20

I woke up at the big and soft bed, and a soft snores make me look beside me. It's Kier, sleeping peacefully beside me, and this isn't my room.

Definitely, not my room.

I tried to get up, but Kier's hug tighten and he burried his face to my neck, smell it and gently kissed it.

I twitched because of his act, and he just chuckled.

"Good morning, my queen. How's your sleep?" I looked at Kier, and his eyes are opened now. Looking at me while I can feel that he's staring at my eyes.

The way Kier see me, it's like he's appreciating some art work that is cannot be seen in public eye, that only him can see that kind of art work.

Why I feel this kind of nervousness, the butterflies on my tummy, this sensation is new to me.

"I want to woke up, and have this view everyday, I know that I won't get tired at this view." Kier gently kissed my cheeks, it makes me close my eyes and giggle.

"Are you ready to sneak out at this empire with me?" I nod slowly and Kier burried his face to my neck, snif it and hug me tighter.

"I want to spend the rest of my life with you. Let's prepare now." He said and finally let me go.

I went to secret passage, and leading me to the kitchen, lady Critesa is waiting at the carriage when I finally reached where the carriage is located.

"Your majesty, I received an instruction from Emeperor Kier, let's go inside the carriage." I hurriedly went inside and Lady Criseta cried.

"Your highness, please let me stat with you. I want to be with you, even you will run away with the emeperor." Lady Critesa hold my hand and kneel.

I don't know, what will be her life if she will come with me. I know that it will better if I have lady Critesa, but I really don't know.

"I told you before, her highness, I find purpose when I become your lady in waiting, and no matter your decision is, I will always be there. As your lady in waiting, so please. I beg you, allow me to serve you." I gently touched Critesa's shoulder and smile.

"Okay, come with us. I also don't want to abadon you, because you're like an sister and a friend to me." I said and hugged Critesa.

Her sobs are making me weak, she's near to my heart and all I know right now is this people that I accidentally meet, become a big part of my life and my heart.

"I promise that I will do everything, and support you no matter what." I'm touched, this empire is near to my heart. That my own country didn't make me feel home, like here ta Gribe empire.

When the carriage reached my palace, Critesa helped me to take a bath and choose what I will bring to this journey.

But I have this feeling that Kier is an emperor and his people need him. I feel bad that I have to snatch him to his own empire.

He became selfish, what will happened if he left and all of his people needed him.

I was staring at the balcony, Lady Criseta is preparing her things, until Akeldama appear in front of me. Just like a shadow.

"You're leaving?" He looked at my small baggage and I nod slowly.

I will bid my goodbye to Akeldama now. "I have to, this isn't the life that I want from the beginning." I said and he kneel in front of me. Lay his face to my lap and I gently caress his head.

"I'm sorry, Akeldama." I said and play with his hair, I can sense that he's sad now.

"I told you, your highness. You owned me, once you know my name, no one know my name." He looked at me and reached my cheeks.

"Oh gorgeous face, it's a sin to see this face. It's addictive and dangerous." I cant help but to smile, I am not getting into this, hearing some sweet words from someone.

"I want you all by myself, but I know that it's impossible, you have a big opportunity and chance." Akeldama still looking at my face.

"I feel sad, you're running away with the emeperor, how about me?" Akeldama asked me, he looks like a child who's asking for a candy.

"What do you mean that how about you?" I asked him back, and he chuckled. Am I acting dumb? I don't know the purpose of acting this way.

"You're getting better, I see it." My forehead creased, and I bit my lips slowly.

"You're bad, snatching the emeperor of this nation? Do you think that it's the right thing to do, My Delaney?" I twitched when Akeldama's hand place behind my nape and touches it.

"It's like Kier is abandoning his own family." I don't know why I feek bad now, after hearing what Akeldama is saying. But he has a point, I get what he want to say, that Kier is the emperor now. His people needs him, and it's like I am letting what my father want, if Kier will run away with me.

I know that my father is cunning, he won't stop, he will use all of the opportunity that he can use, in order to succeed to his selfish ambitions.

"I know that you get what I mean, right? It's not that I am stopping you to be with him, because that's I want, but I kill the emperor not because of I want to see this nation fall, but I killed Blake because the nobles are using him, you didn't know that your curse become advantage to the nobility." My jaw almost dropped on what Akeldama said.

"It makes me wonder, why I am not affected by your curse?" I looked away when he said that, even I. It makes me wonder, how there's a person is not affected by my curse, maybe it's because they don't have any bad intentions to me, but if that's true. Then this isn't a curse, it's a blessing to me.

