Chapter 37

══ ◈ ══

VOICES ECHOED in my mind, incomprehensible murmurs that seemed to claw at my sanity. I tried to shake my head, to rid myself of the noise, but my strength had faded, slipping away like sand through my fingers. My silver-white hair, now streaked with shadows, fell heavily around my face, and my eyes felt as though they were being torn from their sockets. Every inch of my body throbbed with a dull, agonizing ache.

A cold, skeletal hand gripped my chin, forcing my gaze upward. I squinted, barely focusing through the haze. Reynald… Before I could manage a word, a sharp, ringing slap struck my cheek. The impact resounded through the room like a crack of thunder, yet I felt no pain—only a lingering, numbing heat on my skin.

Reynald’s voice sliced through the silence. “I’ll burn you alive, you pathetic intruder!” His rage twisted his face, his brows drawn tightly as he bit down on his lower lip, eyes blazing with fury. He seized my hair and yanked me upright, dragging me like a ragdoll.

“Charlie!” he barked, not sparing me another glance. “Take this wretch to the dungeon. I’ll announce a hunting festival once I’m done. Gather every monster lurking in the capital—we’ll corral them here. Before we rid ourselves of this vile creature, we’ll restore order to our lands, a cleansing before the storm.” A bitter laugh slipped from my lips at his words. Ha… if only he knew how satisfying it was to watch the smug look fade from his face.

“You won’t see your plans come to fruition, Your Majesty…” I murmured, my voice little more than a hoarse whisper. His grip tightened, yanking my head back as he leaned in closer.

“No?” he sneered, his breath hot and tainted with malice. “With you and the High Priestess gone, I’ll tear this kingdom apart, piece by piece. You see, I have the power to do so…” He gave a dark, wicked smile. “I’ve crafted other plans, in case you somehow escaped. You’re not the only one with a holy body, intruder.” His gaze hardened, filled with a sinister glee. “And soon, your head will be mounted for all to see—the true monster behind those creatures that have plagued our land.”

A smile tugged at my lips, even as the room spun. “Shouldn’t I be the one telling you that?” I managed, a faint trace of defiance in my tone. His face darkened, and another slap struck me, harder this time, making my head snap back.

“Your Majesty.” Sebastian’s voice cut in, and he stepped forward, catching Reynald’s wrist with a firm hand. “Allow me to escort her to the dungeon,” he said, his gaze colder than steel as he looked down at me.

The Emperor smirked, releasing me with a flick of his hand. I crumpled to the floor, my body too weak to resist. “Fine. But make sure she doesn’t escape… Sebastian.” His voice dripped with dark amusement as he leaned in toward the knight.

“Yes, Your Majesty.” Sebastian nodded, kneeling beside me. His eyes, usually so unreadable, held a glint of something unfathomable as he reached down, lifting me with surprising gentleness. “Let’s go, my lady,” he said quietly, his grip firm as he carried me away, leaving the Emperor’s ominous smile behind us.

══ ◈ ══

“Why are you doing this?” I whispered, my voice laced with exhaustion as he gently laid me down on the cold, unyielding floor of the dungeon.

“Doing what?” he replied, his gaze as cold as ice. I scoffed, rolling my eyes as I let myself sink into the floor. My entire body ached, drained to the core—I could barely muster the strength to move, let alone argue.

He hesitated, his eyes flickering over me. “Your hair… and your eyes…” His voice softened, almost to a murmur, as he observed me. I frowned, confused, and tilted my head to meet his gaze.

“What about them?” My voice cracked. Had something changed?

“Your eyes… they’re blood-red. And your hair has turned as black as coal. It means… your holiness has left you.” He muttered the last part as though he were sharing a grim secret.

I narrowed my eyes, unimpressed. Holiness? Did he think I was some sort of saint? “I’m not a priestess, Sebastian,” I replied, closing my eyes in frustration.

“The daughter of the High Priestess inherits the title,” he said, his tone flat but heavy with implication. My eyes flew open as his words settled in.

“I’m not Arthemice,” I muttered, my brows knitting together. Could he not see the exhaustion etched across my face? Did he not witness the chaos I’d just endured? Or was he merely watching, blind to my struggles?

