CHAPTER 55: CHAPTER 55: LOVELY, ISN’T IT?

Chapter 55 — Lovely, isn’t it?

In the bustling city of Asterion, Kaden and Meris walked side by side in silence.

But it wasn’t the awkward silence he remembered from the first time he was alone with Rea. No. This was different.

It was... comfortable.

A silence that didn’t feel heavy or tense. A silence that simply felt right.

Perfect.

They walked until they reached one particular area in the city—a circular plaza with a fountain at its center, its golden water gleaming in the night. In the middle of that fountain stood a statue of a man. And even though it was just a sculpture, the aura it exuded felt real—regality, power, and a haunting sense of beauty.

The golden water flowed from the statue’s eyes, trailing down into the base, forming a narrow stream of glimmering light beneath him.

It was mesmerizing.

It was art.

"That’s the first founding emperor of the Celestial Empire," Meris said as they stopped in front of the statue. "Vesper Asterion."

She paused, letting Kaden take it in before continuing.

"Legend says he never shed a single tear from birth. But on the day he founded the Empire—after defeating the last great beast—he cried tears of gold. So much, in fact, that the ground beneath him transformed... and that’s how Blackstar Ore came to be."

At her words, Kaden raised an eyebrow.

"And why did he cry? Was it because he finally achieved his dream of creating the empire?" he asked, genuinely intrigued.

But Meris just shrugged.

"There are many versions. Some say he cried from joy. Some say he cried mourning all the close companions he lost along the way. And some..."

She tilted her head.

"...say the beast he killed that day was his lover."

Kaden blinked, hand touching his chin.

"Beast? Lover?" he murmured. "How does that even work?"

It was a valid question.

Not beastkin—those are humanoid, half-man, half-beast.

But actual beasts. Pure-blooded monsters. Like the creatures of Darklore, who could sometimes take human form, yes, but were not human.

The issue wasn’t just how it was possible to love a beast like that.

The real question was, how did they even get the opportunity to?

The war between beasts and humans had been raging since the beginning. Their hatred was ancient. Their hostility was engraved in blood and fire.

How could two sides like that ever fall in love?

Kaden found himself... genuinely curious.

He shook the thoughts from his head and looked back at the statue of Vesper. Upon closer inspection, the figure’s body was etched with tiny silver stars—so intricate, so vivid, they shimmered like morning light.

"The royal family’s power really is unfair," Kaden said, a low chuckle escaping his lips.

Meris nodded, chuckling as well. "The power of the sun, moon, stars... yeah, it’s quite something."

Then her eyes turned toward him, sharp but soft.

"But you, Kaden... your power is unfair too. You control blood, the lifeline of all beings."

She smiled.

"If you grow strong enough, if you master your blood control, then even the sun will fear bleeding in your presence."

Kaden laughed softly. "Can the sun even bleed?"

"Does it matter?" Meris replied with a grin.

"If it can’t bleed..." she began.

"Then I’ll be the first to make it," Kaden finished, his own grin forming—bloody and wild. His eyes gleamed like crimson glass.

And for a moment, they stared at each other.

Both of them wearing devilish grins.

If someone had looked at them from a third-person view, they’d have been scared shitless.

"I wonder," Kaden murmured as he turned, "what the blood of the sun looks like?"

"Must look like something celestial," Meris answered, following behind.

Kaden laughed.

...

Now, Kaden and Meris stood in front of a massive building.

The Elamin little domain.

Meris’s home.

And as Kaden looked at the sheer luxury—the size, the beauty, the glowing sigils engraved into the very walls—he couldn’t help but think about the cracked bed he had back at the inn.

And cursed his family.

A family that had the audacity to say:

’The capital is too bothersome. Too many constraints.’

That’s why they didn’t own anything here.

Seriously, how did they survive this long with that kind of mentality?

It was a miracle.

"It was a magnificent night," Meris said, eyes locked on him with a deep, satisfied smile.

Kaden smiled too.

"It was for me, too."

He found himself smiling more around her. Meris was... entertaining. Fun. Vibrant. A little psychotic maybe, but still...

There was something alive about her.

Meris smiled brighter, heart fluttering in her chest.

Then—softly, nervously—

"So...?" she asked, eyes full of unspoken hope.

Kaden understood what she meant immediately.

"A Warborn and an Elamin... I wonder how your mother would feel about that."

He smirked.

"I heard she’s pretty strict."

At the mention of her mother, Meris’s face twitched. Her lips curled slightly.

"Don’t worry about her. I’ll handle it," she said quickly. "I just need you to accept."

It was adorable.

And Meris really hoped he will, after all...

’I don’t want to take drastic measures.’ She thought inwardly.

Kaden stayed quiet for a moment.

Then—

"You know my situation. My family. Rea. You know I can’t refuse to marry her."

He paused, eyes narrowing slightly.

"Do you understand what that means?"

Meris didn’t hesitate.

"I do. And I don’t mind."

She smiled.

’I just have to kill her.’ she thought sweetly, still smiling.

Kaden nodded.

"That’s good. But still... for now, I think it’s too early. I don’t want to wake up one day and see your attitude shift just because your feelings changed."

"It’s not a rejection. I’m interested in you, Meris. Truly. But if we’re going to build anything..."

He looked her in the eyes.

"Then I need to know your feelings are real. And mine too."

Meris looked at him, quiet.

But inside?

Only one thing echoed on loop.

’I’m interested in you.’

Just that line alone made her heart swell.

It was a huge step forward.

And so, with determination burning inside her, she said—

"It’s fine. I understand. And I’ll show you that what I feel isn’t something trivial or fleeting. It’s sincere."

Kaden smiled again. Just a little.

He turned, walking off into the night.

"We’ll see then," he said without looking back.

Meris stood in place, watching until his silhouette disappeared.

Then she turned and walked into her estate.

And as she did, a silhouette formed behind her—quiet, unseen, yet sensed.

"Lari..." Meris called softly.

"Yes, my lady," the maid answered immediately.

"Kaden told me to prove that I love him, that I’m sincere."

Meris’s lips curled into a smile.

"And I have the perfect idea."

Lari stiffened.

"...What is it?"

Meris’s smile widened.

"There’s a girl at the Tycoon’s Merchants," she said sweetly. "She smiled at Kaden a little too brightly this morning."

"I was thinking..."

Her voice dropped.

"Maybe I should kill her."

Lari’s breath caught.

"...My lady...?"

"Don’t you think that would be proof enough?" Meris asked, her tone light—almost playful.

"After all... I’m ready to kill an employee of the Tycoon’s Merchants for him."

Her smile twisted into something cold. Empty.

"Isn’t that... lovely?"

Lari didn’t answer at first.

Her mind couldn’t process what had just been said.

But her body responded before her brain could.

"...It’s very lovely, my lady."

Meris’s reply came instantly.

"Then let’s do it."

—End of Chapter 55—