Synopsis and Starting Chapter Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
Chapter 19
Chapter 20
Chapter 21
Chapter 22
Chapter 23
Chapter 24
Chapter 25
Chapter 26
Chapter 27
Chapter 28
Chapter 29
Chapter 30
Chapter 31
Chapter 32
Chapter 33
Chapter 34
Chapter 35
Chapter 36
Chapter 37
Chapter 38
Chapter 39
Chapter 40
Chapter 41
Chapter 42
Chapter 43
Chapter 44
Chapter 45
Chapter 46
Chapter 47
Chapter 48
Chapter 49
Chapter 50
Chapter 51
Chapter 52
Chapter 53
Chapter 54
Chapter 55
Chapter 56
Chapter 57
Chapter 58
Chapter 59
Chapter 60
Chapter 61
Chapter 62
Chapter 63
Chapter 64
Chapter 65
Chapter 66
Chapter 67
Chapter 68
Chapter 69
Chapter 70
Chapter 71
Chapter 72
Chapter 73
Chapter 74
Chapter 75
Chapter 76
Chapter 77
Chapter 78
Chapter 79
Chapter 80
Chapter 81
Chapter 82
Chapter 83
Chapter 84
Chapter 85
Chapter 86
Chapter 87
Chapter 88
Chapter 89
Chapter 90 - Light And Shadow>
Chapter 91
Chapter 92
Chapter 93
Chapter 94
Chapter 95
Chapter 96
Chapter 97
Chapter 98
Chapter 99
Chapter 100
Chapter 101
Chapter 102
Chapter 103
Chapter 104
Chapter 105
Chapter 106
Chapter 107
Chapter 108
Chapter 109
Chapter 110
Chapter 111
Chapter 112 - The Morning Comes>
Chapter 113
Chapter 114
Chapter 115
Chapter 116
Chapter 117
Chapter 118 - After The Storm
Chapter 119
Chapter 120
Chapter 121
Chapter 122
Chapter 123
Chapter 124
Chapter 125
Chapter 126
Chapter 127
Chapter 128
Chapter 129
Chapter 130
Chapter 131
Chapter 132 -
Chapter 133
Chapter 134 - Epilogue 1.3
Chapter 135 - Epilogue 2.1: Traces Of Life
Chapter 136
Chapter 137 - Epilogue 2.3
Chapter 138
Chapter 139
Chapter 140
Chapter 141 - Epilogue 4.1: Ever After>
Chapter 142 - Epilogue 4.2
Chapter 143 - Epilogue 4.3
Chapter 144 - Epilogue 5.1>
Chapter 145 - Epilogue 5.2
Chapter 146 - The Most Romantic Weekend>
Chapter 147 - Short Stories 1.2
Chapter 148 -
Chapter 149 -
Chapter 150 -
Chapter 151 -
Chapter 152 -
Chapter 153 -
Chapter 154 - Short Stories 3.1: Unexpected Things Happen>
Chapter 155 - Short Stories 3.2>
Chapter 156 -
Chapter 157 -
Chapter 158 -
Chapter 159 -
Chapter 160 -
Chapter 161 - Short Stories 5.1: The Man Behind The Mask>
Chapter 162
Chapter 163
Chapter 164 -
Chapter 165 -
Chapter 166
Chapter 167 - Short Stories 6.2
Chapter 168 - Short Stories 6.3
Chapter 169
Chapter 170
Chapter 171
Chapter 172
Chapter 173
Chapter 174
Chapter 175
Chapter 176
Chapter 177
Chapter 178
Chapter 179
Chapter 180
Chapter 181
Chapter 182
Chapter 183
Chapter 184
Chapter 185
Chapter 186
Chapter 187
Chapter 188
Chapter 189 (End)
Categories Genre: All, Completed, Fantasy Status: Completed ______
Total Chapters in book: 189
Estimated words: 290059 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 1450(@200wpm)___ 1160(@250wpm)___ 967(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 290059 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 1450(@200wpm)___ 1160(@250wpm)___ 967(@300wpm)
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LIST OF LAST 10 CHAPTERS:
Page No. 189 Page No. 188 Page No. 187 Page No. 186 Page No. 185 Page No. 184 Page No. 183 Page No. 182 Page No. 181 Page No. 180 Page No. 179 Chapter 70
Chapter 70:
I continued to walk inside the library. I kept trying to remember how I got here, but it was useless. I should have left a trail of crumbs like Hansel and Gretel.
I sighed again loudly.
Just then!
“—.”
“—!”
I could hear some people talking. It was so faint for a second, I thought I imagined it. I could barely hear anything, but I was sure somewhere in this place, there were people talking.
I listened carefully and followed the sounds. I didn’t know who they were, so I made sure to remain quiet and walk carefully so they wouldn’t find out about me.
Finally, I found them. When I realized who they were, I hid behind a large bookcase.
There were two people. A male and a female. I knew one of them, but not the other.
I knew the girl.
Bright red hair. Clear ruby eyes like her mother’s but with innocence.
‘Princess Liliana!’
I was shocked at seeing her. The precious princess was meeting with someone secretly in the deserted library.
I stayed quiet and listened. I thought perhaps I would be able to get a piece of important and useful information from this encounter.
