. His eyes scanned the words, his expression unreadable, but his body was tense, shoulders rigid with something barely contained. ? ?Then, slowly, he let out a shaky breath¡ªa breath that sounded more like something breaking. ? ?¡°Axel...¡± Lily stepped forward carefully. ? ?He didn¡¯t move. Didn¡¯t look at her. Just kept staring at the letter, his jaw clenched so tight it looked like it hurt. ? ?¡°You love him.¡± His voice was barely above a whisper, but it cut through her like a blade. ? ?Lily¡¯s stomach twisted in guilt.A small part of her had known his feelings for Knox. But the selfish part of her hadn''t cared. ? ?Axel finally turned his head, and when he met her eyes, she felt her heart shatter. ? ?He looked... lost. ? ?Not angry, not even hurt in the way she expected. Just... hollow. Like something had been ripped away from him, leaving nothing but a gaping wound in its place. ? ?¡°You love him too,¡± she said softly. ? ?His breath hitched, and for a moment, he looked like he was going to deny it. But the fight left him before it could even begin. His grip on the letter loosened, his hands dropping to his lap. ? ?¡°I¡ª¡± His voice cracked, and he stopped himself. He let out a bitter laugh instead, shaking his head. ¡°I don¡¯t know why I¡¯m surprised. Of course it¡¯s you.¡± ? ?Lily took another step closer, but Axel flinched like she¡¯d struck him. ? ?¡°It was always going to be you, wasn¡¯t it?¡± His voice was distant, almost numb. ¡°You were always the one who could still love, who could still... hope.¡± ? ?Lily¡¯s throat tightened. ¡°Axel, that¡¯s not¡ª¡± ? ?¡°Do you know what it feels like,¡± he interrupted, voice suddenly sharp, ¡°to have everything slip away? To realize that no matter what you do, no matter how hard you try, it¡¯s never enough?¡± ? ?Lily froze. ? ?Axel exhaled shakily, his fingers curling into fists. ¡°Dad doesn¡¯t want me. Mom won¡¯t even look at me. The kingdom thinks I¡¯m a murderer. And now¡ª¡± He swallowed, voice raw. ¡°Now even this.¡± ? ?She didn¡¯t know what to say. ? ?Axel let out another short, humorless laugh. ¡°It¡¯s funny. I thought maybe... maybe if I fought hard enough, if I held on tight enough, I could keep something. Someone.¡± His hands trembled. ¡°But it doesn¡¯t matter, does it? Everything I love just... slips through my fingers.¡± ? ?Lily¡¯s chest ached. ? ?She had never seen him like this. ? ?Axel had always been so loud, so cocky, so frustratingly full of life. But now, all of that was gone. And what was left behind¡ªthis broken, grieving thing¡ªwas terrifying. ? ?¡°Axel,¡± she whispered. ? ?He looked at her again, and for the first time in her life, she wasn¡¯t sure if he could be saved. ? ?¡°I don¡¯t think I can do this anymore, Lily." His voice was quiet. Defeated. "Good luck with Knox" ? ?Lily¡¯s breath stilled.A sudden, crushing fear settled in her chest. ? ?Because for the first time... ? ?She realized she might actually lose him. ? Chapter 10 ?"You messed up, didn''t you, pal?" Aki''s tone was deadpan as usual, though there was a hint of amusement in it. He withdrew his hand from Micheal''s shoulder. ? ?Micheal¡¯s head hung low, mind racing for a way out of the mess he''d made. Why couldn¡¯t he just tell Jasmine about Mitsuki? Why was he afraid of her reaction? It¡¯s not like they were serious or anything¡­ right? ? ?"I... I¡ªugh... I don¡¯t know what to do. Can¡¯t you advise me?" ? ?A small smirk crept up on Aki¡¯s face. "You really think I''m the one to ask for help? If I had that kind of game, do you really think I¡¯d be wasting my time teaching a no-good loser like you?" ? ?"Hey! I landed a hit on you!" ? ?"Barely. And I was holding back. I thought that much was obvious." ? ?Micheal scowled. He knew Aki had gone easy on him during their fight, but that didn¡¯t make it any less frustrating to have all his hard work brushed aside. ? ?"Yeah, well¡­ I just started elemental manipulation. It takes time to master." ? ?"Oh, is that so?" ? ?"I¡¯m pretty sure when you started, you were¡ª" ? ?"I summoned my first lightning storm when I was five," Aki deadpanned. ? ?Micheal froze, speechless. He had really underestimated this guy. ? ?"Yeah... well..." he sputtered, scrambling for a comeback but finding none. They had reached the door to his room. ? ?Aki smirked. "Go get some rest, kid. You¡¯ve got a big day tomorrow." His tone was a warning¡ªreminding Micheal of the mess he was now neck-deep in. ? ?Micheal gulped, nodded wordlessly, and stepped into his room. He pulled on his nightshirt and crawled into bed, drifting off into an uneasy sleep. This tale has been pilfered from Royal Road. If found on Amazon, kindly file a report. ? ? ?