CHAPTER 139
The Eleventh Pavilion of the Lotus Palace.
Swept away countless times by the relentless, raging storm, Arabelle no longer recognized herself as the woman who had been writhing and sobbing in ecstasy. Her back, barely freed from the scorching flames, rose and fell pitifully.
In bed, the Emperor had elevated her to the most noble woman in the world while simultaneously dragging her into a world of decadence where only pleasure existed. The muscular body that had briefly separated from her returned to his wife once more.
For the brief moment when her husband’s warmth had vanished, her pouting lips betrayed her sorrow. The Emperor’s fingers tenderly brushed aside the sweat-drenched hair from her forehead. Her sensitive skin quivered under his touch, recalling the symphony his fingers had just played on her body.
The Emperor’s red eyes deepened as he gazed at her bruised, swollen lips. Sitting on the edge of the bed, he cradled Arabelle’s head in his arms, letting her upper body rest against his chest. He brought a water bottle to his lips and took a drink.
With water in his mouth, the Emperor pressed his lips to her panting mouth. Her throat, parched from thirst, worked hard as she swallowed the water. Each time her wet lips parted as if asking for more, the Emperor’s eyes, once sated, began to fill with hunger again.
When her lips finally took in his for one last sip, there was no more water left. Now, it was the Empress’s turn to quench the Emperor’s thirst. His lips dove into the softness of her petals.
***
The next morning in the Emperor’s audience chamber.
King Ator of Semper, ready to return to his kingdom, was granted an audience with the Emperor.
“You’ve been through much, King Ator.”
“Through much? Not at all. It’s thanks to Your Majesty that I was able to protect my kingdom. I am deeply grateful, Your Majesty.”
King Ator, who was the same age as Maxwell’s youngest son, bowed his head to the Emperor, expressing his sincere gratitude. Without Maxwell, Semper would have fallen to the Kingdom of Kubul by now. He and the queen would have been beheaded, and his children and grandchildren reduced to slavery.
The Kingdom of Kubul, which practiced slavery, would have made sure that not a single member of the royal family was spared, grinding them into submission so thoroughly that they could never rise again.
King Ator let out a sigh of relief as he looked at his naive granddaughter, who knew nothing of the harsh world. He was well aware that the Crown Prince of Kubul, infamous for his debauchery, had set his sights on her. Naturally, he had refused the marriage proposal when it came from the King of Kubul.
Though Kubul was militarily superior, King Ator hadn’t worried about the consequences. After all, Semper had the Heltred Empire as an ally. If they had been conquered by Kubul, not only the princess but the entire Kingdom of Semper, known as the flower of culture and art on the continent, would have been utterly destroyed. The thousand-year-old cultural heritage would have been plundered, and the spirit of the kingdom would have been obliterated.
The Queen and Princess of Semper bowed their heads in gratitude to the Emperor, though their expressions still betrayed lingering resentment. It wasn’t that they were angry with the Emperor who had saved their kingdom; they weren’t bold or shameless enough to harbor such feelings. No, their anger was directed at King Ator, who had deceived them so thoroughly.
They had spent sleepless nights, terrified that they might never return home and would spend the rest of their lives in a dungeon. Every time King Ator was summoned to the interrogation room, they feared he was being tortured or might never come back. But it had all been an act.
“How could you deceive us like that? You knew how terrified we were!” The Queen had furiously confronted him. The King’s response had been, “Because you’ve never been able to keep a secret. I’m sorry, but I have no regrets. One mistake and our kingdom would have been lost.”
He hadn’t told them the truth because he considered them to be too loose-lipped. Though the King’s reasoning wasn’t wrong, the Queen and Princess couldn’t help but be angry. They vowed not to forgive King Ator easily, at least not until he presented them with a very expensive and substantial gift.
With the departure of King Ator and his delegation, all the kingdoms that had come to the Empire for the wedding had returned home. Peace returned to the palace after the recent turmoil.
***
In the quarters of the Laicanor delegation within the Imperial Palace.
Tristini sat alone in the dimly lit parlor. She didn’t even consider pulling back the drawn curtains, instead biting her nails. Blood welled up at the edges of her nails where her teeth had dug in, but she didn’t stop. Her large, dark brown eyes wavered dangerously. Her body, which had eaten nothing for days, seemed on the verge of starvation.
No one had told her what had happened, but she knew instinctively that Bergen’s plan had failed. Once free to roam the palace, Tristini was now confined to the Laicanor quarters, unable to take even a step outside.
The maids who had once treated her kindly no longer bothered to hide their hostility. The word “dreadful woman” slipped from their lips as they brought her food, their tongues clicking as if to ensure Tristini heard them.
