Chapter 64: 64
TILLY felt exhausted after smiling for the emperor for more than twenty minutes . Thank goodness Emperor Aku let her use one of the parlors in his palace . Now she had the room all to herself . The royal maids also served tea for her a while ago .
[Tea is life here . ]
Well, she needed refreshment again even though she just had tea with the emperor . Using her brain to come up with careful but witty retorts was very tiring . But at least, she picked up pieces of important information from their conversation .
First, the emperor also knew that she was a Fire Mage . He was probably aware of her heart, too . She wasn't really surprised because he was Princess Nia's twin brother and fiancé . Plus, he was the emperor . He couldn't be clueless of his surroundings .
[But the last thing he said is the most worrisome of all . ]
His Majesty purposely told her that he was looking forward to meeting her son as a warning .
[He wants my son and that's the only reason why he's keeping me alive . ]
That also meant that the emperor would kill her as soon as she gave birth to Winter .
[Scary . ]
"Tilly?"
Tilly was startled when Kiho entered the parlor room . She blinked in surprise because she didn't hear him knock . "Oh . "
"I've knocked several times, Tilly," Kiho said while walking towards her . "I got worried when you didn't answer so I went ahead and opened the door . I apologize for startling you . "
"It's okay, hon," she said, then she tapped the space next to hers . "Come here . "
He nodded, then he sat beside her . "The emperor's maid told me you were waiting here . Are you okay?" He touched her forehead with the back of his hand . "You look pale . "
"I'm just tired . "
"May I know what you talked about with the emperor?" he asked politely . "His Majesty didn't tease you, did he?"
[No, he just threatened my life . ]
"His Majesty just wished me a safe pregnancy," she said . "He said he'll look after me in place of Her Royal Highness . "
His face softened up . "Oh . That's nice of His Majesty . "
It kind of hurt her to be reminded that Kiho trusted Emperor Aku . Well, she was confident that he would still choose her over His Majesty . But she knew that his choice would hurt him . After all, Kiho had a good relationship with the emperor .
"Do you want to rest here more or do you want to go home now?" her husband asked worriedly . "You look really tired, honey . "
"I want to go home," she said . "Aren't you coming home with me?"
He shook his head . "Unfortunately, I still have a meeting with His Majesty . Today, he will officially assign Blake as the temporary captain of Black Serpent Knights . I also have to file my leave of absence, as well as the memo about Blake's new position . "
She pouted . "You sound busy . "
"Sorry, honey," he said apologetically, then he kissed her on the forehead . "I'll try to go home as early as I can . "
"Kiho, can we go on a date tonight?" she asked him . "I don't care how late it is . I want us to go to a place where there would only be the two of us . Do you know a place like that?"
He nodded . "I'll ask my men to clean it up for us . "
She shook her head . "Please don't . I don't want anyone else to know where we'll be meeting up tonight . "
"You look serious, Tilly," he said worriedly . "What's wrong?"
"We have something serious to talk about later, Kiho," she said . "Please don't ask what it's about . You'll find out later . "
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Kiho looked at her long and hard before he nodded . "Alright . I'll pick you up at later . But please, rest as soon as you get home . " He placed a hand on her tummy . "You and our Baby Winter need a lot of rest, as per the doctor's advice . "
"Okay," Tilly said, then she hugged him . "Please come home as soon as possible, Kiho . "
***
"IS IT really wise to give Lady Prescott a hint that you already know who she really is, Your Majesty?"
"Of course," Aku answered Captain Sherwood's question . Right now, they were in his office while waiting for Kiho and Vice Captain Blake . He knew that they had time to talk right now because Kiho said he'd walk Lady Prescott to the carriage first . "If Lady Prescott knows that her life is in danger, then she'd definitely ask for her fellow Fire Mages to protect her . "
"Do you think that the hiding Fire Mages have already made contact with Lady Prescott, Your Majesty?" Captain Sherwood asked . "Do you think Duke Prescott and the vassal families under them are hiding his daughter's real identity?"
"Duke Prescott doesn't know that his wife was a Fire Mage . He's not aware of Lady Prescott's real identity as well," he said . "I attended Lady Marianne Prescott's funeral many years ago . I can tell when a person is lying to my face . And the last time I saw Duke Prescott, his eyes are still clueless . And if he knows the truth, I should have felt remorse from him no matter how much he hides it . "
"Does it mean someone else helped Lady Prescott awaken?"
