"What is it like?" Jean exclaimed, suddenly fangirling over Illarion Black and defending the black-haired man, not wanting his idol to be compared to anyone else. "His face, like that of the Black Emperor, is very exclusive. Even among the famous handsome Anarka nobles, his is the most handsome face."Suddenly, one of the villagers ran with a pale face and went straight to the Fang Chief. "Chief! Please help. My brother's carriage fell off the west cliff, the Helena ravine! I'm afraid a landslide might bury them. Please, they're on their way, taking my family and my heavily pregnant sister-in-law to the Kingdom of Eden," the panicked man explained.Chief Fang patted the man's shoulder gently, trying to calm him. "Show me the way to the scene while explaining what happened to me." Chief Fang noticed Illarion was also listening to what the man said. "I'm sorry, Black Emperor, an unexpected event has occurred to my people.""I and my escorts will help you, Chief Fang," Illarion offered h
"But we cannot let a woman go in there! Even skilled male rock climbers are only able to save families who fall on the edge of Helena's Hair Cliff," Peter objected. "It's too dangerous. I won't let them sacrifice Amanda." "Right! Too dangerous!" shouted other villagers. Although some of them were vocal in criticizing Amanda, many of them also felt indebted to her. Mary hopped over to the old woman affected by the disaster and helped calm her down as she was a distant relative. "I'll tell Amanda. She never refuses. She'll help," said Mary to Diane's mother-in-law. Immediately after saying that, Mary ran to Amanda's house. *** Half an hour passed like an eternity, and the Black Emperor asked the residents to cut bamboo and lay them across the gaps of Helena's Hair Cliff to prevent landslides that could suddenly occur. Even a drop of rain could make the soil around the cliff's edge so soft. Diane's mother-in-law and her husband hugged each other, worrying about the fate of their lov
"But you could get hurt, sir," Amanda softened her voice this time, not wanting Illarion Black to get hurt. "Now you know how I feel about stopping you, right?" Amanda nodded. "Okay then, as long as you don't mind, sir." Chairman Fang looked very worried, as he couldn't possibly let the ruler of Anarka sacrifice himself for just one Artias resident. He didn't want his territory to be attacked by the black legion if anything happened to the tall, handsome man. "T-That's impossible, sir. I can't let you make this sacrifice." While patting Chairman Fang's shoulder, Illarion said, "You don't have to worry, just gather the residents and have them cut bamboo according to the size I ask for, also prepare fabric that can hold water. Rain is the worst-case scenario that could happen." Chairman Fang couldn't say anything else. The muscular old man quickly nodded in agreement. After all, he didn't know what else to do. "Come on," Illarion said with a smile, kneeling to Amanda, then patting
"Amanda...," Illarion called softly.After a while, the woman's moaning voice faded from his hearing. The man in the middle of the ravine was worried about the girl's condition, who was always lost in her thoughts."Amanda...," Illarion called again."Are you okay?" Illarion asked, starting to sound panicked. His hearing was so silent that he could hear the sound of thunderclaps tens of meters above him. "It's going to rain soon..."Illarion was ready to pull the rope wrapped around Amanda's waist when he heard a baby crying loudly. And not long after, the light from fireflies in a bottle was seen under the tall, big-bodied man."Wait, I will pull you up," Illarion said slowly, afraid that the louder roar from the baby's cry could cause the cliff walls to move and close.The baby looked calm, sipping honey from Amanda's thumb. Her expression was frozen, like a beautiful doll falling to the ground.Above them, the intensity of the rain started to increase. When Chairman Fang gave instr
"Are you here?" Illarion asked as he jogged slowly towards Amanda.The orange color of the sun disappearing on the horizon made Amanda's snow-white hair and face glow a reddish hue.'I hated this light as if it reminded me of the day my mother was burned. But now, the same light gives a charming beauty to Amanda, and I don't hate that color anymore. Is it because of Amanda? Or has the time finally healed this trauma?' Illarion thought to himself.Amanda's purple eyes widened in surprise. "Sir, you're wearing a color other than black?" she asked.Illarion now wore a brightly colored blue shirt with rolled-up long sleeves, although he still wore black trousers and high-heeled black leather shoes.When the black-clad guards were surprised to see Illarion wearing an unusual color, he appeared unconcerned. But when Amanda realized and mentioned it, he scratched his non-itchy neck out of embarrassment."I, I ran out of clothes. This belongs to your husband," Illarion replied hastily. The sh
