Detected

Amongst the crowd of colorful dress and disguised, his obsidian mask had stood out from the rest. It was not of usual color uses to wear on such lively occasions.

Matching his dark clothes, from head to toe, the man had a powerful aura that was hard to miss, his aura was enough to make people look at him when they see his figure.

It wasn't hard for Rosaria to guess who this person's was after meeting up with him for at least three days, although, she was now wondering what his real identity is.

Not anyone can just attend the masquerade ball in the palace.

Unless your part of the delegates from the neighboring country who manage to come even in amidst of war.

She was now curious about Ilios's background. The man who appeared in the forest, with a scent of smoke and citrus. Whose jet-black eyes always travel to her face with familiar warmth and concern.

A man who had made her feel the sensation exactly like how she felt meeting Alexander in the previous world.

She just met this man only for a few days, but something in her trusted this character.

" I give my greetings to the Empire's princess, " he lowered his head and greeted her in a bow. Upon seeing him in place where she did not expect him to be, the silver haired princess was slightly surprised.

Rosaria glances around the nobles who had set their interest in watching them both interact.

the princess lifts her hand to gesture for him to lift his head but the man takes it gently on his large and rough palm, and kissed the back of her hand. The worlds coming out of Rosaria's mouth got stuck on her throat from the sudden contact.

Because a sudden chill was felt on his spine, it was terrifyingly familiar that she was slightly left dumbfounded for a few second.

"What was that? That keeps happening when he is around. Is there a problem with my codes after the system update? "

" Princess Rosaria... Elijah Serpentine Ronan-Rosemond, may the gods blessed you. " he held her hand longer before gently and slowly releasing his hold. She takes her hand back and now looked at him as if his touched had burned her.

" Sir Ilios " she returns her greeting by calling his name. She didn't know if the title fit his identity but there were many eyes watching them.

Rosaria didn't had time to think about the feeling that passed in her current body when Ilios had spoken again.

"Ilios is fine your highness, as you have always call me. " there was fondness in his words, under the casual tone, Rosaria could feel affection. The thought made her frozen in her place.

"Affection? why would he even feel affection???? " She was puzzled all of the sudden, after courting such idea out of the blue.

"Maybe I'm just over-thinking this."

" May your highness bestow upon me the honor of a dance? " She snapped out of her own thoughts and found the man looking at her so dangerously hot, the heat of his gaze could make any woman blush.

His voice was deep but he intentionally lowered his volume, only for both of them to hear.

He didn't bow this time, only extended his hand to offer for her to hold. It was obvious, even if the people couldn't hear his words, it was now clear from his posture that he was asking for her to dance.

The nobles around, slowly got curious and the gossiping gaze that watched the two had increase.

A few ladies around were now curious of the man's identity.

"To be boldly asking for a married woman's hand for a dance, especially it was no other than the crown princess, how daring! "

The music still filled the halls and the dance still continue, Rosaria looked at Ilios and wondered if the man knew how high society works.

She would have rejected him but thought, the man had already gave the nobles something to talk about, rejecting his request won't make it go away.

" Also, f*ck the nobles and their hypocrite tongues, I'll would do as I please." She clicks her tongue and managed to fix her expression before anyone could catch her look of annoyance.

Ilios saw her angrily glancing around and couldn't help but lift the corner of his lips behind his mask.

His thoughts about the princess were hidden as well as his fond expression.

Rosaria looks at him with a polite smile as she accepted his hand and everyone reacted as she imagined. The noble ladies were immediately buzzing in their circles, the rumors will be born from this event.

" Does it bother you? " Ilios spoke and Rosaria realized they were slowly making their way to the center, the men and women stepped aside to make way. She looked back at him, he set his gaze in front, making the people make way for them. The rest of the nobles and the royal family had looked at the two in disbelief.

" The unwanted attention? I'm used to it. " she already spoke most of Rosaria's history to this man, she wasn't worried about being honest to him right now.

Ilios and Rosaria arrive to the center, the song had changed and even the people dancing had been reduced by now. Rosaria caught Christopher's gaze lock to towards her but her view was immediately blocked by the taller man's body. Rosaria looks up to him, and saw how his lips formed into a thin line. He was displeased by something.

