Chapter 12 - An Idiot

  -Amoria Pace; Luxana's Room- Luxana's private chambers were a se of quiet tranquility, broken only by the gentle snore of the princess as she slept. My ehe room, her voice a soft whisper as she tried to rouse Luxana from her slumber. "Princess, wake up!" My excimed, her tone urgent. But Luxana remained oblivious to the world around her, her body still and her breathing steady. *Shakes Luxaly*"Princess, please You have to get up!" Luxana's eyes widened, and she sat up with a jolt. "What? Why didn't you wake me earlier, My?" "I've been trying for the past six hours, but you wouldn't budge!" My replied, her voice ced with exasperation. Luxana's eyes narrowed, and she rubbed her face with her hands. "Ugh!" she excimed, her irritation palpable. "I should've slept early!" With a sense ency, Luxana quickly got out of bed and rushed to take a bath. She knew she only had two hours to get ready for her meeting with Lady Lily, and every minute ted.With emerald eyes that shimmer like the first leaves of spring and golden locks that cascade like rays of sunlight, Lily Furia is nothing short of ahereal vision. Her unmatched delicate beauty and poised presence leave all who y eyes upon her spellbound, while her geure and innate sophisticatioe her elegao celestial heights. A warm and radiant smile, as enting as a blooming rose, illuminates her tenance, casting a spell of delight on those fortunate enough to bask in her pany. Lily's entrang charm and grace leave an indelible mark on the hearts and minds of all rivileged to enter this paragon of loveliness. As a member of the esteemed House Furia, she was raised in the heights of society and ehe luxury and privilege that her distinguished family had bestowed upon her. But fate had already decided, dumping her from the peaks of nobility into the poverty of shame and hopelessness. Her former splendor as a noblewoman of House Furia disappeared, leaving her without the possessions that had made her who she was, and she was now forced to face a world that looked at her with a mixture of pt and pity. Despite the cruel hand that fate had dealt her, the sheer radiance of her unparalleled beauty refused to be dimmed. Like a phoenix rising from the ashes of her former life, her enting visage and alluring presence captured the attention of the royal court, a bea of loveliness amidst the sea of ostentatious splendor. It was this exceptional charm that caught the eye of my father, the King himself, ao her assion into the royal inner circle. Yet, even as she recimed a sembnce of her flory, her newfound position as one of my father's es came with a price. For in the golden cage of the royal harem, she discovered herself one of 9 captivating sorts peting for the King's attention. These dies engaged in a subtle dance of sedu and passion, with my mother takier stage as the Former Queen—a respected yet reclusive figure. She pyed her part with grad dignity, anding the attention and admiration of all, until her tragic downfall. The fallen noblewoman thus found herself navigating a new world of whispered secrets and veiled rivalries amid the opulend power of the royal court. This was a far cry from the life she had known, but ohat she would learn to master with the same grad beauty that had once defined her.-In Helia Pace; King's Study- In the King's study of Helia Pace, the atmosphere was thick with tension and the st of aged part. The room was adorned with dark wooden furniture, and the walls were lined with shelves filled with books and scrolls, each holding the weight of royal history. A rge window let ied light of the afternoon, casting shadows across the polished floor. "Your Majesty!" an advisor excimed as he burst through the door, his voice eg in the quiet room. The King, seated at his grand desk with his hands interced beh his , looked up with a mix of curiosity and . "What's the matter?" he asked, his toeady. "Further details regarding Prince Cillian's murder victims have surfaced." the advisor reported, his expression grave. The King shut his eyes briefly, a wave of flig emotions washing over him. He had been preoccupied with thoughts of Luxana all day, a feeling he couldn't quite pawing at him. Sigh "You may speak," he permitted, his voice low. "Our sources indicate that the individuals iion were Empire defectors who had itted treason and fled prior to their scheduled execution. Their arrival in Domino cided with the ba, during which they alleged iion of leaking fidential Elmirian information as an act of vengeance. However, their phwarted by Prince Cillian, who elimihem before they could carry out their objective.," the advisor expined, urgency g his words. "What sort of