In the early morning, Baron Broke excitedly headed for the residence of Duke Alantoin, the Queen's older brother and the man behind the Black Prince and Amanda White's wedding. The old man planned to collect the remainder of the fee he would receive when his daughter was wedded to the Black Prince.
Baron Broke started making small talk when the host was in the same room as him. Duke Alantoin sat with his head bowed and legs folded, ignoring whatever words came out of the man with the thick beard. Slightly irritated at being treated with disrespect, Baron Broke immediately stated his true purpose here, "Duke Alantoin, I will take the rest of my reward, my daughter's sacrifice will cost a lot."
Duke Alantoin raised an eyebrow. “Your daughter's sacrifice? She’s died?"
Baron Broke swallowed his saliva, “N-not yet….”
"Not yet? Does that mean the Black Prince took her along?” asked Duke Alantoin again.
Baron Broke shook his head then smiled stiffly behind his bushy beard.
“As far as I know, the Black Prince went straight to the border last night, right on his wedding night. So, which part of your daughter's sacrifice should I cherish, Baron?" asked the host who was still sitting with his legs folded.
"Bu-but, you said if my daughter marries the Black Prince, then I will get the wealth and the title of Duke soon," Baron Broke sneered reminded him.
Duke Alantoin chuckled softly. “Who are you trying to trick me, Baron Broke? The agreement is that your daughter will die at the hands of the Black Prince or marry him 'and' live with him," said the Queen's older brother, emphasizing the word 'and' in his words.
Baron Broke stuttered. "B-but it’s the Prince who doesn't want to take my daughter along," he said confused, hoping that his defense just now would be accepted by the other person.
Duke Alantoin leaned close to Baron Broke's face. "If the prince killed your daughter or took her to his palace, then I would appreciate her sacrifice, but in fact, he didn't kill nor took your daughter along," said Duke Alantoin. "Doesn't that mean your daughter isn't attractive enough for the Prince? Or maybe your daughter is too disgusting for him to kill? And what I know is that she's not your daughter who always looks flashy at tea banquets, right?" asked the Duke sarcastically.
Baron Broke was deathly pale, his knees getting weaker as the final question from Duke Alantoin's mouth shot straight at him. ‘Damn it! How could he know?’ thought the old man.
“You tried to trick me into trading your daughter, damn you, Baron! Hurry and leave before I take everything I've given you and your life!"
Baron Broke hastily returned to his residence. He was afraid that if he stayed in Duke Alantoin's mansion any longer, the threat he received just now would really come true. And all the way home, his fear had changed to anger that was ready to be shed on his oldest daughter, Amanda White.
“Just because that damn kid hasn't died yet, I have this kind of bad luck! Yeah, no wonder, throughout her life, she only brought bad luck to my life! If the Prince doesn't kill her then I will kill her!” He growled with a flushed face the man went straight to the castle where Amanda lived.
Slap and punch repeatedly landed on Amanda's body. This time, the torment did not come from her stepmother or stepsister but from the only person in the world who still had blood relations with her. Her biological father, Ben Broke.
“A stupid girl like you should just die!” The old man swore half drunk. "Why don't you just follow your mother?!"
"If you were born normal, surely the Prince would take you to his palace, instead of leaving you alone here," said Baron Broke, who often mentioned Amanda's weakness.
"Why didn't that damn Prince kill you?! Ah! Even he must be very disgusted to touch you while killing you! That must be the reason, not because you are lucky!” the Broke family head cursed back.
“S-sorry… sorry… D-dad… akh! I’m sorry... akh!! Sorry ....” Only the words 'sorry' and 'sorry' and screams of pain that kept coming out of Amanda's tiny lips.
Baron Broke continued to throw other swear words at his eldest daughter. Her eyes were bloodshot while her right hand was holding a liquor bottle. The old man with diabetes looked very drunk, but his feet still kept on kicking Amanda who had been lying on the floor.
"Waiter!" called Baron Broke harshly, before long it seemed that a servant came hastily. “She is no longer my daughter! Now she is just one of the maids in this residence, no different from you all!” The maid then nodded obediently fearfully.
Amanda White was unconscious when her father left the castle where she lived. The condition of the girl with white hair was very bad, her cheeks were swollen and wet from slaps and tears, her lips were also bleeding. And don't ask, her whole body was blue and bruised from punches and kicks.
The maid named Nesa shuddered when she saw the girl's condition. Amanda really looked pathetic. Nesa slowly put Amanda's head in her lap. While cleaning the traces of blood on Amanda's face, she said, "Lady, you are now a princess, the legal wife of a prince, but why would you let a Baron trample your head?"
