════════ ✥.❖.✥ ════════❝Chapter 15❞Hindi ako nakatulog matapos ang gabing 'yon. Kahit si Cassius ay hindi na ulit nagpakita. I don't know where he is, maybe he went back to his palace and decided not to marry me. It seems like me, dying would trigger him. Kaya siguro galit na galit siya at tinakot niya akong papatayin niya ako. Naayos na nila Seraph ang barko kaya nagpatuloy na kami sa paglalayag. I was making distance from them especially with Cronus. Ang mukha niyang nakangisi pagkatapos niya akong itinulak ay nanatili padin sa isipan ko. It's better for me not to talk to him. So we traveled to the north like a stranger and I never planned to talk to any of them ever again. I didn't even know that they hated the nobles, it was a wrong move and wrong choice of words that it triggered Cronus to do that. Mali 'yon, oo. Pero mali din ako... siguro. But it doesn't justify anything between our sides. Pareho kaming mali, and Cassius saved me from that mistake. Nakatulala lang ako h
════════ ✥.❖.✥ ════════❝Chapter 16❞"Do you want me to carry you?""No. I can handle myself.""Then let me carry your things.""You are carrying all my things except for my coat, Cassius.""Let me carry that."I closed my eyes firmly before turning around and looked at him. "Stop being so clingy to me, Your Majesty." I rolled my eyes. Nagpatuloy na kami sa paglalakad. He was guarding my back while holding all my things. He's not on his dragon form because he wanted to help me carry all those stuffs I had since I got here. "Are you sure it's not heavy?"I slapped my forehead. How should I put this? Ever since that night, he became more clingy that it was hard for me to understand whether it's his true attitude or not. Ang alam ko lang, pumayag akong ipagpatuloy ang deal namin. It would be a disadvantage for me if he did accepted what I said last night. I was in the brick of emotions, shock, emptiness, and pain... I didn't even know what to react that time. And the kiss? Well, it
════════ ✥.❖.✥ ════════❝Chapter 17❞I was already on the third bite of the grape when I noticed that the Areans still didn't stop staring at me. It's my second day in this place but I'm still having a hard time adjusting, especially when it comes to food and clothing.As a part of respect to their tribe, I was told to wear the same dress that women in this tribe wears. It's not that I'm complaining, but because I'm so thin and when I bend over, my ass can really be seen. The design is the edge of the white dress is cut in a wave pattern, even the sleeves are cut out.Ewan ko ba, kahit ata magdamit ako ng tulad nila, hindi ko pa din maiintindihan ang sinasabi nila. Their language is like spaghetti without sauce..."Why do you sit like a barbarian? Are you planning to massacre this place?" I frowned when I heard Cassius' question. He was resting on my head now while I was sitting on the big rock. My right leg rested on the rock as I watched the areas pass me by."What barbarian are yo
════════ ✥.❖.✥ ════════❝Chapter 18❞"Do you always take care of these plants, Esmeralda?" I asked curiously while following her movements. She's cutting stems and pulling out all the grass na hindi naman kasali sa mga tanim.Malaki ang lupain na pinagtataniman nila. Dinala ako dito ni Esmeralda dahil nabored ako kakaupo sa bato kaya tinanong ko siya kung may magandang lugar ba na puwedeng tambayan, kaya nandito kami ngayon. "Yes, My lady. I am in charge of these plants and this place. Bago pa man mamatay ang inay ko ay ibinigay na sa 'kin ang responsibilidad sa mga halaman ng aming tribo."Napatango-tango ako at inilibot ang tingin sa buong lugar. Iba-iba ang hugis, kulay, at itsura ng mga halaman. Kadalasan ay makikita talaga ang mga rosas at lily. Napangiti ako nang matanaw ko ang isang bulaklak hindi kalayuan sa kinatatayuan ko kaya lumapit ako. Nang makalapit ay pinagmasdan ko muna ang bulaklak at namangha sa ganda kaya walang alinglangan kong pinitas ang bulaklak. "You don't
