"William pov


    When she left me this time, it felt like all I had done was in vain. The reality would stay the same no matter what I did. In the past, there was still a chance, when we used to y together. She always acted as my wife and did not let me talk to the other girls, threatening me that if I looked at others, she would leave me forever.


    And now that I have turned into a womanizer, she left. She left me forever. Often I thought it would be different if she knew the truth. Nheless I was always contended as she was living a good life, she had friends whom she could rely on, she had family who loved her unconditionally and she had a lot of motives. She was aspiring for the sky, and I would be thetter she would climb on. Only this thought was enough to satisfy me, so I never tried to wish for more.


    But when i realized that she could have died in thepetition. All the fear that I had thought I was free from crawled out of the closet and engulfed me..


    The fears I had, since Carlise died, that my loved one would die too. I slowly separated myself from everyone.


    I let Josephine go, I let my mother cry, I estranged my rtionship with Abi to the limit she forgot about mepletely. Yet she was dragged in this mess and now on the point of enemies.


    Then what was the result of all the sacrifice, all the torment I faced!?


    No, I would not suffer anymore, I would have what was mine. I would show who I was! The time to have an open war hade.


    With that thought I tried to collect my scattered thoughts.


    "You have killed her openly. Do you want to start a war or do you want to get hanged?" Theodore asked me with a smile on his face. There was not a single hint of anger or uneasiness on his face. As if he was enjoying the situation a lot. Why would he not! After all, he had been thirsty for blood.


    "I am tired of acting like a coward. Tired of sitting in a corner and let my loved ones suffer, it is time to end this tyranny.'''' Kirian looked at me shocked while Theodore chuckled, his eyes filled with glint.


    "Master, we are not ready yet. The fear or northern duke may have taken ce in the minds ofmoners, but emperor still see him only as a good ally with whom he could marry his daughter.'''' It was not like I did not agree with KIrian.


    They have worked hard with me to create a new image, and then crawled up to top with me. But now the war had begun before nned. It may disrupt all of our ns.


    " I have already killed a girl mercilessly in public. Do you think they are fools to still believe in my act? Either we have to strike first or wait for them toe and attack us. Tell me Kirian, do you want to repeat what happened to Carl?" he looked at me reluctantly and then sighed.


    "Fine, then I shall go and tell everyone about the emergency and alert all the spies too. I am going to the brothel now." Theodore and I nodded and he sighed again.


    "But first pick this body. We still need to deliver these pieces to her family. She is Count''s daughter, after all. And then we have to see the contorted face of the empress too." there was still a smirk on the face of Theodore. He was enjoying the condition very much.


    "Alright, wipe that smirk from your face or I will do it for you." replied Kirian through gritted when we all heard footsteps.


    They both turned to look who wasing and their body turned stiff. I frowned and my hands instinctively reached the sword.


    But when i tried even i was shocked to see Abigail walking towards me. Though I felt miserable when she left with her father. I knew that it was for her best. She could not get entangled in this mess or I knew she would be targeted but when I saw hering towards me. I felt all the knots that had formed in my stomach.


    A wave of relief washed over me. She had not abandoned me once again!


    "Abi" I whispered slowly, afraid that it was still a dream and it would crash if I moved.


    "I apologize for leaving like that. But i am here again and I will not leave you this time.`` There was determination in her voice that formed a lump in my throat.


    This was not the first time she had said those words to me. In the past, she had said those words too. She had promised me to marry me and stay with me forever. Not only did she break her promise but she even forgot about me. Tears that I have kept holding from years flew from my eyes at her words.


    I moved closer and took her in my embrace.


    "You always leave me and then forget about my existence." the world flew out from my mouth instinctively as I felt her warmth around me.


    "I will not leave you now, I promise, your highness." came her soothing voice as she patted my back.


    "You have said that before too." i knew i was being a child, but that was true, she had said those words to me in the past too. She had promised me before too, and the look her father was giving, I was sure he would not let us be together.


    As if understanding my uneasiness, Kirian and Theodore picked up the parts of the girl and then dragged his father along. Now only two of us were there. Yet the ce was not safe but then our hut was crowded.


    "Come with me.'''' I held her hands tightly in my arms and took her away.


    We reached the far corner of the woods. I stopped only when I was sure no one could be there.


    "Little bird, I can not exin to you how much it meant to me that you came back for me. But you should not. You did not understand the gravity of the situation. If you.." she shook her head and moved her finger to cover my lips.


    I looked at her stunned by her bold actions. My eyes stilled on her face and instinctively moved to her lips. Those wet and soft lips were as tempting as always.


    "Why did you kill the girl so mercilessly?" she asked and I frowned.


    "Did you not know? She had lethal poison on her sword. A mere touch could have taken your life.`` I replied and she smirked brightly with a nod, as if she was happy with the situation. Her reaction bewildered me.


    "Yes! You have killed her to save me. And now you want me to run away so that you could bear its burnt, do you think I am that selfish?" I shook my head at her usation. I have never taken her as a selfish person. She has always been my source of strength.


    "I am selfish, your highness. But I am not irresponsible. I am here to take responsibility for my deeds." I shook my head at her response.


    "You would not have been attacked if you were not involved with me. I am the one who dragged you in this mess. You didn''t know but they would target everyone closer to me.'''' Sheughed as if I had cracked a joke. I tiled my head but herughter was enchanting.


    "Do you think it is only limited to you? No! Lord Gerard will kill every noble supporting your family once he gets the throne. He would be so blind in power that he would end up annihting my whole family." I looked at her shocked as she med Gerard with so much conviction as if she had seen his massacre with her own eyes.


    "You are thinking too much about it, little bird. Gerard is controlled by the empress. He would just take the throne and be controlled by her. She would not let the nobles get killed. She would just prove tat i was ipetent and that is why she had taken a fair decision and all the nobles would agree to her." she shook her head and continued tough as if i was a naive kid.


    "You are too innocent, your highness. Do you think a man like Gerard would listen to the empress after getting powers? No! She would be the first one to die once he got in the power then all the nobles would be next.


    Death would dance in thend of the Veristia empire and his majesty and her majesty would be the first to lose their lives after you."