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𝘃 𝗶 𝗹 𝗹 𝗮 𝗻 𝗲 𝘂 𝘃 𝗮

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𝗱 𝗲 𝗮 𝗱 𝗹 𝘆 𝗰 𝘂 𝗿 𝘀 𝗲

IN The Great Caspian Empire, there was a prominent ducal house named Villaneuva. Yet, the sinister rumors about the glorious family have tainted their dignity as a relative to the royal family. But because of the family's excellent work and was the most ingenious family in the empire, no one has the gut to talk against them.

Villaneuva house lives up to their name, sneered the nobles. People always said the name Villaneuva that was similar to the word villain was not a pure coincidence. It was fate! It was a curse that everyone in the Villaneuva would turn into ruthless and heartless villains.

Well, it was true Villaneuva was cursed. It was 300 years ago where a woman with ebony hair and tinged vermilion eyes were burnt to death due to her treasonous crime. The said woman was from Villaneuva's house.

The woman planned to assassinate the current empress. She's successfully abducted the empress and tortured her until the empress lost consciousness. The woman was ferocious and a bloodthirst noble lady. She even bribes some bandits to rape the empress.

But when the empress was about to be killed, the emperor came in shining armor. The woman was punished to death by burning her in front of the crowd. They partied and laughed in joy, while the woman died a slow painful death.

But, shortly after the woman died, the empress followed by a month after that. The miserable emperor then used half of his magical power to curse the Villaneuva family. The curse was a sign of disdain of the emperor towards the Villaneuva household.

The curse set was, the child of the Villaneuva would have a terrible appearance and would be scorned by others as long as they live. The emperor said that Villaneuva would still prosper in the empire but they certainly couldn't run from the hateful glare and disgust from the people.

Due to a poor reputation in the empire, some people always wanted to chop off the family's head one by one to end the fortune of Villaneuva. It's not shocking if there's someone persistently wanted the Villanueva banished from the nobility.

Yet, nothing of that happened. The emperor 300 years ago vowed to make the Villaneuva suffered. The vengeful emperor wanted Villaneuva to feel their dignity being trampled even being the most powerful dukedom. So he makes sure the family would stay in nobility till the end.

As for the current Duke Villaneuva, Duke Evan Alexis, he was a cold man and expressionless. His white eyes were lifeless. People thought he's blind but he's not. The white color of his eyes freaked out everyone especially when the white eyes were in pair with his blood-red hair.

"You know, Duke Evan hair, it smelled like blood. It's disgusting!"

"The wicked duke must have killed people and dyed his hair with their blood! Such a barbaric white-eyed demon!"

But they're wrong. It was the curse.

The Duchess of Villaneuva, Duchess Lilith Adira was a prostitute and a commoner before marrying the duke. Right after Duchess Lilith took the oath of marriage, her lustrous caramel hair started to deform into a terrifying creature. It was like the hair from the myth of Medusa. Her shiny hair came into life and even it didn't hurt anyone, people were still frightened by it.

"Duchess Lilith has shown her true form. She is a witch! The empire is really in trouble!"

But it's not. It was a curse set up as soon as Duchess Lilith took the name of Villaneuva.

The first daughter, Luna Embers Villaneuva. Ill fate befalls this beautiful and innocent child. Her arm had a burn mark of about 10 cm in length. The maids said they would smell something was in fire whenever they near Lady Luna. But she's still undeniably gorgeous. And there... rumors came again.

"The burnt smell and the scar must because Lady Luna tried to commit suicide by burning herself. What a pathetic child."

And that was also stupid. It was the curse. Again.

The second daughter, Layla Elvera. She had the least terrifying looks but unfortunately, her image was the same as the woman who tried to murder the empress.

Now, everyone in the royal family and even the commoner was shocked by the newborn baby, Layla. It spread throughout the country and the malicious rumors started.

"Lady Layla Elvera Villaneuva is the reincarnation of that woman."

"She'll kill the empress when she grows up!"

"No way, how can we stop her? Someone has to exterminate her! For the sake of the next empress!"

