Chapter 1 | Wildflowers of the Dead

It was raining.

The crystal drops fell one by one in unmatched sizes.

The scene opens at a graveyard in front of a grave made not out of stone, but gold and silver.

It was protected by strong magic as ordered by the Emperor to make sure no damages occur.

Wildflowers were decorated on it as an honor of the deceased's favorite flowers.

Roses from house of Bellua for mourning their now deceased member.

Tulips, Lilies, White Roses, and other sweet flowers were on the grave from the other visitors.

Commoners who remembered Bellua's deceased member and remembered her good deeds mourned for her as well.

The name 'Lariette Isabel De Bellua' embedded on the tombstone clearly.

Her mother, Amelia, cried her heart out.

Lehan stood by emotionless, only a few tears fell as he held the final gift she gave on his graduation from the Academy.

A simple sword with intricate designs made out of the strongest material. She cared deeply about him.

The Count stood and silently mourned.

The rest left the procession, leaving the closest people behind.

The Emperor and Bellua.

The raccoon also came and shed tears to its formerly alive friend.

"I... sniff... love you so much..." Amelia cried. "I will miss you... Goodbye darling..."

"I ..." The Count started. "Love you, my daughter. You will always be in our hearts..."

Amelia left with Count as he comforted her, leaving Lehan and Rupert.

"..."

"I miss you sister..." Lehan said as a crystal drop fell from his eyes. "I love you..." He silently muttered as he stroked the tombstone, imagining it to be his sister.

He gave one last glance at the Emperor, who stood motionlessly with dead eyes looking at the grave. He was standing still the whole time, listening silently.

Rupert stood in front of her grave holding her favourite wildflowers.

His bright, emerald eyes now dull glistened with each teardrop that fell.

His face had no expressions. Only the tears kept flowing out.

'Lariette is dead.'

The words echoed in his mind.

Rain kept pouring.

His blond hair became wet from the endless crystal drops.

No one was there to give him empathy or even their pity.

He was alone.

His mother had no love for him and died when he was young by committing suicide, groomed him into a tyrant along with Tori.

His blood father had no connection of love. For the sake of lust, he agreed to be part of Eva's affair.

The former emperor begged to get killed at his hands.

Arnulf, his non-blood-connected brother, hated and envied him.

Nigelle, another non-blood-connected sibling, manipulated him in his youth to get spared in the later years.

Lariette.

A person who stayed by his side truthfully till the end from when they were children.

A person who truly loved him.

A person who had never betrayed him but only had cruel thoughts at first changed into her sweet intentions with time.

A person who wasn't a tool made by Eva like Tori and Louis.

The first being who wanted him to be human and not a monster.

The first being to ever show him how to feel emotions properly.

The first being he ever loved with his whole heart after his mother died.

The mother who didn't care about him.

But she did.

She stayed with him during his worst nights on which he failed to not being able to sleep, having nightmares and getting fevers, although rare.

He wanted to finally propose to her after two years after becoming the emperor.

When Lariat turned 19 years old and Rupert as 20 years old.

Tori succeeded.

She finally killed her.

The love of his life.

And it was his fault.