information, Kyle Bruhe King asked, his i piqued. Kyle Bruhe Head of House Brunte, is known for serving the King feions on end. They were known to have a special ability passed down to them, the Power of Accuracy. Their power ehem to accurately predict the oute of battles and political decisions, making them invaluable advisors to the King. This ability was rumored to be tied to a mysterious artifact that had been in their family for turies, further solidifying their reputation as powerful and iial figures in the kingdom. Some believe it isn't the artifact alohat grants them power, but the spirit that resides in it. And some believe that the spirit is rather a ghost who haunts the soul of the successor. Because the Heir's hair sprouts a thin, midnight bck thread after they have formally bee the Master. The bck hue that appears between the green hair is a representation of deterioration. The body and soul evaporate when the hair is pletely bothing remains besides the successor left behind. The Brunte family has sistently produced male children. And there is no more than one child per geion. So that's why when the Successor of Bruurns 18, they're married off, and within the few years, a male heir is born. The reason for this is that the ghost feeds off of the successor's life force, slowly draining them of their vitality. So to keep the legacy going, they take this measure to ehere is someone in lio i what might be lost in an uable lifespan. In doing so, they guarahat the family name will tio thrive feions to e. "Informatiarding the House of Valeself," Kyle excimed, his eyes gleaming with a mix of excitement and mischief. "Hmmm... The Duchess," the King mused, the pieces of the puzzle beginning to fit together. "Precisely, Your Majesty," Kyle replied, a smirk creeping onto his face. "It seems we have the upper hand this time." The King's expression shifted, a smirk f on his lips. "Then we shall prepare ourselves. I'll leave the draft pnning to you, then, Kyle," he decred, the weight of their newfound advantage invigorating him. "It'll be my pleasure, Your Majesty," Kyle said, bowing slightly as he prepared to take his leave. "You may take your leave," the King anded, his mind already rag with the implications of this new information. As Kyle exited the study, the King leaned ba his chair, the flickering fmes in the firepce casting shadows that mirrored the turmoil within him. The game of power was shifting, and he was determio seize the moment.-In Knoria Pace; Tea Party Garden- In the vibrant Tea Party Garden of Knoria Pace, the sun cast a golden glow over the se, illuminating the delicate petals of the lilies that surrouhem. The air was fragrant with their sweet st, mingling with the aroma of freshly brewed tea. A gentle breeze rustled the leaves of the nearby trees, creating a serene backdrop for the gathering. Luxana sat at a beautifully set table, her gaze drifting over the picturesque ndscape, the sound of the flowing river nearby providing a calming melody. "What a beautiful day, don't you agree, Princess Luxana?" asked Lily Furia, the 9th sort, her voice cheerful and melodic as her hair flowed gracefully in the breeze. "Undoubtedly," I replied, faking a smile as I took a sip of the tea. The taste was f delicious, awakening my senses. "Mmm... what tea leaves have been brewed to make this?" I inquired, genuinely curious about the unique fvor. "Haha, I knew you'd ask. That's why I prepared a gift for you," Lily said, her eyes sparkling with excitement. She raised her hand to signal the maid standing nearby, who promptly pced a beautifully ed package oable. "They're the tea leaves brewed in this tea. I got them from a mert not too long ago. They have a uaste, so I'm pnning to sponsor them soon," she expined, her enthusiasm iious. "Ah, I see. Thank you for the gift," I said, my smile softening. However, Lily's expression shifted as she pouted pyfully. "You don't seem eic at all!" she excimed, her tone light but probing. "I-is that so? Ha-ha," I responded, unsure of how to reabsp; Holy, Lily isn’t a bad person. It’s just that.........I never really got the ce to talk to her like this. I felt a twinge of uainty. But what’s suspicious is the fact that there are seven maids with her. Do they want to spread rumors about the two of us being close? Whatever it is, I’ll just py along. And more importantly, I should focus on what she wants from me first. Her secretive way of sending an invitatio night was quite... peculiar, to say at the least. "So, umm... Lady Furia, why did you ask for my preseoday?" I asked, trying to steer the versation toward the reason I was here. "ht!" she beamed, her excitement palpable. "I actually invited