Chapter 19: Day of Her Death

While Ailea lived at the Outer Castle over the past two years, Lawrence enjoyed his life with Rita Brea.

Inside the Imperial City, beautiful women of noble families spent their free time with the Imperial Family. Social circles and networking were important for noble families. But there was another reason… it was to find love. Though they didn’t talk much in public settings, the men and women checked one another with their eyes and met separately with intents of throwing themselves in a fiery passion of love.

After all, Teniac Empire was a country where love was free even for the nobility.

Rita Brea was among the most beautiful women from the noble houses. Many of the nobility believed she would be the one to win over the Crown Prince’s heart and become empress, eventually becoming the center of power.

And as expected, Lawrence became attracted to her instantly.

Lawrence took Rita behind a big tree and said, “Rita, why are you here?”

“Your Highness, I hear that you’re going to see your fiancé, Ailea, soon.”

“Ah, yeah… His Majesty nagged me so much. I had no choice. Hey, don’t make that face…”

As Lawrence soothed and made attempts to touch her body, Rita stepped back and said softly, “There is no woman who doesn’t want to become empress, Your Highness.”

“But you’re not like that, Rita. You’re different,” Lawrence smiled genuinely.

“… Your Highness, I hope you won’t touch me until I’m your woman… officially.”

Rita, despite her beauty, was a quiet woman. She grew up in the House of Brea, a noble family renowned for producing sorcerers.

“I don’t mind if I’m the gatekeeper of the castle or a maid. My only dream is to live happily as a wife of a man,” Rita said, looking at Lawrence with innocent eyes.

Lawrence lowered the hand reaching out to touch her.

In all his life, he could have any woman he wanted, pleasure himself with any woman he so desired, but Rita… she was someone he couldn’t lay his fingers easily on.

She was beautiful and innocent.

He wanted her, but there was one reason why he couldn’t have her, why he couldn’t touch her.

Ailea.

Lawrence could barely hold in his anger towards her thinking of the hideous woman.

‘I’ll kill you…! I’ll kill you in the most painful way possible.’

He’ll surround her in fire and fear. He’ll burn her to death.

Lawrence made up his mind.

***

Another two years passed since living in the Outer Palace. When the thought of running away and escaping with the fear of death looming over her, Ailea held back. She knew Lawrence would hold her family accountable for running away.

Ailea left the room slowly.

“Blue, where are you? Blue…? Oh, here you are.”

Ailea found the kitten. It clung close to the dirty wall. She hugged the kitten with both hands.

A bandage was wrapped around the injured foot of the kitten with dazzling white fur and blue eyes. When Ailea hugged her, Blue gently enjoyed Ailea’s warmth and breathed softly in her arms.

When she found Blue, she decided to heal and raise the injured kitten. She saw herself in Blue’s situation. In a way, they were both similar—abandoned and broken.

“I hope you get well soon, Blue.”

The kitten cried faintly as it answered. Ailea stroked Blue with her hand softly.

The past two years had been good to her. Ailea looked around the garden with a pleased look.

She braided her hair that came down to her hips today with her most prized flower pin.

Today, the wedding dress arrived and soon Lawrence would be here.

This life of hers would soon be over.