They kissed right in front of Mila. From the way the man embraced her sister and how Anna responded to the kiss, Mila could conclude that this was not the first time Anna had met this strange man.

But, how can that be? And why would Anna do this? Weren't Anna and Liam engaged? They would be the next king and queen.

​​

Anna and Liam have been together for as long as Mila could remember, so it was not exaggerating to say that what Anna did was an affair. Not only that, this was also a betrayal to the king and their people.

Mila shook her head and tried not to see what the two of them were doing. She pressed her ears with her palms, to get rid of the sounds that made Mila's anger rise, along with her disbelief at what her sister had the heart to do.

Mila closed her eyes so what they were doing now could not be seen by her.

If only this wasn't a memory, where Mila couldn't do anything but be a spectator, then what she would have done after this would have been one thing that Anna would have remembered for the rest of her life.

Mila didn't know how long she closed her eyes and ears, but when her sharp instincts sensed a significant change in her surroundings, slowly but surely, Mila opened her eyes again.

In front of her, fully clothed and sitting on the grass while watching the sunset, was Anna, looking a little pale, maybe because she had been exposed to the sun for too long, but still that didn't detract her beauty.

Meanwhile, beside her, the man was hugging her from behind while Anna leaned against his chest.

They seemed to be talking about something about the book that Anna had brought to the man's hands.

Mila walked over to them to listen more carefully to what they were really talking about.

With a sharp gaze directed at Anna, Mila sat beside them to listen to what they were discussing. Not only anger, but she also felt the feelings of betrayal toward her sister.

Despite her reckless attitude and stubbornness to run away from the palace, Mila loved her family more than anything, as well as their people, especially Anna. The two of them were so close, because Anna was the only family Mila had after the death of their parents at the hands of the humans.

This was also what triggered Mila's hatred of these humans. The war that had been going on for countless years, had not only cost time and energy, but also the emotions between the two sides.

"How did you get this precious book?" the man asked Anna, kissing her forehead and this made Mila furious. "Didn't you say this is the most heavily guarded book in the forbidden part of the palace?"

Anna lowered her head, she stared at the book in her lap, her gaze wandering as if she was in conflict with herself. "I am their future queen and Liam trusts me so much."

"Then why did you betray him?" Mila hissed. She hated this side of Anna in front of her, but on the other hand she also loved her sister.

"So you lied to him?" The man concluded and Anna didn't answer. "What if they get suspicious and find out that it was you who took this book."

Of course, sooner or later Liam would realize that the book had disappeared and the options for the perpetrators of the theft could be said to be very few because only the descendants of the king could open the forbidden door and of course the future queen.

"They will not suspect me," Anna answered in a slightly gloomy voice.

However, even Mila could hear the uncertainty in her voice when she heard the answer, she knew her sister quite well.

"How can you be sure?" the man asked worriedly. His fingers caressed the side of Anna's face and made her close her eyes, enjoying the touch. "What if they find out?"

What if they find out?

It was very possible for Anna to be caught for her actions, because after all she would be on the list of suspected people, but if that were to happen…

"Liam will protect me," Anna said calmly, she opened her eyes and the misty color of her eyes reflected the glow of the setting sun which made her look like she had golden eyes.

Anna was so beautiful, fragile, but also a calculating person at this point. A very complex personality and Mila had never seen this side of her sister before.

"The future king seems to love you very much," the man snorted in a very visibly annoyed tone. "He's even willing to suffer punishment for your sake."

Anna smiled sarcastically when she heard those words, there was an irony in the way Anna responded to that statement. "Liam loves his people and he is carrying out his position as future king very well. If I wasn't the chosen candidate to be queen, then he wouldn't spare me his attention."

"Isn't that the same as him loving you?" the man raised his eyebrows in confusion. According to him, there was no difference between the two statements.

"No," Anna objected firmly. "He's just doing his job to the best of his ability."

This may sound strange to some and difficult for Mila to understand, but for her who lived life with Liam, she knew very well that her position would never be a priority for him.

Liam always put his political life first, his dealings with the elders, the issue of war with humans, his loyalty to the king, who was none other than his own father, because he must prepare himself as the next king.

And after all these affairs were completed, then Anna would be the next option.

Maybe Anna was too greedy and demanding, but there were times when she wanted all of Liam's attention just for herself. Even when they were together, all Liam talked about was his boring responsibilities and Anna had to pretend to be enthusiastic about it.

"Then how can you be sure he will help you?" The man asked again, but his eyes stared at the book in his hands with interest, as if he was contemplating a plan.

And that gaze did not go unnoticed by Mila. Anna certainly didn't see it, but Mila could clearly see a smile tugging at the corners of the man's lips as he carefully turned each page of the old book.

"I have my own way of persuading him. You don't have to worry about me," Anna said lightly and tilted her head, just at the same time the look in the man's eyes changed as he looked back at Anna. "Then, what are you going to do with this book?"

Mila couldn't hear what the man's answer was because after that her surroundings changed again.

Now, the sun was no longer shining and she was standing on the bridge connecting the east and north towers.

Not far from Mila, Anna and Liam were talking, from the expressions on their faces, she knew that this was a serious conversation.

"Why did you do that, Anna?" Liam asked. His voice was deep and low, but Mila could hear the deep disappointment in his voice.

To hear more clearly and find out more about what really happened to the two, Mila walked over and stood beside Liam.

Liam fifty years ago still looked the same as the Liam that Mila met moments ago. Nothing much has changed in this man.

"You know what punishment you're going to get, don't you?" Liam looked at the woman in front of him with sharp eyes. If only this woman had not been his childhood friend and would soon become his queen, then Liam was certain to finish her off with his own hands.

Too bad that can't be done.

"I know," replied Anna in a weak voice, she then knelt before Liam, causing the man to take a step back and stare at Anna with disgust.

Even after seeing what Anna was doing now, it didn't make him sympathize with her. This woman had made a fatal mistake and she should have realized it before starting all this mess.

The patience of the future king was being tested at this point.

"But you still did it?" Liam growled. "The elders already know about this and you will not be able to escape their punishment."

Anna lifted her head, looked at Liam with pleading eyes. "I want that punishment to come from you."

Liam shook his head and laughed grimly. "You think my punishment will be any different from theirs?"

"You want to kill me?" The question sounded like a whisper on this quiet night.

"I wish I could kill you." It was the strongest curse book ever and no one should touch it carelessly.

Liam was utterly betrayed when he found out that it was Anna who had stolen the book and given it to his human lover.

Liam trusted Anna and let her get permission to enter a restricted area within the palace, because of the many people he believed could betray him, Anna was never on the list.

However, reality said otherwise and Liam didn't know what to feel about this woman anymore.

"You always put your business ahead of me." Anna wiped her tears and stood up straight. This time she looked at Liam more firmly. "You never think of me. Liam, you don't deserve to be loved."

And after the last sentence, Mila's surroundings changed again, this time she was at the moment where Liam killed Anna and she was watching behind a slightly open door.