" I mean....by the crown prince's dance partner. " Ilios continued his sentence and said it clearly but it was almost a whisper of how quiet it was. Rosaria gave a reassuring smile, as he guides her hand to his arms and hand, he was gentle and minded his strength on his hold on her waist and hand. Rosaria could feel how he was very careful, as if he was holding a small animal.

" Haven't I told you before, she doesn't bother me." Rosaria says and smiled

" Rather than talking about them, why don't you tell me about yourself more Sir Ilios?" The music started as the instruments were played, the people around had now forgotten the crown prince and his lover as they watched the princess looked warmly at the masked man as they dance.

Ilios would mind his strength from time to time and showed her a good time, lifting her up slightly and it was easy for him to take all of the weight from her. Rosaria feels like floating as they dance and turn.

" What would you want to know your highness? " Ilios says and gently lower her torso, eyes looking straight at hers, before he pulls her back up and matched their steps as they sway their bodies to the rhythm of the music.

" Anything that you are comfortable of sharing to me now, " she turns her gaze towards the pairs that were dancing a bit closer to them, she then sees how many are trying to catch wind of their conversation.

" and nothing too confidential " she adds, jokingly.

Her dance partner seems to notice the curious eyes around but paid them no mind. Ilios held her closer as the music had continued to play.

" I don't think I can say much about myself right now " he spoke in a small smile as he watches her behind his obsidian mask. Rosaria managed to see him look at her.

" Oh don't lie, a man so mysterious as you would have some stories about yourself. " she replied to him, wanting to know about himself.

She sees that small amused smile again.

The song has changed its tempo and both of them continued to hold eachtoher's hand, not letting go nor changing their dance partner to another stranger in the crowd.

Seeing the man in dark clothes with no intention of breaking away his hold from the princess of Rosemond, everyone started to speculate and whisper at one another.

Dancing more than one song with a man was was only meant for pairs that are married or betrothed to one another.

The ladies waiting near the side to be asked out of a single dance from the mysterious man in black masquerade mask, were hiding the disappointment in their lips behind their fans.

Rosaria was well aware of how rude she was for dancing with another man twice, yet where was the f*cks she gives? None.

She was busy with learning more about her newfound friend than what the crown prince's expression was seeing her with another man, she was going to leave this place tonight.

" mysterious? I see, now that's what you think of me " he says and their paces slows down after the partner's of other pairs changed. With his hand on her hips, he lightly swayed along with her.

" and here I thought I've made a worst impression " When he said that, Rosaria felt his gloved hands gebtly rubs the side of her finger while they dance.

It was a small gesture unseen by the nobles around, but Rosaria had felt that and was surprised that she almost made a mistake on their dance.

While everyone was starting to slowly matched their partners pace and were synchronized with the rest of the people dancing, Rosaria missed her step and slip.

Ilios seems versatile when it comes to dancing and managed to held her up and gently turn to swing her the other side, the hem and clothe of her dress flutters and sway while mid air, creating an impressive scene in the middle of the other pairs with such eye catching move, as if a swan had just stretch its wings under a pale moonlight while surrounded by flowers in the lake.

Rosaria didnt have time to be surprised.

When she her heels touchs the floor, Ilios then held her hand and twirls her in a semi circle. She was facing away from him, as he held her waist from behind and extended their arms to guide her on their steps and they danced forward creating a large space for them. At this point, they have deviatiated from the waltz that the rest were performing.

Rosaria wouldn't be able to follow if not for how she had lived three lives as a performer, two of which she died because of their passion of their career and love which ended tragicly, and the other one, who died because she was a sacrifice to their God's.

When Ilios twirls her again, her dress spread and the jewels shone beautiful under the light. He brings her back into his arms and Rosaria couldn't help but lightly laugh cause it was amazing to be enjoying a night together with Ilios.

" Your very good at this " she smiles and her eyes did not lie, it look dazzling when she was happy and Ilios was pleased that she was really having a good time.

" You must have danced a few times before " she teased and Ilios, was silent for a second.

