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CHAPTER 85…………………………….
She’s Not My Real Daughter
Having lost too much blood, Freddy was on the verge of death. Holding him close, I poured healing energy into him while keeping my eyes on the enemy.
“Close your eyes and pretend to be dead. Once we’ve left, tell Prince Mikrok what’s happened. You must survive. That’s an order.”
The rush of power made the familiar metallic taste rise in my throat again, but I forced it down. My only goal was to keep him alive without the enemies noticing.
As the powerful healing energy coursed through him, Freddy’s body jerked violently, like he’d been electrocuted. To the enemy’s eyes, it would have looked like his final convulsion before death.
I let out a sorrowful sigh and wore a grief-stricken expression, pretending he had just breathed his last.
“Time’s up. Let’s go.”
At the sound of the impatient voice, I gently closed Freddy’s eyelids with my palm. True to his word, he lay still, holding his breath.
I rose and approached one of the enemy knights. Thankfully, they didn’t seem to realize I’d healed him in those brief moments.
“He was a knight of mighty Pritan. To desecrate his body would mean making all of Pritan your enemy.”
They hesitated, exchanging uncertain glances.
“Well, he’s dead anyway. No need to stir up more trouble than necessary.”
After a brief glance at Freddy’s seemingly lifeless body, they nodded.
I had barely begun to feel relief when one of them struck the back of my neck.
“Your Majesty!”
Millie’s distant scream was the last thing I heard before losing consciousness.
***
Haley, who had been resisting the Crown Prince’s assault in the Empress’s palace chambers, was caught in the act when the Emperor suddenly appeared. She scrambled to save herself.
Thankfully, the situation didn’t look bad for her. The Crown Prince, completely drunk, had tried to force himself on her—and she had fought back fiercely.
Her disheveled hair, torn nightgown, and the scratches on the Prince’s face all worked in her favor.
“Your Majesty, please… kill me!”
Throwing herself at the Emperor’s feet, she sobbed bitterly.
“I resisted with all I had, but this is what became of me! I don’t know how to cleanse this shame!”
The Crown Prince gaped at her, stunned.
“You vile liar! You seduced me first!”
“To the very end, you dare lie! Heaven will punish you!”
Seeing the Emperor’s cold gaze fixed on the Prince, Haley grew bolder.
“Your Majesty, surely you don’t doubt my word, do you?”
Realizing the tide had turned, the Crown Prince rose shakily, trembling.
“Doubt you? You drew your sword before your Emperor for the sake of your lovers in Pritan, and now you’ve violated the Empress’s chamber. Tell me—which part of that isn’t true?”
“T-that’s…”
“Even as Crown Prince, you behave like this. What chaos would the Empire face if you became Emperor?”
“I can explain! Please, let me explain everything!”
The Prince stumbled toward him, but the Emperor’s voice was dripping with mockery.
“Explain? Fine. Let’s hear it.”
“I only drew my sword earlier to protest the foolish plan to kidnap the Pritan Queen! It’s madness to provoke the barbarian King of Pritan! I did it out of loyalty to the Empire!”
“Fool. Do you think I hadn’t accounted for that?”
The Emperor sneered down at him.
“The King of Pritan can’t come to Haron even if his wife vanishes—he’ll be too busy dealing with fires at home. By the time he starts missing her, the beauties of Haron will keep him occupied.”
“That’s a gamble!”
“He’s still a man. What man refuses new women?”
Listening quietly, Haley began to sense something was wrong.
Until now, she had believed that bringing Lea to Haron was her plan, executed entirely under her control. But what the Emperor was saying… was outside her design.
It hit her—he had his own plot to lure Lea to Haron, far more thorough and meticulous than hers.
For the first time, Haley felt genuine fear toward the Emperor. Maybe he already knew all her lies.
The Emperor gave a subtle signal to the shadow knight standing nearby. Without hesitation, the knight slashed the Crown Prince down.
“Aaahhh!”
Blood splattered everywhere. Haley screamed involuntarily.
At that same moment, the chamber doors burst open. The Empress stood there, her hair in disarray, barely dressed.
Seeing her son’s lifeless body, she shook her head in disbelief and turned to the Emperor.
“Explain this! What just happened before my eyes?”
“The Crown Prince drew his sword on the Emperor—treason. And he defiled the Empress’s chambers. A degenerate son.”
“He was the Crown Prince! You killed your only heir—you’ve shaken the Empire’s foundation!”
The Emperor laughed coldly.
“You’re mistaken. He may have been your only son, but I have many. As long as I live, the Empire will not falter.”
The Empress trembled with rage, glaring at him, but he didn’t even blink. At that moment, a knight rushed in.
