"My sword is one inch away from slicing your neck. My victory is one inch away, yet why can't I do it, Althea? What kind of spell have you cast on me to have me thinking about you all day?!"
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Byeol meets a tragic death at age nineteen...
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It's not usually that I get surprised. I mostly anticipate things - if we don't count the whole incident with the spirit, of course - and I act accordingly.
I anticipated the attack in that cabin. I had sensed that Althea was working on something without letting me know about it.
Now, that's perfectly fine - or it would be perfectly fine, if that something didn't concern her safety, and a certain psycho named Isaac.
I mean, seriously, what was that bullshit about being together forever? That shit almost made me puke.
The thing I didn't anticipate was the whole 'getting possessed' situation, which I should've anticipated now that I'm thinking about it.
Damn it.
"Aias!" A cheery voice reached my ears.
I turned around just in time to open my arms and embrace my sister in a hug.
"What are you doing here? Father usually doesn't let you come here, sis." I spoke first after letting her go, making sure to call the emperor father, something that I despised doing, but for Callie's sake, I set my hatred aside.
"He granted me permission, Aias." I looked at her with a furrowed eyebrow, trying to figure out what she meant. Callie liked to talk in riddles, let others figure out what she meant. I didn't blame her, though. The emperor is super over-protective of her, for reasons he won't tell me. She's more of a prized possession than a daughter to him, though.
"Your highness.." Althea scooted me with a softened, almost pitiful gaze.
Oh.
I had completely forgotten Callie is getting married. She won't be my little sister anymore, she'll be someone's wife. All her chances at true love were ruined, and I can't even blame Azrael for it.
It's that asshole's fault. The man sitting high on his throne looking down at all of us. My father.
God, I really wanted to kill him at that time. I wanted to make good on my lifelong promise and slit that fucker's throat.
Still, I had to keep up the act until death took him properly.
Until then, I'd make sure to prolong the marriage as much as possible.
"Right, I forgot." I muttered with a strained smile.
"Aias... I know you don't like the arrangement. But I want you to know I'm happy, and you should be too. Father is finally letting me live a little. And I'm thankful for that." She murmured in a hopeful tone, sensing my disappointment.