════════ ✥.❖.✥ ════════❝Chapter 19❞"You can't even settle your own issues and now you're adding this prick to your problems?""It was your fault to begin with. Why did you talk to him? Why didn't you pretend he didn't really see you?" Cassius looked at me with judgment. "And now it's my fault? He was trying to touch your face so I stopped him." I was stunned. "Because of that?!" I was annoyed.Cassius tormented me with his stare then cursedly turned his back on me while I was left in disbelief at where I was standing.I turned to look at the boy. He looks uninterested in everything apart from the stare he was giving me earlier. He has the height of a three-year-old kid so he is only up to my thighs. Regardless of his height or his age, it doesn't really matter. What I do know is that he is unique, even more unique than Olivia or the priestess. His name wasn't even mentioned in the novel. I knelt on the grass to touch him."What do you want from me?" I made sure that I was giving
════════ ✥.❖.✥ ════════❝Chapter 20❞It's already been a week since I got to this place. There is no change except that all the men in this tribe are forging wood and moving it to the other land where the areas will move before the typhoon happens. Now I'm just hanging out here on the big rock on the top of the mountain not far from the arean tribe's residence. The wide sea can be seen from here, so it feels really peaceful. I was playing with the small stone in my hand while looking at the sea. The waves of the sea are calm and the cold wind goes along with the waves, blowing my long hair. I felt a presence behind me so I slowly turned around."Hey," Esmeralda greeted with a smile. "Yeah." I just looked back at the sea and let her sit next to me."Everyone is waiting for you to eat down there," sabi niya. "I am... not part of your tribe. I don't deserve the wait and also, it's uncomfortable."I could see the widening of her smile from the corner of my eyes. "You are part of us righ
════════ ✥.❖.✥ ════════❝Chapter 21❞It was late when Cassius came back to me and told me that he would only agree if I let him follow whatever he wanted. He wants to ensure that my plan to meet the phoenix would not lead me to danger so I agreed to what he wanted. I told Esmeralda that I was leaving first and lied that I had another mission given to me. It's good that she believed me even though I know she was really worried about me leaving. I also instructed her to take good care of Darius while I was away.Now we are in the middle of the forest while searching for the place where the phoenix's home is."Want some?" I offered him the rolled salmon that Esmeralda packed for me. He turned to me and came closer to me then bit into my rolled salmon.He continued walking again while I just followed him. He chose to be in his human form so that I could walk with him because it was already night and he didn't want what happened to me when I was alone in this forest to happen again. "Ouch
════════ ✥.❖.✥ ════════❝Chapter 22❞Nanlamig ako sa kinatatayuan ko, ni hindi ko magawang tanggalin ang mga mata ko mula kay Cassius. "And now you're trying to steal my woman," I heard Cassius said. The ghost is at my back, I can feel its presence. Para bang nakatitig at hinihintay akong lumingon sa direksyon niya. This is what I'm telling him, ayoko sa ghost hunting! Cassius was about to step forward when the fire grows thicker. Para bang hinaharang siya ng apoy upang huwag makalapit sa 'kin. I don't know why he's just making a simple step when he can just teleport in front of me. What is he trying to do? Bakit ba gan'yan siya makatingin na para bang may hinihintay na makita?I froze when I felt like someone was touching the tip of my hair. "What's your purpose of coming here?" someone whispered again. Pumikit ako ng mariin bago sumagot. "We are trying to find someone." "You, what is your purpose of coming here?"Para itong bingi, paulit-ulit lamang ang binubulong niya sa 'kin