I know that people has a bad intentions to me at first glance.

"But you know, my original plan was to give the position to Kier, because he has a lot of potential, and customer of mine want Prince Kier to become emperor, because he's really wise, unlike his older brother. Blake is naive, has attitude and can't handle his people well." Akeldama played with my hair and still staring at my face.

"Now, you're confused, right?" I smile weakly and look straight to his face.

He has a sharp features, handsome and has a dead eye stares. But he's gorgeous, for a man.

I saw many times, how his adams apple move consecutively.

"I'm confused, because?" He chuckled again and touched the tip of my nose.

"I'm not manipulating you, I just state some facts, this nation has a lot of chances to overpower the Drivike empire, that's why you're here, Delaney. Because your father want you to use your position as an empress, so he can put his finger to the matters of Gribe. While on the other part, he will use Hannah for other foreign country."

"You're an asset to the royl family of Drivike, so don't let yourself to become a tool of your father to his ambitions." I bit my lips and nod slowly.

"I already know all of that, I just want peace for my self and for my future."

"But your position as a princess, will never bring peace to you, Delaney. You're not a commoner, you're part of royal family." I nod again and took a deep breath.

"How I cam run away here, without Kier discovering it?" I asked Akeldama and 😊 sweetly.

"This is also the reason why I like you, you're thinking fast, and choosing the right decision in a short spawn of time, means you have a wise decision at critical thinking." Akeldama raised from laying at my lap and saw Critesa at the door.

"Critesa will come with me," I said, and my lady in waiting is confused, while locking the door and looking at me and Akeldama.

"T-the mercenary king?" She pointed out Akeldama and I nod slowly.

"We will escape now, without Kier. I will explain later, Critesa." I said and the other mercenary people of Akeldama get the bags and I look at Critesa.

"Do you trust me?" I asked her, and she nod slowly. But still confused by my last minute decision.

"I realized something, that running away with Kier is like allowing my father to get what he want, Gribe without emperor." Lady Critesa's face changed. Like she already get what I am trying to say now.

They guide me and Critesa at the forest, I am wearing a robe now, and walking to the deepest part of forest.

"We have to keep moving for a while, because now. You're currently missing at the empire." I nod and follow Akeldama.

I remember that I should read the letters that from Drivike is being delivered to me, but maybe later. When the sun sets, and time to rest.

"My lady." I looked at Critesa, she is walking behind me and looking at the forest.

"This is dangerous part of the forest, after we passed the lake, we are at the danger zone of Gribe." Akeldama nod and pointed out his men.

"Don't worry, my lady. This men of mine is capable of killing the bandit, you are safe with us." I smile politely and look around.

Once that we passed the boundary of Gribe, I am planning to change my identity, my hair color and act like a blind one. But once I changed my identity, I can freely remove my eye silk.

"We can rest here, and after that. Your carriage is there, no more walking." Akeldama's men start to build some tent.

I sat at the bonfire and watched them to move around, and the other men are cookihg some food.

Lady Critesa sat beside me, it seems like she's demanding an explanation, so I took a deep breath.

"I met the mercenary king at my first day at Gribe, he was there. At the big tree at my balcony, he accidentally saw my eyes, but he is not affected by my curse, and then he said that he want me?" I said, with questioning tune.

"And do you remember the day where the emeperor is acting strange?" I asked Critesa and she nod.

"The emeperor was affected by my curse, that's why he's acting strange, I can't explain well how this curse works, but Blake tried to harm me and when he saw my eyes, he act strangely." I paused and took a deep breath before continuing my explaination.

"Then, the mercenary king has a plan to kill the emeperor, I have no idea why, but. I didn't stop him, because the emeperor was threatening me, and I think my last option is Blake's death. Then, I didn't expect that Blake will die at our wedding day."

"Emeperor Blake is really ruthless, just like the other emperor, he abused a lot of woman, he already have a lot of fiance, but no one works well, the worst is his last fiance commit suicide." My brows went up and my forehead creased.

"He want the princess Hannah, just princess Hannah, that's why all of his fiance gave up on him, but I thought he changed when you become his fiance. But I am wrong, I really understand your reasons why you decides to relay on that option."

"That means, the mercenary king likes you too?" I shrug my shoulder and look away.

"The princess of Drivike empire is popular at men." Lady Critesa joked, and it lightens the mood and I smiled to her joke.

"But if you really want to live like a commoner, I will still choose to be with you, that's my pledge, to be with you, always."