PHANTOM RULER'S THRONE II:

To Secure One's Enthronement

-------

There was chaos. The moment Ashton realized that there was something wrong, he immediately withdrew from the nasty battle in order to catch up to the carriage where Avy was riding. It was not supposed to run that fast considering the breed of the horses pulling it. Aside from that, Sir Clerivan's horse did not seem like it was simply following the carriage. It looked like the knight was trying to catch up to stop it from going any further.

Ashton quickly hopped on a horse to follow their trail, but he was too late. The teleportation gate closed before he could pass through.

A message was immediately sent out to inform the duke and the emperor of the situation. The crown prince, who possessed the most mana, had tried to forcefully open the teleportation gate while they were waiting for reinforcements to arrive, but to no avail; the gate could not be opened by unnatural means.

The emperor, along with the duke and Lord Arkwright, arrived half an hour later on their magical beasts. The two ravens had the big hounds of their family, while the emperor sat on the back of a majestic golden bird. The three of them also tried every means they could think of to open the gate, but failed. Their whole entourage was forced to go back, defeated-they were one talented knight and a precious princess less.

Immediately, the moment they came back into the imperial palace, they heard a call from Auxiviel, which the emperor accepted with an eager pile of Arkwright men lurking next to him. It was a hard task for the lightning mage ruler to calm the ravens down, as it involved their princess' safety. The ducal family had planned to declare an all-out war if the King of Auxiviel did not quickly communicate their lady's well-being.

"Explain yourself, King Deronos."

Emperor Lucian abandoned polite greetings and was quick to go straight to the point, exuding an intimidating tone that was not known by a lot of people. Kriseon was seldom put at a disadvantage. Being a powerful nation and having capable figures that ensured their victories all the time, the emperor did not feel the need to parade his overwhelming power on the table to frighten any possible opposition to his reign. It seems to him that he has been so lenient that a small country like Auxiviel dared to bare its fangs.

"I deeply apologize, Your Majesty. It was a miscalculation on Auxiviel's part. Had we known that the teleportation gate would close so suddenly, we would have postponed the delegation for another month," King Cartal explained. The image from the communication stone did not show his detailed expression due to the image quality; however, one could easily discern the distress even with how distorted his complexion looked.

"And the lady?" the emperor added, quenching the itch of the Arkwrights, who appeared to be on the verge of exploding if they did not hear of their lady's condition sooner. He excused the imperial knight's commander, Marquis Alistair, who was supposed to be performing his duties, as he was aware that the swordmaster had his priorities. That being said, it was not his responsibility as a knight, but his niece came first.

"The lady's body seemed to have reacted strongly towards the natural magic of the teleportation gate. She has been unconscious ever since she passed through and is now being cared for by our most excellent healers."

Hearing about the Arkwright princess' condition, the atmosphere of the room they were currently staying in became grim, the temperature drastically dropping. Emperor Lucian caught a glimpse of the clenched fist the ducal heir was concealing with his unoccupied hand. The boy was the epitome of patience; the emperor admired that trait of his ever since he was a child, accompanying his father to important meetings when children his age preferred to indulge themselves in activities that did not include listening to political discussions.

Apologies were received, and subtle threats were made. The call ended sooner than expected, and Emperor Lucian prepared himself to face the unmoving beasts that have endured their silence for far too long.

"Do not be hasty with your decisions. We do not have powerful enough technology to cross the seas infested with magical monsters without suffering great losses," the emperor reminded the four men who were present in the room. His son was with them as well. Hearing how the child, who never associated himself with other people unless it was necessary, offered his magic to forcefully open the teleportation gate surprised him. Perhaps, it was true that the crown prince found a friend in Lady Avy.

"You would not imagine how far we are willing to go for that child, Your Majesty," Lord Alcasser stated, his voice low. It has been long since the lightning mage ruler stood on the opposite end of the Arkwrights. They were always willing to aid him with his goals, as long as those said goals held no ill intentions. Of course, he was not called the wisest emperor for nothing, and the ravens wholly supported him through everything. It seems like Lady Avy stood as the only variable to sway the monsters.

"I can imagine, Lord Alcasser, and you should be fully aware that declaring war will put the lady's life in danger," the emperor replied, earning an air of disapproval from the ravens in the room.

He gave them a smile, a sinister arch of his lips that the pillars knew all too well. The same smile of the former emperor who led Kriseon to countless victories during the war of the century while being a puppeteer sitting on his throne. It was the smile of a mad genius, eager to destroy enemies without giving them a chance to start anew. A total annihilation.

"A war can start without the other knowing it has already begun."