𝜗𝜚 Cassius pov."AAAAAAH! Y-Your H-Highness..."Blood was dripping from my mouth when I looked at the maid who just arrived. I threw the rabbit's head on her and smiled innocently. "I was hungry," I simply answered. Halos mahimatay na siya habang paulit-ulit na sumisigaw. When my father arrived together with other old pests, I simply shrugged my shoulders and devoured the last meat of the rabbit I just killed."Cassius!"Yeah, he's like that. A useless and stupid old shit. He does nothing but command anyone he can command, but he can't even stand properly when he's in front of his six years old son. Others were appalled by what they saw, but he seems really disgusted as he looks at me. They have killed innocent people all their lives, so I don't really see why they act as though this is the first time they have ever seen blood. Like this rabbit, they scamper around the palace acting naive, but in reality, they are only terrified of being eaten. Because the rabbit was running
════════ ✥.❖.✥ ════════❝Chapter 52❞Juliet Lucienne Moreau's story wasn't long. As a daughter born from a prestigious noble family, she was destined to be crowned as the Empress of the Empire.But when she realized that the Crown Prince whom she fell in love is in love with another woman, she chose to run away from their supposedly marriage and went off, riding on the villain's lap. The real deal, Juliet doesn't want to die. So she asked the great villain, Cassius Maximilian... a marriage request to escape her fate. That's how their story begins, when Cassius accepted Juliet's marriage request. "Please raise your head, My Lady.""Where is the oil? The roses? The perfumes?""Please don't move and rest for a bit, My Lady.""Comb her hair.""Where is the massage stone?"Nahihilo akong nakatingin sa kawalan habang ang mga maids ay natataranta at nagtatakbuhan sa paligid ko. Magkabilaan nilang inaayos ang sarili ko, ang tanging nagagawa ko nangalang ay kumurap at huminga."Uhm, can I
════════ ✥.❖.✥ ════════❝Chapter 51❞Isang buwan na ang lumipas simula nang matapos ang digmaan sa pagitan ng Ardan at Livilian. Dahil nga nag-alsa ng coup d'état si duke Moreau kasama ang iba pang mga maharlika, naipababa ang emperor at crown prince sa kanilang posisyon. Unang rason, the emperor ordered the crown prince to kill the only daughter of Moreau, dahil dito ay maraming namatay at nasira ang mansiyon ng mga Monreau. Pangalawa, nagdesisyon ang emperor na simulan ang digmaan laban sa Livilian at Maximilian na pinamumunuan ni Cassius Maximilian. Ang nasabing desisyon ay hindi dumaan sa assembly at treaty of peace sa magkabilang panig kaya ibig sabihin, it was an act of error in judgement. At panghuling rason ay adultery. Ipinataw iyon kay Koen dahil sa pakikipagrelasyon kay Olivia. Since Moreau and the royal family are at the same level in terms of power and authority because of their influences, may karapatang pumataw ang Moreau ng adultery sa crown prince dahil sa kataksil
════════ ✥.❖.✥ ════════❝Chapter 50❞Koen coughed blood again, and I could see Cassius getting ready to strike once more. His power was flaring up, and I knew he was about to attack. Pero bago siya makagalaw, agad ko siyang pinigilan. I reached out and tapped his shoulder, firm but gentle.He turned to look at me, his eyes filled with fury, but I gave him a small smile—one meant to ease the fire inside him. "Calm down," I said softly. "I did not recognize his words as insulting, it was just words that barely touched the tip of my ears." Cassius looked at me for a moment, as if trying to decide whether to believe me or not. Then finally, he let out a breath and removed the black shadow that had been wrapped around Koen's abdomen. Napatingin ako kay Koen, nanghihina at halos hindi na maigalaw ang katawan, but at least for now, he is safe from another blow."Bakit gusto ng ama mo na sakupin ang Livilian Kingdom at Maximilian Empire?" I asked, brows furrowed. "Ardan is already a peacefu
════════ ✥.❖.✥ ════════❝Chapter 49❞Puno ng dugo ang buong katawan ko. Inangat ko ang dalawang kamay ko at napabuntong hininga nang makitang halos maligo na sa dugo ang mga kamay ko.I looked at the direction where the knights and magicians are still fighting.Then I looked at Olivia's body.and to her head, looking at my direction.Ibinaba ko ang mga kamay ko saka lumapit sa ulo niya. I bend my knees and softly caress her face. "Gold, that is your favorite color," bulong ko sa kan'ya. "I suppose, it's time to meet your beloved Koen," dagdag ko.Marahan kong binuhat ang ulo niya at ikinulong sa bisig ko. Without hesitation, tumayo ako at tumalikod saka naglakad na palayo sa lugar kung saan natapos ang lahat sa pagitan namin ni Olivia.There is no need for me to fret, Olivia will be happy when she can finally see Koen.Everything has always price to pay. When Juliet poisoned Olivia in the novel, she was sentenced to death... and now, what price will I pay?Sana ay ako lamang ang magb