you today to offer you something!" "And what might that be?" I asked, giving back a smile, though uainty lingered in my heart. Lily snapped her fingers, indig for the maids to leave the area. The sound of their footsteps faded into the distance, leaving just the two of us in the serene garden. "How about... getting married?" she proposed, a mischievous smirk spreading across her fabsp;My eyes widened in shock. "Wha-what are you talking about?" I stammered, taken aback. "How do you pn oing me married while my father's still alive?" "Oh, don't worry about His Majesty," she said, her mood shifting from eerie to exuberant. "I knoerfect way to get it done; I just need yreement." Her expression turned dramatie hand on her fad the other on her chest. "I just don't want you to bme me if you're unhappy with it ter on." "Aha? I see," I replied, feeling my formal demeanor slipping away. "And who are you pnning to get me married to?" I asked, pying along but genuinely curious. I'm vinced she's merely stalling. A marriage arra under my father's watch seems impossible, as he would want to make the most strategic use of my existenbsp;"Hmmm...how about...Prince Cillian?" Lily suggested sweetly, her smirk returning. Panic surged through me. Sh*t! She knows about him too? My heart raced. What oh are these dies doing all day besides looking into my life? Don't they have other things to do in the Pabsp;"Oh, umm...but he's already eo someone," I reminded her, trying to keep my posure. "Oh my! When did you get a ce to know about his personal life so well within just a few days?" Lily teased, her expression pyful. "What?" I replied, disgusted. "Oh, don't treat me like a fool, Princess. I know everything that's been going on," Lily said, her gaze pierg. "I'm not fooling anyone," I admitted, taking another sip of my tea to mask my unease. "Listen to me carefully, Luxana. Cillian is unhappy with this e. And I'm well aware that you know this too. So, isn't this a perfect opportunity for you to escape this hell?" she pressed. "What...are you talking about?" I asked, ed and suspicious. "Luxana, you know well that sitting here and waiting isn't going to work. I have firsthand experience if you'd like to know," Lily added, her tone serious. I recalled Lily's failed attempts to bee queen a a flicker of uanding. "So you suggest I bee an obstacle between him and his fiancée, break off their e, and marry him—the prince of an enemy nation? And iurn, gain support from his family to strike Domino?" "Of course! That's exactly my pn!" Lily excimed, her enthusiasm unwavering. "Are you nuts?" I shot babsp;"Huh?" Sigh "Lily, you're basically askio walk into a dragon's den and die." "WHAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA- NO! I'M NOT! I WOULD NEVER WANT YOU TO DIE!" "How do you expect me to survive in a pce where everyoes me?" I tered, my frustration mounting. "But Cillia!" Lily insisted. "Is there any assurahat he will prioritize me over his family and try?" I pressed, my skepticism growing. "Ohhh...right," Lily ceded, her fidence faltering. It definitely feels like talking to an idiht now. If only her brain were as good as her looks. God, please show mercy to this idiot. *Sigh* "I'll take my leave now. Let's not tihis versation," I said, rising from my seat. The serey of the garde suffog now, the vibrant colors and sweet sts uo mask the absurdity of our discussion. I decided it was best to distance myself from this ridiculous proposal, hoping tain my posure away from her uling prese Night In Amoria Pace; Library- In the dimly lit library of Amoria Pace, the st of aged part and polished wood enveloped me like a f embrace. The t shelves, filled with tless volumes, stood as silent guardians of knowledge, their spines gleaming in the soft glow of the flickering dlelight. I had spent hours lost in the pages of a particurly intriguing book, my mind rag with the possibilities it presented. "Hmm... Where was it again? AH! There it is! Found it!" I excimed, a rush of excitement c through me as I finally located the passage I had been searg for. As I read, time slipped away unnoticed. Immersing myself in the narrative, the words transported me to a world of plex human experiences, refleg on the diy of darkness ay. But deep down, I couldn't stop myself from overthinking about what happeoday. Lady Furia left me feeling uneasy and uain about the offer she proposed. Each time I tried to process it, a wave of sadness washed over me, engulfing my heart in fusion. Feeling lost in my thoughts, I smmed my head oable sinking my head into my right hand while pursing my lips, overwhelmed by the torrent of emotions c through me. Life is what it is...To be tinued...