1 Prologue

Once upon a time, there was a beautiful lady everybody admired in the Empire; well, most of them were. She had lovely golden blond hair, emerald green eyes, and a majestic gaze. She was born into a noble family that held military power in the empire.

With the Duke's approval using the officials, his daughter was betrothed to the Crown Prince at such a young age. As the lady was still small, she tried to walk towards the garden, her beauty exceeding everyone in town.

Her hands were moving around her like she was looking for something. The baby's eyes were fixed on someone who was heading toward her. As she was getting ready to grasp her brother's extended finger, she fell to the ground, only for Ismael to catch her gently.

"Watch out, our precious baby. You seemed to be concentrating on me that you weren't conscious of your own feet."

Ismael Ferrer said to his sister, then he laughed. The little girl didn't understand what he brother was saying, but she laughed in her brother's arms.

The nanny taking care of the baby was staring at the two with sad eyes. Shaking her head, she went toward Ismael. She then, waved at him.

"Greetings, young master. The baby is amazing. You indeed treasure her."

"Yes, Harlene, I will always keep her safe. Now, take a look. Isn't she pretty or something?"

Then they laughed while Ismael pinched his sister's cheeks, which resembled roses with the baby's pale skin.

The moment could last forever, and even though Herena was still a baby who didn't understand anything, she could feel safe in the little boy's arms while giggling along the way

The years passed, and the child had become a young woman. Eventually, she was able to walk, talk and understand words. The smile never disappears. She went to the library at her house, where her brother usually remains.

"There you are, brother Ismael. How do you do?"

She was glad to see her brother after his long voyage. It took months for him to return home. He was currently reading a book from his seat. Before answering, he hid it behind his back and smiled at his sister.

Herena raised her eyebrows, thinking her brother had been behaving suspiciously lately. However, her expression smiled again after having seen Ismael laughing and smiling.

That might have been my imagination. She thought. However, Ismael's hand was clenching tightly the book behind him. It was the book that he could never let Herena read.

"I am quite well, Herena. What about you? Are you as good as your brother? Come here and embrace your brother warmly."

"Me? Brother, I'm certainly fine! I've been always fine and like here, I'm happy to finally see you for many days now! I also wanted to share some of my experiences, Harlene even complimented me when I made it through the embroidery class! Besides that, I was visiting the house of one of my friends, and we had tea together, and you know what, brother? She was in love with you! Can you believe it? It's because my brother was so handsome, lovable, caring and the best brother I could ever have!"

The lady spoke and embraced her brother. Ismael laughed at what his sister was saying as if something was funny. He held her in his arms, feeling the heat he remembered. However, his mind was on other things, and that's when he realized that his sister was no longer safe.

Years passed, and Herena's brother died of an incident. Nobody knew about this, but she cried the most.

Her father and mother did not seem to shed enough tears, but it was she who almost poured water out of her body.

"Herena, eat your food. You're wasting our money if you never eat it."

Her father said, his voice filled with authority. From the beginning, he disliked his daughter more than his wife.

"Yes, darling, please eat it."

Her mother said in a gentle tone, but the expression on the old woman's face was not sufficient to be called sweet. There is something wrong with the household she lives in

She was unable to eat, when her brother died years ago. Her memories of him were still fresh. She did not grow up to be a lady worthy of her title. She doesn't know what she will become and her life ahead of the unknown

She got engaged to the crown prince. Looking at him, she noticed that he was like her older brother. Maybe she missed him through the crown prince, which is why she fell in love the first time she saw him.

When they got engaged, she thought he might be nice, but he wasn't.

"Excuse me, but leave me alone, Lady Herena."

"B-But C-Cal---"

"Again, I never allowed you to call me by my name, Lady Herena."

He then dropped her off at their supposed engagement meeting. With her hands in the air, she had no alternative but to go into the garden to refresh her emotions.

However, the place made her know why her fiancee was so cold to her.

"Arianne, have you waited long?"

"No, Your Highness, I-I-------"

"Shush, when we are alone, call me by my name, Arianne. Like what I call you, okay?"

"Y-Yes, Calus."

Calus offered her coat to Arianne upon entering the garden. They talked a lot until the lady asked for her fiancée.

