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82.26% The Eminence of a True Monarch of the Shadows / Chapter 217: Chapter 216

Chương 217: Chapter 216

[Third Person's PoV] 

Akane sat on the stone steps in front of the castle, her gaze distant, her face shadowed with a pensive expression. She was lost in her thoughts, wrapped up in a world far removed from the imposing grandeur around her  buried in the questions that weighed heavily on her heart.

From behind her, Cid approached quietly, his footsteps barely disturbing the stillness. He took a seat beside her, settling in with a calm demeanor. "So, what's on your mind?" he asked, his voice gentle but probing.

Akane let out a slow, heavy sigh and turned to look at Cid, her expression both curious and conflicted. "Why am I here, Cid? Why did you bring me to witness the birth of your children? Don't get me wrong; it was a beautiful moment, but... I just don't understand the reasoning behind it."

Cid looked at her with a soft smile, a hint of sadness in his gaze. "You've been surrounded by so much misery and death lately. I thought you needed a moment to step away from it all. This was supposed to be a break for you, a reminder of life and hope, a way to appreciate the small things again."

Akane's eyes softened, and she leaned her head gently on his shoulder. "It's not that I don't appreciate it; I really do. But it doesn't erase the blood on my hands..."

Cid nodded, understanding the weight of her burden. "You're right; nothing will change what's already happened. The past can't be undone, and dwelling on it endlessly will only drive you mad. Instead, focus on what you can control—your future. Think less about what happened, and more about what you're going to do next."

Akane wrapped her arms around his, holding him close. "Why are you so good to me, Cid?" She chuckled softly, a bittersweet smile playing on her lips. "Sometimes, I can't help but wonder if you have an ulterior motive."

Cid smirked, glancing at her with a playful glint in his eye. "Would you believe me if I told you that you and I were fated to be together in every life?"

"Pfft, hehehe!" Akane chuckled, her laughter like a breath of fresh air amid the tension. "No, I wouldn't believe you… but it'd be nice if it were true," she murmured with a shy smile.

She leaned in and kissed his cheek, then settled back against him, resting her head on his shoulder. "Shouldn't you be back there taking care of your newborns and wife?"

"They're all asleep," Cid replied with a contented sigh. "Alpha's exhausted from giving birth, and the babies don't have much energy yet—they're still so new to the world."

Akane nodded, lost in thought, before turning to Cid with a furrowed brow. "So... you're Shadow, huh? Is it true? You said someone else is responsible for the monsters that keep appearing?"

"Yes," Cid answered, his voice turning grave. "He's from the same race as me."

Akane tilted her head, confusion evident in her eyes. "The same race? You mean... you're not human?"

Cid shook his head, smiling wryly. "I was, once. But that was before I was reincarnated. Remember when I told you I was an entity of death? I wasn't lying."

Akane's mouth dropped open in shock. "You're... you're serious?"

"I did say I wasn't joking." He gestured around them. "And you're sitting here, in my dimension—that alone should be proof enough."

She stared at him, still grappling with the enormity of his words. "Then what are you? And who's this being that's sending monsters into our world, trying to tear it apart?"

Cid exhaled, as if preparing himself. "We're Monarchs—the physical embodiments of universal laws. There are two types of beings: Rulers and Monarchs. Rulers represent the light, while Monarchs represent the dark. I'm the Monarch of Shadow and Death, created by the Absolute Being, the universe's creator."

Akane's jaw dropped further, her eyes wide with disbelief. "You're... a creation of God? That's... overwhelming. But wait—doesn't that make you, well, the villain? Since you're from the 'dark side,' as you put it?"

He laughed softly. "It's complicated. You know how, in the Bible, Lucifer was once God's favorite angel? I'm something like that. I was the Absolute Being's favored creation, loyal until my death at the hands of the Rulers. When I died, I was reborn as a Monarch, only to discover that the Absolute Being was killed by those very Rulers." Cid then turned behind him tilting his head in confusion narrowing his eyes as Akane continued

Akane blinked rapidly, trying to process it all. "Wait, hold on! Aren't Rulers supposed to be the 'good guys'? Why would they kill their own creator? And... God is dead? Is that why everything's falling apart?"

Cid scratched his head, realizing how much he'd left out. "Yeah... I'm not explaining this well." He placed a finger gently on her forehead, transferring the knowledge of the Monarchs and Rulers directly into her mind.

When it was over, Akane gasped, clutching her head as everything fell into place. "My whole understanding of the world... it's shattered," she whispered, her eyes unfocused.

Suddenly, Aurora's voice echoed behind them, sharp with worry. "Celeste! I told you to stop teleporting like that—you're going to hurt yourself!"

Cid turned, his face quickly mirroring Aurora's concern. They locked eyes, a shared anxiety bubbling between them. "Where's Celeste?" he asked, his voice tense.