---

Clerivan sat on an empty chair next to the bed where Lady Avy lay. It has been a couple of hours since they arrived in Auxiviel, and he has refused to leave her side, even for a moment. It has been a couple of hours since he found the same lady passed out inside the carriage.

The moment he saw the King of Auxiviel approaching, the first thought that came to mind was to point his blade at him and question the man about their current situation. However, he was aware that retaliating would not do him and the lady any good; hence, he accepted the help that the young ruler offered, although he was resolute on staying near the princess at all times.

As promised, King Cartal summoned healers to look into the lady's condition as soon as they arrived in the royal palace, where they were given a luxurious chamber to stay in during the time that they would be in Auxiviel. Fortunately, the healer concluded that Lady Avy simply passed out due to the shock from the transportation gate. It seemed even more plausible in their eyes, as the lady was known to not be able to manifest her own magic.

After a much more thorough examination that resulted in nothing serious, the king decided to leave them to their own devices and even offered to leave behind his own trusted knights outside the lady's door for Clerivan to be able to rest after the journey. However, Clerivan refused and simply thanked the ruler for his generosity, and he could rest once his master awakened from her sleep.

It has been hours.

"Ugh..."

A quiet groan was enough for Clerivan to spring up from his seat to rush towards the lady, who slowly stirred awake before sitting up on the bed where he was told to put her down earlier. She was rubbing her eyes gently as she tried to blink away the sleepiness from them.

"My lady, are you alright? Shall I call a chambermaid to tend to you?" Clerivan worriedly asked, standing close to the bed. The girl took a couple of seconds to respond, which left him a little bit alarmed if she felt uncomfortable somewhere.

"No," she answered, shaking her head harshly as if to fling her grogginess away. "Tell me what happened. Surely something did after I was shaken like a salad inside that carriage."

If it were in normal circumstances, Clerivan would have had the heart to be amused by the lady's choice of words. However, he chose to address the matter at hand as the girl requested.

"That is correct, my lady. We are currently in Auxiviel's royal palace. A problem occurred before our delegates entered the teleportation gate, causing our people to not be able to cross. My lady's carriage was the only one from Kriseon that was able to go through. Unfortunately, everyone, along with the young master, was left behind," he explained, watching as the young lady nodded her head as she followed.

Her brows creased, staring into nothing as she assessed the situation. As far as Clerivan knows, there is no safe way to travel to Auxiviel without using the gate, as the country is guarded by seas-even aerial means are nonviable. The two of them are currently stuck in a foreign land under the mercy of a foreign ruler. It will take at least a month for Kriseon to be able to reach them, and they have no choice but to play nice lest they be put in a much worse position than they already are.

"We're pretty much helpless for a whole month, then?" The lady looked at him.

Clerivan bowed his head; he did not have any power to take them out of their situation. "I'm afraid so, yes."

He heard the lady breathe out a long sigh that did not sound as helpless as he expected before she spoke again. "This is not as bad as I thought."

Clerivan looked at her questioningly, puzzled by her words.

---

Avy was woken up by a battalion of maids the next morning and was not surprised to see Clerivan standing at the entrance, holding the door open for the servants to carry whatever they were carrying inside the room that was too big for the word 'room' to sound fitting. After their conversation the previous night, Avy had to practically threaten her knight to rest in the chamber prepared for him by the king, which was only next to hers.

The servants were quiet, even though none of them showed any rude behavior, as far as Avy could observe. Perhaps, she was used to her maids being chatterboxes whenever they dressed her up for a special occasion. That made her miss the presence of Marie, who was the number one yapper that filled her ear every single day.

Nevertheless, she was bathed, clothed, and fed without any issue, and she was even given new sets of dresses and other things as hers were not able to cross the gate. She was treated favorably, even though Clerivan almost made a ruckus after Avy only ate for two grown men, not like her usual ten-meal servings, enough to stuff a family of twelve. She blamed it on the unfamiliar cuisine. The knight barely accepted her reason.

She was sure it was because she had sucked out almost all the natural mana from the teleportation gate; hence, why she did not feel too hungry or too sleepy. Perhaps, the reason she lost consciousness after passing through the gate was comparable to an animal going into hibernation after eating its fill. Technically, the root of their current situation was partly her fault. Not that she would admit it out loud.

It was only after breakfast that they were finally able to see the king after the chaos of the day before.

"My lady, I am glad you are faring well." King Cartal greeted her with a smile the moment she stepped inside his office. Two knights opened the door for her and her personal guard, who followed her inside.

The king stood in front of a large window behind his table, littered with documents, his posture all too familiar, holding a pen in a too familiar way. Like someone she once knew-exactly like the person she treasured so much.

"I hope you liked the clothes; I picked them out myself."