The little girl's heart was still beating fast.'Am I ready to go back to him, to my former life, with you, my lord?''Ah, he's not even a prince who's become a king now, but an emperor, the king of kings. Am I worthy? Am I strong enough? Can I do it?'Amanda searched for an answer in Illarion's dark eyes, she who was only the daughter of a baron. Even an unwanted child.'To become an empress? It's beyond any destiny I could have imagined.'Amanda crossed her fingers over her chest, at a loss for an answer. After a brief silence, Amanda finally replied, "I'm not married yet.""Huh?" Illarion was surprised and inwardly shouted 'yes'.'Ah, so that's why we've been widows and widowers for eight years now. I guess we were meant to be together.'"So that man is not your husband, is he?" Illarion asked, a broad smile starting to appear on his face."That man?" Amanda asked, her eyebrows raised. "Who do you mean, my lord? Peter? He's a good man who has protected me all this time, and he's th
"No!" Max shouted loudly."What is the reason for you that you do not want to have a father like me?" Illarion asked, pulling on his collar.There was a commotion between father and son in the simple forest house courtyard as they walked to Max's school. Amanda, who usually accompanied the little boy, was now replaced by Illarion - at his own request."Because of you! You're not worthy of my mother! I prefer Uncle Peter," Max argued."Maximilian Amarion Black!" Illarion shouted, surprising Max with the loudness of his voice and the use of the full name he had made up overnight. It was a simple name; Black was his surname.The little boy furrowed his brow. "What, old man? What are you calling me?""Maximilian Amarion Black," repeated Illarion with a smirk as if proud of the name he had come up with overnight. Black was his last name, and Amarion was a combination of Amanda and Illarion's names. Illarion wasn't creative in coming up with names like Amanda, but he spent the whole night t
"Of course! Isn't he still in Artias?" exclaimed the little girl excitedly, and a few other children started to approach."I've also met him!" added another friend of Max."Me too!"Max sighed in frustration. 'So, I'm the only one who hasn't met him yet.'"What does he look like, anyway?"A boy with freckles covering his chubby cheeks laughed. "You've never met him, Max? Oh, poor you!" he said mockingly.Some other children laughed, which annoyed Max a bit as they laughed at him."He's really tall, and he has a muscular build," Alice described.The little girl then ran her fingers through Max's hair, looking into his eyes. "He has black hair like yours, Max, but his eyes are dark like the sand on Eden Beach."Max heard Alice's words, and his heart started pounding. "Are his eyebrows split?""YES! He has a split eyebrow," the chubby boy chimed in, pointing to his right eyebrow. "Like it got cut by a sword. Ah! It looks so cool!"Alice smiled, still gazing at Max intently. "Honestly, he
Illarion stopped in his tracks, not wanting Amanda to distance herself further from him. While gazing into Amanda's amethyst irises, the man with obsidian hair asked, "What if it's all true?" Amanda leaned against the cold stone wall in the underground chamber, not wanting to fall in front of Illarion Black, who had just revealed something Amanda had never suspected in her entire life. Her beloved friend Aime, who had been replaced by Illarion, had died because of the actions of the man she loved the most. 'I was even willing to die for this man with black hair,' Amanda thought. "I guess we're not destined to be together, Emperor," Amanda replied. The sorrowful expression that Illarion displayed upon hearing Amanda's words made Karak's laughter resonate once again in the underground chamber. "Karma! Hear that! It's your Karma, Illarion!" the old man interjected amidst his terrifying laughter. "Don't leave me again, Amanda," Illarion pleaded weakly as he followed the girl's steps t
"I am Karak."Amanda's purple eyes widened upon hearing that name. Karak was the man who poisoned Illarion during the dance party at King Abraham's birthday. It was then that they met Galela and Balton, who saved Illarion and provided the antidote for the poison.'Is it because of that incident that Illarion is torturing this man? Because he once poisoned him?' Amanda wonders why this old man gets punishment like this by Illarion Black."It seems like you recognize me," Karak guessed, narrowing his eyes. The chains on his back rattled. "Ah, my abilities are truly extraordinary."'I shouldn't get involved in this. I should leave,' Amanda thought."Hey, don't you hold a grudge against that man?" Karak asked.Amanda, who was about to turn back, halted her steps. "Why would I?""For sacrificing you.""What do you mean?" Amanda asked.Karak chuckled softly before answering Amanda's question. "Who do you think poisoned the King? The previous King.""Huh?" Amanda murmured, looking confused.
