13

I woke up at my bed, the last time that I remember is I slept at Prince Kier's shoulder, but I am still wearing the same gown that I am wearing when I have a dinner with Emperor Blake.

But my lower lip, it's healed when I checked it at the mirror.

Now, I am planning to cook and bake something for Prince Kier. To thank him at taking care of me, when I am running out of mana.

"You can go now." I comb my hair before I tied it. I finally decided what I am going to cook now, and started to prepare the ingredients.

I also planned to bake something for the emperor, to check if he's still under my spell, I need to check him everyday, because I am still worried for the possibilities and his capabilities when he's resisting.

I just hope that he won't resist for a while. But I also need a strong plan. If the assasin will kill the emperor, maybe I need to run away after the incident, because I am no use at this place at all.

And Prince Kier will take over the throne at the moment that his brother die.

"Can you taste this one, Criseta?" I offered the spoon and Lady Criseta accept it gracefully, at the moment that the spoon touched her lips, she looked surprised.

"You're capable at cooking food?" She smiled and look at the food that I am cooking.

"Yeah, I am the one who's preparing my food at my palace, my father didn't even assign someone who will feed me, but he still managed to give some supplies for me." I stir the soup and open the oven, the bread is ready to be presented.

I put some jam inside the bread and chocolate at other bread, glazed it and give some food for Criseta.

"Grab some more, there's plenty of it, I also want to give it to other servants, but before giving it, I will deliver this to the emperor." I lift the tray, and lady Criseta giggled.

"I didn't know that her highness is talented, and really fond of the emperor Blake, our emperor is indeed luckt to have a wife like you, your royal highness." I smile weakly.

I really hope that even this is a political marriage, someone will still manage to love me, even I have this curse.

"Because I am lucky that I will become the wife of the emperor or Gribe." The servants opened the door for me, and I went to Blake's office, while walking, a lot of nobels bowed their heads when they see me.

I just show some polite smile, and when I finally reached the office, Blake is there, working hard and when he heard the door opened, he's about to scream, but when he saw me, he automatically smile.

What a weird smile.

I placed the tray at the tea table, slowly remove my eye silk and present the food that I just bring.

"I cooked all of these, can we eat together? Are you busy, your highness?" I asked Blake, and he just shook his head. Went closer to me, kneel in front of me and gently kissed the back of my hand.

"Thank you for your effort, Delaney." I'm kind of uncomfortable, he's under my curse but still managed to act like he's not.

I am worried now, but if he's not, I would be dead ass now.

"I also prepared some lemonade, I made it. Is there a specific allergy that you have?" I asked the emperor Blake, but he's still looking at my whole face, while I am preparing his food.

"I'll eat everything that you'll bring here," he said and I chuckled.

He sat beside me, and stared to eat what I gave, I also eat and he looked surprised when he tasted the soup.

"Wow, you cooked like you're a royal chef." He get the bread, and bite it. His eyes went bigger and looked at me.

"Is there something wrong with the bread?" I asked and his servant opened the door, ran to emperor's direction and snatch the food.

"You're poisoning the emperor!" I dropped the soup at my thighs and close my eyes in pain, I wanna cry, it's hot.

"You fool!" Emperor Blake stand up and choke the servant and throw it at the wall.

"How dare you to interrupt my time with my fiance!" He get his sword and walk to the servant's direction

"Blake, no!" I screamed loudly and he went stiff, dropped the sword and the guards caught the servant who's accusing that I am poisoning the emperor.

"Imprison that stupid servant, call the palace doctor and check the condition of my fiance, her thighs might be burned by the soup." Blake went to my direction and helped me to stand up.

"No, I am okay. I'll just go back to my quarters, I want to rest." I walk away with disappointment with my voice, I need Prince Kier now.

...

The night came, and I kept looking for Prince Kier because I had a present for him, for his kindness towards me.

"Her royal highness, Prince Kier is not here at the palace; I heard that the emperor assigned him for some checking at the west." The servant is kneeling while giving the report to Prince Kier.

"You can go now; just tell me ahead of time when the prince is back." The servant went out of my room, and I am alone now.

Before reading some history and political books that Lady Critesa asked me to do some advance readings, I decided to take a bath.

I removed what I was wearing and dipped my foot before my whole body.

The Emperor gave me some magic stones in my room, and now I don't need to use a lamp; it's convenient for me and doesn't hurt my eyes while reading some books.

I lean back at the bathtub and close my eyes, trying to relax my body, the corset that I wear is one of the reasons I am having a hard time breathing.

