Duke Alantoin still didn't expect Baron Broke's son to be at this event and side by side with the Black Prince. "I really didn't think he would bring that girl into the palace, even letting her live until now.""You are always stupid and unresponsive to circumstances, that's why even though I'm younger and a woman, Father always counts on me," Queen Minerva insulted.Duke Alantoin curled his face. He, who used to insult people, now had to be silent about receiving insults from his younger brother."Useless," Minerva hissed as she looked down on her brother before standing up to greet King Abraham."Your Majesty, the Great Lion of Anarka! King Abraham!"Everyone in the audience bowed their heads in respect as the palanquin carrying the ruler of Anarka reached the luxurious ballroom of the main palace. Before long, the figure of an older man with a firm jaw and sharp eyes was now sitting on the throne.Like hundreds of guests who attended this grand event, Amanda was hypnotized by King
The intimate sight was displayed in front of Amanda. 'He never smiles when he sees someone, and this time a beautiful and perfect woman with a background that could benefit him proposing to Master. Of course, he will accept it.' Amanda's heart was so sore again. Since the Gisella incident, the girl has felt the same way.The king didn't look very happy with Queen Zaina's request, "I will consider this," he said while looking at the Black Prince.Queen Minerva, sitting one step below her husband's chair, showed an annoyed face. 'After Exilas and now Eden starting to submit under him? I won't let it.' She was even glaring at Illarion Black now.After birthday wishes and exaggeration of King Abraham's praises, the real event of the ball begins. Prince Alexander and his wife started the couple's first dance. In her husband's arms, Princess Victoria looked furious when Alexander's eyes fell on Queen Zaina.Like stepping on a cloud, the ruler of Eden walked over to where Illarion Black was.
Amanda left the event ballroom feeling claustrophobic. All the bad words people said about her on the show didn't more hurt when she saw Illarion Black dancing passionately with Queen Zaina. Her feet stopped on the balcony overlooking the artificial lake, and there was no moonlight, only stars in the night sky."Wake up, Amanda! Don't be so greedy. He doesn't even look at you; you can never have him! Remember, you're just one of the enemy's family's people, " the girl said while patting her cheeks. Amanda was then pensive and almost dropped tears when she first heartbreak for a man.Oh no, his first heartbreak was with his father. Ben Broke. And what a poor girl, she had to be heartbroken again when she was new to love, even before love blossomed beautifully.Amanda's long silver hair swayed gently in the wind on the palace balcony. Then, finally, someone touched the tip and kissed it."Like I said before when I first met you, you are someone I will be very hard to forget," Apollo sai
The girl had not had time to close her eyes until she saw the arrow ready to pierce her. 'Is this the end of my life?' Illarion smashed the two arrows right in front of Amanda's amethyst net. Trak! The arrow split in two and fell just like that on the ground. Along with the loss of light in the garden, there was a moment of silence. Illarion turned off the lighting by cutting off the torches around them with just one sword stroke. Amanda held her breath, her head resting squarely on Illarion's chest, and she could hear the man's heartbeat. 'So calm, is he used to deal with situations like this?' In contrast to Amanda's heart, it was as if her one organ wanted to jump out of her tiny body. "Ugh!" a voice broke the silence of the night, coming from the big tall man right behind Amanda. "Sir-!" Amanda screamed, stifled by Illarion's smothering again. The girl was shocked when a splash of blood hit her shoulder from the mouth of a man dressed the same as her. "Shh!" whispered Illari
Ignoring the objections of her legal husband, Amanda turned and threw stones, causing a lantern hanging on the side of the palace wall to fall. A small fire lit up as the not too much oil residue from the shards of the lantern flooded the ground. Illarion stared in frustration at the girl he had made his body support. 'Is she crazy? What can a fire that's even as big as a birthday candle do.' "Co..me…on," Illarion forced but more like a weak plea. 'Damn, their steps are getting closer, and this crazy woman is just playing around with fire!' "They came?" Amanda asked in a whisper, showing her a few pine cones. Illarion frowned, his sense of hearing still active. 'Wait a minute,' he mumbled to himself. And when his assailants turned on the north wall of the palace they were in, the black-haired man nodded quickly at Amanda, shouting 'now' but not a word came out of his mouth. Even so, Amanda could still catch the athletic man's intent. Immediately the girl threw some dried pine cone
Anarka, fifteen years ago."Illarion, wake up… Illarion…," a woman whispered to her son, who was still fall asleep.The little boy, about ten years of age, squirmed in his sleep, his brows furrowed at the constant disturbance that plagued him. Then, at last, his bead, which was like the darkness of the night, opened heavily."Mother…? What is it?" Illarion rubbed his eyes, shifting his gaze from a beautiful woman with jet black hair like himself to the large window at the end of his room. "It's still night, I can still see the stars.""We have to get out of here," the woman whispered, hastily preparing a bundle of clothes and some jewelry.Still half-conscious, the little boy had not caught his mother's intentions. "Why? Brother is also going?"The sea blue eyes looked back at her beloved child, "no," she shook her head weakly. "You told him? Tell Prince Alexander that it was me who healed the bird?"Illarion sat up straight, his mother's question just now telling him he had made a mi
A maid looked sadly at Illarion, "Concubine Mother will be burned this morning in the square. And you will be sent to the battlefield as penance for what your mother did, sir." A piece of news he heard just now, like the beginning of the nightmare of the little Prince's next life.With a raging feeling, Illarion galloped through the palace halls, looking for someone who could defer the punishment his mother was about to receive. His Majesty's room is tightly closed with layers of security. The little boy screamed outside when he wasn't allowed in. His mournful roar was heard in Prince Alexander's room. The fifteen-year-old young man lay in a pool of blood helplessly because of the repeated beatings from his mother for opposing the Queen's words.Illarion's half-brother did not expect her biological mother, Queen Minerva, to use the statement she told earlier to frame Concubine Sonya, the mother of her beloved brother Illarion Black. "Just out of thirst for praise, I lost my brother. I
Illarion's breaths were ragged. His back was shivering cold, but his body was sweating as if he was hot, and his hands were shaking uncontrollably."Are you all right?" Amanda asked worriedly. The candlelight hit his pale face on the nightstand. He was creating a beautiful silhouette on a shabby mossy wall.Illarion's eyes gleamed at the soothing, serene face, and Amanda was immersed in the man's broad chested arms with one embrace."Sir?" Amanda squirmed in the man's arms, begging him to breathe. But Illarion's shaking hands behind Amanda's back and his ragged breaths in the crook of her neck seemed to say, 'I'm scared.'Amanda brushed the hair above Illarion's nape with her slender fingers gently. 'Everything's fine…,' she said but only inwardly, not daring to utter any reassuring words for Illarion. 'Inappropriate, I am a girl who does not deserve to comfort him.'But that only made Illarion's embrace even more intense. The firm grip on the girl made Amanda's breath even tighter. T
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