2. His Overflowing Secrets

After Verena had left the second prince's palace with Theodore, her new personal knight, Azazel looked out the window and noticed how bright the sky was.

As if the sky was protecting his happy feelings.

"Verena..."

As he remembered Verena's lovely figure, his cheeks flushed.

Her stunning jet-black hair reaches her waist, as well as her powerful, confident brilliant aquamarine eyes. They make him unable to avert his gaze away from her. 

And how his heart flutters when he discovers she has visited him.

He has a secret that only he knows about.

It is that he loves her so much that it drives him insane.

"I can't believe she went out of her way to ask me for marriage."

Azazel understands that simply wanting Verena isn't enough. For a person like him, falling in love with someone like her, is painful.

He, an illegitimate child, not to mention, the second prince that no one wanted in the first place, fell in love with a woman from an esteemed dukedom who has the direct bloodline of the family.

He had always believed he had no chance to approach her. But, beyond expectation, it was her who approached him first.

As though he'd been hit by a once-in-a-lifetime miracle.

"I still can't believe it..."

He mumbled under his breath as he slumped back in his seat, replaying Verena's face in his mind.

"... She's still as lovely and charming from years ago."

He smiled to himself, as if he were drowning in his own small world of happiness.

However, he was also reminded of Verena's determination. To make him the Emperor and her to be above all others.

What a striking resemblance to their goals.

And he's well aware that she's merely using him for her own purposes.

"... Let's try this out, then."

He took the small glass bottle, which contains the black liquid, that Verena claimed was her own invention.

Even though Azazel adores Verena, he wants to know if she is trustworthy like what she had exclaimed.

Because of his suspicion, he has sent Theodore to be her knight, both to spy on her and to protect her.

(However, I'm certain she isn't fooling me in any way.)

He stood up from his seat and walked over to his sword, which he had placed in the room's corner.

He took the sword out of its sheath, revealing a metallic silver blade in the process.

"........."

Azazel opened the bottle cap without hesitation and poured it on his blade as she commanded.

Surprisingly, there was not a single drop of the black liquid wasted because the blade absorbed it almost instantly.

"......!"

Azazel's eyes widened as the blade's silver color was overtaken by a black color, identical to the liquid he'd just poured down.

(... It's true.)

When he raised his blade, the silver color faded away, revealing a full-fledged black sword.

He was reminded of the words that Verena said to him, about her being the founder and the one who creates that black liquid.

(If it's true, then the rumors about her hobby creating many unique potions are accurate.)

His grip on the sword tightens as he puts it back inside the scabbard.

(I think I fell for the right person after all.)

His lips curved into a delighted smile, the desire to try out the new blade being far more exhilarating than he had anticipated.

Suddenly, without a single knock, the door to his office was opened, and an arrogant face in a butler suit arrived.

"Greetings, Your Highness. I'm the new head butler of this palace, Floyd Gideon."

The head butler announced as he introduced himself with a proud expression painted on his face.

But the instant Azazel met eyes with Floyd, his gaze became colder, and he was annoyed by Floyd's arrogance.

(How bothersome.)

Azazel walked past Floyd and closed the door on purpose, much to Floyd's confusion.

(Should I test it out on him?)

Azazel walked over to Floyd and unsheathed his sword, perfectly slicing Floyd's cheek in one swift motion. Floyd was taken aback by the actions due to his inhuman speed.

Because it was merely a light wound, the cut was not very deep. Just as Verena had explained to him.

"H-how dare an illegitimate child-- urkh!"

Before Floyd could finish his rant against Azazel, blood flowed from his lips, staining Azazel's attire.

"W-what...?"

Floyd stared in disbelief at his own blood-stained palm, as if it had happened in such a short period.

"..  Oh? It works a lot faster than I predicted."

Azazel muttered calmly as he amusedly glanced at his weapon. Putting Verena's poison on the test.

"W-what did you—!"

Floyd felt as if a thousand needles were stabbing him in every region of his body before he could finish his sentence.

He continued to scream in anguish as his veins began to break out and a purplish-red mark appeared on his skin.

"......"

Azazel remained silent as he looked at the head butler with wide eyes of surprise, attempting to figure out how the poison worked after it had been planted in a human being.

The wounds from the cheek start dripping more blood and his body begins aching rapidly.

Floyd kept pleading for help, to the point where he begins to beg Azazel, proving he has got rid of his pride for the sake of his life. But, Azazel merely stared at him with cold eyes.

Floyd quickly reached for his own neck, as if trying to relieve the pain, while screaming in agony, causing a ruckus in Azazel's little office.

Of course, the maids that were passing by, hearing the desperate scream, couldn't do anything and continue with their own business.

It's better to ignore him, especially considering the other options that are into getting deeper problems. That's what they thought.

Not long after, Floyd's body collapses to the cold floor, not moving an inch.

(So this is what they called pain before dying.)

Azazel was taken aback. Soon, a pleasant smile appeared on his lips. He truly believed that if Verena would sell the poison, it would be worth a great deal of money.

(However, given her talent at this, it would be harmful to her as well.)

When he opened the door to leave his office, he discovered a maid eavesdropping in on the conversation. As soon as his gaze fell on her, she flinched, and her words were stuck in her throat.

"Y-your Highness...!"

"Inform them that the Head Butler died as a result of being poisoned from tasting food in the kitchen that I have should be eaten. He deserves to be honored for his efforts in safeguarding the second prince."

As Azazel's frigid words left his lips, a shiver ran down her spine.

"If you report the truth, then I'm sure you already know what would happen just by hearing the butler's noises alone."

"Y-yes, Your Highness!"

The maid nodded hesitantly, giving off a panicked vibe, and then walked away from Azazel.

(... This poison is truly terrifying. Even a minor cut can be fatal. It's fantastic in so many ways.)

(... It's almost impossible she's the one who made this. I'll have to question her about the details so I could be sure more that she's the one who made this poison.)

His gaze was drawn to the body of the butler who had died.

(... That's right, he's a new butler. Although it's a shame he was newly assigned by the Empress yesterday, he's still the one who got rid of the previous butler that I cherish.)

He put back his sword inside the scabbard and narrowed his eyes down to the dead body with his piercing, cold gaze of crimson eyes.

"... I guess now she gained my trust."

It was a lot more rewarding to become Emperor and have Verena at the same time. Because of that, he couldn't be more grateful for the circumstance.

"Well then, time to carry out my own plan and contacting her."

Overthrowing the Empire.

Both of their similar ambitions.

-

[Zielle Dukedom]

I quietly sip my cup of tea, admiring the garden while appreciating the lovely flowers that were created for my step-sister.

(I wonder if Azazel tried it out.)

I smiled to myself, imagining how things would progress from here.

"Theodore, you don't want to join me in a tea time?"

I turned my head toward Theodore, who was standing behind me, as a knight might have been.

"Sister!"

A familiar angry voice called out to me as I sighed deeply.

(Well, here comes my source of annoyance.)

I raise my head to be met by a stunning long brown-haired woman with angry violet eyes approaching my table.

"What a lovely gaze you have now, Riona."

I honestly complimented her as I set my cup of tea on the table.

"I heard you just returned from the Imperial Palace! Who permitted you to do so?!"

"My~ Such an energetic little sister I have... So much that it's sickening for me to bear."