“Yes,” he answered, his voice barely audible. He knelt down, his intense gaze locking with mine. There was something strange in his eyes—something that unsettled me. Was this pity? Regret? A flicker of sympathy for the soul he’d wanted to see destroyed?

“Then why?” I demanded, my tone sharp, masking my own confusion.

He leaned in, his face close enough that I could feel his breath. Yet, he didn’t speak. He only stared, as if searching my eyes for something he’d lost. I held his gaze, the silence thickening between us.

Finally, he murmured, “I’m sorry. I have to go.” He stood, his expression unreadable, and turned away, his footsteps echoing through the dim dungeon as he closed the heavy iron door behind him.

“Call if you need anything,” he said over his shoulder.

“I need a way to escape,” I shot back.

“Anything… but that,” he replied smoothly, not even sparing me a glance as he disappeared down the corridor.

I rolled my eyes. “Then don’t bother coming back.”

He paused briefly, gave a slight nod, and continued on his way, leaving me alone in the dim, silent cell.

“Hah. What a baffling man,” I muttered, turning my gaze up to the dark ceiling above. My grip on this body was barely holding—I could feel my soul flickering, like a candle on the verge of going out. But perhaps this was a sign, a small sliver of hope that I could endure, that I could finally finish what she started. Maybe Arthemice had seen that in me—that stubborn resilience, that burning desire for justice.

A faint smirk tugged at my lips. Rest would come first, then strength. Soon, I’d have your revenge. And when the time came, I would tear that Emperor apart piece by piece.

══ ◈ ══

“Hey, wake up!” Someone was shaking me urgently, and I opened my eyes to see Darious’s face, panic-stricken.

“I’m not dead yet,” I muttered, rolling my eyes. Why were they always so determined to disturb me when I just wanted to rest?

He let out a shaky sigh, his relief palpable. “I thought you were gone.” Before I could respond, he pulled me into a tight embrace, his arms wrapping around me with unexpected warmth. “I’m sorry if I’ve been so cruel to you… all this time,” he murmured, his voice thick with emotion. “I thought pushing you away was the only way to keep you safe, to keep you out of the Emperor’s grasp. I thought that if I could drive you from the manor, he wouldn’t succeed in his plans…”

I stiffened, my brows knitting as I listened. “You knew about his plans?” I asked, feeling his grip tighten as if he feared letting go.

“Yes. That’s why I tried everything to get you out of the manor. I even… I tried to poison the Emperor, but I failed, because you interfered.” His words struck me, and I blinked, memories of my first mission from the system flashing through my mind. I’d assumed the poison was meant for the Grand Duke—but it had been meant for the Emperor all along?

“Listen, Arthemice… or whoever you are.” He pulled back just enough to look at me, his gaze intense, the weight of his words sinking in. My eyes widened. He knows?

“You…” I tried to break free from his embrace, but he held firm. “You know I’m not your sister, so why would you help someone—a soul—that’s taken her place?”

A sad chuckle escaped him. “Arthemice was never my true sister. I’m an illegitimate child, born of my father’s affair with a Marquess,” he murmured, his voice barely above a whisper. “The Grand Duke saved me from disgrace, he took me in, gave me his name and status. Because of our resemblance and his influence, no one questioned him when he announced I was his child.”

He paused, his gaze distant, as if he were seeing shadows from a life he could never escape. “But even with a noble title, I remained a constant reminder of my father’s betrayal. I thought I could prove my worth by keeping my distance… by treating Arthemice with that same coldness, so no one would question why I was different.” His voice wavered, and he looked away, burdened by the weight of his own choices.

“But Arthemice welcomed me, accepted me as her family, even when she knew I wasn’t her real brother. She looked beyond the shame of my birth and embraced me in a way I never thought anyone would,” he continued, his voice softening with regret.

He took a deep, shuddering breath, a bitter smile tugging at his lips. “All this time, I thought I was protecting her from a distance, convinced that my love was a risk, that my presence would only bring her pain. And yet… it was my absence that truly broke her. If only I had realized sooner. Maybe then… maybe then, she wouldn’t have felt so abandoned, so trapped in darkness that she had to let go and allow another soul to step in where she couldn’t.” He clenched his hands tightly, as if trying to hold onto the memories slipping through his fingers.