What had become of Bergen? Tristini curled up on the sofa, hugging her knees as she pondered. If the Emperor knew the whole truth, neither Laicanor nor Bergen would be safe. Her mind was a chaotic jumble, leaving her in complete confusion. Had Arabelle’s kidnapping been a ruse by the Emperor?
But Bergen had clearly received reports that the kidnapping had succeeded. She was at a loss, unable to even guess what had happened. Lowering her head to rest on her folded knees…
The parlor doors swung open on both sides.
“The Emperor and Empress have arrived.”
At that moment, Tristini’s eyes froze over as if she had given up on everything.
***
The Ecol Mountains, where a snowstorm raged.
The fierce wind outside drowned out the cries of the beasts within the cabin. Dried leaves were scattered across the table. As she scrutinized the position and color of the leaves, as if searching for something, Veshilkia’s eyes narrowed, and she clicked her tongue in disappointment.
“I thought I’d at least get the carcass of the wolf demon.”
The meticulous Emperor had cleaned up everything so thoroughly.
Hearing the sobs coming from beneath the floor, the witch struck the floor repeatedly with her staff.
“To think I have to deal with such useless things!”
Besilkea growled with a dissatisfied expression.
She picked up the kettle boiling over the fireplace and approached the table.
She poured the hot green water over the leaves spread out on the table.
At first glance, they were just ordinary leaves that would shrivel or float away in hot water, nothing special.
But her eyes glimmered with wicked delight, as if she had found something satisfying.
“Foolish Bergen. He didn't even realize how precious the jewel he had was and just discarded it. Tsk, no wonder he couldn’t break the curse even with a Lumen Savior in his hands.”
It was true that Tristini wasn't born with the powerful light that her cousin Arabelle possessed.
However, raised by her aunt Elenia, Tristini could possess a light greater than her own.
That was because Elenia shared her light with Tristini for her safety.
Though her Lumen Savior was significantly weaker compared to Arabelle, it was still on par with other Lumen Saviors.
For these unstable Lumen Saviors, having a companion who would embrace them was crucial.
Only when they received true love could they properly use the light of a Lumen Savior.
Bergen blamed Tristini, saying she was an insufficient Lumen Savior, unable to break his curse, but…
“Who does he blame for stifling Tristini's light with his own inadequacy? Kk, kk.”
Arrogant Bergen never even considered that his own shortcomings might have prevented Tristini from fully manifesting as a Lumen Savior.
Even if he knew, he would never have admitted it.
The foolish King of Lycanor believed Besilkea without question when she said, ‘That woman is a useless Lumen Savior.’
And he desired Arabelle, whose light was stronger.
“Still, thanks to foolish Bergen, I’ve obtained the precious blood of a Lumen Savior.”
Besilkea muttered, grinning unpleasantly.
The mark identical to the scar she had left on Tristini appeared on her forearm.
She traced the long, yellowish scar with her claw-like, hook-shaped nails.
“I’ll come to get you soon, so don’t go anywhere. Kk, kk, kk.”
***
The scar left by the witch burned painfully as if branded by a hot poker.
Tristini clenched her teeth, her fists tightly balled.
“Get up and show proper respect to His Majesty the Emperor and Her Majesty the Empress.”
The chamberlain ordered Tristini in a stern voice.
Tristini remained seated, showing no reaction.
As the chamberlain took a step forward, Arabelle gently tugged at the Emperor’s robe.
The Emperor met Arabelle’s gaze for a moment.
Her clear, light brown eyes sparkled as if speaking to the Emperor.
The Emperor raised his hand and spoke quietly.
“Step back for now.”
The maids and servants who had accompanied the Emperor and Empress left the chamber following the chamberlain.
In the now-empty parlor, only the Emperor, the Empress, and Tristini remained.
He wanted to imprison her in the dungeon and inflict every possible punishment.
The Emperor narrowed his eyes, glaring at the crouched Tristini.
He still vividly remembered Arabelle's joy upon discovering she had a cousin.
Arabelle, feeling genuinely sorry for Tristini, who had fallen out of favor with the King, had arranged for her to stay in the palace as her lady-in-waiting.
But Tristini…
Tristini had tried to hand Arabelle over to Bergen.
Not only had she put Arabelle in danger, but she also broke her heart.
The Emperor was displeased with the current situation of doing nothing to Tristini, but he decided to follow the Empress's wishes.
Arabelle called out to her cousin in a low, trembling voice.
“Tristini…”
Arabelle took a step forward.
Tristini looked up at Arabelle.
Her hair was plastered to her forehead and cheeks with sweat pouring down like rain.
Their eyes met, and Tristini’s dark brown pupils wavered.
Her entire body trembled, and then she collapsed, falling from the sofa.
“Tristini!”
Arabelle’s shocked voice filled the room.
Comments
Post a Comment