"Did you see the new clothes? I hope you liked them! I picked them out myself."

Exactly like her.

It was a normal Saturday for Annie. She woke up early that morning and slumped on her couch after pulling an all-nighter reading about a newly released discovery article. She cooked a simple breakfast and ate while listening to the voicemails that Mom sent, reminding her to do the simple things she often forgets to do. There were three messages from Dad. 'Good morning, Angel,' 'Don't skip breakfast again,' 'Take care, I love you.' She replied like always. Uncle also flooded her with videos of his students training the night before.

And Lucy came over.

"Did you spend all your money on these clothes again? I told you, I'm perfectly fine with my old ones."

Lucy was a normality in her daily life.

"Oh, come on, Annie! I've saved up enough. Don't worry about it." Lucy gave her a smile, waiting for her to open the bags to see the clothes that she bought inside.

Annie stopped herself from frowning. Lucy's family stopped supporting her after she turned legal, saying that she was already an adult and no longer their responsibility. Assholes.

"Do you not like the design?" Lucy waited for her reply hesitantly, her eyes hinting at a bit of disappointment.

Annie did not like seeing those emotions on her face. "These are good. It looks comfortable too," she answered, drawing a big smile from the girl. Relief washed over the small crease on her brows.

"Right?! I thought so, too."

Annie cooked for Lucy the whole month after that.

Contrary to Avy's expectations, she was not forced to be holed up inside the royal palace the entire day. She then remembered the reason why she was tasked with visiting the humble country of Auxiviel, even though she was only a lady who had not even reached the age of majority yet. She was there to be a symbol of the country's rise. Her presence meant a lot for the people to feel at ease after a war that dictated their freedom ended.

If an envoy from a prosperous land like Kriseon was confident enough to step foot in their territory, it meant that they vouched for the safety of the land, welcoming trade from other nations to start, and for the economic status to soar. It was a simple task. Show up, look good, and go home. It was not as if there were criminals brave enough to breach the security that the king provided Avy. Clerivan never left her side as well.

"Are you certain that you want to accompany me, my lady? We can always go back to the palace if you are uncomfortable."

King Cartal was most considerate in everything. That day was scheduled for him to visit the temple to check on the situation of the commoners, who were still reliant on the king's graces to survive. It has been six months since the war, and there are still a large number of people affected by the change of government. Of course, Avy was offered to sneak a peek, if only she wanted to.

"I would like to go, Your Majesty," she insisted.

And so, Avy found herself sitting on a comfortable chair under a magically made tent. It was a beautiful roof made with tree branches with a couple of dry leaves attached, supported by what seemed like four wooden pillars. It was made by a couple of mages who accompanied the king's entourage. They were in the middle of the capital's town square in front of the temple, where the priests were giving out free meals.

King Cartal has his hands full with a man dressed in a butler's attire, immersed in a conversation that had caused the young ruler's brows to slightly crease. The butler, a tall man with the darkest shade of green hair and a pair of indigo-colored eyes, looked too young to be handling such a job. Avy has seen him up close; she has seen him more than a couple of times with the king. To be precise, ever since they arrived in that country, she has never seen the ruler without the young aide around.

The butler, whom she was sure was named Clives, as he was often addressed by King Cartal, was a serious-looking young man. He was lean; there was not a lot of muscle that could be noticed through his clothes. He always sported a look of absolute obedience, yet at the same time, he never came off as enthusiastic whenever he was tasked with doing something by the man he served. He looked as if he were simply carrying out his duty, something he had no other choice but to accomplish, like a daily activity his body had grown accustomed to doing.

He was only fifteen, according to King Cartal after Avy decided to ask, younger than her and only a little bit older than Ciel, who was set to turn fourteen this year, yet already taking on a great responsibility as the king's personal aide. Of course, she questioned why he was in that position. It was strange; after all, the king could have taken someone with much more experience to fill in the position, especially when he was a young monarch who needed to oversee a whole country without any official training.

"He is a child of war that I was a big part of, with nowhere else to go and plenty of talent to serve the kingdom. I wanted to keep him close," was the answer she had gotten from the mauve-haired monarch.

Avy watched as the conversation seemed to come to an end, and the two of them turned in her direction. The king, who caught her eyes, smiled kindly as he made his way to her spot. Avy was patiently waiting for them when a running child suddenly appeared in the picture and bumped into the king with a lot of force, causing the ruler to stumble slightly in place.

The child was knocked to the ground, and with a blink of an eye, the young butler was already holding him in place. He was grabbing the child's nape, and both of his arms were pinned to his back like a criminal. The scene made a lot of bystanders halt and stare. The air suddenly became quiet as everyone became too intrigued to continue what they were doing. Avy's eyes widened when Clives pulled out a small knife from his pocket and was about to slit the child's throat open; however, he was immediately stopped by the king's firm command to let go of the child.