"Uh-huh," he said . "Lady Prescott knows who she is . I felt that when we were talking a while ago . " He smiled when he remembered their conversation . "I should have known that Lady Prescott was special when Nia suggested that I choose her as Kiho's partner . Unfortunately, my beloved had tricked me into believing that she just wanted her friend to rise up in the society . "
"It's not that Her Royal Highness has tricked you, Your Majesty," the captain said . "You know that she has a hidden agenda but you just chose to turn a blind eye . "
He laughed at how true that was . "I let Nia do all the things she did behind my back because I wanted her to think that she has freedom . If I breathed against the back of her neck every minute of her life, she would have felt suffocated . That's why I chose not to look at the things she wanted to hide from me, such as the owner of the heart that she wanted . I also pretended that I didn���t know she was killing off Fire Mages just to keep her by my side . "
"Her Royal Highness believed that she had fooled you, Your Majesty . "
"That's what makes her cute," he said with a smile . "But since she failed to do what she wanted to achieve, then I shall continue it in her stead as her twin brother and lover . "
"I'm surprised that you managed to control your anger, Your Majesty," Captain Sherwood said in amusement . "I thought you were going to kill Lady Prescott after I told you that she has the heart of the Supreme . "
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And that meant only Lady Prescott could have ordered the replica to burn Nia alive .
"At first, I was really mad and I even swore to kill whoever it was that caused Nia to end up that in that terrible state," he admitted . "But after a few days of watching Nia unconscious, I felt glad that she fell into a coma . I don't care even if her physical beauty doesn't recover 100% . What's important to me is that she's alive…" He smirked before he continued . "And that she could no longer run away from me . Not in that horrible state . "
"You're crazy, Your Majesty," the captain said with a smirk . "No wonder Her Royal Highness is desperate to get away from you . "
He just laughed it off . "I can't kill Lady Prescott anyway . Not yet, at least . I still need her to give birth to her son . "
"Will you really let the boy live despite the prophecy, Your Majesty?"
"Of course," he said . "I need the Kiho and his child to get what I want in the future . "
"Speaking of Captain Kiho, do you think he's not aware of Lady Prescott's identity?"
"He is not aware," he said confidently . "For now . "
"What if Lady Prescott confesses her identity to Captain Kiho?"
"I'm betting one hundred percent that Kiho will choose Lady Prescott over me," he said with a laugh . "Kiho and I are the same . We will abandon everything for our lover . "
The captain's forehead knotted in confusion . "Wouldn't that be a problem, Your Majesty?"
"I will turn a blind eye to Kiho's betrayal for a year," he said firmly . "I will leave their family alone until Lady Prescott gives birth to her son . "
"But why wait for a year, Your Majesty?"
"Because I'm sure that in a year, Lady Prescott is going to prepare for a war against me . That means she'd secretly meet up with her allies," he explained . "All I need to do is wait for the perfect timing and catch them all together . If I ask my people to follow her, then she'd be very careful . But if I leave her alone, then she'd let down her guard . It will be easier to catch her and the other Fire Mages that way . "
"Oh, that makes sense," Captain Sherwood agreed . "But what about Kiho? I'm sure he won't leave Lady Prescott and their child . "
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"Kiho's son can stay with us despite his Fire Mage blood because the child is one of the keys I need . But Lady Prescott is replaceable . We can throw her away after she gives birth to the child," Aku explained . "And most of all, I have a way to make Kiho return to my side . "
***
[THE WAR begins now . ]
Tilly was thinking deeply while she was alone inside the carriage . She asked Damian to sit beside the coachman because she needed to think .
[The emperor clearly gave me an ultimatum . ]
In a year, Emperor Aku would take her child away from her .
She was pretty sure that the emperor would leave her alone to make her lower her guard . He definitely wanted her to ask help from her allies so that he could catch her all together . But that also meant that the emperor wasn't aware yet of whom his real enemies were .
[I have to be careful to protect the Denvers as well . ]
Then, there was the thing about the High Priest, too . During the three days that she would serve his temple, she had to find the truth about the prophecy .
[I need to know why His Majesty needs my son . ]
But above anything else, she had to let Kiho know about her real identity first . She needed all the ally that she could get . And of course, she wanted her greatest support to be her husband .