Princess Hera's face immediately turned pale. "Of course, the spring colour is the most suitable, like the colour of falling leaves," Amanda said with a smile, patting her sister-in-law's arm. "Oh, yes, of course," Princess Hera replied with a forced smile. "We were discussing the perfect dress colour for spring, my Lord," Amanda explained. "Oh," murmured Illarion, then he got into the carriage. "My sister will stop at the Main Palace. She will stay there for a while to prepare for our wedding celebration," Illarion explained to Amanda. "Ah! Thank you, Princess Hera. I hope I'm not causing you any trouble," Amanda expressed. "Oh, certainly not. I'm happy to finally do this after waiting for the emperor's wedding for ten years," Princess Hera replied, appearing to laugh. But that only furrowed Amanda's brow. 'Why does Princess Hera look so uncomfortable next to her brother?' Finally, Amanda White and Illarion Black arrive at the black palace after escorting Princess Hera to the
"What are you doing?" Princess Hera asked, investigating while pulling Illarion's arm as soon as the dance party ended.The Black Emperor immediately brushed the woman with dark ash hair hand. "What do you mean?""High Priest, what are you doing to him?"Illarion shook his head and scoffed. "Tsk! Do you suspect me, Sis? Isn't that going too far? I am also deeply saddened.""You're not good at acting, Illarion!" Princess Hera stated firmly.The handsome man with a scar on his right eyebrow laughed cynically."You've gone too far! You're just like our late father, the previous King."Illarion immediately stared sharply at his sister. "Don't compare me to that old man who sold you for power.""What's the difference? You also kill to justify your goals! The High Priest is a holy person, a representative of God, Illarion!" Prince Hera shouted. "I never expected you to become this bad.""I was the one who saved you!" Illarion retorted, clenching his jaw and tightening his elbow."We'll see
"I should have sent someone to fetch her," thought Illarion as he searched for Amanda among the hundreds of guests.Illarion face lit up with a wide smile when he saw a figure with snow-white skin passing through the hall's main entrance where the dance party was being held.All eyes once again followed the steps of Illarion Black, amazed by the physical perfection of the leader of the deadliest army in the entire Black Continent. Their breaths were caught as the Black Emperor knelt before a woman."Who is she?" "I heard she's the daughter of Duke Gree, but wasn't she sickly and had a child out of wedlock?" Question after question rolled in hushed tones, too afraid to voice out loud who the woman now offering her hand to the Black Emperor was. One wrong answer, and their heads might roll before they get a chance to find out.After Illarion gently kissed the back of Amanda's hand, he stood tall and led the girl with pink tresses onto the dance floor, accompanied by beautiful music. The
"Max!"Amanda called nervously, startled and looking embarrassed, when she almost got caught kissing Illarion by a young boy and Virginiana."You're too young, ten years old, to hurt me, little boy," Illarion said, slightly annoyed because he could taste Amanda's cherry lips. "What is he doing? Stealing Mom's breath again?"Amanda's face turned crimson while Illarion laughed heartily upon hearing Max's question.The dark-haired man tilted his head, observing the little girl clinging behind Max. Virginiana appeared to steal glances fearfully, observing Illarion Black's figure. "Is it her?" Illarion asked Amanda. "Both of you look so alike.""Oh, yes, she's Virginiana!" Amanda exclaimed, shifting her attention to Max, still feeling embarrassed.Virginiana's face immediately turned pale as Illarion looked at her again, now knowing her name. The little girl bit her lip, trying to hold back her tears. Illarion knelt in front of Max and Virginiana."Allow me to introduce myself as the fath
"What?" exclaimed all the attending guests. They didn't expect the ruler of Anarka to attend this small tea party. Although Duke and Thomas Gree, noblemen and trusted aides of the Black Emperor, were present, it was unusual for someone other than the host's spouse to attend such a small tea gathering unless they had an intimate relationship with the host."Black Emperor is here, are any of these noble ladies capturing the ruler's heart?" Countess Synera asked, full of curiosity.Romantic relationships among the nobility were always intriguing to gossip about, especially when they involved higher-ranking nobles. And now, the Black Emperor, dressed in a dark maroon suit, walked along the path to the party venue, causing the hearts of the noble ladies to beat faster."Forgive my intrusion. I was passing by and decided to visit Duke Gree's residence briefly," Illarion said, trying to come up with an excuse, but the noble guests didn't care. The presence of the handsome man dominated their
Mathilda and Thomas seemed drawn to attention when they saw Kaliya, who couldn't stop smiling while holding hands with Amanda in Duke Gree's garden residence."She has sun-kissed skin spots just like Vivian," Mathilda murmured finally, and Duke Gree nodded with a sad look beside his wife."Are they just noticing this now?" thought Amanda. She felt Kaliya's hand tremble slightly in her grasp.Suddenly, Kaliya screamed loudly, pulling flowers and throwing them toward the Gree couple."Kaliya...," Thomas softly called out, no longer shouting, which caused the brown-eyed child to widen her eyes in confusion."Did I do something w-wrong?" she asked with a trembling voice. Subconsciously, Kaliya knew that if she were called by her name, she would be punished, as that had been happening to her all this time.Amanda immediately crouched down next to the little girl so their eyes were level. "You did nothing wrong, my dear, but it's better if you don't throw anything at other people because it
"Who?""Duke Alantoin Son, Ignatius Alantoin. Fortunately, that playboy was also sentenced to death by the Black Emperor along with his father, who was a loyal supporter of Queen Minerva," Mathilda replied angrily. "He is the flesh and blood of a man who opposes the Black Emperor."Amanda stared sharply at Mathilda. "Did you forget? My father is also a distant relative of Queen Minerva."Mathilda immediately choked. She, who had wanted to make Amanda understand why she treated Kaliya that way, felt attacked instead. Amanda immediately refuted Duchess Gree's statement."She is still a child. She is innocent, especially since she is your daughter's child, Duchess. She is your granddaughter-.""She is the reason my weak daughter died while giving birth! Her father deceived my daughter so that she would give up her virginity. My daughter, who never met anyone outside of wedlock, was left alone by that damn man! Even though my daughter insisted on giving birth to her child, even though her