"You are dismissed, Clives. Unhand the child at once." It was the harshest Avy had heard the ruler speak to his subject. His voice was always wise, yet he still exuded a hint of gentleness, as if he were talking to someone of equal standing.

Clives simply bowed his head before leaving, perhaps, to do something in relation to his job as an aide. King Cartal helped the little kid get back on his feet, dusting the poor boy's clothes gently. The small child looked horrified because of what happened, and the king was quick to tell him to hurry along, all with a small smile as he did.

Avy waited for the king to reach where she was sitting before opening her mouth to speak.

"Do you like children, Your Majesty?" she asked, not expecting any answer that might pique her interest.

But the ruler once again showed her a familiar smile, one that reached his eyes, causing them to squint so beautifully-a bright image that used to make Avy's heart beam with warmth. There was a sense of pride within her that she held over anything at the sight of that smile. It was as if she had done something amazing to elicit such a reaction.

"Children are children. They never mean any harm."

"Children in this neighborhood are insufferable," Annie huffed in annoyance, helping Lucy up after some random kid dashed between the two of them, knocking her down in the process.

"Come on, Annie, love. They're cute. They also seem to like you, you know?" Lucy replied, wincing as she pushed herself up from the ground. She has always been tolerant of any unfair treatment.

"Cute where? The little asshole just shoved you and ran off without even looking back," Annie retorted, which the other brunette simply answered with a little laugh. What a weirdo.

"Children are children. They never mean any harm." Lucy smiled, the kind of smile Annie never had the power to go against. She just rolled her eyes in defeat; there was no use in arguing with her.

"One of these days, you'll be murdered by a child, and you will force yourself to come back to life so that the kid won't go to jail."

Lucy giggled and latched onto her arm, pulling her close. "You're so silly. Of course, I will come back. What are you going to do without me?"

"Stay in my house in peace because no one will drag me out to eat outside in this weather."

"Hey! At least mourn my death for one day or so!"

Annie smirked as if she heard her say something ridiculous. Lucy, seeing this, pushed her weight on her shoulder playfully, letting the two of them stumble like children.

It was ridiculous, alright? One day is too short. Annie would probably mourn her loss for eternity.

"Right. They don't mean any harm," Avy replied, a small smile gracing her lips as the memory of her best friend lingered in her mind.

"I hope you're not uncomfortable anywhere, my lady. We can go back to the palace if you wish." King Cartal looked at her worriedly, aware of the noise and the chaotic atmosphere of the common townsfolk that a noble lady must not be accustomed to.

Avy shook her head in response, the same smile never leaving her lips. "Please, do not mind me, Your Majesty. I enjoy watching you do your duties, wonderfully at that," she praised him. Her words were loud enough for many of the bystanders to hear, bystanders like those who have been eyeing her intently as soon as she stepped out of the carriage that King Cartal provided her.

Most of them were elderly people. They were looking at her in awe, as if it were the first time they had seen a foreigner after so many years of being secluded from the world. Well, it was basically true. However, those were not the eyes of curiosity but instead of admiration. It was something that Avy could not get a proper grasp of, no matter which angel she looked at.

She simply turned her attention back to the king, who stood closely in front of her, and noticed him looking at something above her head. He was not meeting her eyes, and without any warning, he lifted his hand and brought it close to her face, reaching for something.

"No, no, no! Annie, open your eyes! Please! Annie, don't sleep, please."

She could feel Lucy's shaking hands holding her gently; her face was close enough for her to feel her warm breath caressing her skin. Her hands were covered in crimson, and she lifted it to touch her friend's cheek as her tears never stopped dropping.

Annie reached out to grab her hand.

Avy's eyes were wide, her hand clutching another person's quite firmly, her hold shaking.

"I apologize, my lady...!" King Cartal looked startled by her actions. It was his hands that Avy was holding onto harshly. "There was a leaf on your hair."

"... Lucy..."

The young ruler's expression faltered for a split second after hearing the name that came from Avy's lips. Clerivan, too, was surprised by the mention of a familiar person. Avy's demeanor was shaken, as though she was having a hard time holding onto herself; hence, the king decided that it was enough for the day.

Avy and her entourage went back to the palace.

---

Clerivan was certain that there was something different. Everything around him seemed strange. Every detail he came across the moment he stepped on the soil of Auxiviel did not feel right, especially when they arrived at the royal palace where the king resided. All of it was too perfect for his liking, and every single bone in his body screamed at him to keep the lady close.

It was as though the whole country itself was painted in lies.