I don't need to wear a corset, but they insist that I should, even though my body figure is good.

I feel more relaxed when a soft hand massages my head in a circular motion and when I notice that I am supposed to be alone there, I look behind me and it's the assassin who kissed me.

"Relax, I just want to wash your hair." I raised both hands and smiled, looking at my boobs and covering them.

"I missed you." He went closer to me and looked straight into my eyes; the way he looked at me seems he is hypnotizing me.

"Why you're here again?" I said, and he scoffed and went closer; I tried to step back, but the bathtub was just a few inches away from me.

"I missed you, it's been a week, and I am busy, don't be sulk. I'll make it up to you." He patted my head, and he continued to wash my hair.

"What's your name?" I asked the assassin behind me, massaging my scalp, and it made me feel relaxed; now I am asking myself why I feel safer with him.

"Are you sure you want to know my name?" he asked me, and I thought for a second. Is this possible?

"Yes, because I feel safe with you; I don't know if you're manipulating me or what you're planning." I look behind my back where he is sitting.

"My queen, I am Akeldama." He introduced his name at the sexiest way he could ever and caressed my cheeks, making me close my eyes for a second.

"Now you know my name. You own me now." I open my eyes in a hurry and frown; what does he mean?

"No, I can own a person just because I know its name." I stand up, walk to where the robe is hanging, and look at Akeldama.

"You can; I am the Mercenary leader of the continent." He went closer to me and slowly claimed my lip slowly and carefully. I can sense that he is very thirsty in how he kisses me, but he still manages to be careful.

Unlike the Emperor, I love this kind of kiss; he kisses me like I am just a sex object in his eyes.

"You're beautiful and addictive, and one day, I will protect you, not in the dark but also while the light of the sun is touching our skins; but for now, let's enjoy this hour that we can share together." Akeldama lifted me, went out of my washroom, placed me on the edge of my bed, and kneeled in front of me, showing some anklets with black stone.

"Wear this. As long as this anklet is with you, no one can harm you. I also noticed that your room is full of negative energy." Akeldama helped me to wear the anklet on my left ankle and kissed it when he was done.

"Be safe, as long that the Emperor is alive. You're not safe in this empire. Your enemy is the Emperor itself." I took a deep breath, and Akeldama noticed how I sighed.

"What's wrong? Is there anyone who wants you to die?" I chuckled at what he said. I appreciate that he will offer the best he can give.

"Nothing. I am just wondering if you know what people call me?" He rested his head on my lap and closed his eyes; Akeldama relaxed.

"Yeah, I know what people used to call you, from the Drivike empire, up into the Gribe, and I don't really believe that, and that is why I am here, and I will keep coming back." He looked at me as if Akeldama could see through me. His strong figure doesn't seem necessary to his attitude towards me.

He is like a soft baby who always wants to have a cuddle at all times.

"Aren't you afraid of me? I might put a curse on you?" I asked Akeldama, and he chuckled again.

"I am under your curse now, and I don't want to undo the curse." I smiled when Akeldama raised his head and reached my chin; his face went closer to mine until my lip met his, and I just closed my eyes and let him kiss me the way he wanted.

"You're beautiful, inside and out," Akeldama said and claimed my lip again. He went above me while I was sharing a hot kiss with him; I was wearing a robe, just this robe and nothing else, so basically, I was almost naked while Akeldama was kissing me.

His fingers run to my neck, and the other hand is touching my thighs, making me feel the unusual fire, and I think it will ignite anytime.

I am getting eaten alive by the way he touched me delicately. "A-akeldama." I moaned when he squeezed my waist, and I felt oblivion; how could I stop this if my body was responding well to how he was manipulating me.

"I know, my queen; I'll stop now and have a good rest tonight." He stood up and looked at me like nothing had happened.

"I will see you soon; I wish to see you, always. But that will happen, not now but soon." He kissed my head before jumping to the tree and disappearing into my eyes.

I hold my chest, and my heart is beating wildly, making it hard for me to breathe, but when the door slowly opens, it skips a beat.

"You're still awake?" Emperor Blake said and looked at me at the edge of my bed.

"I usually check you out if you're sleeping, but now you're awake this time." He went closer and looked straight at my robe.

I tried to cover my body using my arms, and he didn't move. "I find a way to undo the curse." He shows his creepy smile and kneels.

"But I will wait until the day of our marriage, you have 2 weeks to undo it by yourself, and I'll forgive you, but if I am the one who undoes it, I'll make you suffer." He said before leaving my quarters.

Akeldama, you're my only hope.