--- ? ?Sometime deep into the night, Micheal jolted awake, gasping as he felt a weight pressing on his chest. Eyes flying open, he blinked through the darkness¡ªand immediately recognized the silhouette straddling him. ? ?Mitsuki. ? ?Her flirty eyes locked onto his, lashes long and curled, her eyeliner a sharp electric blue that matched her gaze. That familiar smirk danced on her lips, the kind that always set his heart racing. ? ?"Hey, handsome," she purred, legs on either side of him as she sat casually on his chest. "I bet you missed me, didn¡¯t ya~?" ? ?His heart pounded, heat rising in his chest¡ªbut something stopped him. Something unfamiliar. A hesitation. ? ?"M-Mitsuki... I don¡¯t... I don¡¯t think we should..." ? ?Her smirk faltered, clearly taken aback. But just as quickly, it returned. She held his gaze for a moment longer, then gracefully swung her legs off him and stood up. ? ?"Well¡­ I didn¡¯t know you had it in you, to be honest," she said with a small chuckle, lighting a cigarette. ? ?"H-huh? What do you mean?" He sat up, cheeks warm, pulse still racing. ? ?"I mean loyalty," she said, exhaling smoke. "To a bloodless one, no less." ? ?"L-loyal?! What the hell are you on about?" he stammered. But deep down, he already knew¡ªJasmine. It was the thought of her that had stopped him. ? ?"Don¡¯t kid yourself, Mikey. I¡¯ve known you since we were kids. I know a look when I see it. And you two were practically lovestruck back there." ? ?"I-I¡ªwe didn¡¯t¡ªwhat are¡ª" Words failed him. ? ?"I never would''ve expected it," she said, voice quieter now. "With the way you used to rant about people without cursed blood... I would''ve thought my brother would¡¯ve put you down as one of those ruthless dictators we read about." ? ?Her tone wasn¡¯t teasing anymore. ? ?"I¡­ I¡¯ve changed." ? ?"I doubt that," she muttered. Then, softer, "She¡¯s a good girl. Treat her right." ? ?"What do you¡ª" ? ?"Micheal." Her voice was stern. It froze him. He had never heard that tone from her before. ? ?"I... I promise. I¡¯ll treat her right." ? ?"Good. I¡¯d have been really disappointed if I had to help you two sort out your marital issues." ? ?The teasing lilt returned. ? ?His cheeks burned. Again. "You¡¯re going a bit fast, don¡¯t you think?" ? ?"Oh, trust me¡ªinnocent little puppies like you two end up getting married as fast as you can manage." ? ?"Ha. Ha. And you¡¯re one to give marital advice, right? A woman with a boyfriend count higher than Aki¡¯s kill count?" ? ?"To be fair," she said, taking another drag, "his kill count isn¡¯t really that high to begin with." ? ?The flicker of her lighter briefly illuminated her smirking face before darkness reclaimed the room. ? ?A comfortable silence settled between them. After a moment, Micheal broke it. ? ?"Hey¡­ how would I even know if she likes me back? I wasn¡¯t exactly... fair to her when we met." ? ?He could practically feel her rolling her eyes before she smacked the top of his head. ? ?"Don¡¯t get all mushy and vulnerable on me, dude. I¡¯m not good at that stuff." She took another drag, then sighed. "She does. I¡¯ve seen the way she looks at you. Honestly, it¡¯s hard to believe someone can find your scrawny ass attractive." ? ?"H-hey! I¡¯m not that bad! Besides, you of all people shouldn¡¯t be saying that!" ? ?"You¡¯re good for money and drinks. That¡¯s all." ? ?"Fuck you." He paused, then lowered his voice. "...Besides¡­ aren¡¯t you¡­ mad?" ? ?Her face brightened with amusement. She snorted, pushed off the wall, and walked to the door. ? ?"Ah yes, I¡¯m inconsolable. How will I ever recover now that one of my flings has