The first morning after the chaotic mishap with the teleportation gate, all the servants that tended to him and the lady did not show any emotion while they performed their duties. Not one smile, not a wince, a simple twitch of muscle on their faces. Clerivan noticed nothing and, of course, so did the lady.

Lady Avy then mentioned the strange treatment to the king during their conversation. He was not supposed to be present, as a person of his standing cannot be too close to important figures, sticking his nose where it does not belong. However, he must stay close. He swore to never leave Lady Avy's side unless she ordered him to leave, and he was certain that she would not be harmed. He was not thrown out of the room; hence, he stayed rooted next to his young mistress.

The next day, he was greeted with a warm smile and an enthusiastic good morning from one of the maids. It was not a forced greeting-something he would have known.

It was strange.

Days were spent with the young ruler excellently fulfilling his responsibilities while also keeping his visitors entertained. He was making good use of Lady Avy's presence while at the same time making sure she was comfortable. He was reassuring his people with the noble lady, who seemed willing enough to stand by his side as he did his job.

Auxiviel's people did not look normal as well, especially the elderly who loitered on the streets. They were watching Lady Avy as though she were a national treasure. Clerivan had the feeling that they wanted her to stay in their country.

Everything was perfect. It was a kind of perfection that made Clerivan feel so unsettled that he could not close his eyes at night.

The king's closest aide was the strangest of them all. Clerivan kept his eyes on the young boy, as it was his job. To observe. Clives, the butler, too young for his given responsibilities, was a pebble that stood out from the king's perfect garden. He was like Clerivan in some way. Never leaving his master's side unless he was given a task that required him to be away. However, he was never absent for too long.

Clerivan's suspicions made him put up a higher guard around the boy when a child was knocked over after bumping into King Cartal. He reacted too quickly, pinning the child on the ground. And Clerivan was sure that, for a split second, Clives was actually slitting the child's throat. It was as though it were something he had done before. As if it were what he was supposed to do, an animal acts on its instincts like a trained dog conditioned to bite once its master is provoked.

The young aide even looked slightly, and barely noticeably, surprised that he was stopped on what he was about to do before he was made to leave by the king.

Clerivan continued to observe, and the child seemed shaken not because of how he was handled and how his life had almost been taken a few seconds before but because of the hands that hoisted him up and dusted his clothes gently. The child looked at the emperor in confusion. In horror. It was something that did not escape the knight's eyes.

And the lady...

The lady confused him a lot.

He knew his understanding of Lady Avy was not deep enough after only serving her for a couple of months. There was still a lot about her that he did not know about, and it would probably take him more time to be worthy of knowing. However, he was certain that she was not acting like she used to act when they were still in Kriseon. It was as if something plagued her mind continuously.

There was a mixture of different emotions she seldom let herself indulge in, occupying every twitch of her face. Sadness, longing, confusion, frustration, happiness? She somewhat seemed soft and gentle, like melting by the sunset. Clerivan cannot help but look away, feeling as though he is intruding on something private. An expression he was not supposed to witness.

All of those were directed at the young ruler of Auxiviel.

Lady Avy looks at King Cartal with her brows slightly furrowed, her lips almost quivering, and her eyes full of pain before her usual self comes back. Only for a second or two, she stares at the mauve-haired monarch softly, like she has known him for years, and forces herself to look away, shaking herself from her thoughts.

Clerivan was too perplexed, not knowing which to believe.

But then again, his task was to observe. He will only make a move if Lady Avy commands him to.

---

The following days were a blur, and Avy was exhausted from doing what she was supposed to do. She felt like this was the most that she was productive in her whole life as a noble. Going here and there was tiring, but she had to meet people. It is not as if she can simply send Clerivan in her stead.

On the other hand, King Cartal seemed to be a lot busier than she was. However, to her surprise, he was never too busy to invite Avy for tea at the end of the day, just before the sun sets and Avy gets ready to go to her chambers to freshen up and rest.

"It's black tea today," Avy pointed out, sipping on her tea cup and noticing that it was different from the last one she had been served the day before. Still, there was the same hint of taste she could not put her mind to. It was faint, but it was there. She shrugged it off again this time.

"Ah, yes. Auxiviel has a lot to offer, you see. I would like for the lady to taste as many of ours as possible. Lady Avy will only be staying here for a month, after all," King Cartal answered, sitting across Avy.

They were not too far away from each other, having only a small round table in front of them. They had their teatime in the palace garden, which was decorated with a lot of magical stones in different tame colors. It was a beautiful sight. It was different from Kriseon, where illumination stones were simply used to light up the night. Auxiviel used them as decorations, making it more obvious that their country is abundant in them.

