Past Relationship

In a room bathed in an oil lamp's soft, flickering light, the ambiance was an exquisite blend of secret and elegance. Books lined the shelves from the floor, their spines creating a mosaic of colors and knowledge.

Amidst this educated haven, a woman with cascading blonde locks embarked on her search. Her fingers delicately traced the titles and authors, searching for that elusive tome. The oil lamp she held in her hand cast a warm, amber light that danced and played hide-and-seek with the shadows.

Her attire, a delicate, silver robe of opulent silk, whispered with each step she took. The fabric attached to her curvaceous form, emphasizes the contours of her figure. Her silhouette, notably the delicate swell of her bosom and the supple curve of her back, was a portrait of allure.

As she moved through the room, the fragrance of her existence remained in the air, an aromatic symphony that mingled with the musty scent of old books. It was a space where time seemed to stand still, she was alone there in solitude without disturbance.

At last, a hushed stillness settled around her as she stood before the well-recognized bookcase. Her expression shifted to one of seriousness, her fingers selecting a book from the shelf. She opened it, and her eyes traversed the pages, absorbing the hidden treasures of knowledge that lay within.

The dim glow of the lamp danced upon her intent face, casting flickering shadows that mirrored the depth of her immersion in the written word. Behind her solemn demeanor, a sense of unease was etched upon her, a deep-seated fear that what she dreaded might be unfolding.

For it seemed that clandestine machinations were afoot, threatening to dismantle Caeloria, an inter-kingdom alliance of which she had limited knowledge.

This was why her current quest delved into the intricacies of imperial relationships and the former foes who were once inextricably linked. The strained ties were on the precipice of evolving into an inevitable cold war, a looming conflict she couldn't ignore.

Her search extended to conceivable alliances that could muster alongside Caeloria should circumstances deteriorate within the empire.

Ever watchful for the looming specter of the worst-case scenario, she remained on surveillance, aware that the clear efforts of her husband and her brother-in-law might falter in their attempts to convince the Emperor. This awareness of potential failure cast a shadow over her determination, for the stakes were undeniably high.

After that studies, she held the book in her hand and moved toward the other room. A flicker of a lantern leads her steps into an area that looks rich in complicated items. There is an intricate rune over the floor and a table of incantation that has a scroll on it.

Amarta set the lantern on her feet and she began to move her lips. "Lumisia!"

The runes around her started to react. It began to lid with a light burst upward, for an instant illuminated the whole room. It was not a mere room, it was like a room of a mage that was full of mystical items.

The wall was decorated with arcane symbols and alchemist ingredients such as mushrooms. The magical tool had set to its location with care, beautiful staff leaned on the wall near the table of incantation in front of her. Not to mention crystal balls on the shelves.

But Amarta's intention was not to examine all those things. She moves toward the table and opens the scroll after setting the book in her hand on the other table. In a moment, she reveals the complex word inside the sheet, a word that is not written in the alphabet.

But the woman appeared familiar to the scroll and she started chanting the text:

"In emptiness, awaken the hidden wrath,

In raging chaos, let the flames soar high,

With emotions that command the heart's path,

Eternal fire consumes all existence at night."

After that, the text changed to red, and steam billowed from it as the fire emerged into the air. Amarta has prepared herself when the flame comes toward her. Amarta narrowed her eyes, her expression became serious as she extended her both hands forward.

But when the blaze was about to hit her, he directed the element between her fingers. It's like a dance and the fire follows her hand movements until it unites with her. The scorch she felt became numb when the flame touched her skin, and attached completely soon after and faded away like a candle.

"Marvelous."

Lost in her earnestness, the queen almost jumped in surprise as a voice suddenly appeared from the darkness behind her. When she directed her shape towards the source of the voice, the man with a face she knew all too well came into view. His short black hair, along with a clean-shaven look that bore a furtive smile, drew nearer.

"You haven't changed a bit, Amarta," exclaimed the man, who was none other than Herich, dressed in a casual black attire with matching trousers. "You are still an incredible magic user I knew."

He took steps closer to Amarta and continued, "Even when you fall to his attraction."