And time went on, but still, the torment from Amanda’s biological father never subsided, as did her stepmother and stepsister. For them, Amanda was always a big disgrace to the Broke family. Because, apart from being a different girl from most people, she was also abandoned after her wedding night with the Black Prince, as if adding to the long list of why Amanda White was so hated by the entire Broke family. “Looks like it's starting to fade,” Amanda muttered, referring not to the black stain that had been knocked out on the butt of the cauldron she used to look in the mirror but to the bruise above her cheekbone. "Dad was never like this. He never hit me, even though he didn't like me." Amanda realized that for a long time, Baron Broke seemed out of breath when he had to be in the same room with her. But only when they were together, as soon as Amanda's biological mother entered the same room, the atmosphere became so different, warm and full of love, like another families. “Love
"Oh ..." Amanda answered shortly at the news, while the other three maids stared at her nervously. "She won't report our actions to her husband, will she?" whispered the maid who had been ordering Amanda to the other maid who had failed to eat the soup in front of her. "Don't worry. She's been forgotten. Even if she told her husband, I think His Lord was the first to die." Amanda glanced at them briefly, then resumed cutting the pile of pumpkins in front of her. "You don't know about it? Prince never gave you news? Your father also didn't tell you?" Nesa asked repeatedly. Amanda nodded slowly. "No," she answered quietly. The maid who was whispering earlier smiled as she raised her eyebrows. "See? I'm right. She has no charm! The prince was so disgusted with her that he didn't want to touch her, and now, he's forgotten about her!" he said loudly mocking Amanda. Hearing this, the silver haired girl got up from her place and left the kitchen without saying a word. "Hey! Where a
A big event to welcome the host was held at the residence of the Black Prince. But before going to his residence, Illarion Black or better known as the Black Prince paid his respects to King Abraham in his private resting room. The old king was still lying weakly on the bed covered by a luxurious maroon mosquito net. The Black Prince knelt down to salute the King. "This time, it's Exilas?" asked the King a little hoarsely, but in no way reduced the charisma of the ruler of Anarka. "That’s right, Your Majesty," replied the Black Prince curtly. The old king chuckled. “You got a great victory, but why do you sound like you lost the war, Rion?” “Forgive me, Your Majesty,” replied the Black Prince briefly once again, not the least bit interested in answering at length the King's question. Slightly rising from the headboard of his bed, the King smiled sarcastically. "Ah, so you still hate me, Rion?" The Black Prince was still unmoved from his spot, just staring intently at the King wi
The Black Prince penetrated the cold night on horseback. The destination was not that far away, only a few hours compared to other cities that had to take days from the capital city of Anarka. A little worried about the King's words earlier, Illarion remembered what he said when he left the girl's residence last time. "We go back to the border and bring all the bodyguards. She will be safe because the terms of the King really protect him, she is still the Queen's family. After all, the King didn't condition that I have to be with her for a year.” Illarion didn't expect that the small loophole in the King's order that he found was considered a betrayal by the King. “That old man really wants me to wallow with the demoness family,” the Black Prince cursed as he continued to gallop towards Sulli. Once there, Illarion Black was surprised to see the dimly lit Broke residence, not as splendid as the last time he remembered it. And only two guards were seen in front of the gate who looked
"Sit down? I guess you don't love your life anymore! How impolite! Just because I married you, now you are getting big-headed and dare to order me to sit down?! What animal do you think I am! Uh...” Illarion suddenly realized something, especially when Amanda screamed the same thing again, but this time, the white hand pointed at the black cat that was now sitting pretty licking its front paws. “That cat's name-,” Illarion stopped his questioning sentence. A teary-eyed Amanda looked at the man in fear. “I-I'm sorry I-I'm really sorry, Your Highness. But I gave the cat a name long before I knew your name. I'm really sorry….” Amanda still said the word 'sorry' a thousand times while prostrating with a trembling body, while beside her, the cat was still innocently licking its black hairy body. Illarion was stunned to realize what was happening, he almost ended his marriage this time by being killed by a cat. The man then laughed and Amanda was stunned as if amazed by that crisp laug
Amanda seemed to think for a moment, then she squeezed the sterile cloth while opening her mouth and swallowing the red liquid that dripped from the squeeze. Illarion snorted. "You could have held the liquid with your tongue." Hearing Illarion who seemed dissatisfied with the way of proving it, Amanda squeezed the red cloth again and dripped it into her eyes, not forgetting that she also took a sip of the red liquid in the cup that was on the table. Illarion smiled when he saw the wrinkles on the white-skinned girl's forehead. Amanda seemed to be desperately holding back the bitter taste that was now creeping on her tongue. The girl stood tall in front of the Black Prince, waiting for any reaction to his actions just now. A few minutes passed, Amanda began to look nervous because of Illarion's sharp gaze that seemed to study her. ‘Disgusting, white skin like a rattlesnake like Gisella said, she must have thought that,’ Amanda thought as she looked down at her skin. ‘And old woman's
"What time do you think is it, Amanda? You're not ready-," Nesa's screams stopped there, as a dagger flashed beside her and pierced perfectly into the teak wood door frame behind her. The maid's eyes widened in disbelief, in front of her - more precisely - on Amanda's bed sat a handsome man with a vile gaze staring at her. "Is this how the maid in your residence wake her master up?" Illarion asked Amanda coldly. While the silver-haired girl didn't react, she just stared frozen at the dagger that had just been thrown by Illarion. And Nesa was no less surprised because she was the one who was pelted with the sharp weapon. The servant did not expect to get a death-defying experience precisely from a shirtless handsome man who was exactly the God of Ares on this sunny morning. “I will make this servant family receive the coffin right now.” Hearing that, Nesa knelt down while pleading. "I-I'm sorry, Your Highness! I am truly sorry!” Amanda was immediately frightened by the words of t
Amanda bit her lip in panic. She was really confused when this morning the Black Prince was about to have breakfast. "I'll take it to the room," Amanda offered. "I'm not used to eating in my room, just show me the way to the dining room," said Illarion in a commanding tone. The dining room was one of the places in the Broke's residence that Amanda avoided, because her stepfamily hated her presence when they were eating. "Gross." That's what they said, who immediately threw the food at Amanda, because their appetite just disappeared because of the girl's presence. Yet, here they were, in front of the luxurious dining room belonging to the Broke family. And Amanda panicked even more when she found out her family hadn't finished breakfast. "Continue with your breakfast," said the Black Prince as he raised his right hand as if to reject Ben Broke's typical Anarka salute. Amanda, who was behind the Black Prince was almost covered by the large body of the broad-chested man. The girl w
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