We stayed silent, his confession echoing between us. “I… I found a book in your room,” he continued, his voice breaking. “I know everything now. I know what I’ve done.” He buried his face in my shoulder, a ragged sob escaping him. I could feel his sorrow, raw and unguarded, and to my surprise, my heart pounded heavily in my chest. He knew I was an intruder, yet here he was, asking for forgiveness—for both his sake and hers.

“Hey,” he whispered, finally pulling back and meeting my gaze. “Let’s get that revenge together, hmm? For Arthemice.” His hands cupped my face, his touch gentle but firm, as if anchoring himself. “If… if you see her again, please tell her I’m sorry. That I would have been her ally, if I’d only realized sooner.”

“Darious…” I murmured, watching the sadness etched in his face. He looked up, offering me a bittersweet smile.

“And thank you,” he whispered, his voice steady but his eyes brimming with emotion. “For changing her fate.”

Before I could respond, he leaned in, his lips brushing mine. The kiss was warm, lingering, filled with a passion I hadn’t expected. I froze, stunned as his hands held my face, his touch a mixture of desperation and relief.

The warmth of his lips lingered, pressing against mine with an intensity that made my breath hitch. My mind caught up a second too late, and I realized—Darious is kissing me. My heart thudded in my chest, shock flooding through me. I pushed my hands against his chest, trying to pull away, but his grip was unwavering, his fingers slipping into my hair, holding me gently but firmly.

His kiss was fervent, filled with an unexpected desperation, as though he was pouring every ounce of regret and unspoken feeling into that single moment. I struggled, pressing harder against his chest, my thoughts spiraling in confusion. This isn’t right! He’s Arthemice’s brother— well, according to him he is not, but he is still her brother!

Finally, I managed to break away, breathless, my cheeks flushed. I looked up at him, wide-eyed, my chest rising and falling as I caught my breath. “Darious…” My voice was barely a whisper, laced with shock and confusion. “What…what are you doing?”

His gaze softened, lingering on me, his thumb tracing lightly along my cheek. “I’m making up for the time I lost… all the moments I could have been there for her—if only I’d let myself care as I should have.”

I tried to step back, but his arms encircled me, keeping me close, his eyes filled with an intensity that pinned me in place. “I know you’re not her, but in you… I see her. I feel her strength, her pain. And I…” His voice wavered, but he forced himself to continue. “I need to protect what she left behind. For her… and for you.”

I swallowed, my mind reeling. Every instinct told me to pull away, to push him off, but his words held a sincerity that kept me rooted, my pulse racing as he held my gaze. I could see the burden of guilt in his eyes, a depth of remorse and longing that I hadn’t seen before.

“Heck…” I whispered again, this time softer, and the words died on my lips as he leaned his forehead against mine, closing his eyes as if seeking solace in the brief closeness.

Darious finally let his arms fall to his sides, though the weight of his gaze lingered as if he couldn’t quite bring himself to fully step away. His hand reached out, brushing a stray lock of hair from my face, fingers lingering just a second too long.

“I have things I need to do,” he murmured, his voice softer now, as if whatever urgency pulled him away was clashing with the urge to stay. “There are preparations to make, plans to set in motion if we’re going to get you out of here.” His eyes darkened, flicking toward the door before returning to mine. “But I’ll be back soon. We’ll discuss every detail of your escape, down to the last step.”

I nodded, still shaken, trying to process everything that had just happened. He seemed to sense my hesitation, a faint, rueful smile touching his lips as he glanced down.

“Don’t worry,” he said, his tone quiet but firm. “I won’t let anything happen to you. Not this time.” He paused, looking like he wanted to say something more, but held back, his fingers curling slightly as though resisting the impulse to reach out again.

Without another word, he turned, his form silhouetted against the dim light seeping into the room. As he stepped toward the door, he looked back one last time, his gaze filled with a resolve I hadn’t seen before—a silent promise.

“Stay safe… and be ready. When I come back, we’ll finish this.”

The door shut softly behind him, leaving me alone with a storm of thoughts. His warmth lingered in the air, the intensity of the moment hanging like a shadow. I drew in a shaky breath, my fingers brushing my lips, the weight of his words—and his kiss—still heavy in my mind.

What the heck did just happened?!

fin.