Amarta arched her eyebrows, taken aback by his mention of that matter. "After all these years you are always like this?"

"Oh, indeed," said Herich, advancing as Amarta tried to move back. "You're irreplaceable to me."

"Don't you dare come closer to me, Herich!" she warned, her anxiety evident as she found herself backed into a corner, with no escape from the man.

"What will you do, Amarta?" He halted right in front of Amarta, mere inches away. "After my magic has made the guards sleep out there?"

"Stay away from me!" Amarta's voice echoed through the room as a faint, ethereal glow emanated from her hands, poised to unleash her magical attack upon Herich.

However, the man's lightning-quick reflexes allowed him to seize her, exerting a strength that seemed almost otherworldly as he restrained Amarta, forcing her arms upward.

The triumphant, sly grin on Herich's face morphed into a resounding chuckle, the sound filling the bright chamber. He effortlessly thwarted each of Amarta's desperate attempts, nullifying her magical onslaught with ease.

The radiant stream of magic that had once flowed from Amarta's fingertips now lay powerless within Herich's muscular hold, extinguished like a flame snuffed out by a wind.

In terms of figure, Herich was a close match for Amarta's husband, large and sculpted. Yet, the contrast between them couldn't have been starker. Where Artonius exuded an aura of wisdom and regal power, Herich had a deceiving allure, a charm that made him the kind of man who reveled in ensnaring the hearts of women according to his ever-shifting desires. Amarta was one of those in the past life.

"This is between you and me," Herich's stare meandered from Amarta's partially illuminated visage, now cast down towards the floor, to her figure that revealed itself beneath the opulent fabric of her robe. "You've even dressed like this for me."

"Let me go! You shouldn't be doing this!" Amarta's voice trembled with a mix of fear and anger as she fought desperately to break free from Herich's grasp. "You and I have families!"

"Is that so crucial at this moment?" Without hesitation, Herich's left hand traced a delicate path along Amarta's skin, eliciting a startled breath and widened eyes from the woman. Her struggles to escape intensified, but it appeared to be a futile effort. "Relax a little, Amarta, I'll make your night unforgettable."

Herich's fingers traced every inch of the fabric that enveloped the helpless woman's form. Even as his hand ventured into more private parts, it left Amarta feeling vulnerable and her eyes welling with tears, pleading for him to cease.

"Herich, please, this is unacceptable." The room seemed to close in around them, the atmosphere thick with tension. "I will inform this to Artonius and the elder!"

"Oh, is that so?" his smile looks mischievous, Herich seemed so calm about Amarta's bluff. "Have you forgotten your status back then?"

"I sympathize with your efforts to change yourself to be better, Amarta. But you can't hide behind your past." His hand caressed her cheeks which made Amarta turn to her side. "Even if Artonius is fine with it, but the elder is not."

He forced her face to stare at him in a single motion, wrath could be seen on her mimics. "You are a disgrace to your household when you decide to work as a slave!"

"Perhaps, it is my mistake I saved you from there and Artonius started to know more about you," he sighed, his cold stares struck Amarta's. "Feels like I've been betrayed."

Amarta's tear-streaked face revealed a mix of fear, shame, and defenselessness. His touch sent a shiver down her spine as he smiled and traveled more to her sensitive area. "If you reveal this, I assure you, Grandma will know everything you're hiding from her."

The room echoed with Amarta's stifled sobs, her cries punctuated by the harsh reality of her situation. Herich, devoid of any compassion, relished in her suffering. "Furthermore, you wouldn't want your child to fail those trials, would you?"

In an instant, Amarta's swollen eyes snapped open, the remnants of tears glistening. With newfound determination, she raised her head to meet Herich's eyes. Her voice shook with anger and defiance, "You—dare not touch my child!"

"Do not worry, Amarta," Herich taunted, his grin now resembled with malice. "I won't harm him. That is, as long as our little arrangement remains undetected."

With a wickedness in his touch, he swept Amarta's tear-streaked chin. The woman found herself plunged into deep contemplation about her child's safety. She furrowed her brow, her anger burning fiercely, but she knew that Herich's threats were so serious. She had few options that favored her.

"Would you agree? I would make you feel satisfied."