Gladiator✔️

Invitation 1

Concubine Leanne that appeared in the previous chapter is a spy, she was earlier a concubine of King Kyzm (Lilith's Uncle).

Duke Selic- is the maternal cousin of emperor Heun, he personally brought Azarios to the capital to protect him knowing that he was the child of Heun and Helixis.

Oh and also he is the father of Seros.

Strange irises.

Contempt filled faces

Emperor Baez has returned after bidding farewell to his imperial sister but the commoners did not had mirth reflecting in their expressions, even the coins that were tossed along with precious flowers on the pathway were not picked up and remained untouched but even before the emperor could blow into rage his stallion refused to move ahead and neighed as if sensing the smell of death.

Noble aristocrats that had helped Baze sit on the throne were not looking very well as some on them brought their gold carriages to escort the monarch of the country away from this crowd that could go insane any moment and forget the difference in the noble statures.

"Duke Selic, what is this impudence-"

"Her highness Princess Quare self immolated herself and died in the thousand year old temple of the goddess, the woman his majesty escorted out of the country was an imposter."

There was a long silence with so many questions sprouting in his minds. Baez would have beheaded the duke for sprouting such words if it wasn't for the other aristocrats in the carriage that were looking at him with grim irises conveying that this was neither an illusive nightmare nor a false information.

Moreover the people in the streets were somewhat hostile towards the monarch thus what the Duke said must have been truth. After contemplating several moments those ruthless azure eyes closed as the male ordered in a bone chilling voice.

"To the temple of the goddess, inform all officials to attend the court when the sun sets and those that can not, throw them inside the dungeons."

The journey from the city gates to the temple of Ambrose was one filled with Duke Sellic providing information on what had transpired, what Baez wished to hide was uncovered by the last words of Quare.

Commoners were forcibly removed from the pathway and soldiers were patroling in arena that had ink soot covering it like a thick blanket of smoke as the emperor stepped down with murderous eyes and walked towards the burnt corpse.

"Uncover it. This emperor would like to see her face."

There had been no brother, no father and none of the close aides that could watch their family member in such perilous condition-

when even the flesh smelt raw and gave off a horrific stench.

When no part of the body could be distinguished.

Yet this person could not care about the eyes of the soldiers and commanded harshly without an ounce of emotion. Trembling fingers of a servant belonging to princess Quare unveiled the dead making Baez grit his teeth in rage, at that moment it was as if all the pretenses of cordiality were shread and there appeared the monstrous beast that lived beneath the human skin.

"Bring it to the royal palace for being buried."

There were no sorrow or tears displayed and thus the nobles were aware that this matter shall not be touched anymore. What was important now was to stabilize the commoner's heart. Even some aristocratic official families had the intentions to deflect to General Azarios's side.

Four soldiers carried the body away to keep in a royal carriage when Baez saw bony fingers with flesh sticking to it dangling down with a ring carved in melted silver and gold with crimson jade encrusted at the top.

A strange melody of water borne instrument that was weeping a bloody vengeance was being played in his ears as delusions making his arrogant steps halt with his throat drying up and fingers somewhat shivering.

Four years ago when his imperial father just died, Prince Baez went to get Princess Quare married in Gaerin, also he was the representative of Ambrose and had to bring Princess Semeara(Lilith disguised) to marry Alexander.

But Baez wishing to take hold of Gaerin's power manipulated Semeara(Lilith disguised) and became her friend but he did know realise that from there his obsession with that woman began.

To woo her he had not left any stone unturned- from songs to poetry, from riches to non materistic carvings from his own hands- there were innumerable gifts that he had sent to her but she....she returned all of thatwithout taking a look.

It was only a ring made up of rare Silian gold and silver that he had carved himself that she accepted to show her sincere friendship but later that too was taken away by Empress Mother Daphne.

Then when Baez was angry Semeara(Lilith disguised) had said- "Prince must not worry, it was imperial grandmother that saw auspiciousness in that ring thus when she asked this granddaughter for a small favor, one could not refuse.

His highness Prince is this princess close aide and had exerted efforts to give such a gift thus this one is truly apologetic."

She had been kind but distant then and later Baez had fled the nation of Gaerin not taking into account what occured of Princess Semeara( Lilith disguised) after the matter went wrong and he misunderstood Crown Princess Artilia as her and spent a night with Artilia.

The prophecy of her highness Saintess Helixis could be proved falsified but his eyes at this moment could not be deceived- that was the ring that he gave to Semeara.

The Emperor was pale as if he had seen a ghoul.

This burnt body did not belonged to Quare...it belonged to Empress Mother Daphne of Gaerin.

"YOUR MAJESTY! The empire of Gaerin has send its messenger inviting the two heirs to the throne of Ambrose."

One the Emperor

And another General Azarios....now the Prince of Ambrose and Grevian.