Chapter 73

“What about Ser?”

“I don’t care about her.”

“Who will it be then?”

“It’s you, Laontel.”

“What?”

I doubted my ears, I thought I was mistaken.

But Phillip looked at me in the eye and continued.

“It’s you that I love! I wanted to tell you that before Rakshul did…”

“Lies, what about Ser?”

“I need a lot of strength to be an emperor. That’s why I use her. Everything I did is to have you, Laontel.”

I was immediately filled with disgust.

“Stop it! Love? Don’t be ridiculous! You used Ser just for that reason?!”

Suddenly, Phillip tried to kiss me by pulling my waist. I slapped him while avoiding his face.

Phillip glared at me with a flushed face.

“I have everything that Rakshul have now! I’m the emperor! I got the power of light! Is it because of my hair colour? Or is it because of my name?!”

The royal family usually give donation to the church, in return, they give a name to their children.

This was the Roums tradition.

Phillip’s mother also asked the emperor to do so, but the emperor didn’t want to donate to the church for the sake of his son. The emperor only gave him a servant’s name without thinking much.

Phillip’s name is another one of his complex.

But I never really care about his name or hair colour.

“Rakshul is not mean! He’s better than a trash like you, so don’t compare yourself with him!”

I pushed him and went out of the room.

I immediately ran to see Ser in her room.

***

“Laon, you’re here?”

Ser smiled at her while lying in bed

“Sorry, were you taking a nap?”

“No. I was just about to wake up.”

“That’s a relief, get up, let’s go to my house.”

“It’s alright, I like it here.”

I already offer Ser so many times to just move into my house. Even before all of this, she stayed in our house.

But I couldn’t just let her be this time.

“Ser, Phillip is not as good as you think.”

I had to tell her the truth. But how should I explain the situation so that Ser wouldn’t be hurt?”

Before I continued, Ser opened her mouth.

“I know everything, Phillip likes you.”

“You knew that?”

“Yes, I already knew it since I first met Phillip.”

She said to me calmly.

“…they why did you do so?”

“Because I like him, I couldn’t hide my feeling any longer and thought maybe someday Phillip. Would be sincere to me. I was jealous of you too. When I tried to give Phillip my powers, you stopped him. I was angry even though I knew you were doing it for me. I thought Phillip would love me with all his heart if I give him the power of light.”

“Why did you think so? That’s absurd!”

“I know, but talking to Phillip made me feel that it’s worth it. I like him too much. I’m such a fool.”

“It’s not your fault. It’s clear that he’s been trying to create a distance between us. He knew if you were convinced by my words, you won’t give him your powers. Ser, let’s leave right now! Forget about him.”

“No.”

“Why?”

“I’ve sinned.”

“Sinned? What—“

Before I even ask, Ser coughed.

She shuts her mouth in a hurry, but I still can see blood dripping from the gap between her fingers.

My heart sank for a moment. There was also a black spot on her arms.

Black spots, vomiting blood, bloodshot eyes. She has the same symptom as Rakshul.

“Ser, what’s wrong with your body? Since when are you this sick? Why didn’t Phillip heal you?”

“This is my sin.”

“What happened?”

She stared at me. Soon, she started to explain everything that happened when we lost contact.

“Many people died because of me. That’s why I am being punished.”

“Because of you? Do you mean the disease?”

She nodded.

“Phillip uses my powers for bad deeds. I gave the power of light to the wrong person. That’s why I got punished. Countless people have died because of me. Rakshul also died because of me, this all happened because I gave him the power. I’m sorry Laontel. I’m so sorry.”

She burst into tears.

So that’s why an unknown disease suddenly spread in the imperial palace.

I understand now why Ser cried apologizing to me when we met again after a long time.

Phillip deliberately spread the disease to become an emperor. He killed everyone that was likely to ascend the throne.

But the disease also spread throughout the region, making the situation even worse.

Phillip used Ser’s power to create a disease that had never been seen before. That’s why no one knows how to cure it, and even magic didn’t work.

There was already a light on the disease so even those healing spells couldn’t work.

However, Phillip who made the disease, knows how to handle his power and was able to find the right combination to cure it.

Those who were terrified by the mysterious plague felt saved by the appearance of Phillip, so he could easily become the emperor as planned.

Ser apologized to me because she knows about this.

“I don’t deserve your help. I’m a fool, Rakshul died because of me…”

Ser knew Phillip had used her but he remained at his side. That’s how she punished herself.

For now, the first thing to do is to treat her.

I have already lost my beloved person, I couldn’t lose my best friend like this.

“Ser, take all of the blessing you gave me.”

“No, I can’t do that…”

“Take it, use that power to heal yourself. You can go back to the way you were, if you throw away your human body, you can get better.”

She’s the goddess of light, if she has a little bit of power, she can go back to her original state.

She can also take the power of light she gave to Phillip.

Despite the obvious way to solve it, Ser hesitated.

“But what will happen to Phillip, if he loses the power of light…”

“Why are you even worried about him in this situation?!”

As soon as I screamed in frustration, the door opened.

Phillip and his knights came in.

“Laontel, I found you.”

Phillip looked at me,

“Why are you looking for me?”

“You’re going to become an empress, of course I need to find you.”

“Are you crazy? Why would I be your empress?!”

I exclaimed to Phillip but he only smiled.

“Are you telling Ser about our wedding?”

“What are you talking about, that’s nonsense!”

I was shocked by Phillip’s attitude.

“Move Laontel Bellacian to the empress’ palace.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

“The empress palace? What are you talking about? Why would I go there!”

I protested to Phillip but he signaled the knights again without giving any answer. I was eventually taken to the palace.

***

Phillip locked me in the empress’ palace.

The Bellacian family protested it but he ignored them.

She was locked in the most splendid room in the palace.

Everything was made of gold and is decorated with jewels. Everyone envied the place given to me, but it felt like a prison to me,

“How long are you going to keep me here?”

“Until you become mine.”

“You killed Rakshul! You sacrificed innocent people to become the emperor! Do you think I’ll forgive you?”

Phillip’s lips curled up,

“Laontel, you are useless, but I kept you alive. You should be grateful for that.”

He didn’t even show me signs of being guilty when the truth was discovered.

Rather, he became more brazen.

“I could never understand your crazy logic.”

“You became more annoying.”

“If you are locked up in a bedroom for a year, you’ll be like me.”

“Well, you’re not as bad as others.”

“Huh?”

It’s like I was talking to a wall.

“You have three wifes! What’s the point of keeping me here!”

“I will make you the empress.”

Phillip locked me up in the empress’ palace and welcomed three wifes from the nobles, they even gave birth to children.

I didn’t want to deal with his nonsense anymore.

All I was curious about is Ser’s condition.

“How’s Ser?”

“She’s doing very well. She’s very happy because she thought I had abandoned you.”

He tried to drive me and Ser apart.