found a wife? The other twenty people on my call list will have to wait while I mourn this great loss." ? ?She laughed at her own joke and stepped out, shutting the door behind her. ? ?Micheal lay in the dark, scoffing to himself. "Jerk," he mumbled¡ªunable to stop the smile tugging at his lips. ? ?Not because of the teasing. Not even because of the peace Mitsuki offered. ? ?But because Jasmine liked him back. ? ?And right now, that was all that mattered. ? Chapter 11 ?Laughter echoed around him, filling his ears as the rich aroma of the feast Aki and Mitsuki had prepared drifted through the air. Micheal sat at the table, still a little stunned that Mitsuki had decided to throw a party in honor of his "first hit on Aki." Even more surprising was how Aki had taken it in stride, chuckling along with the rest. That alone unsettled Micheal more than the fight itself. ? ?Knox was there too¡ªquiet, reserved, his shoulders heavy with something he refused to talk about. When Micheal asked why Axel and Lily weren¡¯t around, Knox had simply said, "some issues," and left it at that. The tiredness in his eyes told Micheal not to press further even though he''d really been looking forward to seeing his best friend. ? ?Still, the table was warm with laughter, and for a brief moment, Micheal let himself enjoy it¡ªuntil he found himself searching the faces around him for a familiar pair of soft brown eyes. ? ?But Jasmine wasn¡¯t there. ? ?Frowning, he stood up and excused himself from the table, slipping through the halls of the house in search of her. Room after room¡ªempty. Concern slowly clawed at his chest until he finally made his way to the roof. ? ?There she was, sitting with her back to him, hair fluttering gently in the breeze. Silent. Still. ? ?He walked up beside her and quietly took a seat. She didn¡¯t look at him, but scooted slightly to the side, giving him space. There was a faint smile on her lips. ? ?¡°So...uh...¡± Micheal rubbed the back of his neck. ¡°What are you doing up here? Why aren¡¯t you... at the party?¡± ? ?She took a breath, voice soft, stripped of her usual fire. ¡°I guess I just needed some fresh air.¡± ? ?¡°Oh... I see.¡± He fidgeted, the silence between them growing louder. Something about her mood made him uneasy¡ªlike he was walking on glass. ? ?Then she asked, ¡°How many times did you lay with her?¡± ? ?The question hit him like a punch. His face flushed as he stumbled for words. Reading on this site? This novel is published elsewhere. Support the author by seeking out the original. ? ?¡°I... not... too many times.¡± ? ?She let out a low chuckle, shaking her head. ? ?¡°Oh, I see. Just a few times then? Not so serious? Didn''t bother to tell me either" Jasmine¡¯s words hung in the air like fog¡ªhalf teasing, half aching. ? ?Micheal¡¯s lips parted, trying to respond, but nothing came out. He looked down, ashamed. ¡°I didn¡¯t think it would matter. Not to you, I mean... back then.¡± ? ?She tilted her head toward him, her smile faltering. ¡°And now?¡± ? ?He glanced at her, the breeze tugging gently at her hair, revealing the furrow of her brow. ¡°Now¡­ I wish I¡¯d seen it earlier.¡± now that he thinks about it, the sighs had all been there. ? ?Jasmine was quiet for a moment, eyes searching the night sky. ¡°You know, when I first met you, I thought you were arrogant. Dangerous. A spoiled brat with too much hatred In his head" ? ?He chuckled softly, a bitter sound. ¡°And now?¡± he couldn''t exactly contradict her, she was right. ? ?¡°But then...¡± she trailed off, voice barely above a whisper, ¡°i realized you''re hatred might have only been born out of sorrow?.it doesn''t make it right. But something about you drew me in, like a moth to the flame. Maybe it was the way you trained harder than anyone else. You never gave up, even when everyone expected you to.¡± ? ?¡°I had to prove I belonged here as much as Aki and Knox. That I could be useful too,¡± he muttered. ? ?¡°No,¡± she said, turning to face him. ¡°You wanted to be better. You wanted to be good. Even if you didn¡¯t know how. That¡¯s what I saw.