════════ ✥.❖.✥ ════════ ❝Chapter 48❞ I cannot kill Olivia, I know that. Even having all the power of Darius, I will not be able to kill her. She's the heroine, of course she's written as the powerful saint. Her voice could heal any wounds, baka nga kaya niyang buhayin ang mga patay. Pero lahat ay may limitado. She has a soft heart, a heart that makes it as her weakness. "How long are we going to continue this, Olivia?" bagot kong tanong. I've been attacking her countless of time and she's doing is avoiding, at kapag natatamaan naman siya ng atake ko ay naghihilom agad ang sugat niya. Ilang oras na siguro kami sa ganoong sitwasyon. Kita ko sa mukha niya, she looks really exhausted. Hindi kami pwedeng tumagal sa ganito, baka sa tagal ay hindi ko na maabutan si Koen at Cassius. Inangat ko ang tingin ko sa langit at iritang napapikit. Ramdam ko ang sunod-sunod na pagpatak ng ulan sa mukha ko at sa huling patak ay dinilat ko ang mga mata ko. The blue sword disappeared from my ha
════════ ✥.❖.✥ ════════❝Chapter 47❞Isinuot ko ang itim na balabal kay Darius at inayos ang hood upang maayos na matakpan ang ulo niya. Nang matapos ay hinaplos ko ang pisngi niya maging ang sugat niya sa noo.I sighed. "That lunatic really went hard on you," I murmured and gritted my teeth. Maalala ko lang ang pagmumukha nila ay kumukulo na ang dugo ko."You're not hurt?" tanong niya.Umiling ako saka tumayo. Inayos ko ang hood ko sa ulo ko saka hinawakan ang kamay ni Darius.Ngayon ay nasa labas na kami ng Ardan, sa maliit na bayan na pinapagitnaan ng Ardan at Livilian. Nagsimula na ang digmaan kaninang madaling araw, bago pa man sinugod nila Koen ang mansiyon namin. Kahit ngayon ay sunod-sunod ang mga kabayong nagtatakbuhan papuntang hilaga at ang mga sakay ay mga kabalyero ng imperyong tinalikuran ko na. I trust my father, he must be doing something right now. If he found out that I ran away already, I think he's moving.Dahil nga sa simula ng digmaan ay natigil ang mga bilihan
════════ ✥.❖.✥ ════════❝Chapter 46❞Nang idilat ko ang mga mata ko ay una kong hinanap si Darius na ngayon ay nasa may terrace, nakaharap sa kawalan.Bumangon ako at naka-paang lumapit sa kan'ya. I lowered my body and called him."Darius..." Hinaplos ko ang ulo niya. "What are you thinking?" I asked.He looked at me and as always, he's wearing his emotionless expression. Ngumiti ako at patuloy na hinaplos ang ulo niya. "Maaga pa, bakit gising ka na?" dagdag ko sa tanong ko.Hindi pa gaanong umaangat ang araw ngunit ang kahel na sinag mula sa araw ay nagrereplika sa asul na mga mata ni Darius. Hinaplos ko ang pisngi niya nang maramdaman ang kaba na hindi ko alam kung saan nanggagaling.Despite not having expression on his face, I could see his eyes looking at me so firmly. "Darius?""The war has begun. Blood will scatter among the dead bodies who will fight for victory. Agonies will trample the power of freedom and those who are unfortunate will rot. Birds will sing for the end and
════════ ✥.❖.✥ ════════❝Chapter 45❞"Please, we cannot afford to pay anything right now. Hindi na kami pinayagan ipagpatuloy ang trabaho namin dahil sa digmaang magaganap bukas.""Why are you doing this to us?! Hindi namin gugustuhing makilahok sa digmaan!""Please let us leave, please let us go!""Itigil ang digmaan!"I slowly raised the tip of my hood and glanced at the people. They are trying to plea to the emperor ngunit hindi sila pinayagan ng mga knights. It's not like begging for their lives will do anything, unfortunate people like them can't do anything. In the war between dogs and cats, they're just mere ants getting trampled on.Napahinto ako sa naisip. These past few days has been tough for me, this country is getting cold...I fixed my cloak and hood to hide half of my face before I continued walking. Right now, I am searching for a way that will be easier for me to exit this country. Dahil nga hindi pinayag ang pamilya ko na sumali sa digmaan ay hindi ako maaaring dum