Father and I walked out of the throne room, the heavy doors closing behind us with a muted thud. The air felt lighter now, free from the oppressive gaze of the Emperor and his court. Thankfully, no guards lingered nearby, giving me the rare opportunity to speak openly with him.
"Do you always act like this with him?" I asked, breaking the silence. My voice was steady, but my heart raced. Father glanced at me, his expression unreadable, though I could see the gears turning in his mind.
"That's how you deal with a superior when you have enough power," he replied curtly. His words were simple, but they carried a weight that hinted at years of calculated maneuvering and unspoken threats.
Indirectly, he was saying, *I can act like this because I can afford to act like this.*
"But isn't it dangerous?" I pressed, my voice tinged with unease. "No matter how powerful we are, he still holds the authority to wipe out our entire family." I shrugged, trying to mask the fear that crept into my tone.
Father let out a soft chuckle, the sound almost foreign coming from him. "What you did was far more dangerous, Selentia." His gaze sharpened, making me feel like a kid caught in trouble. "I was counting on you. You said you would handle the aftermath, didn't you?" I mumbled. His smile faded, replaced by a look of disbelief.
"You were counting on me?" he repeated, pointing at himself as if the idea were absurd.
I hesitated, my cheeks burning with embarrassment. Despite my resentment toward him, I couldn't deny the flicker of admiration I felt. Perhaps it was because, though I despised both him and the Emperor, my hatred for the Emperor burned just a little brighter.
"You said it yourself," I mumbled, avoiding his gaze. An awkward silence settled between us, broken only by the distant rustle of leaves in the palace gardens. The moon hung high above, casting a silvery glow over the dark corridors, transforming the cold stone into something almost ethereal.
I felt weak, the weight of my earlier actions pressing down on me. Should I visit the abandoned prince's palace tonight or wait until tomorrow? I also needed to see Master. No, I couldn't delay any longer. With the chaos unfolding in my life, tomorrow might bring even more complications. Besides, after my visit to the Garden of Myst today, I had realized something crucial.
I couldn't rely on the dead. They offered no answers, only silent gestures of comfort—patting my head or holding me in their cold embrace. Tsk, what was the point of confiding in them when they couldn't even speak?
"Selentia," Father's voice pulled me from my thoughts. I looked at him, my expression guarded. "What do you think about today's events?" he asked, his tone unusually soft.
I frowned, unsure of what he meant. Even with Nyxveil's power, openly defying the Emperor seemed reckless. "You had to fight your own brother; prove yourself in front of His Majesty. The challenges ahead will only grow more difficult," he continued, his gaze piercing.
For a moment, the moonlight caught his face, and I thought I saw something unfamiliar in his eyes—concern, perhaps. It was fleeting, but it stirred something deep within me.
"Are you sure you want to be the successor of Nyxveil?" He asked, his voice low. "Your engagement with Ezekian may have been annulled, but I can still arrange a marriage for you. You could live a safe, comfortable life. Do you truly wish to entangle yourself in the world of politics?"
His words cut deeper than any blade. I clenched my fists, my nails digging into my palms. Yes, I had once dreamed of a simple life—a warm family, a loving husband, children, and a peaceful death. But who had shattered that dream? Who had thrust me into this world of darkness?
You.
Until yesterday, you barely acknowledged my existence.
In my memory, the 18-year-old Selentia was abandoned to fend for herself among wolves. The 19-year-old Selentia fought on battlefields, killing to survive. The 20-year-old Selentia endured unspeakable torture in enemy camps.
The 21-year-old Selentia faced humiliation in the Court of Ignis after losing a battle. The 22-year-old Selentia lost her innocence when her comrades died under the Emperor's unjust orders. The 23-year-old Selentia manipulated the Empress to kill the Emperor, orchestrated Kaelith's marriage to Alancie, and crowned him emperor. The 24-year-old Selentia fought demons, her life hanging by a thread.
And so it went on and on—battles, manipulations, conspiracies.
I was hated, cursed, and despised. Yet, through it all, I clung to life. All I ever wanted was a little love, but I was too afraid to accept it. How could I, when I was a sinner, be a criminal? My hands were stained with blood—whether by the Emperor's command to protect what little I had or simply to survive.