Luckily, I could hear well from where I hid.
The man asked the princess in a low voice. He sounded like he was a few years older than Princess Liliana. His voice sounded serious and desperate.
“Do I still have a place in your heart?”
The red-haired princess exclaimed passionately, “Yes, of course…! Now and forever, you will be the only man in my heart!”
The man looked relieved. I realized they were a couple in love.
He replied, “That is enough for me… Even if you become another man’s wife…”
The girl’s eyes filled with tears as she held his hands. I never knew how forward Princess Liliana was until now. I always thought she was very shy. This was a surprise.
She replied, “How… How could I do that? You… you are the only one who has ever been kind to me! I have been dreaming of leaving this castle with you!”
The boy looked pleased but quickly frowned unhappily.
“… I am so sorry for everything.”
The princess started to cry.
“Why would you say that!? You and I both know the truth! Your mother… was sacrificed by the dowager empress!”
“…”
Princess Liliana didn’t call the dowager empress her mother. She probably didn’t think of her as her mother, just as the dowager empress didn’t treat her like her daughter. Other than their red hair, they had nothing else in common.
I remembered my friend from Korea again. I knew now for certain how Liliana felt about her mother.
The princess continued to cry and whispered, “It is I who should be ashamed. Even the emperor didn’t find out the culprit who was behind your mother’s murder, but we both know who did it. Everyone in the castle knows.”
“… Your highness.”
“Why would you say you’re sorry? It was the dowager empress who ruined your family… And because of her, you lost your title…”
The boy’s face darkened even more. After a brief hesitation, he held Liliana’s beautiful face and kissed her forehead lightly.
“Perhaps once the dowager empress achieves what she desires, my mother, my brother, and I will be reinstated.”
The boy’s voice trembled. Liliana shook her head.
“But… you know what will happen! If your father gets another wife and gets a son… Then you will lose your title forever!”
“…”
“And… Before you get your title back, the dowager empress might marry me to someone else!” Liliana was shouting by now. She continued, “You know this might happen… You and I both know…”
Liliana started to weep. Her fragile shoulders shook sadly as she whispered.
“I… I don’t want that… It has to be you…! I want you!”
“Lili…”
The boy called her by her pet name and hugged her.
Suddenly, Liliana stopped crying and said hopefully, “I will try to beg for us. I will ask the dowager empress. Maybe if we get her what she wants, she will let us be together. Perhaps she might even give you your title back! You are her family after all!”
The boy shook his head unhappily.
“But you know it’s not possible. You know the dowager empress better than anyone. Do you really think she will listen to you?”
“…”
The girl couldn’t answer. The boy took her hand and lifted her sleeve.
What I saw was shockingly disturbing.
From her elbow to her upper arm were scars and bruises. It looked like she was whipped over and over again. Who would dare hit the princess?
I could think of only one person, dowager empress Katleyanira.
I remembered what I saw last night.
The scars on the back of Lucretius.
It all made sense now. I had a good guess what had happened. It had to be the dowager empress.
My body shook with sudden anger.
Why though? Why was I so angry?
While I contemplated my fury, the girl and the boy continued to talk.
The boy gently touched the princess’s scars.
“If you ask for anything, the dowager empress will do something even worse than this.”
The boy insisted that the princess say nothing to the dowager empress. He made her promise. He was desperate.
The girl looked like a sad doll. Large tears rolled down from her eyes.
She asked, “Then… what should we do…”
The boy couldn’t say anything. He just hugged her tightly. The princess continued to cry.
***
I could guess who that boy was.
Clodys des Cornell.
The first-born son of Marquis Toruka, who is the dowager empress’s older brother. Clodys was supposed to inherit the family title. He was also Princess Liliana’s fiancé until recently. Once he lost his name and title, the marriage became void.
Clodys and Liliana were cousins, so when I first heard about this, I was shocked. However, I knew even on earth, there were some countries allowing cousins to marry. Even in Korea, it was legal for cousins to marry each other in the olden days.
I knew marriage was a political move, but I hadn’t realized they were actually in love.
Clodys lost his title because of Lucretius’s plot. I felt guilty. It was one thing to attack the marquis and marchioness Toruka, but their children were innocent. I had been trying to ignore this fact until now. However, I saw the result right in front of me and it was devastating.
I shook my head. It wasn’t me who did it. I was actually used myself by Lucretius. I reminded myself to hold my head high. I shouldn’t have to feel guilty.
While I tried to come into terms with my feelings, Liliana left. She kept looking back at the boy she loved, but eventually, she was gone.
When he was finally alone, Clodys yelled.
“Dammit!”
I flinched as I looked at him. He looked furious and was glaring at something.
“…”
I knew then.
I knew this boy was dangerous. He was a boy, but he was in his late teens. Being alone with him in this empty library was dangerous.
However, despite knowing this, I knew I had to take my chances. I felt that I could actually use the element of surprise to my advantage.
Before I could wimp out, I walked out. I put on a poker face and greeted him in a calm voice.
“Nice to meet you, Clodys des Cornell.”
Total Chapters in book: 189
Estimated words: 290059 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 1450(@200wpm)___ 1160(@250wpm)___ 967(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 290059 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 1450(@200wpm)___ 1160(@250wpm)___ 967(@300wpm)
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