บท 8: Imposter Among Us

The only person who came close to having an influence over Izekiel was his empress. He had neglected her for a long time but when their relationship started to develop, the two have become a force to reckon with.

It was his first wife Lillian.

Nesrin took inspiration from Lillian, and dressed up in a black dress for her wedding. The flowers she carried had dark meanings but they were the ones Izekiel liked.

However, it was clear that something was amiss. Nesrin had faith in what she read. How she came here shouldn't make him like this, then was it because of last night?

Nesrin can see the hints of menace in the depths of his eyes.

Izekiel raised from his throne, everyone else but Nesrin stood up as well. He kept his sword with him.

With each step he took, the sword softly dragged against the marble floor, and his eyes pinned Nesrin down. She had a strong urge to move back, but at the same time she couldn't move an inch.

Unable to hold his intense eyes any longer, she dropped her gaze.

With each step he took, her heart beats grew loud and louder.

He extended his hand towards her, Nesrin licked her lips and took his hand. He lifted her gently, when he spoke his voice sounded calm and yet something about it sent shivers down her spine.

"What's the meaning of this?" he asked,

"Pardon?"

Izekiel picked a flower from her bouquet. When Nesrin saw it in his hand, she was confused because this flower looked very different than the flowers she had asked the maids to bring.

She knew them very well.

Sertinas looked like lavender who are smeared in red blood, the two colors blended together beautifully but the flowers carried an infamous legend.

Some centuries ago, there used to be a tyrant who abused dark magic to the point of insanity. Eventually, he died because his own powers went berserk. The tyrant fell from a tower, and wherever his blood touched, sertinas bloomed.

Since then, they represent evil and the end of evil.

In the novel, Ophelia had sent these to Izekiel before the final battle.

Until now, everyone thought that Izekiel must be angry because of her wayward way of dressing up but when they noticed the small flowers their throats became dry.

Hans was frozen with fear before he quickly blurted,

"Please, your majesty! Our princess can never do something like that, she is framed!"

Izekiel only glanced at him with a warning gaze.

Never speak to the emperor unless you are asked to.

The lady in waiting who stood beside Myrtle watched her in fear. Myrtle pouted her lips,

"I wish I had thought of that, but it wasn't me."

The lady in waiting nodded doubtfully.

Nesrin bit her lips, she has not been able to make up for what happened last night and something like this already happened.

"I did not select that," her voice unintentionally reflected some of her grief, Nesrin cleared her throat and looked up at him with pleading eyes.

Internally, she begged him to trust her.

Izekiel still seemed calm until now, but his lips twitched when he saw her like this. The princess had seemed distressed yesterday, now she seemed to be in anguish, was marrying him that much of a torment?

Or was these silly acts of hers a trick to get out from the marriage?

But...

Izekiel dropped the flower and turned towards the priest.

"Elder Yazul, let's not delay any further."

Nesrin was not sure if she should be relieved yet, but she was grateful that he didn't press the matter any further. A small part of her wondered if he had forgotten about last night.

Elder Yazul took his place in front of the bride and groom and opened his holy book.

"We stand here under the guidance of heavenly light, in sight of gods and men to witness the union of two souls as they become one."

Nesrin and Izekiel held each other's hands and stood face to face. Elder Yazul continued,

"I bestow my blessings upon the companions of life. May the sun and stars shower you with their grace. When the darkness blinds, you shall be the light of each other…"

Izekiel blankly looked outside the windows as if these words didn't concern him, Nesrin's heart on the other side had become slightly heavy as the priest continued.

When she was reading the novel these words sounded beautiful to her, but now she couldn't feel the same for she knew that a tragic end awaited both of them.

And it wasn't far.

"Now the groom shall take the bride under his protection,"

Jeremiah presented the cloak from the House of Waelyn. Izekiel took it from him and draped the maroon cloak around Nesrin's shoulders. With a an indifferent voice he concluded the ceremony,

"With this kiss I pledge my love."

Izekiel's thumb softly brushed over her jaw, his lips closed over hers and her heart skipped a beat.

Then all of sudden a voice spoke inside her mind, when she heard it, her body froze.

[New Character Introduced: Eugene Alfus Waelyn, exiled prince of Elysian Empire.]

A man stepped forward from the line of guests. He seemed unremarkable, but caught everyone's attention. No guard or knight tried to stop him as he fearlessly walked towards the daise.

A flash of emerald light summoned a long scimitar in his hands, he lifted it and pointed it towards Nesrin. His eyes were burning up with anger as he spat out his next words full of venom.

"People of Esmeria, there is an impostor among us."