Andreas was so happy to see the arrival of the Black Prince. The man's disappearance three days ago left many questions for his colleagues and courtiers. But all of this was silenced by the cavalry general so that no one suspected Illarion had gone on the run and was seriously injured."Are you all right, sir? Why did you leave so suddenly?" asked Andreas in a rush. Curiosity and worry compelled him to bring it up to the Black Prince."I'm fine," Illarion replied as he helped Amanda down. "Go back to your room first," said Illarion, throwing away the flower petals stuck on the top of Amanda's head. The sweet treatment could not be separated from Andreas' strange gaze.Andreas was stunned, 'so it's true they went together?'Andreas was still watching Amanda, escorted by Aime, as he heard his Master say, "Please pay attention to Blake's leg. It looks like he was injured on the way here." Those words Illarion addressed to his stable manager."Who's Blake?" asked Andreas, hardly believing
Dinner time arrived, and the Black Prince and Queen Zaina walked together towards the dining room. Although the guards and servants looked at them as if amazed, the figure of Queen Zaina was very suitable side by side with the Black Prince. Queen Zaina has a tall physique for a woman, with such a slender body she is right under the Black Prince's chin, making them physically destined for each other. Just like the pair of gods from the Greek temple.Amanda was standing a few steps away from the Black Prince and Queen Zaina. Her heart was sliced bitterly when some of the servants he heard talked about the two people."Ah how fitting.""What a perfect match, they are like destined to be together.""I hope they end up together, I heard that Queen Zaina proposed to the Lord openly during His Majesty's birthday."Amanda exhaled, but her chest still felt tight."What do you think? really fits right?" asked a man who suddenly stood behind Amanda.The girl jumped in surprise. "P-prince Apollo.
"That is something that greatly benefits the Kingdom of Eden," said Illarion."At the same time a disaster," said Queen Zaina. "Several neighboring kingdoms have started to target the secrets of Eden's medicine, not only the healers and the scriptures, but also our natural resources full of medicinal herbs. My country is famous for its strong naval fleet, but we cannot rely so much on military strength on land. That's why Anarka's famous military capable of crushing anyone made me very interested. So I chose you to protect us.""Too bad you didn't choose Landyork," Apollo feigned protest."Isn't choosing the strongest a must?" asked Queen Zaina back without replying it as a joke.Responding to Queen Zaina's statement, Illarion said, "For what you have, you can easily ally with Queen Anarka. Even she has extraordinary abilities along with other kingdoms that side with her. If you join me, then all her allies will automatically be against you. "Queen Zaina smiled, "the wheels are turni
"So it's just a mere agreement," Queen Zaina muttered as she rolled her eyes at Amanda. Again the girl hastily looked down.Who knows how often Amanda was caught by Queen Zaina's eyes, staring at the dark-haired man when Illarion didn't see her.When morning came, as usual, Amanda headed to the pavilion of the northern garden of the Black Palace to have breakfast together."Amanda!" said Apollo warmly. Only the man was alone, standing with his arms waving. Food was served and still warm.Catching the confused look on Amanda's face, Apollo immediately explained. "Black Prince and Queen Zaina were asked to go to the main palace, to meet His Majesty the King.""Oh ..." Amanda replied curtly."Looks like His Majesty the King will agree to Queen Zaina's request, they're a perfect match right?"Amanda coughed briefly, then nodded. 'Of course, it's only a matter of time. Why should I be surprised.'"Do I need to ask the same thing?" asked Apollo, cupping his hands over Amanda's.Immediately
Queen Zaina laughed, "You surprised me. I thought Queen Minerva gave her maid for the Black Prince to marry.""I don't mind if the maid is as beautiful as Amanda, but of course, my Amanda is a noble's daughter," said Prince Apollo, about to put his hand on Amanda's shoulder. But failing, the girl's hand was pulled by the Black Prince immediately until Amanda was dragged a few steps from her place."My Amanda," Illarion hissed quietly."Going around with friends during archery lessons is not good. I'll help you remember it," Illarion quipped as he supported Amanda from behind. He reached for the hand of the girl, who was much smaller than his size, to grasp the arc of the bow, and the other hand was also directed to pull the bow.'Heavy,' Amanda thought the first time she held the bow. 'Luckily the Black Prince thought so and helped me shoot, I don't understand at all. If only Father would let me go to school first.'"Keep your back straight," whispered the Black Prince, leaning down,
"Excuse me," said Amanda and stood awkwardly. 'Why am I sitting here anyway.'"Where do you want to go?" asked Illarion. 'Isn't she offended? '"Eat, can I, Master?" Amanda wasn't hungry, but she knew someone was uncomfortable with her presence. Just imagine, she has felt this almost all her life. Amanda is very sensitive. 'And the angel sneered at me openly, Mr. Handsome, and I can't sit here.''She really can't be mad?' Illarion saw Amanda laughing awkwardly. "Sit here, I'll ask the maid to bring you some food," the Black Prince ordered to the silver-haired girl who was now looking down at the pink shoes she was wearing."No, you don't have to, Master! Let me go," interrupted Amanda. 'Gosh it's getting gloomy, and this guy is forcing me to eat here? Didn't he see the blonde haired angel's gaze, which looked very scary but still beautiful?'"What do you want to eat?" asked Illarion, which made Queen Zaina and Prince Apollo stare at each other because of the 'strange' incident in fron
Illarion immediately moved from his place toward Amanda. "Are you so hungry that you cry?!" he asked in a high-pitched voice. "Come on!" he asked, pulling Amanda's hand. The girl was half running, following the footsteps of the Black Prince who was dragging her.'What is this man going to do?' Along with Amanda's frantic thoughts, her tears flowed even harder. 'I'm scared.'The palace chefs immediately prepared to panic when the Black Prince was in the palace hall leading to the kitchen. But instead, the man stepped inside after kicking the kitchen door."Sit down," Illarion ordered Amanda, pointing to the wooden chair beside her. He cleared his throat again before repeating his words. "Sit down…" Illarion said, this time much more gently and not in a commanding tone.But in vain, the girl beside him was already trembling with fear. Illarion said in as sweet a tone as any. To Amanda, it was just a harsh snarl. With trembling legs, the girl put her buttocks on the chair.Illarion also
"Amanda!" called Queen Zaina while walking gracefully toward the snow-white-skinned girl. "You were asked to go to the main palace, His Majesty the King wants to see you.""Me?" Amanda asked as she looked up at Queen Zaina, who was much taller than her. 'What is it? Apart from the introduction after yesterday's wedding, I was never asked to meet His Majesty the King. '"Shall we go together? The carriage is ready. I also asked to go to the main palace."Amanda nodded and walked behind Queen Zaina because the woman immediately turned away from her.Arriving at the main palace Queen Zaina stepped first, making Amanda walk behind her. "Black Prince's wife is just like Queen Zaina's servant," whispered a maid to her friend and ended with a giggle. "I think she knows her place, their divorce is also a matter of time.""Queen Zaina, you have been awaited in His Majesty's treatment room," said the personal servant of the Anarka ruler, bowing respectfully. The maid's brows furrowed, "Mrs. Wh
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