¡± ? ?His eyes widened slightly. She¡¯d been watching. Not just fighting beside him¡ªreally watching even while training him. ? ?¡°And you,¡± he said, voice low, ¡°You were always one step ahead. Smarter, stronger in a way... I hated you for it, for being different but...also for being better truth be told I was just trying to keep up." ? ?A ghost of a smile returned to her lips. ¡°So... you were chasing me?¡± ? ?He gave her a soft laugh. ¡°Still am.¡± ? ?They both fell quiet again. The world below the rooftop buzzed with music and celebration, but up here, it was like time had slowed. The distance between them seemed impossibly small now, their knees brushing, breaths mingling in the cool night. ? ?Jasmine leaned in just a little, her voice barely audible. ¡°Do you still think I¡¯m better than you?¡± ? ?Micheal¡¯s throat tightened his heart racing. ¡°In many ways...yes¡± ? ?Her eyes softened, wide and searching. ¡°I think.....I think I know what drew me in...I think it was the fact that underneath all that anger and hatred was....just that ....a hurting soul...or maybe it was something else....I''m drawn to you Micheal....but I''m also scared of you, of you''re hatred" ? ?His hand inched toward hers, hesitant, trembling. She didn¡¯t pull away. Their fingers brushed¡ªjust barely. ? ?¡°I don''t want you to be scared,¡± he whispered. ? ?Jasmine¡¯s breath hitched, her gaze flicking to his lips, then back to his eyes. The air between them felt charged, like something waiting to break. She leaned in, just enough for him to feel her warmth, their faces barely inches apart. ? ?Their lips almost met¡ª ? ?¡°Ahem!¡± ? ?They both jerked back as Knox stumbled onto the roof, his face flushed, eyes darting everywhere except at them. ¡°Uh¡ªSorry. I, um... didn¡¯t mean to interrupt whatever that was.¡± ? ?Micheal groaned under his breath. Jasmine buried her face in her hands, a laugh escaping despite herself. ? ?Knox scratched the back of his neck, visibly flustered. ¡°Right. Anyway, Mitsuki¡¯s getting mad that you two missed the toast. And Aki said if you don¡¯t come back, he¡¯s eating Micheal¡¯s share too.¡± ? ?Micheal blinked. ¡°Wait¡ªhe what?!¡± ? ?Jasmine stood, brushing off her skirt with a coy smile. ¡°Come on, lover boy. Before your mentor eats your dinner and your pride.¡± ? ?As they followed Knox down, their hands brushed again¡ªand this time, neither pulled away. ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? Chapter 11.1 ?Plans for her coronation were underway. Lily had never felt so conflicted. ? ?There was no time to sort through her thoughts¡ªto separate her feelings for Knox from the knowledge that her brother was in love with the same man. And now, in just two days, she would be crowned queen. It all felt so surreal. So fast. So messy. ? ?The world kept shifting around her, and she remained idle in its chaos. ? ?She missed Axel¡¯s jokes¡ªhis ridiculous quips that always brought a smile. But he''d locked himself in his room all weekend, refusing to come out. She yearned for her mother, who had grown strangely distant. Her father was consumed with stabilizing the kingdom. Not just her life, but her entire family felt like it had been shattered and scrambled beyond recognition. ? ?And for what? ? ?The protests against Axel had stopped, now that he was no longer going to be king. But was it worth it? Was it worth his mental health? Was it worth her state of mind? Did it bring the people joy to know their once beloved prince was being punished without evidence? ? ?¡°Miss Lily¡­ are you nearly ready? The Queen is waiting for you.¡± ? ?Mariah¡¯s voice through the door startled her from her thoughts. Wiping the tears from her face, Lily tried to keep her voice steady. ? ?¡°J-just a moment¡­¡± ? ?She dabbed at her cheeks with a napkin, fixing her makeup with trembling fingers. Deep breath. Another. She opened the door, smiling softly at Mariah, who bowed deeply. ? ?Lily kept the smile in place, her expression back to its carefully curated facade¡ªjust as a queen should be. ? ?¡°Any idea why Mother asked me to dress up properly?¡± she asked lightly. ¡°I wasn¡¯t under the impression we were going hunting so soon.¡± ? ?