════════ ✥.❖.✥ ════════❝Chapter 31❞The four corners of my room was echoing with silence when I woke up. Sinilip ng mga mata ko ang nakasarang bintana at nakitang madilim ang labas kaya naisip kong gabi na. Bumaling ang tingin ko sa gilid ko at nakitang tulog si Darius. Bumangon ako at nakapaang tinahak ang nakasarang terrace ng kwarto ko saka sabay na binuksan ang glass door dahilan upang salubongin ako ng malamig na hangin. Umalingawngaw sa tenga ko ang tunog ng hangin at ramdam ko ang pagyakap ng lamig sa akin kasabay nang paglitaw ni Cassius sa harapan ko. "Hi there, young missy," he says. "How was your sleep?" he asked.Muli akong hinampas ng malamig na hangin dahilan upang sumabay ang mahaba kong buhok sa galaw nito. But my eyes remained on him. "Feels like I'm still dreaming, right now."He chuckled. "Come here." He extended his left hand. Words were like magic that strangely, it made me follow. When I held his hand, I saw how his eyes sparkled with adoration."There you a
════════ ✥.❖.✥ ════════❝Chapter 32❞Maririnig ang tunog ng bawat hakbang ko sa loob ng palasyo nang makapasok ako dala si Darius na nakaanyong pusa. Dumiretso ako sa silid aklatan ng palasyo dahil doon naghihintay si Koen, ang sabi sa akin ng katulong na nadaan ko kanina. The palace seems so busy than the last time I was here. Parang may kung anong gumagambala sa kaluluwa nila na para bang anumang oras ay guguho na ang mundo. Nang makapasok sa silid aklatan ay unang natagpuan ng mga mata ko ang nagkukumpulang mga libro na nakakalat at si Koen na nakadekwatrong nakaupo sa sofa habang nagbabasa ng libro. All I can say is... "It's a mess," I whispered, enough for Koen to hear. Pinababa ko si Darius mula sa braso ko bago umupo sa kaharap na sofa ni Koen. His eyes followingevery move I make glittered with amusement. "I see. It seems like the medicine I've sent to your manor was effective. You look good."I cringed upon realizing that his tone was full of sarcasm. Parang may alam siy
════════ ✥.❖.✥ ════════❝Chapter 33❞"Sigurado ka ba sa tinatahak natin na lugar?" tanong ko habang hinahabol ang hininang nilalakad ang mahahabang damo sa gitna ng gubat kung nasaan kami ngayon. Nakasunod lamang ako kay Darius habang inaamoy niya ang daang tinatahak namin. Papalapit na rin ang dilim kaya minamadali namin ang bawat lakad na ginagawa namin. Hindi ko alam kung nasaang lugar na kami ngayon, hindi naman ako pamilyar sa buong mapa ng mundong 'to. Basta ang alam ko ay malayo-layo na ito mula sa palasyo. "Sigurado ka ba—""Shh, they might hear you."Naitikom ko ang bibig ko nang putulin niya ang sasabihin ko sana. Hindi nagtagal ay nakarating kami sa pinakadulo ng gubat kung saan may malalim na bangin at sa harap ay may nagtataasang bundok. Wala na kaming ibang daan pa bukod sa malalim na bangin na kung hindi namin tatalunin ay siguradong hindi kami makakarating sa bundok."Maling daan...?" alinlangan kong tanong."I don't know, hindi ako taga rito."Napangiwi ako sa nag
════════ ✥.❖.✥ ════════❝Chapter 34❞"This way, My lady." Sinundan ko ang isang katulong papunta sa silid kung nasaan si Koen, bitbit ang maliit na cage kung saan nakakulong ang maliit na daga. Dinala niya ako sa pinakalikod ng palasyo kung saan makikita ang malawak na lupa na may iba't ibang kagamitang pandigma. Koen was also there. Sparring with his right hand whom I forgot the name. "Your Highness," the maid called his name.They stopped. Sabay silang lumingon sa direksyon namin at nakita ko kung paano kumunot ang noo niya. Ibinaba niya ang hawak niyang espada. Lumapit siya sa isang bench kung saan may puting towel bago lumapit sa amin. Pinapahid niya ang puting towel sa pawisang katawan niya. Kung titignan ay hinuhubog ng tumutulong pawis niya ang muscles at abs niya."Hey," he greeted. Bumaling ang tingin niya sa hawak ko. Tumitig muna siya bago sumilay ang ngisi sa mga labi niya."How is that even possible?" His question was like a mockery, telling me that it's impossible