Avy and King Cartal mostly talked about things concerning Auxiviel. Avy was content to listen, and the other was more than happy enough to do the talking. Their conversation usually lasted for no more than thirty minutes, just enough for the king to ask the lady her thoughts about Auxiviel's state. This day was one of those days.

"Is there something wrong, my lady?" The mauve-haired monarch asked, noticing that Avy's eyes had been trained on him for quite some time without looking away.

Avy's eyes looked tired, but it immediately snapped out of alertness when King Cartal spoke.

"I'm sorry. Just..." Avy cut her own sentence, looking unsure of what she was about to say. "Your Majesty reminds me of someone," she added. The man across from her nodded his head in understanding.

"I hope I am not triggering unwelcome emotions." He looked at her expectantly, his eyes somewhat worried.

Avy shook her head with a smile. "No, no. That person is not... dead. And I do not have negative feelings towards them. Your Majesty is simply similar in a lot of ways."

A chuckle graced the king's lips, sipping on his tea with the same warm smile that was always directed at the Arkwright girl. The serene brush of the wind lulled Avy into melting and dropping her guard. Or was it already dropped way before she could even notice? That was what she left in the back of her mind.

It doesn't matter. Avy has been looking forward to the day's end ever since she stepped on Auxiviel's soil.

---

"Thank you for indulging me, my lady," King Cartal mused, offering Avy his hands to help her stand.

Today was quite tiring for the two of them; however, what's a couple of minutes of sitting down for tea? Surely, it will not be too bothersome. Hence, Avy once again found herself seated in front of the mauve-haired ruler. The tea was jasmine this time and, perhaps, she really was in desperate need of laying down and shutting her eyes closed for the day.

Avy's eyes were half-lidded, responding with silence as she got back on her feet. King Cartal's warmth radiated from his body more noticeably as they were in closer proximity. Avy felt quite strange, but not too much; it was just that she kept hearing her voice today.

Lucy's voice.

"Are you alright?" It was Lucy. She missed Lucy's voice so much.

"Lucy," she called, looking up at the person in front of her. A pair of brown eyes greeted her with a smile-Lucy's autumn brown eyes.

"I'm here, yes," Lucy answered, and Avy's face contorted into a pained expression as she lifted her hand to reach for her best friend's cheek. Lucy leaned into her palm, melting into her touch. Their hands did not have blood this time, and Avy did not feel cold; her head was not spinning.

Avy pulled Lucy close, enveloping her in a hug. She buried her face in the crook of her neck, and Lucy was kind enough to embrace her as well, rubbing circles on her back, soothing and calming her down.

They stayed like that for a couple of minutes.

King Cartal held Avy gently, a smile carved on his lips as he did.

---

A frown made its way into Clerivan's face as he was forced to stand too far from where the lady was having tea with Auxiviel's king. He was a witness to the whole scene, and he was fairly sure that a whisper of it that the wind would bring to the ear of any of the Arkwright men would spark a revolution.

The only lady on Kriseon's pillar, not yet to even reach the age of majority, rests in the comfort of the arms of a man who is not related to her by blood. The lady was acting even more odd today, it seems.

He would rather be rude than let the young lady's reputation be tarnished in a foreign country. There were a couple of maids and knights loitering around the premises as well. Clerivan decided to interrupt whatever it was that was happening to retrieve his master, swiftly marching towards the two nobles.

"My lady," he called, trying to get the raven's attention. To his relief, Lady Avy seemed to have snapped out of her trance and thus immediately let go of the king, shaking her head to pull herself together.

"Yes, thank you, Revie," she responded before looking back at the man whom she was embracing only a few moments prior. "I shall retire for the day, Your Majesty. I apologize for my rudeness." A graceful curtsy accompanied her words, and Clerivan could not help but to throw a suspecting look at the tea cups on the table. The lady has mentioned being lightheaded every day before she enters her room to rest.

"Please, my lady. You have nothing to apologize for," King Cartal reassured her, his eyes affectionately locked on the lady's ruby-red ones.

After exchanging goodbyes, Clerivan escorted Lady Avy back to her chamber and, once again, he heard the same sentence that he had been hearing for the past few days every time the two of them walked back from the garden.

"Let me lean on you, Revie. I don't feel great," the dark-haired girl grunted before letting Clerivan's left arm wrap around her shoulder as he offered his right hand for support.

"It has been two weeks, my lady. His Grace would not be happy to be kept in the dark about this," the knight breathed out his words, uncertain if he was in the right place to offer his words to the girl.

That's right. It has been two weeks, and the duke never missed one night to connect with the lady with a communication stone provided by the king. It was for the Arkwright Family to make sure that Lady Avy was faring well and was not being treated unkindly. Not once did the lady mention her little rendezvous with the king before every sunset.