¡°N-no, Your Majesty... I haven¡¯t been informed of the reason. B-but¡­¡± Mariah hesitated, glancing behind her as if someone might overhear. ? ?Lily hated how afraid the servants always were. She paused, lowering her voice. ? ?¡°Mariah¡­ look at me, darling.¡± ? ?Shock flickered across the girl¡¯s face, but she obeyed. ? ?¡°You don¡¯t need to be afraid, you know?¡± Lily said gently. ¡°You¡¯re only human¡­ just like me. Just like my parents. Just like Axel. Don¡¯t let anyone¡¯s words tell you otherwise.¡± ? ?¡°Y-yes, Your Majesty,¡± Mariah replied, bowing again. Grateful, but still clearly uncomfortable, her gaze flickering over her shoulders again and again as though she was afraid of being seen. ? ?Lily sighed, but said nothing more, walking beside her down the long corridor. she''d always hated how her parents treated the servants, but once more she was powerless to change anything, she hated it. ? ?Eventually, they arrived at the ornate double doors of the dining hall. The scent of roasted meat and fresh bread wafted through the air, but it didn¡¯t make Lily hungry. It made her stomach turn. ? ?Mariah opened the doors and bowed as Lily stepped inside. If you spot this story on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation. ? ?Her eyes immediately found her mother¡ªsmiling, but not with her eyes. Her father grinned too, but not at her. ? ?And Axel¡­ ? ?Axel looked broken. ? ?He didn¡¯t even lift his head, his gaze stuck on his plate as he idly pushed his food around. His once-vibrant pink hair had faded, messy and streaked with jet black. He hadn¡¯t bothered to dye it. His trademark smirk¡ªgone. His shoulders slouched as though the crown he never wore had still crushed him. ? ?¡°Ah¡­ sweetie, we¡¯ve been waiting for you. Took a while to get dressed, hmm?¡± her mother said softly. ? ?Her father¡¯s booming voice followed. ¡°There¡¯s my beautiful princess! Come, dear, have a seat.¡± ? ?Something felt off. Too warm. Too staged. ? ?She made her way to the table, catching Axel¡¯s hollow expression as she passed him. Her voice wavered. ¡°W-what¡¯s the big occasion?¡± ? ?Queen Naomi looked away. Her father¡¯s smile only widened. ? ?¡°What do you mean? You¡¯re becoming queen! I¡¯m passing my legacy to my sweet angel. Isn¡¯t that reason enough to celebrate?¡± ? ?A lump formed in her throat. She didn¡¯t want this. She never had. She¡¯d dreamed of laughing and getting into trouble with Micheal and Angelica¡ªnot ruling a kingdom. But she could never say no to her father. She never had. ? ?So she smiled and nodded. ¡°I-I¡¯ll make sure to carry on your legacy, Dad. I¡­ I won¡¯t disappoint you.¡± ? ?¡°That¡¯s my girl,¡± he said proudly. ¡°I knew I raised this one right.¡± ? ?The jab hit her like a slap. Her eyes flicked to Axel. ? ?His fingers tightened around his fork, knuckles pale. Blood pooled where the tines pressed into his skin. ? ?She wanted to scream. To argue. To tell them that Axel was not a failure. That he deserved more than this cruelty. ? ?But what right did she have? She had helped break him too. ? ?¡°L-Lily¡­ you know what you¡¯re getting into, right¡ª¡± her mother began gently. ? ?¡°Of course she does, Naomi!¡± her father cut in, voice sharp. ¡°She¡¯s not a child. She knows her duty lies with the kingdom! Are you off your meds?!¡± ? ?The way he silenced her¡­ it wasn¡¯t new, but it still stung. ? ?Lily¡¯s fists clenched in her lap. ? ?Axel¡¯s hand shook around his fork. His jaw was locked tight, eyes still downcast. He¡¯d always been the one to speak up. Maybe that¡¯s why he was being punished now. ? ?¡°So¡­ Lily.¡± Her father¡¯s tone lightened, but the weight of his words was suffocating. ¡°Have you found your king yet?¡± ? ?The question knocked the air from her lungs. ? ?Marriage? ? ?How could she even think about that when her heart belonged to someone who didn¡¯t know? ? ?¡°D-Dad, I¡ª¡± Her voice caught, hesitation flickering across her face. ? ?Her father saw it immediately. Hawk-like. Unforgiving. ? ?¡°Do you want to disappoint me, Lily?¡± ? ?His voice was calm. Cold. That hint of steel made her shoulders slump. ? ?¡°No¡­ of course not,¡± she said quietly. ? ? ?