Episode 14

He eyed me intently as if he was checking the depths of my soul. I moved away from him slightly. Yvan shielded me with his arms, protecting me from Luis.

“Carter, you should stop this for now. Check Malaya’s condition first,” he commanded the Crown Prince. His brother. Carter glared at me coldly. For a while, his eyes softened a bit before he plastered an annoying smirk.

“Afraid of blood? She might be acting this all up, Luis.” He stated firmly. “This time, she might poison all of us too,”

Sean scoffed. “As the family doctor of the Eléftheros’ bloodline, I don’t remember that the Madame has this condition... ” He turned to me.

“However, her uncontrollable shaking, trembling, and uneasiness are the signs that she is afraid of blood,” he added.

Carter hissed in disapproval. He glared at me and his brother intensely. He looked at me as if he was the embodiment of despair itself. “I ordered everyone to stay away from Malaya. Drop and lock her knight at the dungeon, the Madame must stay here for three days while the investigation is ongoing. No one is allowed to accompany her. Let her tremble to death. That’s her punishment.” He strictly commanded.

They had no choice but to move away from me. High Priest Luis stared at me for a while before leaving the room. So did Sean and even Duke Eléftheros. Yvan was cuffed, as they dragged him out of the dark room.

He wasn't easily pulled by the guards because he remained standing firmly, looking at me. I nodded my head at him. And he took that as a hint to let things go their way.

Yes. Of course, they couldn't defy. It was Carter. No one dared to defy the soon-to-be Emperor of this country. His words were absolute... well, not for Yvan.

And suddenly it occurred to me. The plot of what was happening. Even if I trembled or was afraid of blood, they wouldn't understand because they would think it was part of my plan. Even though they knew my condition, they couldn't help me... because I wasn't worthy of being believed.

I knelt down on the cold floor as I felt my warm tears shedding again. The dark room seemed to consume my emotions. I held my face with my trembling hands.

I saw a stain of blood. It was because I clung onto Yvan's shirt earlier, which was covered in blood. But instead of being scared and trembling with fear, I just stared at it blankly.

No one was here. I was all by myself. Yet, I couldn't afford to cry voluntarily. It was like I had lost the strength to sob, and only my body dictated what I would do. I was crying, but I didn't feel like I was into it.

I looked down, and a slight reflection on the floor mirrored me. Ah yes, my past life. The Halaya Xye. I was also left alone because none of them wanted me to be their adoptive daughter.

I swayed in the streets like a stray. I was a beggar. A child with no family to call on. I remembered Mikael. Smiling at me warmly as he waved his hands genuinely. I smiled slightly as a pang of pain hit me. That was a good memory.

A good memory to... let go.

“Y-Yvan... ” I said softly.

A shadow appeared in front of me, and the same familiar black boots were facing me. I looked up to see him. His eyes were still calm, yet dangerous. Right now, he didn't look like my Knight. More like, my equal in this society. “Yes, Muryō?”

He bent down and crouched my cheeks to wipe off my tears. “I can burn this whole place if you want me to. Whatever it is, I will follow your commands, Muryō.” There was determination in his voice.

I immediately shook my head. Yes, I would want that too. But I just knew I shouldn't ask him. It was too selfish... and I couldn't make him do that.

“N-No,” I said weakly. “I want you to do something important. Give me the reports you gathered regarding High Priest Luis. And after that, I want you to spy on them,” I whispered weakly.

I heard his hidden sigh. He eyed me emotionlessly. He murmured something, but I didn't catch it.

“You break the eyes of truth on your way here? You seemed to escape easily in that dungeon,” I asked to divert his attention elsewhere. He sighed.

“I fooled them. It’s not me that they dragged in that dungeon. It’s my clone. I can summon one that looks exactly like me.” He said. “Y-You can do that?”

“Yes,” He stood up. He lent his hands to me to hold. I reached for them. But he did something unexpected. I gasped softly after he lifted me. “W-What?” I asked confused.

He didn't look at me. “I will do the things you told me and expect that tomorrow, I have gathered the intel you want. However, do you really need it? We can escape here right now. I can even destroy this place if you want to,” he said seriously in a low tone.

Even though I was trembling, I laughed softly at what he said. “I'm your Master. You promised to follow my commands, and you ought to be loyal to me,” I reminded him.

“I’m still the Black Phoenix though, I’m more powerful than them,” Yvan said. He placed me on a small bed that would serve as my bed. I was grounded, but I was lucky enough to have a better space to sleep.

“I never knew you had a side like this. Are those actions of yours, just all acting, and you just pretended to be a fool when you were with me?” I chuckled.

“Well, in some ways, you could tell that. But, when I swear my loyalty to you, I meant it.” He looked at me seriously. “I’m the creator of all lies, envy, darkness, destruction, and even... death, just name it. But in one fell swoop, you had wrapped me around with your little fingers,”

He tucked me in. “Sleep for now, I know you’re tired, my Muryō,” He said. He was about to leave, but I clung to the hem of his shirt slightly. He turned back to me.

“Yvan... Thank you, for everything,” I said.

“After this, can I get another help from you?” I whispered softly. “What is it, Master?”

“Let’s escape and run away... together,”

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