"I thought she was with you!" Aurora's tone turned frantic. "I was going to bathe her, but she kept calling for you before she disappeared. I assumed she'd come to you!"

Cid's eyes shifted, his pupils narrowing to sharp dragon-like slits as he extended his senses, sweeping across his dimension and into the physical world.

When he looked up, his face was filled with horror. "Celeste… she's not here."

Aurora's face crumpled, her hands gripping Cid's shirt as tears welled in her eyes. "What do you mean our daughter isn't here?" Her voice broke with desperation. "I swear, Cid, if anything happens to her…"

He held her arms firmly, trying to reassure her even as his own fear grew. "Do you think I'm any less worried? She isn't in this reality—she teleported to an alternate one. But Igris is with her, hiding in her shadow, as always."

Aurora's expression turned from worry to fury, and she pounded on Cid's chest. "I told you to seal her abilities until she could control them! Now look!" She broke down, clutching him tightly as she wept. "Please… please, just bring our daughter back."

Cid nodded resolutely, then disappeared into the real world, his senses honing in on Igris's location. As his awareness merged with Igris's perception, his eyes widened in shock.

"Celeste…" he muttered to himself, realization dawning with a chilling finality. "That crazy girl… she's in the original Cid's world."


Chương 218: Chapter 217

[Third Person's PoV] 

Shadow, the original Cid Kaguno, sat upon a makeshift throne, cloaked in shadows that seemed to writhe and breathe around him. Before him, the members of Shadow Garden knelt in reverent silence, each one a dark silhouette against the faint glow filtering through the room. Beyond the towering windows, a blood-red moon cast its ominous light across the landscape, as if heralding a coming storm.

Shadow gazed at the crimson orb, his eyes unfocused, appearing lost in thought. He finally spoke, his voice low and resonant, slicing through the silence. "Do you all feel it?" he asked, the words thick with foreboding.

The members of Shadow Garden exchanged puzzled glances before Beta dared to answer. "Feel what exactly, my lord?" she asked, a hint of confusion evident in her tone.

"A feeling of dread... a foreboding calm before the storm," Shadow murmured, leaning one arm against the throne, his gaze still locked on the moon. "The Blood Moon... it shines as an omen of what's to come."

Inwardly, Cid celebrated, his thoughts triumphant: 'Nailed it! The classic 'calm before the storm' cliché! I've always wanted to say that!'

Beta's eyes widened as she followed his gaze. "You're right, my lord! The Blood Moon... it's a dreadful sign," she gasped, her voice filled with awe and worry.

'As always, thanks for the support, Beta,' Cid thought, reveling in his followers' reactions.

Before Cid could continue his theatrics, his brows furrowed. A strange energy pulsed in the room, an anomaly he hadn't foreseen. His eyes narrowed as a small, swirling portal materialized between him and Beta, catching everyone off guard.

Weapons were drawn in an instant. Shadow Garden members sprang to defensive stances, blades gleaming in the moonlight, while Shadow himself remained seated, feigning a calm composure. Yet, his fingers tapped the armrest of his throne, betraying his intrigue.

From the portal tumbled a small figure—a tiny girl who landed clumsily on the stone floor, rolling before sitting up, rubbing her head. "Ouchie!" she exclaimed in a sweet, high-pitched voice.

"A... baby?" Alpha tilted her head, her confusion mirroring that of the others.

Cid's thoughts raced as he tilted his head in bewilderment, 'What kind of script is this?'

The little girl, unmistakably Celeste, blinked up at Shadow with wide, innocent eyes. A bright smile spread across her face as she reached her small arms toward him, eyes gleaming with recognition. "Dwddy!" she cried with pure joy.

Shadow blinked, his usual air of authority slipping for just a second. "Huh?" he muttered, his composed facade fracturing.

"WHAAAAAT?!" the members of Shadow Garden shouted in unison, their exclamations reverberating through the room.

Shadow rose from his throne, unsheathing his sword as he approached Celeste, his eyes narrowed in suspicion. "I will not be deceived by your innocent appearance, you... foul beast!" he declared, pointing the blade toward her, trying to mask his confusion.

"Dwddy?" Celeste's smile faltered, her still outstretched arms slowly lowering, her expression darkening as her eyes filled with tears. "Dwddy…" she whimpered, hurt by his rejection. Her tiny frame shook as she began to hiccup, her lips quivering.

Then came the wail. "WAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHH!" Celeste cried, her sorrow-filled scream echoing throughout the chamber. The sheer force of her cry shattered the glass panes of the tall windows, sending shards scattering across the floor.