And that's how Villanueva dukedom becomes the vicious villain in everyone's eyes. Even the current ruler, Emperor Elias Calix Caspian saw them as a potential threat to the country, especially...

Layla Elvera Villaneuva.

______

EMPEROR Elias frowned bitterly with his lips twitched. He laid his torso on the comfy chair, which was specially made from a material that was the softest in the empire. The seat itself prized for a hundred gold. Yet, Elias couldn't relax his mind right now although he's on his favorite chair. He had so much in his mind that he couldn't think properly the best solution for the problem he faced.

This is not just my problem anymore. It has become an issue for the whole country. I can't let this slide, thought Elias deeply. As the emperor who everyone laid their trust to, Elias couldn't let down his people.

"If I know this would come, isn't it better if I just send someone to eliminate her when she just a baby?" muttered the emperor of the great empire. He sighed heavily while tapping his forehead. He didn't feel even a bit of guilt when he let the brutal thinking out of his mouth.

Elias shut his lilac eyes. Then, the scene from yesterday flashed in his head. The heated meeting between him and the head priest of the Caspian ringing in his ears.

"There's no mistake. Lady Layla Elvera from Villaneuva house is the reincarnation of that woman. I have foreseen the future. Lady Layla will repeat the same mistake. The next empress will be killed by her hands," exclaimed the priest, seriously voicing out his worry of the matter that he's talking about right now.

"I know this would come! We should exterminate her when she still a child. Now she'll be turning 18 in several months. You shouldn't stop me back then!" Elias sounded like he wanted to place all the fault on the priest's shoulders alone.

"I know this is my fault. But it's still wrong to slay an innocent child. At that time, I can't say for sure if she's the reincarnation of that woman. But now... I'm certain of it! The future has come to me." As a priest, he couldn't bear to see the blameless child be killed just because of her family name and her appearance. It's too unreasonable for the child.

"So now, what should we do?" Elias strictly asking for an answer from the head priest.

"The future has been set. Our efforts will become useless. The empire will meet its end. The woman wanted to take revenge for her death and no one can stop her," uttered the priest while shook his head heavily.

"So you want to say we should do nothing? This involves my empire, I can't tolerate this!" Angered by the priest's remark, Elias could barely hold on to his frustration. His magical powers started to spark a fire, crackling around his knuckles.

His violet eyes sharpened, piercing through to the back of the head priest. The burning soul of the emperor of an empire was seen clearly in his very eyes. Elias was a dedicated ruler, who just wanted to protect his people and his beloved country.

He didn't care even though he has to contaminate his own hands with blood if it for the sake of the Caspian Empire.

The head priest slowly curled a smile. "I'm glad you're the emperor, Your Majesty."

"I don't need any compliment. I better go and think of a solution. Being with you makes my head aches." Without much respect, Elias mocked the head priest. He stood up from the sofa and walked past the priest.

The priest crossed his arms together. "If you want a solution, there's one." The sudden interruption of the priest halted Elias's step.

"Make a blood contract with her and bind her not to kill anyone."

Elias gasped in astonishment. He turned to look at the priest with his eyes widened with disgust.

"Ridiculous! A blood contract is made between a marriage partner! Who in the right mind in this country wants to be one of the Villaneuva?"

The hunched body of the priest shuddered. At the first glance, the priest looks like he's trembling due to scare. But when Elias squinted his eyes, he realized...

The head priest was laughing.

Elias frowned. Such an odd priest. Is he even sane? Elias's thought lingered in his head. Certainly, this matter of fact was not something to be made as a joke.

From behind, Elias noticed the wrinkled lips snickered. For a second, Elias could see the priest's gentle eyes became cold as the priest turned his head.

The wicked smile pasted on the priest's lips broadened. "Sacrificial is unavoidable, Your Majesty."

"Sacrificial," uttered Elias before his gem violet eyes widened in excitement.

"Sacrificial is not a big deal if it's him," Elias smirked with satisfaction. The burden he felt a moment ago disappeared bit by bit.

A fine sculpture of a young man's face in 20s appeared. Dylan Cephalus Caspian, the fourth prince, and an illegitimate child of Elias Calix Caspian.

"He's perfect!" murmured Elias.