Rosaria had laughed lightly at his silence.

" No need to be shy about that, let me guess your very popular aren't you? " and Rosaria felt his thumbs do it again, she was really having ideas in her head that might have been impossible.

" No. " he has and this time, he twirls her to get away from "that" topic but she was also a master of performing arts in her previous lives, Rosaria easily returns to him and smiles mischievously.

" A man like you must have dance like this with other women before. I'm not surprised, with a face like that, you can easily have any woman you want to dance with. I'm also pretty sure your good with handling weapons, you seem to have a good eye when you correct my archery practice " she sings praises and it was the truth. He was tall, had a healthy and good physique, he was good wirh horses as he always knew how to call back Minerva when she starts dissapeare from the forest, he was well-versed with archery and swords, he smart and had never made Rosaria feel that he halfheartedly enjoy their time together, and most of all, he was young and had a striking appearance.

Rosaria was a not blind, she knows man with a woman by his side when she sees one.

She tries to conceal her amused expression when he becomes silent again.

" Let me guess, you're engage? " She asked, with her voice didn't hide the fact that she was enjoying this moment.

The silence stretched for a few more seconds and Rosaria was mentally putting a score, 1 points for Rosaria and 0 points for Ilios for guessing right.

" I am... " he confirmed, his voice slightly amused.

Rosaria mentally applauded herself for still having the ability to guess right.

" ha I still got it " she could never go wrong with reading a person.

She was not wearing a mask so Ilios could see how she was happy to hear his words, which pissed him a bit.

Ilios brings her closer and stopped their dance, Rosaria also managed to stop and looka up to him with a puzzle expression. When she looks up, the man had already leaned his face down and Rosaria stayed in her place as he gazed his lips on her ear

" I am not yet engaged. "

Rosaria clicked her lips and mentally removed her points, 0 points for Rosaria and 1 for Ilios for tricking her.

" Yet " she says " meaning there's a candidate already"

Ilios likes how she doesn't want to backdoor from their conversation, they were talking as if they've known eachother for so long. He wasn't offended by how she clicked her tongue at him, he had different thoughts about that.

" Yes I found one " he sounds pleased as he answers.

Since they were already finished with their dance, Ilios turn to look at the crowd to search for his people and Rosaria managed to see how he had become serious and alert. He return his gaze to her and they both ended the dance with a graceful and polite bow and curtsy.

Just when Rosaria thought Ilios and her were finished with their conversation for today, Ilios had stepped in front of her and asked for her time, away from the prying eyes of the nobles.

The day starts getting more interesting and intense.

She was well aware that right now, she would be disrespecting her husband even more if she would accept his hand and go somewhere to talk privately.

No one would find the crown prince disrespectful if he dance with Caroline for a whole night, it would only mean that Rosaria had lost the prince's affection but then she doesn't it, it could give her a bad reputation to the high society.

She was going to decline Ilios's offer but she was interested on what he was going to say, Ilios's seemed to have an idea to what was going on.

He whispers lightly only for her to hear.

" You can bring with you your guards and maids to accompany us " he whispers.

Rosaria understood and she looks back to her personal maid, she was about to ask Sandra to accompany her but Ilios whispers again.

" Ask her to bring another maid and find the palace guards outside the to accompany you with me " Ilios says behind his mask and Rosaria was very impressed on how he had prepared and thought about this well.

" Sandra, please find someone to accompany me from the prince's palace servant, since I can't bring you with me. Also, have two palace guard from outside the hall follow me as I talk with this gentleman " she instructed and Ilios was very pleased that she followed his words well.

The ginger haired maid nodded and didn't hesitate a passing maid to accompany her master, and then gathered two knights that were stationed outside to accompany the princess.

Rosaria waited until she had gathered the people she needed and accepted the hand that had been waiting to hold hers and he brings her away from the crowd.

Rosaria looks back to Caroline who refused to let go of Christopher, she couldn't contain her smile seeing Rosaria being escorted outside the hall.

The rest of the people saw how the palace knights and maid were escorting the princess and her companion, and the escorts had badges that indicate they belonged to the prince's palace so Rosaria was being watched by the prince's people.

