"What about Ser?"

"I don't care about her."

"Who will it be then?"

"It's you, Laontel."

"What?"

I doubted my ears. I thought I was mistaken.

But Phillip looked me in the eye and continued.

"It's you that I love! I wanted to tell you way before Rakshul did..."

"Lies! What about Ser?"

"I needed a lot of strength to become the Emperor. That's why I used her. Everything I did was to have you, Laontel."

I was absolutely disgusted.

"Stop it! Love? Don't be ridiculous! You used Ser just for that?!"

Suddenly, Phillip pulled me by the waist and tried to kiss me. I avoided his face and then slapped him.

Phillip glared at me with his face flushed.

"I have everything that Rakshul had now! I'm the Emperor! I got the Power of Light! Is it because of my hair? Or is it my name?!"

The Royal Family had a tradition of donating to the church, and in return, the priest would bestow a name to their children.

This was a long-time Roum tradition.

Phillip's mother also asked the Emperor to do so for her, but the Emperor didn't want to donate to the church for this son, so he carelessly gave him a servant's name.

Phillip's name was one of his complexes.

However, I never cared about any of that, whether it be his name or his hair.

"Rakshul is not mean! He's better than trash like you. Don't you dare compare yourself to him!"

I pushed Phillip and stormed out of the room.

I immediately ran to Ser.

***

"Laon, you're here?"

Ser was lying in bed and smiled at me when I came in

"Sorry, were you taking a nap?"

"No. I was just about to wake up."

"That's a relief. Get up, let's go to my place."

"It's alright, I like it here."

I had already offered for Ser to move in with me many times. Besides, she used to stay at my place before too.

But I couldn't just let her be this time.

"Ser, Phillip is not as good as you think."

I had to tell her the truth. But how should I explain the situation so that Ser wouldn't be hurt?

Before I could continue, Ser opened her mouth.

"I know it all. Phillip likes you."

"You knew that?"

"Yes, I already knew it since I first met Phillip."

She said to me calmly.

"...then why did you do so?"

"Just because I like him. I couldn't hide my feelings any longer and thought maybe someday Phillip would be sincere towards me. I was jealous of you too. When I tried to give Phillip my powers, you stopped him. I was angry even though I knew you were doing it for me. I thought Phillip would love me with all his heart if I gave him the Power of Light."

"Why did you think so? That's absurd!"

"I know, but while I was talking with Phillip I felt that it would be worth it. I like him too much. I'm such a fool."

"It's not your fault. It's obvious that he's been trying to create a rift between us. He knew if I managed to convince you, you wouldn't give him your powers. Ser, let's leave right now! Forget about him."

"No."

"Why?"

"I've sinned."

"Sinned? What—"

Before I could even ask, Ser burst into a fit of coughs.

She covered her mouth in a hurry, but I still saw the blood dripping from the gaps between her fingers.

I noticed a black spot on her arms and my heart sank.

Black spots, vomiting blood, bloodshot eyes. She had the same symptoms as Rakshul.

"Ser, what's wrong with your body? Since when have you been this sick? Why didn't Phillip heal you?"

"This is my sin."

"What happened?"

She stared at me blankly, and then began to explain everything that happened when we lost contact.

"People died because of me. That's why I am being punished."

"Because of you? Do you mean the disease?"

She nodded.

"Phillip used my powers to commit bad deeds. I gave the Power of Light to the wrong person. That's why I got punished. Countless people died because of me. Rakshul also died because of me. All of this happened because I gave him the power. I'm sorry Laontel. I'm so sorry."

She burst into tears.

So that's why an unknown disease suddenly spread in the Imperial palace.

I understood now why Ser cried as she apologized to me when we met again after a long time.

Phillip deliberately spread the disease so he could become the Emperor. He killed everyone that was likely to ascend the throne.

But the disease also spread throughout the region, making the situation even worse.

Phillip used Ser's power to create a disease that had never been seen before. That was why no one knew how to cure it, and even magic didn't work.

There was the Power of Light on the disease so even those healing spells didn't work.

However, Phillip knew the method to cure the disease he created using the same power.

Those who were terrified by the mysterious plague considered Phillip as their saviour, so he easily became the Emperor as planned.

Ser apologized to me because she already knew about this.

"I don't deserve your help. I'm a fool, Rakshul died because of me..."

Ser knew Phillip had used her but she still remained at his side. That's how she planned to punish herself.

For now, the first thing to do was to treat her.

I had already lost my most beloved person. I couldn't lose my best friend like this.

"Ser, take back all of the blessing you gave me."

"No, I can't do that..."

"Take it. Use that power to heal yourself. You can go back to the way you were if you abandon your human body. Then, you can get better."

Ser was the Goddess of Light, so just a little bit of power was enough for her to go back to her original form.

She could also take the Power of Light she gave to Phillip back.

Despite the obvious solution, Ser hesitated.

"But what will happen to Phillip if he loses the Power of Light..."

"Why are you even worried about him in this situation?!"

The door opened as I screamed in frustration.

Phillip came in followed by his knights.

"Laontel, I found you."

Phillip looked at me,

"Why are you looking for me?"

"You're going to become the Empress. Of course I need to find you."

"Are you crazy? Why would I be your Empress?!"

I screamed at Phillip but he only smiled.

"Were you telling Ser about our wedding?"

"What are you talking about? That's nonsense!"

I was shocked by Phillip's attitude.

"Move Laontel Bellacian to the Empress' palace."

"Yes, Your Majesty."

"The Empress palace? What are you talking about? Why would I go there?!"

I protested to Phillip but he signaled the knights again without answering me. In the end, I was taken to the palace.

***

Phillip locked me in the Empress' palace.

The Bellacian family protested it but he ignored them.

I was locked in the most splendid room in the palace.

Everything was made of gold and decorated with jewels. Everyone envied the palace that was given to me, but to me, it was a gilded prison.

"How long are you going to keep me here?"

"Until you become mine."

"You killed Rakshul! You sacrificed innocent people to become the Emperor! Do you think I'll forgive you?"

Phillip's lips curved up.

"Laontel, you are useless, but I still kept you alive. You should be grateful for that."

He didn't seem to be guilty in the slightest even when the truth was discovered.

Rather, he became even more brazen.

"I could never understand your crazy logic."

"You've become more annoying."

"If you were locked up in a bedroom for a year, you'd also be like me."

"Well, listening to you isn't as bad as the others."

"Huh?"

It was like I was talking to a wall.

"You have three wifes! What's the point of keeping me here?!"

"I will make you the Empress."

Phillip locked me up in the Empress' palace and took in three noblewomen as his wives. They even gave birth to children for him.

I didn't want to deal with his nonsense anymore.

I was only concerned about Ser's condition.

"How's Ser?"

"She's doing very well. She's very happy because she thought I had abandoned you."

He was driving a wedge between me and Ser.