[Kiho, you're going to choose me and Winter… right?]
***
[NOTE: Please ADD my story in your LIBRARY so you can be notified when I post an update . Thank you! :\u003e]
TILLY felt exhausted after smiling for the emperor for more than twenty minutes . Thank goodness Emperor Aku let her use one of the parlors in his palace . Now she had the room all to herself . The royal maids also served tea for her a while ago .
[Tea is life here . ]
Well, she needed refreshment again even though she just had tea with the emperor . Using her brain to come up with careful but witty retorts was very tiring . But at least, she picked up pieces of important information from their conversation .
First, the emperor also knew that she was a Fire Mage . He was probably aware of her heart, too . She wasnt really surprised because he was Princess Nias twin brother and fiancé . Plus, he was the emperor . He couldnt be clueless of his surroundings .
[But the last thing he said is the most worrisome of all . ]
His Majesty purposely told her that he was looking forward to meeting her son as a warning .
[He wants my son and thats the only reason why hes keeping me alive . ]
That also meant that the emperor would kill her as soon as she gave birth to Winter .
[Scary . ]
Tilly?
Tilly was startled when Kiho entered the parlor room . She blinked in surprise because she didnt hear him knock . Oh .
Ive knocked several times, Tilly, Kiho said while walking towards her . I got worried when you didnt answer so I went ahead and opened the door . I apologize for startling you .
Its okay, hon, she said, then she tapped the space next to hers . Come here .
He nodded, then he sat beside her . The emperors maid told me you were waiting here . Are you okay? He touched her forehead with the back of his hand . You look pale .
Im just tired .
May I know what you talked about with the emperor? he asked politely . His Majesty didnt tease you, did he?
[No, he just threatened my life . ]
His Majesty just wished me a safe pregnancy, she said . He said hell look after me in place of Her Royal Highness .
His face softened up . Oh . Thats nice of His Majesty .
It kind of hurt her to be reminded that Kiho trusted Emperor Aku . Well, she was confident that he would still choose her over His Majesty . But she knew that his choice would hurt him . After all, Kiho had a good relationship with the emperor .
Do you want to rest here more or do you want to go home now? her husband asked worriedly . You look really tired, honey .
I want to go home, she said . Arent you coming home with me?
He shook his head . Unfortunately, I still have a meeting with His Majesty . Today, he will officially assign Blake as the temporary captain of Black Serpent Knights . I also have to file my leave of absence, as well as the memo about Blakes new position .
She pouted . You sound busy .
Sorry, honey, he said apologetically, then he kissed her on the forehead . Ill try to go home as early as I can .
Kiho, can we go on a date tonight? she asked him . I dont care how late it is . I want us to go to a place where there would only be the two of us . Do you know a place like that?
He nodded . Ill ask my men to clean it up for us .
She shook her head . Please dont . I dont want anyone else to know where well be meeting up tonight .
You look serious, Tilly, he said worriedly . Whats wrong?
We have something serious to talk about later, Kiho, she said . Please dont ask what its about . Youll find out later .
Kiho looked at her long and hard before he nodded . Alright . Ill pick you up at later . But please, rest as soon as you get home . He placed a hand on her tummy . You and our Baby Winter need a lot of rest, as per the doctors advice .
Okay, Tilly said, then she hugged him . Please come home as soon as possible, Kiho .
***
IS IT really wise to give Lady Prescott a hint that you already know who she really is, Your Majesty?
Of course, Aku answered Captain Sherwoods question . Right now, they were in his office while waiting for Kiho and Vice Captain Blake . He knew that they had time to talk right now because Kiho said hed walk Lady Prescott to the carriage first . If Lady Prescott knows that her life is in danger, then shed definitely ask for her fellow Fire Mages to protect her .
Do you think that the hiding Fire Mages have already made contact with Lady Prescott, Your Majesty? Captain Sherwood asked . Do you think Duke Prescott and the vassal families under them are hiding his daughters real identity?
Duke Prescott doesnt know that his wife was a Fire Mage . Hes not aware of Lady Prescotts real identity as well, he said . I attended Lady Marianne Prescotts funeral many years ago . I can tell when a person is lying to my face . And the last time I saw Duke Prescott, his eyes are still clueless . And if he knows the truth, I should have felt remorse from him no matter how much he hides it .