It was a smart move, now the nobles can't say she met with the man alone and call her an unfaithful woman.

Rosaria walks with Ilios towards the hallways where one of her private drawing rooms are. She looks at the knights around that were patrolling and none had reacted badly seeing Rosaria going inside the drawing room, the rest of the group entered and when the doors are locked, Ilios escorted her to the nearest seat.

Rosaria noticed that there was a few desserts, bread and snacks laid on the table in front of her.

She extended her hand and the cakes were warm.

Ilios then turn to the other three and they lowered their head.

" Leave us " he says in a foreign language and the three lowered their heads to reply back.

" Understood, your highness " they say in unison and then used the balcony door for their exit, they never looked back and dissapeared into the night.

Rosaria has looked back to see them leave and then had a raised brow as she turn to look at Ilios whose comfortably using the tea set to make tea.

She crosses her arms over her chest and gave him the look.

When Ilios turned and saw how she is waiting for his explanation, he smiles lightly behind the mask.

He grabs her warm tea and placed it in front of her before he settles to sit on the seat across her.

Now that they are alone, he removed his mask and set in down beside him. His smile is revealed and Rosaria still raises her brow.

" It's not poisoned, trust me. I'll never do that you,  Rosa. " Ilios says and gestures for her to relax.

" Please have a drink. I will try and explain myself since I know you're head must be filled with questions right now but before I'd continue, I'd like to apologize first of what I am about to say.." he adds and Rosaria looks down at the camomile flower on her tea, it looked safe for her to drink and decided to pick it up, she could smell the citrus scent that he added in the tea.

" This better calm my nerves or else I might grab Ilios's hair from anger. " she thought

When Ilios saw her drink, he starts to speak again.

" As you have probably guessed and confirmed by now, I'm not from here... nor am I a noble from Rosemond Empire."

" When we first met I truly didn't know what your identity was until yesterday " he says and Rosaria continues to watch him very seriously as she sips her tea.

" I thought you were only a noble lady from a middle class family of this empire and I  didn't have any ill intentions for getting close to you, Rosa, my intentions were pure from the beginning "

Rosaria placed her teacup down gracefully and then sat straight, eyes staring straight at him looking for any lies from his expression.

" and what were your intentions exactly? be honest with me Ilios " she didn't react when he stood up and walked towards her side, and sit next to her. The man was tall and had a body of a well trained soldier, Rosaria was just a small petite woman who just learned to work on her stamina, if they start to fight, Rosaria was going to use her Card.

She could see a losing game between them, and she was the one who will lose.

Rosaria didn't break her gaze as he settles next to her, what she didn't expect was for him to remove one of his gloves and open his palm to offer her his hand.

She looks at his large hand with a lot of callouses and then looks at him judgingly but didn't reject to held his hand.

Rosaria didn't know he was nervous until he sighs in relief seeing her smaller hands on his own. He held hers closer to his chest and Rosaria was very interested in the way his thumbs rubs her fingers.

" When I first saw you, you were sleeping peacefully under a shade and I was there on my way to the palace. When we met again the following day, it was because Minerva had found me going around to scout the forest, I sensed that you were in danger so I had to help you. The forest had already been very familiar to me and it always stayed empty till you arrived, the short time we had spent together were genuine to me, Rosa "

He said with words that were told sincerely, his deep voice spoke very slowly, as if she might miss the words he says, hoping she will understand him.

" You spoke the language the Harthemrian's uses, " she points out to him the details she heard, he didn't deny it and placed another hand to hold her smaller one, as if hoping to get some reassurance on doing so.

" The same goes to those three, I saw their faces here before and they're definitely the prince's knights and servants " she adds.

Rosaria wanted to know the truth. There were information that were not in the system nor found in Rosaria's memories. Although things had gone differently because she was not under the system's commands anymore, there were variables that did not exist in the past and it was Ilios.

Who is Ilios and why was an man from Harthemr Empire able to walk around freely inside the most guarded place in the kingdom? Why was Cristopher's maid bowing down to this man? How come that the two knights of the crown prince's were speaking another language?

She then realized something and asked.