"It's fine," the lady answered. Vague and short, just like every other time Clerivan asks her if she is alright and if he needs to step in often.

Perhaps, the knight was feeling a lot more daring today, so he decided to be brave enough and ask. "Do you plan to be the queen of this country through King Cartal, my lady?"

This question made Lady Avy halt, pausing in her tracks that made Clerivan's resolve falter for a moment, wondering if he had overstepped his bounds. Lady Avy was silent for a few seconds, as if contemplating her answer, and that in itself was a reply.

"Well, Lucifer did tell me that I could do whatever I wanted." Lady Avy then looked at him, a small grin that was barely there along with a bold statement. She did not let Clerivan answer and continued to walk, another worry stacked on the knight's numerous concerns on his plate. He silently wished that Miss Mariel had been with them; the maid knew how to respond to the lady's spontaneous behavior the best.

The knight simply hoped that whatever would transpire would be in the lady's favor.

---

"Do you like Lady Arkwright, Clives?"

The sixteen-year-old butler stood stiffly on his feet, feeling naked in the middle of the king's spacious bedroom decorated with shelves on the majority of the walls, old books occupying every space. The country's ruler stood before him, hovering by the large window of the bedroom that oversees the grounds where the knights were training.

"She is kind, Your Majesty," the boy answered with his head lowering, the darkest green tresses falling over his face, slightly blocking his sight. His indigo-colored eyes glued on the floor.

The king hummed in response, delight slightly seeping through his tone. "She is what Auxiviel needs," he denoted, his amethyst eyes shifting from the view outside to something located in the corner of the room. A standing mannequin, dressed in clothes that the king wears on a daily basis, was there. The thing that stood out the most was the alluring shade of dark crimson-colored cloak that looked like it was woven by the deities themselves. The mannequin was preserved inside a glass, preventing anything from harming the fabric inside.

"But kind...you said...?"

Every hair on Clive's body stood up by the sudden coldness that the king's voice held. He rolled his fist tightly into a ball, his eyes closed shut, preparing for what may happen next. And he was right.

A second later, a blunt material came hurling in his direction, hitting him harshly on the left side of his forehead. Clives flinched, but he dared not to move, swallowing down the hiss that threatened to come out of his mouth as warmth slowly trickled down his face, a little of it he tried to blink away when it seeped through his eye. Red.

Without the need to look at the ruler before him, Clives knew that a pair of amethyst were glaring him down with disgust and anger. It was not as if it was the first time. It simply became a lot more frequent after Lady Arkwright arrived. The king seemed to behave more restlessly as the days passed.

"You dare crawl into the lady's bed, you insolent child?" his tone full of malevolence filled with rage grated in the younger man's ear. Huffs accompanied his statement, seemingly trying to regulate his breathing as he calmed himself down.

Ah. It was because of that.

The king might have seen the two of them having a conversation.

"I would never, Your Majesty," he assured, however, the damage was already done.

"It should be tonight," the young ruler declared. "I have grown impatient of waiting," he added, causing the dark-haired butler to shudder.

So it will be tonight. He inwardly sighed for the success of the person he was serving. He knew himself had a big role to play. It was why he got acquainted with the lady's personal guard, enough to not be seen suspicious, he was told.

"Make sure that knight stays out of the way," King Cartal snarled and left to go to the garden where he would be having tea with the lady.

"Yes," Clives answered.

He needed to prepare.

---

Avy has been feeling as if she were floating after having her usual tea with the king. However, she dared not voice it out as to not alert King Cartal. The ruler's voice made her heart flutter in a very familiar way, like the softest melodies she wished she could hear all day.

"I will be in my chambers if you need me, my lady."

She still could recall the monarch's words as clearly as the day before she went back to her chambers. She sat on the bed, looking hazy, her breathing slightly heavier than usual. It was fine, she thought, she did not feel dizzy at all. Just a slight feeling of light-headedness embracing her person.

Clerivan has not made his presence known after the king's aide, Clives, asked for his presence not a while ago. Avy felt the need to walk out of her room and march somewhere.

Yes. She must go somewhere right now or her heart felt like it was going to explode.

The whole castle was quiet, not one soul was present within the vicinity as Avy made her way into the king's chamber. Something was whispering that she must go. Lucy's voice whispered for her to go.

Lucy has always been her weakness, she could admit that. And, perhaps, it would be a wrong idea to go, but would it be wrong to be weak even for once? Ares has been scolding her the past few weeks that she's been letting 'this person' snake their way into her mind. Avy did not care. It would be the last time, anyway.