Does it mean someone else helped Lady Prescott awaken?
Uh-huh, he said . Lady Prescott knows who she is . I felt that when we were talking a while ago . He smiled when he remembered their conversation . I should have known that Lady Prescott was special when Nia suggested that I choose her as Kihos partner . Unfortunately, my beloved had tricked me into believing that she just wanted her friend to rise up in the society .
Its not that Her Royal Highness has tricked you, Your Majesty, the captain said . You know that she has a hidden agenda but you just chose to turn a blind eye .
He laughed at how true that was . I let Nia do all the things she did behind my back because I wanted her to think that she has freedom . If I breathed against the back of her neck every minute of her life, she would have felt suffocated . Thats why I chose not to look at the things she wanted to hide from me, such as the owner of the heart that she wanted . I also pretended that I didn���t know she was killing off Fire Mages just to keep her by my side .
Her Royal Highness believed that she had fooled you, Your Majesty .
Thats what makes her cute, he said with a smile . But since she failed to do what she wanted to achieve, then I shall continue it in her stead as her twin brother and lover .
Im surprised that you managed to control your anger, Your Majesty, Captain Sherwood said in amusement . I thought you were going to kill Lady Prescott after I told you that she has the heart of the Supreme .
And that meant only Lady Prescott could have ordered the replica to burn Nia alive .
At first, I was really mad and I even swore to kill whoever it was that caused Nia to end up that in that terrible state, he admitted . But after a few days of watching Nia unconscious, I felt glad that she fell into a coma . I dont care even if her physical beauty doesnt recover 100% . Whats important to me is that shes alive… He smirked before he continued . And that she could no longer run away from me . Not in that horrible state .
Youre crazy, Your Majesty, the captain said with a smirk . No wonder Her Royal Highness is desperate to get away from you .
He just laughed it off . I cant kill Lady Prescott anyway . Not yet, at least . I still need her to give birth to her son .
Will you really let the boy live despite the prophecy, Your Majesty?
Of course, he said . I need the Kiho and his child to get what I want in the future .
Speaking of Captain Kiho, do you think hes not aware of Lady Prescotts identity?
He is not aware, he said confidently . For now .
What if Lady Prescott confesses her identity to Captain Kiho?
Im betting one hundred percent that Kiho will choose Lady Prescott over me, he said with a laugh . Kiho and I are the same . We will abandon everything for our lover .
The captains forehead knotted in confusion . Wouldnt that be a problem, Your Majesty?
I will turn a blind eye to Kihos betrayal for a year, he said firmly . I will leave their family alone until Lady Prescott gives birth to her son .
But why wait for a year, Your Majesty?
Because Im sure that in a year, Lady Prescott is going to prepare for a war against me . That means shed secretly meet up with her allies, he explained . All I need to do is wait for the perfect timing and catch them all together . If I ask my people to follow her, then shed be very careful . But if I leave her alone, then shed let down her guard . It will be easier to catch her and the other Fire Mages that way .
Oh, that makes sense, Captain Sherwood agreed . But what about Kiho? Im sure he wont leave Lady Prescott and their child .
Kihos son can stay with us despite his Fire Mage blood because the child is one of the keys I need . But Lady Prescott is replaceable . We can throw her away after she gives birth to the child, Aku explained . And most of all, I have a way to make Kiho return to my side .
***
[THE WAR begins now . ]
Tilly was thinking deeply while she was alone inside the carriage . She asked Damian to sit beside the coachman because she needed to think .
[The emperor clearly gave me an ultimatum . ]
In a year, Emperor Aku would take her child away from her .
She was pretty sure that the emperor would leave her alone to make her lower her guard . He definitely wanted her to ask help from her allies so that he could catch her all together . But that also meant that the emperor wasnt aware yet of whom his real enemies were .
[I have to be careful to protect the Denvers as well . ]
Then, there was the thing about the High Priest, too . During the three days that she would serve his temple, she had to find the truth about the prophecy .
[I need to know why His Majesty needs my son . ]
But above anything else, she had to let Kiho know about her real identity first . She needed all the ally that she could get . And of course, she wanted her greatest support to be her husband .
[Kiho, youre going to choose me and Winter… right?]
***
[NOTE: Please ADD my story in your LIBRARY so you can be notified when I post an update . Thank you! :\u003e]