That's who I am. A sinner. A criminal. But who made me this way?
I gave Father a small, bitter smile. "I want to see the end of it, Your Grace."
I want to see if I can stop you and the demonic cult from opening the gates of the underworld. If, after stopping you, I can live a life where I am less hated, less of a sinner.
"And..." I looked up at the sky, my expression unreadable even to myself. "I am not someone who can be loved. So, I don't desire the normal, peaceful life you speak of."
A heavy silence followed. I let my emotions settle, then bowed my head. "I need to look around the Imperial Palace. There's a place I must visit. Please go ahead without me."
I couldn't stand beside him any longer. A part of me was still weak when it came to my family. Even after enduring hell for over 30 years, I couldn't bring myself to hate them completely.
But I won't let my emotions interfere with my goals. Even if my family is involved with the demonic cult, when the time comes, I won't hesitate to strike them down.
---
Zaphry watched as Selentia's figure disappeared into the darkness, her silhouette swallowed by the shadows of the palace. A strange, sharp pain gripped his heart, leaving no room for doubt.
His daughter was slipping away from him. He wanted to reach out, to call her back, but something held him in place.
What was stopping him? Did he truly care for Selentia? Did he love her? If so, why had he done everything he had?
These were questions only he could answer. He clenched his fists, a bitter smile tugging at his lips. Turning away, he walked in the opposite direction, as if it were his destiny.
He reached the carriage, his expression unreadable. But as he opened the door, he froze. Someone was already inside.
His eyes turned icy as he stepped in, his voice cold and sharp. "What are you doing in my carriage, Edwin Ronald?"
The man sitting across from him was calm, his long black hair tied back, his ruby-red eyes gleaming in the moonlight. His simple black robe belied its true nature—a magical garment designed to conceal its wearer's presence.
"I'm not here for you," Edwin replied, his tone indifferent. "Then why are you in my carriage?" Zaphry demanded, his patience wearing thin.
Edwin leaned back lazily, his demeanor infuriatingly casual. "I came to visit my old home. I didn't bring a carriage, so I thought I'd borrow yours. After all, it's heading to your mansion, isn't it?"
Zaphry's jaw tightened. "We don't live in the same direction." Edwin waved a hand dismissively. "I'll stay at your place tonight. I'm too lazy to use magic to travel all the way home."
"Who said you could stay in my house?" Zaphry snapped, his temper flaring. Edwin smirked. "You have a ridiculously large mansion. Surely, one room for one night won't hurt."
Zaphry's hand twitched, an aura blade forming at his fingertips. He pointed it at Edwin's throat, his voice low and dangerous. "Why are you here, Edwin? You haven't left your tower in eight years. What's your motive? Speak before I make you."
Edwin's smile didn't waver. "Zaphry, you wouldn't want the Imperial Palace to become a ruin, would you?"
The threat was clear. If Zaphry attacked, Edwin would retaliate, and neither of them was weak. Zaphry clenched his jaw, dispelling the blade, and sat back with a frustrated huff.
"One night," he growled. Edwin's smile widened. "One night."
The carriage rumbled on, the silence between them heavy and charged. Edwin glanced at the empty seat beside Zaphry, his thoughts drifting. *You're up to something again, aren't you, Foxy? I don't know what it is, but I hope disabling the palace's defense system helps you in some way.*
---
I paused, frowning as I approached the abandoned prince's palace. The defense system was down—why? I had passed through 28 palaces without triggering a single mechanism, but this felt different.
I tossed a stone toward the gate, watching as it landed harmlessly on the other side. No reaction. No alarms. Nothing.
My heart raced. What were the chances I'd be caught if I stepped inside? I could always claim I was lost, exploring the Imperial Palace grounds. But the risk was undeniable.
I needed to meet the prince. He was the wild card, the one with the power to change the imperial system and become Emperor. I couldn't afford to wait.
Taking a deep breath, I pushed open the gate. The hinges creaked softly, the sound echoing in the stillness. Beyond lay the unknown—a place shrouded in mystery and danger.
I stepped inside, my pulse quickening. What awaited me in the shadows of this forgotten palace? I didn't know, but I was ready to face it.