" Ilios, Who the hell are you? " There were no fear in her eyes, Rosaria knew this man won't hurt him cause if he did, he could have done in the day the attacker had planned to kill her.

"..." he slightly hesitate but then give in, Rosaria didn't really want to hear the worst but she was prepared for it, he opened his mouth and replied to her.

" My name.. is Ilios Hugo Demetrii Hathemr."

She was dumbfounded again by this man. Rosaria was stunned by the revelation, this was not what she had expected from Ilios.

A Harthemr citizen, no-- a part of a imperial family in another nation as he hold the surname only the royals have. Rosaria realized, he shouldn't be here, not when two empires are at stake of war in the southern boarder.

If they find out who he was, he would be killed on sight.

Learning that he was a royalty from the enemy empire was nerve-wrecking as Rosaria had to look around and check on her system to see if there was anyone around evesdropping their conversation.

All Rosaria was expecting was to hear him say he was from a foreign land or maybe someone who came from a nouveau rich family, one she might have not heard or seen from the system's information. But to hear him say his surname, and probably a part of the royalty there, all Rosaria could do is to keep a smiling and calm face.

She can't show anyone her inner turmoil.

Rosaria was thinking of a reason why a direct descendant of Harthemr's royalty was holding her hand and looking at her anxiously. Hundreds of soldiers could come marching into the large doors and apprehend the man if they knew who he was.

" I am the third prince of the Harthemr Empire and an adopted child of Emperor Zenith Harthemr and Empress Lucina Harthemr,  " he looks at her and brushed the silver hair that was misplaced on her cheek.

" I am also Rosemond's first uncrowned child whose born out of wedlock "

Rosaria held her breathe and her eyes widen as he spoke those words.

Ilios cups her cheek and smiled.

" Rosemond's current Emperor had a mistress that he once promised forever before he was married to the current Empress, the Emperor and that mistress had me as a result to one night of their passion. The mistress thought he was a humble traveler who enter the Kingdom of Harthemr to experiences the world outside his home, she learned too late that who she had met was no other than the Rosemond's emperor.

Corranard Philippe Rosemond, that selfish bastard who had hid behind these walls and sent his men to die in a losing war" he tightens his hold on her finger and close she's eyes, the anger he felt of losing his birth mother in such young age gave him so much sorrow growing up.

Learning that he was not Empress Lucina's real son had broken his heart but knowing he was Emperor's Philippe's child made him want to kill the old man.

" When the Empress found out, she was not with a child, had been threatened by the idea of competing with another woman."

" So the Empress tried to disposed of her and it was never successful, as her connection could only stretch across the lands of her own empire, Harthemr was protected well enough by its soldiers and people, none wanted to let any suspicious individuals in without any legal document and valid purpose of entering the empire. The mistress was safe for months of pregnancy but not during the her most vulnerable times. "

Rosaria listened to his story and couldn't help but hold her breath as he continues.

" She gave birth to a healthy son. She feared her child would be a boy and....learning that she birthed one brought her tears of joy and sorrow, she knew she would be in danger."

" And she was not wrong, after she handed her child to her dearest friend who had been with her, she told them to hide far from the Empress Valinetina's reach. "

Rosaria stayed silent as he told his story and tightens her hold on his hand. Although his expression didn't falter nor did he show vulnerability, his had filled with sorrow and grief.

" My mother died with the Emperor unaware of my birth and her death but he wasn't ignorant, he choose to never look for her the moment he returned to his own empire. He lied to my birth mother and didn't care of the consequences that follows her. "

" My adopted mother, the Empress Lucina of Harthemr, took me in as one of her own even before she got married to the current Emperor Zenith.

My brothers, the crowned prince Theo and second prince Ceres, are children of his previous wife who both accepted an outsider like me. My youngest  sibling is a princess who could not take the throne because of her gender, but still, beloved the family."

He opens his eyes and smiled at the idea of his family. Rosaria also smiled for him, knowing that the Imperial couple from Harthemr were kind enough to take a child unrelated to them and even cared enough to let him grow as their own.