The members of Shadow Garden cringed, covering their ears against the piercing sound. Alpha reacted quickly, stepping forward and scooping Celeste into her arms, gently patting her back as she rocked the child soothingly. She shot Shadow a rare look of disapproval. "Shh, it's alright, little one... It's going to be okay," she murmured, her tone soft and comforting.

Celeste clung to Alpha, still sniffling as she buried her face in her shoulder. Inwardly, she thought, 'Daddy doesn't want me anymore... He doesn't love me now that he has other children!'

Alpha continued to rock her, glaring at Shadow with a silent command in her eyes: Fix this.

Shadow scratched his head, looking awkward and out of his depth. This was hardly what he had expected.

"You want your daddy, don't you, little one?" Alpha said in a gentle tone. "He was just... surprised to see you, wasn't that right, Lord Shadow?"

"I'm not—"

"Isn't that right, Lord Shadow?" Alpha reiterated firmly.

"Ah... yes, yes," Shadow conceded, lowering his sword and clearing his throat. "It seems I... had a lapse in judgment."

Satisfied, Alpha handed Celeste over to him. Shadow hesitantly accepted the child, holding her at arm's length as he scrutinized her. Celeste gazed up at him with watery eyes, her nose runny, her face streaked with tears, giving him a heartbreakingly sad look.

'What... What kind of technique is this?' he thought, feeling a strange compulsion to dote on her. 'Why do I suddenly want to... comfort it?'

Reluctantly, he brought her closer, and she snuggled against his chest, her small hands gripping his coat tightly. Exhausted from her distress and the energy it had taken to travel here, Celeste's eyelids drooped. "Daddy…" she murmured softly before drifting into a deep, peaceful sleep.

Shadow's posture relaxed, and he carefully returned to his throne, cradling the sleeping child. Alpha watched him with an intent gaze. "My lord… who is this child? She claimed you as her father."

Shadow looked at the sleeping girl, brow furrowed in bewilderment. "I don't remember... fathering a child…" He muttered under his breath, inwardly panicking, 'I'M A FREAKING VIRGIN! And I'm broke! How am I supposed to afford child support?!'

Gamma leaned in, studying Celeste's features with an assessing eye. "But, my lord… she does bear a striking resemblance to you. There's no denying it."

Delta tilted her head, her gaze curious. "Did Bossu start a pack... without Delta knowing?"

Epsilon clapped her hands in excitement. "She's just so adorable! Look at her, sleeping so soundly. I wonder who the mother could be if Lord Shadow is indeed the father?"

"I CALL DIBS!" Several members of Shadow Garden raised their hands simultaneously, enthusiasm lighting up their faces.

Shadow hissed, "Shhhh!" He glanced down at Celeste, still slumbering in his arms. The group immediately silenced themselves, covering their mouths as he shot them a withering glare.

After a moment, Alpha's expression grew serious. "In all seriousness, my lord… who is her mother? Who could you have possibly…?"

A new voice echoed through the chamber, deep and resonant "Her mother... is known as Aurora…"

Everyone turned sharply, weapons raised once more as Celeste's shadow began to elongate and warp. The shadow darkened, pooling on the floor before rising slowly, taking the form of a towering knight clad in ancient armor, a massive sword at its side.

Shadow Garden members gripped their swords tightly, their eyes narrowed in caution. Shadow, however, remained seated, holding Celeste protectively.

"So," Shadow addressed the figure, his voice calm but sharp, "you must be the monstrous creature I sensed near this child."

The knight inclined his head respectfully. "Indeed. I am Igris, once known as the Blood Red Knight. I have been entrusted with the protection of the Young Monarch Princess."

'Holy shit! I didn't even know he was there! If he wanted to kill me I would have been dead, a long time ago' Cid's eyes sparkled with interest. 'Igris... What a perfect name. And... that entrance! He stepped out of her shadow! This guy is incredible—I need to learn that technique! Once I master the technique of stepping out of the shadows I'll truly be a Eminence in the Shadows'

Alpha glanced at Shadow with a newfound respect. "My lord... forgive me for doubting you. I should have known you'd never aim a weapon at a child. I underestimated you."

Beta's voice trembled slightly as she pieced things together. "Wait… did you say her mother is Aurora? The Witch of Ruins, Aurora?!"

Shadow looked down at the sleeping child in his arms, a reluctant smile forming as he muttered, "I see the resemblance now…"

Epsilon gasped, her eyes wide. "You... had a child with the Witch of Ruins?"

Before Igris could correct them, Shadow interrupted. "So," he addressed the knight with an air of acceptance, "I take it you're my daughter's protector, Sir Igris?" Shadow said, already fond of Celeste and claiming her as his daughter. 

Igris gave a solemn nod. "The name is Igris, And that I am. I am sworn to safeguard the Young Monarch Princess, as per my oath."

'This Igris is just so... dope,' Cid thought, his grin widening.


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