Illarion didn't seem to care about the fury that once again possessed Duke Gramer. He continued to eat his food quietly as if nothing had happened. Meanwhile, Amanda shrank in her seat, not expecting to be scolded like that. 'Foolish Amanda, why am I so presumptuous just to see the Duke so sad. Not everyone likes talking to you and needs comforting!' “The Black Prince and I lost so much; a child! a wife! and mother! You who come from a family of murderers won't understand-." Duke Gramer stopped his words, and tears rolled down his drooping cheeks. "I-I'm sorry if I offended you," said Amanda, starting to get scared seeing Duke Gramer cry. Illarion was still gracefully cutting the meat on his plate. He is like not being in the same room with Amanda and Duke Gramer. “A-are you okay? I'm sorry…,” Amanda said with her hand hovering over Duke Gramer's shoulder. She wanted to give a soft touch but was also afraid of being rejected. Amanda looked at Illarion in panic. 'What do I do now?
Illarion didn't say anything and just nodded.The old man blew the smoke back into the air, then again, Duke Gramer continued his speech. “Some time ago, the people I fought so hard for left me because of the fear of the plague that would not subside. Instead, it became more violent and took many victims. Leaving my only family and me to flee to another safer area. It makes me wonder, are they worth fighting for? Do my people deserve me to fight like this? Until finally, I took an extreme step to overcome this calamity.” "What's that?" asked Illarion, raising an eyebrow. He had yet to listen to Duke Gramer's request.Duke Gramer swallowed his saliva. “I used the worst way to solve this problem. I called the extremist healers to deal with it. They said I should send all the sick to the notoriously hot and barren Rale field and then leave them there. Without care. Just die hungry and thirsty. My people are angry and disagree with it, but the fear of this plague made them surrender so q
The amethyst eyes girl had just wanted to deliver medicine for the Black Prince's arm. So she concocted it herself, a skill she secretly possessed - concocting medicine-. But hearing Duke Gramer's request made her not dare to enter the room."How was the ritual performed?"Illarion's voice sounded enthusiastic in Amanda's ears.“From the Mad Valley where the plague started to develop, they will be herded to the Rale Field. Then I will bury the girl along with the plague, and my wife's corpse of course."Amanda gripped the cup filled with medicinal liquid with trembling hands. "Is that your extremist healer's way of dealing with the plague?" asked Illarion in disbelief. But Duke Gramer's nod broke his doubts."Yes, we are using the worst way to deal with this outbreak. Because of this, I feel that I have no humanity anymore. But didn't Master also say that the road to power was never smooth," said Duke Gramer again, sucking tobacco through his hood.Amanda wanted to move from her plac
With her big purple bead, Amanda asked what Illarion meant. "So Master will remember me as what?""Of course a traitor," replied Illarion with a sinister smile. 'She was the one who had an affair with another man, wasn't she.'Amanda was still smiling even though her eyes showed sadness. The girl leaned back in her chair. 'He will remember me as Queen Minerva family apparently.'The carriage stopped, and a soft knock on the door revealed Duke Gramer's old face. "Prince, we will walk or ride horses from here," said the old man.Illarion got out of his carriage and then helped Amanda to get off. "You ride Blake. I'll lead him.""No need, sir. I am-," said Amanda."Up," Illarion cut what Amanda said, looking disapproving.Taking a deep breath, Amanda rode the big black horse. 'An offering like me doesn't have any rights,' she thought angrily.The atmosphere in the Mad Valley is gloomy. The existing buildings seem to have been left alone by their owners. The few remaining residents didn'
"R-rat, just rat..." Amanda whispered timidly. "Huh?!" Illarion was startled and then hissed in annoyance. "S-sorry," Amanda continued as she separated herself from Illarion. Just as the silver-haired girl pulled away, the windpipe behind Amanda fell and sent hundreds of rats flying out. Amanda ran again, screaming inside. Illarion's embrace. The big tall man curled his lips in between, pulling Amanda's waist towards him, and then he made a light jump onto the nearest table. Meanwhile, at the other end of the room came Duke Gramer's cursing, and his servant dodged the rodent. After the atmosphere subsided a bit, Duke Gramer shook his head. "Since the plague, the growth of rats has also continued to increase. I think this is a curse." The vanilla scent that had indulged Illarion's sense of smell was forced to leave when Amanda gently pushed herself in the opposite direction of the handsome man. “I know what that pattern is!” cried Amanda suddenly. Illarion, who couldn't sue
“You can't, Your Majesty.”"Sorry, Prince. We don't want you to get this disease too."“Rituals are very sacred and there can be no outsiders.”The healers answered each other and refused Illarion's request."I'll come with all of you or you won't get what you want," threatened Illarion coldly.The chief healer looked unperturbed, and he turned to his friends. Then, finally, one of the healers came forward to Illarion."Then we won't do any rituals. I hope you can accept the increase in casualties gracefully just because of your curiosity and selfishness, Prince," replied the healer.Duke Gramer immediately panicked upon hearing that. He didn't expect that the Black Prince's meddling in this matter would make things worse. Even now, in his heart, he cursed his former son-in-law. “N-no, no, please. Rituals must continue! My area must be free from the plague. Please!” Amanda gripped Illarion's palm with her trembling white hands. “Sir, please. You don't have to come. Enough, i-just me…
“Thirst…,” groaned one of them.Amanda smiled and handed her a water bottle. Some of them move and want the same thing.“Hungry… thirsty… Madam please!”“Please give me some water….”Amanda stood up from her spot. “Back off! Return to your respective places! I will give you food and drink as long as you are orderly!” Somehow decisiveness suddenly appeared in her. 'Associating with the Black Prince seems to make me braver, huh,' Amanda thought with a smile."Am I going to get better, Madam? Is that what the healers say?" asked the woman Amanda had given her a drink.The eyes of the patients began to turn to Amanda, and there was a little spark of hope in their eyes. The pale skinned girl swallowed her saliva, and they didn't even care about Amanda's unique appearance, which was different from the average person. They only hope on a thin thread, namely the girl's words.“You will recover and live like the previous days,” Amanda replied with a forced smile. 'I just wanted to cheer them u
"Didn't you send me here to be a sacrifice? Can I just take care of them. Give me time and don't burn us," Amanda pleaded. The patients gave mixed reactions to Amanda's request."We're going to die soon, why is she taking care of us?""I want to live even if it's just a week longer..."Amanda saw the faces of enthusiasm and despair that alternately appeared in that place."I won't injure you, and neither will the people there. You know the medicine you made yesterday? It's the right antibiotic for them,” Illarion said.The patients inside started muttering quietly. "Any medicine for us?""Can this disease be cured?"Amanda saw hope rekindle in the eyes that were beginning to despair. Slowly the girl opened the door of the old house, irises as dark as night could be seen behind it. From her eyes, Amanda concluded that Illarion was smiling. "So you can mix the potions again, right?" asked the man with the black mask covering half his face.Amanda nodded enthusiastically."Before you h
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