"I'll never love anybody except my heroine, Arianne, and you already know who she is."

The face of the lady reddened. The words of the crown prince caused Herena's heart to beat painfully. She was hiding under the bushes. Her hands were on her mouth. Her eyes went wide open. Everything looked like a painful slap in the face to her.

No one else than her brother loved her. The only person she loved and cared about the most was already gone from her world. She was already crying when she saw the scenario in which she was standing.

It seemed too peaceful, but her mind and heart were the complete opposite of it. They were already out of control.

Years have gone by, and Herena would do anything to be loved by a young man she knew would never love her in return. If he's ever been to his workplace to do his tasks as a crown prince, the lady will bring him the food she cooked. Though it's always been left untouched.

It continued until the Emperor, Calus' father, hinted that he was already of the right age to marry. That night was already the start of it all.

"Devion, doesn't the old man know what that young woman was doing?"

"Your Highness, I'm afraid he was aware of it, but he couldn't do anything. The officials have already limited your father's authority..."

"No, there's got to be some way, Devion. There's no way I want to be defeated by these mongrels!"

"The late young master Ismae-----"

"Never bring that name back here, or I'll have to chop your tongue off, too, Devion."

"I beg your pardon, Your Highness."

Then Calus rummaged through the papers on his desk. He was within his office with his loyal ally. His eyes suddenly widen.

"I felt like I had the best solution, Devion, but it seemed harsh. I hope they will forgive me, but I believe they will feel nothing."

"Your Highness is not---"

"Yes, Devion and I don't have any choice. You know the person I love, don't you?"

"Yes, I do, Your Highness."

"Keep her safe. I believe that an unforeseen event will occur in recent months. Which means I need to keep an eye on them."

***

A few months later

Inside the imperial house, the emperor called a meeting with the officials in his normal condition. He planned it well, knowing that the bureaucrats could be in a critical position. All these high-ranking factions were sufficiently present.

"All rise."

They bowed in reverence before the emperor. When Helvon uttered those words, the officers rose.

"I declare that the hunt will take place next week. Anyone who objects to my ruling has to give an explanation."

No one went to the trouble of talking. The noble faction was pleased that they had followed them. However, the other section faithful to the emperor seemed disappointed, but no one talked about it until...

"Your Highness, may I suggest that we await the end of the Hagion Festival? It would be appropriate to give the impression that we respect the people's festival before we start the hunting season."

"Yes, you are right, Duke Themiore. All right, everything seems taken care of. I'll put the hunt off until after the Hagion Festival."

However, noises then began before the officers had to make an objection.

"Hold your tongues!"

The emperor's voice sounded as thunder.

"Your Highness, it appears inappropriate to base our titles on commoners, does it not?"

"Yes, you're right too, Duke Ferrer, but who do we serve?"

The emperor's way of saying these words was sufficient for duke Ferrer to feel stunned. Themiore was right, and to everyone else, Ferrer looked like a fool.

"Okay, the meeting is over!"

With that in mind, the officers dragged Ferrer into a corner of the meeting hall and spoke to him on the way out. They seemed excited about something, and all because of their plans for the crown prince.

A few weeks later, the officials who had plotted with the noble faction to curtail the emperor's powers met. They have laid out their plans and intend to review them at the upcoming event.

On the eve of the hunting day, Calus was already in the Crown Princess's bedroom. Devion was following Calus' shadows. Herena never knew why, but she was excited to be with him for the first time.

It was night, the window lit such a silver scene across the Empire. Herena already knew all there was to know when Devion sent her papers with scraps of evidence showing her family and the officials conspiring to limit the imperial member's power

"You know I wanted to release myself from it, I wanted my power, but with you, everything seemed controlled. This time you're planning on killing my heroine too, so I have no choice."

Calus said. He looked at the lady right in the eye. That's when he saw the lady was already crying.

"I-I'm sorry, C-Calu---"

"I don't need your apologies, Lady Herena. I just wanted you to go."

Then he killed her with his sword

However, it turned out that Herena returned to the time before she was betrothed to the crown prince.

"This time, I refuse to kill the heroine, and I will refuse to go there as a simple tool. Rather, I must find my goal in life."