Her hair was so white, so pure and innocent…like a white canvas waiting to be…

Lucien’s lips twitched slightly at the thought of wanting to paint his color on her. He’d never met such an odd, but interesting lady before. Lucien closed his eyes as he remembered the moment she stepped foot into his secret sanctuary – and disturbed his mind. He remembered her ecstatic expression when she inhaled the smell and beauty of the white roses. Then he remembered he furrowed his brows when he heard the sound of her underskirt ripping. And the way his throat throbbed when her pale legs filled his eyes. 

“Hah...” Lucien thought to himself how such a high-born lady…was so unsatisfying. 

He had decided to let her be, until she decided to approach him, like a little rabbit unknowingly tempting a wild beast. Her footsteps were as light as feathers, and her breathing was shallow. He initially thought she was a spy, or probably a prostitute sent by his uncle, but the way her soft skin felt, and eyes that innocently stared into his soul…told him she was not like the other ladies sent his way. 

She was truly innocent, like the white roses growing in his sanctuary place.

“Your highness, Duke Delphina sent a messenger earlier…” his knight said, disturbing Lucien’s thoughts. 

“What does my uncle want?” Lucien said coldly.

“He said tonight’s session is canceled. The last session showed progress, so he wants to decrease the number of sessions going forw – ”

“Did my mother have anything to say?”

“No…her grace agreed and ordered me to report to you right away, and to ensure that today’s meeting goes smoothly.”

Lucien chuckled slightly under his breath. 

“Of course…we shouldn’t waste any time to gain anymore wealth than we already have. And today’s clients are the most important to the Delphina’s.”

Lucien stood still as his knight carefully buttoned up his black collared shirt, and placed his black military jacket over his shoulders. Generally, his assigned footman would do this menial task, but Lucien hated being touched by weak commoners, especially those who were small and shorter than him. Luckily, he had Bradley Fern, his trusted knight and right-hand commander of his personal army, the Violet Knights. His built was similar to Lucien’s, so he could do his job well.

Bradley, soon picked up a few gold and purple jewels and placed them on the right side of Lucien’s jacket, signifying his Delphina bloodline.

“Your highness…” Bradley said as he attached the last golden cord on Lucien’s jacket. “Duke Delphina has increased the number of surveillances on you. Last night, we found an additional 3 guards who did not have background checks verified.” 

“And?” Lucien said, unsurprised by the revelation. 

“As per usual, they were eliminated and deposed of your highness.” 

Lucien nodded and looked into the mirror in front of him. He was the very essence of royalty, and with his red fiery hair that glistened against the warm fire – Lucien was perfect, yet so unperfect. As a prince of the Aruellia Empire he was treated well – with the same respect and dignity like any member of the imperial family deserved. But that was it. He was nothing less, nor more than that. 

Lucien smirked. Even if his holy powers were as powerful has the crown prince and his father’s, it was still a power that was unholy. The amount of work his mother and uncle have done over the years were finally coming to fruition. And that pleased Lucien greatly. No one can touch him now. 

Not even them – who made his life a living hell the moment he was born.

“Don’t you think it’s odd that the only time I can come out is when the sun has come down, and the darkness has spread through the entire palace?” Lucien said as he attached his Daia sword to his side. Encrusted on it was a powerful Alsu stone. 

“Night is when you are the most powerful your highness,” Bradley answered, “So nothing is odd about that.” 

Lucien smiled.  “You’re right. I am the most powerful when the sun is down.”

“The sun doesn’t make me shine any brighter than the moonlight does, and yet, I find myself always longing for something even brighter than both.” 

Bradley simply nodded at Lucien’s statement. 

“Don’t follow me and go straight to the meeting place.” Lucien commanded and in a split second he disappeared. Only violet sparkles were left in his place, reminding Bradley that Lucien’s energy was once there.

***

Ever since Lucien Augustus was born, his mother hated him. 

Sylvia Delphina was the most powerful woman in the empire despite being an imperial concubine, and that was why she hated her powerless, red-haired son. Lucien was her only flaw. He was born with no holy power – he did not inherit any from his father, the emperor, or even his mother, the Delphina princess. His red hair and grey eyes mirrored his powerful father, but that was only a shell. He was a useless, empty husk. Therefore, his mother and uncle decided to make him powerful, and by whatever means possible. If that meant hurting him in the most painful way, they did it. 

And if that meant sending over random women to his bedroom every night so he can make another copy of himself…and possibly pass down his holy powers, they did it.

Whatever his mother and uncle wanted, they made come true. And Lucien had to live through that.

Lucien’s grey, silver eyes reflected the dark moonlight. The only source of protection, and peace he had ever felt was from this ruined, abandoned ‘White Rose Palace’. He stared at the rusted wooden gazebo, destroyed palace, and the beautiful white rose bushes. Since the moment he stepped foot in here to escape from his mother’s terrifying lashes and confinement, he never wanted to leave. And it was also, the first place he had ever met his father, the emperor of this great empire.

“Live as quietly as you can. Make no sound. That is the only way you will survive here.”

He still remembered the night his father, the emperor, gave this advice. Or warning. Although his father’s voice held no affection, Lucien kept this memory itched into his mind, as if it was his last salvation. 