“Your Majesty, the Shadow Guard has returned.”
“What news?”
“They succeeded, sire. The target has been captured.”
“Captured, you say?”
The Emperor’s face lit up with joy. He grabbed Haley, who was still kneeling.
“The Queen’s long-lost sister has arrived at the Haron Palace. Shall we go welcome her together?”
“Lea… is here?”
“Yes. Thanks to the Queen’s well-laid trap. We lost a few pieces along the way, but what matters is, she’s finally ours.”
Haley’s jaw trembled uncontrollably, fear overwhelming her. The Emperor pulled her close against his chest.
“Let’s go enjoy the show, shall we? I’m curious to see what talents the Queen’s little sister has.”
Humming cheerfully, he led her out of the chamber, as if the death of his son moments ago were a trivial matter.
The Empress wept tears of blood.
“My son… I’ll avenge you. I swear it. Your blood will be repaid with your father’s—and that harlot’s.”
Not a single tear fell as she caressed her son’s face. Her face was cold and resolute—she would cry only when vengeance was done.
***
In the bustling capital of the Haron Empire, the Crossroads district was famous for its luxurious taverns—playgrounds for nobles.
A little off the main street, however, were smaller, cheaper bars where commoners and poor nobles could drink without shame.
“More! Bring more drinks!”
Patrons frowned as the drunken shouts pierced the otherwise cozy din.
The source was a disheveled nobleman, his fine clothes rumpled and stained. His eyes were glazed with drink as he harassed the tavern boy.
“Bring me more! Do you know who I am?”
“Of course, Marquis Uzcal. But even a marquis must pay for his drinks.”
The boy tried to stay polite, though his irritation was obvious.
“How much could the bill be in a dump like this? My daughter’s the Queen of this Empire! And my younger one? She’s the Queen of Pritan! I’m their father!”
“Yes, yes. Then perhaps your daughters could settle your tab, and we’ll gladly serve more.”
“You insolent wretch!”
The Marquis raised his cane, ready to strike the boy.
Then a calm voice came from behind him.
“I’d like to buy this gentleman a glass of fine whiskey.”
Both men turned. Even in the dim light, they could see the stranger’s long platinum hair and slightly pointed ears beneath a black hood.
A demon? thought the Marquis, eyeing him warily—until the stranger pulled three silver coins from his pocket. The Marquis’s expression instantly brightened.
He snatched the coins and threw them at the boy’s feet.
“There! Now bring the drink.”
The boy stooped quickly to collect the coins, forcing a pleasant smile.
“Anything else I can get you, sir?”
“I’d like to speak with this gentleman in private. Is that possible?”
The stranger toyed with a gold coin between his fingers. The boy’s eyes widened; he glanced around before whispering:
“There’s a secluded booth in the back. I’ll make sure no one disturbs you.”
The stranger smiled, handing him the gold coin.
A few minutes later, Marquis Uzcal and the hooded man sat across from each other, nursing their drinks.
“So,” the Marquis said smugly, “why are you buying me liquor?”
“I overheard something intriguing, my lord. You said your younger daughter is Queen of Pritan?”
“That’s right.”
The stranger lowered his hood, revealing his long platinum hair.
“Oh, she has hair just like yours,” the Marquis remarked.
“That’s precisely why I’m here. Twenty years ago, my younger sister disappeared while traveling through Haron. When I heard that Pritan’s Queen, Lea, was a platinum-haired woman from Haron… I wondered if she might be my sister.”
The Marquis burst out laughing.
“Lea, a demon’s daughter? What nonsense!”
“Well, seeing her father before me… I admit, it does sound far-fetched,” the stranger replied coolly.
The Marquis drained his glass, chuckling.
“To tell you the truth, she’s not really my daughter.”
“…What?”
The stranger’s eyes flashed. He quickly refilled the Marquis’s glass. The Marquis waved a hand dismissively.
“Doesn’t matter anyway. Her mother was a high priestess of the Imperial Temple—certainly not some demon.”
“Her mother… was a priestess?”
“Indeed. When she died, His Majesty entrusted the girl to me. Proof of how much he trusted me. Did I mention my elder daughter? She’s the Empress now, favored by the Emperor himself. Might even be Empress proper soon…”
The Marquis rambled drunkenly, oblivious to the stranger’s sharp gaze.
Finally, the stranger stood without another word.
Just then, a stunning red-haired woman—far too elegant for such a shabby tavern—blocked his path.
“Julmon! What are you doing here?”
“Princess Shine? How did you—?”
“I’ve been searching all over for you!”
Throwing her arms around his neck, she kissed him passionately. Julmon pulled her close, returning the embrace.
The drunks around them cheered and clapped at the sudden, heated display.