════════ ✥.❖.✥ ════════❝Chapter 35❞Every heads were looking at her, eyes were full of rage and disgust. Every steps she makes were echoing throughout the whole hallway. Their heads were bowing while I walked closer towards the Emperor's throne room. No one tried to look at me with their eyes, they were all afraid to even raise their heads.As she reached the Emperor's throne room, the nobles screamed her death. Knights did not even stop them. Everyone was begging for her death, because in their eyes, she is a murderer.When I reached the door of the Emperor's throne room, I breathed heavily. Parang namamaga ang dibdib ko sa kaba, hinihiling na sana ay matapos na ang lahat. Tumindig ako at taas noong hinarap ang pinto. Hindi na ako aatras pa, kung anuman ang nasimulan ko ay dapat matapos na. I've promised to myself that I will escape death, I will escape this hell.I cannot stay here longer. I could feel the urge again. The trembling sensation of killing, I am close to doing it.Ki
════════ ✥.❖.✥ ════════❝Chapter 36❞The wind howls through the frozen air, biting at my face as I clutch the reins tighter. Snowflakes swirl around us, some catching in my hair before the wind tears them away.My breath comes out in heavy clouds, vanishing almost as quickly as they form. The horse beneath us moves steadily through the thick snow, its powerful muscles working against the icy ground.The mountains rise before us, towering and merciless, their jagged peaks lost in a thick blanket of gray clouds. Ang kapal ng niyebe sa mga dalisdis, bumabalot sa mga bato na parang kumot ng katahimikan—pero hindi ito payapang katahimikan. It's an eerie stillness, the kind that makes my chest tighten.The wind cuts through my coat, seeping into my skin like ice-cold daggers. Nanginginig ako, hindi lang sa lamig kundi sa takot na unti-unting gumagapang sa dibdib ko. The sheer size of the mountain makes me feel small, insignificant, like an intruder in a place that was never meant for me."T
════════ ✥.❖.✥ ════════❝Chapter 37❞The journey with Koen had been long and grueling, but finally, we arrived at our destination—the winter forest nestled deep within the mountains. Despite it still being afternoon, the sky above was swallowed by thick, swirling clouds, casting an eerie darkness over the land. Snowflakes fell relentlessly, coating the ground in an untouched white blanket, while skeletal branches, heavy with ice, loomed over us like silent sentinels. A bitter wind howled through the trees, carrying the scent of pine and frost, chilling me to the bone.Tangina ang lamig.Koen sighed, his breath visible in the freezing air. "We can't take the horse any further," he said, voice firm but weary. The storm was worsening, and the snowfall was so dense it threatened to swallow the path behind us. Wala na kaming magagawa, kailangan naming magpatuloy kahit wala na ang kabayo. Hinayaan na lamang naming makatakas at tumakbo ang kabayo.With no other choice, we pressed forward o
════════ ✥.❖.✥ ════════❝Chapter 38❞"Anak, Lumina..." Mama? Bakit po kayo umiiyak? "Gumising ka na, anak. Parang awa mo na..."I woke up feeling lightheaded, a sharp dizziness washing over me as I instinctively reached for my forehead. My fingers met something wet and rough—a wound. A faint sting pulsed through my skin, napa-aray ako.Confusion settled in as I scanned my surroundings. The cave was strangely familiar, though I couldn't immediately place it.Wait, familiar? That's impossible, ngayon lang ako nakapunta rito.Inikot ko muli ang paningin ko and I saw piles of small rocks were scattered across the floor, and my body was partially covered with dried corn leaves. Someone—or something—had placed them over me.The cave wasn't entirely dark. Sunlight streamed through the open entrance, casting long shadows along the rough, uneven walls. My heart pounded. Nasaan ako? Napaigtag ako nang may marinig na kaluskos mula sa labas. I instinctively took one of the small rocks and
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