“Nothing has changed.” Lucien under his breath as he looked over the destroyed White Rose Palace, and then over to the cement gravestone of his half-brother. The half-brother who was born the same night Lucien did, and then died. The half-brother who received the love of all in the Aruelleia empire. 

***

“Lizzy, I heard that if you pray at the temple at midnight, your wish will come true. Do you believe it?” Aria asked her maid curiously. 

Lizzy paused, and then carefully set the hair brush down. Her expression turned sour – something Aria was very used to seeing when Lizzy was frustrated. 

“My Lady!” Lizzy shouted, but not loud enough so it can be heard outside Aria’s bedroom. 

“What’s wrong?” Aria asked, confused at Lizzy’s sudden outburst. 

“W-We are not sneaking out again…” 

“Did I say that?” 

“You didn’t need to. I already know.” 

Lizzy let out loud sigh. “Cedric already warned me the last time we snuck out, and you came back with those…” she blushed slightly. “T-Those s-scandalous books…”

Aria’s lips turned upright into a very snaky smile. 

“It’s normal to read books that are a bit…” 

“B-But you’re a lady! You shouldn’t go into the city dressed like a baron’s daughter and buy s-such…b-books.”

Aria chuckled and walked over to her window.

“I’m going out tonight for a different reason....” Aria said and looked out into the dark night. “I need to pray before tomorrow’s planned visit to the imperial palace. I may meet the crown prince again.” 

“W-wait, so you’re going to ask for forgiveness?” Lizzy asked curiously. 

“Yes…” Aria paused and turned to look at lizzy. “This is not for the books. This is for being rude to the crown prince.”

“From what you told me, I don’t think your first meeting with the crown prince is anything to fret over.” 

“What do you mean? It was horrid…” Aria said and her face slightly turned pink. “I said he wasn’t a gentleman. And then I also slapped his face, and…there was blood....” 

“Slapped? Blood?” Lizzy shouted, but quickly hushed. “You c-could be executed for hurting a royal!” 

“Exactly…” Aria said and turned around to Lizzy who was now as pale as a ghost. “That’s why I need to go to the temple and wish for protection from the heavens.”

“Y-Yes, you’re right, my lady. Even if you are going to be his fiancé…. slapping him is like wishing for a death sentence! Don’t worry…I’ll make sure you get to the temple and make your wish.”

Lizzy put her hands up in a fist, with a determined look on her face. She was ready to protect Aria by all means possible. 

***

After sneaking out of the Marcellus estate, and making it to the temple, Aria prayed and made her wish. Even if the rumors were not true, praying helped calm her nerves, especially because she may meet the crown prince again, and if he recognizes her…

Aria touched her neck. She will be accused, and trialed for hurting a royal. And her family, the Marcellus house may face ruin. She felt her body shiver at the thought of that again, and she quickly hasten her way out of the temple. She needed to get home, now that she was done with…

“My lady…” Lizzy whispered over to Aria as soon as they pass by a group of priests. “Did you make your wish?” 

“Y-Yes…”

Aria’s face blushed as she remembered the crown prince’s tight muscles against her body. Much more happened, but there was no way she could reveal that to Lizzy. Reading it in books was much more tolerating than experiencing it in real life, and it was much more shameful. Aria could feel her rapid heartbeat. 

If only, Lizzy knew what Aria was thinking at this moment.

As they headed towards the exit, a group of men was also exiting the temple in front of them. Aria did not mind at first; however, looking closer, the man in front of the group looked familiar. As Aria prepared to turn and exit the temple doors, the man and his group also did, so she paused, afraid she would meet eyes – with him.

Somehow the memories of the crown prince resurfaced, and she was afraid to move forward.

“M-My lady.” Lizzy whispered to Aria, who was frozen. “What’s wrong?”

Aria did not answer. Her blue eyes were seeking for anything red, or grey. She could feel the cold air getting chiller, and the sounds around her humming in and out. She scanned around her surroundings for anything to look at, but for some reason, her curiosity made her look back at the man coming towards them.

Two pairs of grey eyes, intensely stared at her. She could see a faint tip of red hair peeking out from under the man’s hood. 

She gulped unconsciously, and stepped back. 

No way….

Instead of turning right to leave, the man walked right up to Aria, and paused. Cold eyes stared down at her. Like knives, they hovered around her pale neck, and then slowly made their way up to her blue eyes. 

He did not say anything to her. He simply looked at her like a piece of furniture, and then turned to exit the temple. Like that night, after looking her up and down, he simply left. She was not even worth a word from him. 

Aria almost dropped to her knees after the crown prince and his knights left the temple. 

“M-My lady, did you know that scary man?” Lizzy asked, and pulled Aria to the side. “H-He seemed to know you.”

“Shh.” Aria covered Lizzy’s mouth. Her eyes scanned around the buzzling nightlife around them, afraid someone might be waiting in the dark night to finish them off. 

“We were never here tonight. Do you hear?” 

Lizzy shook her head, acknowledging Aria’s command. 

“Never mentioned what, and who we saw tonight. Ever.”

Aria could still feel the intense tension from the group of men behind the crown prince. Even if the crown prince seemed to hold no emotion towards her, in that moment, she felt death behind him. Having been trained in sword fighting with Cedric, and seeing numerous duels on the training grounds, the familiar tension she felt earlier with the crown prince was dangerous. 

It was definitely murderous.