No hesitations were needed, she knocked on the door of the king's room and she was greeted by the man a few seconds later. A familiar smile on his face, as always.

"My lady, may I help you?" he asked and Avy simply nodded her head. The monarch, for once, did not speak and just opened the door for her, and led her to the balcony where a small table was located. It seemed like the king was drinking alone before she arrived.

"If it is company that you need, I am glad that you sought me out, my lady." The king assisted her in sitting down the chair before he settled on his. Before Avy knew it, a glass was already in front of her.

She drank the contents in one go, feeling the wine burning her throat as it went down. The mauve-haired king's eyes never left her, a glint in his eyes suggested that he was waiting.

"I feel like this is the right time to confess..."

Avy's ears perked up at the mention of those words, a slight bit of hope present in her eyes. She waited as the king reached out to her hand, holding it with his. The warmth made the girl shiver.

"I have fallen for you, my lady..."

Again, Avy's heart fluttered as if it was dictated to do so. The king's image was once more replaced by a familiar face.

At the same time, her body began to burn up. Discomfort took over her whole being as the unexpected tingling poked her every muscle. Her breath became ragged as she trembled in her chair, clutching her body tightly to keep her from springing onto her feet.

"Wha, what-" she was panting, tears slowly disrupting her vision as she writhed in place.

"Are you alright, my lady?" The sudden touch made her jump. The king wrapped his arm around her shoulder, his voice coated in worry and Avy could not help herself but melt into his touch.

"Please, allow me."

Without hearing her reply, the king lifted her up as though she was a princess in distress. Her head started spinning as the monarch carried her inside, away from the cold wind of the balcony, to where the bed was located. Before she knew it, she had been placed down on a soft mattress, her back touching what seemed like silk and the fabric of her black short-sleeved sheath gown burning against her skin.

She remembered that she sent Andras and Ares on an errand a while ago.

---

[TRIGGER WARNING AHEAD:

ATTEMPTED SEXUAL ASSAULT]

No one would hear any kind of sound made inside the king's chamber. Not a single soul was around.

Lady Avy trembled on the bed, clutching whatever her hand could reach as the king of the country hovered above her. A sickeningly sweet smile plastered on his face. The bedroom was dimly lit and only the sound of the lady's labored breathing could be heard.

King Cartal savored the scene in front of him. The only lady of an important family writhing on his bed like a bitch in heat. He wanted the girl. He wanted to burn the plain black dress decorated with black lace that she wore.

"What do you need, my lady?" he asked, knowing too well that the girl before him could no longer think rationally. She would come undone under him. He would claim her and be one with her tonight.

"Pl-Please... something... ha, hah..."

King Cartal's restraint snapped after he heard those and crawled on the bed with the lady. The sound of ripping fabric echoed in the room along with a loud gasp. He studied the lady underneath his body. The girl was between his legs as he put his weight on his knees where the lady's lower body was caged.

The top of Lady Avy's dress was ripped vertically in the middle, only showing the bare skin of the line of her sternum, though nothing too scandalous as her breast remained unexposed, but the pearl-white skin flushed because of the drug the king slipped into the drink that she willingly swallowed earlier.

The king looked like a beast with no morals intact. He eyed Avy with hunger and desire like an animal ready to feast on its prey. It was evident that he was no longer in his right mind at that moment.

"Ah~ my lady... Please bear my children..." he breathed out, lowering his face to feel the warmth of the girl's skin on himself.

His lips trembled when it was met by the burning softness of Avy's neck. The distinct smell of perfume greeted his nose as he exhaled deeply, wanting to breathe everything she could offer. The sound of her heavy panting and groans of pleas was music to his ears, sending him into a salivating mess.

"Tell me what I should do, Avy~" he moaned into her ear, the texture of her soft hair tickled his hands as he buried his palms in them.

"I w-want... y-you..." she replied, her voice barely audible with every gasp that came out of her mouth.

"Want me to what, my lady? Please say it clearly~" King Cartal waited for her answer with a grin, his eyes filled with lust and want that he could barely contain himself.

"I want you..." Avy whispered in his ears, her hands snaking their way on his waist. She grabbed his body tightly, causing the king's heart to beat like crazy with her touch.

"...TO DIE, YOU DISGUSTING RAT!"

-------

Hi guys! Sorry for not updating when I posted on my Instagram account that I would be updating yesterday. My sister was rushed to the hospital so I was under a lot of stress and couldn't pick this up sooner. Also, my editor and I had a solid yap session that I forgot that we need to actually do the editing lol

And yes, I do update on my Instagram when I will be posting an update. If you wanna stay tuned with this story better, you can check out my account.

(eliiskuuxen is my account name)