" My mother had wrote a journal and I understood how cruel Corronard Philippe was to make her wait for nothing and turn his back from her. I only discovered from my eldest brother how Valinetina killed her cruelly and left her body to rot in the corners of the slums as the news of a dead woman remains was too shocking for everyone in Harthemr and they still remember it it today "

" My adoptive mother never wanted me to learn about it but I knew a day would come when I'll question more about my origins. "

It must have been hard for him to grow up learning he was not related to his family, Rosaria thought and lowered her eyes as she remember how her original life was.

" I had long planned to take vengeance for my mother and me, I planted my people here and had watched that bastard every move. The war on Rosemond's border was only to stir conflict with Philippe and his people, and to disguised my own people making a move inside this palace."

After hearing the truth and Rosaria was now in deep thought after hearing his story.

" Do you plan to have a full-blooded war with this Empire? " Rosaria knew he wanted the throne taken away from the Rosemond's. He wanted to run their blood dry and throw their bodies in the streets.

The war happened during the day Rosaria died in a church, it was thirteen years from now. Ilios won but still died when Caroline's son took vengeance for his family, and took back the throne from the Harthemrian's.

Rosaria quietly thought of the scenarios that happened in Rosaria's past.

Everything about this world, Rosaria's world was filled of conflict outside of her own that she have no knowledge about. Rosaria had her own battles and so did Ilios and even the rest of the people that had lived in this world.

" I...I wanted to bring ruins to their ruling, to take everything away from them. They didn't deserve to live this long, after what they've done to my mother, Rosa. I couldn't  let them walk under the sun freely after they ruined her and threw her life away like it was nothing.  "

Rosaria held the hand that on her cheek and looks at his clear obsidian eyes. She takes his hand off her face and held it firmly.

She fully understands his pain and she didn't want to stop him, it wasn't cruel of her to do so.

Eve had seen and saw the ugly side of people in plenty of worlds, those which are greedy, corrupted, vile, and merciless, yet they still manage to lived the next day and die peacefully while the people whose lives they ruined had lived with nightmares and broken smiles.

" Thank you for telling me Ilios, I don't know what else to say, I'm sorry..." Rosaria replies and Ilios managed to give her a light smile, Rosaria couldn't help but remove her hold on his fingers and leans closer to him before encircling her hands around his back and hugs him.

She doesn't know if it was going to make him feel better but she tried.

Rosaria was a small girl so her head just reached his collar as they hugged, Ilios returned the gestured, hands fully around her small figure and head lowered to her head, and they stayed like that for another minute before Rosaria was the one to break away first.

Ilios doesn't let go.

" uhm Ilios?" she pats his large arm and he only sighs in relief.

" You can let go now, I still have a lot of things to say. " she tries to sound mad but the hug of large man was very comfortable, she can't deny.

" We can talk like this " he chuckles and she could hear the sound vibrates on his wide chest.

Rosaria looks up and realized he was look at her this whole time and his expression were fond, his eyes couldn't hide the affection it held even under the shadow. She was slightly surprised by the sight and pushed him lightly, it wasn't strong enough to break free from his hold but Ilios let's her go from his hold, he was as surprised as she was seeing her reaction and his chest slightly stings at her expression.

She was startled and she pushed him away, it made somehere inside his chest hurt. Ilios looks at her dejectedly and apologetically.

" Rosa? "

Rosaria tries to create a distance between them and moves back away, but she was too focused on moving away that she slips from her seat and accidentally reached for the nearest object.

" Rosa! "

She couldn't hear him after when everything happened happened to fast, she was able to grab a vase near their seat and it falls closer towards her. Ilios manage to hold her the last minute her back was almost reaching the ground and placed his hand behind her to cushion her fall while his other hand had protectively hold her head.

When they both hit the ground, Rosaria hears the strings of codes rushing to her head and the familiar blaring sound of the system went out in her head.

Suddenly Eve's head starts to get dizzy and a rushed of electricity tingles her spine and the images of Alexander flashed in her head like a flood.

She opens her eyes saw how close Ilios was too close that their lips touched.

Her eye's widens as she sees the system in front of her.

[ Modified System:

Warning: Virus ⁵⁴Al³x has been detected. ]