Chapter 7 (1/2)

Chapter 7: <Chapter 7>

Lucretius Le Cransia.

The heir to the Cransia Empire.

The one and only son of the emperor who was now dead in his own bed.

The one who helped me this morning.

It was him.

“You are smart. Too smart for your own good.” The man, I mean, the prince, said to me disappointedly. He looked like he was thinking. I felt terrified.

I was so stupid! Why did I let him know that I realized who he was?

He turned around.

Lucretius said to me sharply, “You!”

“I will do anything you tell me to! I don’t know who you are! Just run away!”

I then ran towards the reception area. It felt like it took me a thousand years to get to the door. I kept expecting the prince to grab me from behind, but it didn’t happen.

He would have escaped by now through that secret pathway. He would have a solid alibi. I knew he contemplated killing me just then, but I escaped in time.

I ran as fast as I could. When I saw the maids and the guards, I fell to the ground and screamed.

“Ahhhhh! The emperor…! The emperor has been murdered!”

I wanted to live!

***

The emperor was murdered. It happened in the well-guarded castle. In his own bedroom no less.

The one and only witness were, of course, me. The fifteenth and the newest concubine. On her wedding night.

I cried and cried until I almost fainted.

At first, I was just acting, but as I cried, the reality hit me and I cried for real.

The next day, with swollen eyes, I was dragged to a large reception room. In that room were many people including him.

He looked different than last night. His blond hair was brushed back neatly. Instead of the black outfit, he was wearing luxurious purple clothes decorated with jewels. His face wasn’t covered with a mask anymore.

Instead of a simple dagger, he had a bejeweled sword hanging on his belt.

However, there was one thing that remained the same.

His cold green eyes.

It was definitely him.

The man who killed his own father last night.

The one and only heir to this empire.

My accomplice.

Lucretius Le Cransia.

His green eyes were directed at me. I felt uncomfortable, so I bowed my head politely.

“Your Highness.”

Suddenly, the empress, who was sitting next to the prince, criticized me angrily.

“You must have bad eyesight.”

I realized my mistake and bowed to her deeply. The proper etiquette dictated that I greet the empress first as she had the highest rank in the room. I was so tired I made an easy mistake.

I almost lost my voice from crying and screaming last night. I used that to my advantage as I apologized.

“I apologize, your highness. I… I…”

A beauty with long grey hair listened to me carefully with a smile. She was the only woman in the room other than me, and she’s the Empress. Strangely, she was wearing a piece of intricate jewelry over her eyes.

“Sa Bina, right? Sa Bina went through such a shocking and horrible event last night. She must be still very confused.”