Irelina walked around as everyone's eyes were on her. She did not care. She saw the orchestra stage with a medieval guitar placed beside the piano. She looked at the musician and asked for permission.
“Mister, can I borrow this for a moment?” the musician nodded and agreed.
A guitar? Zeddrick wondered.
She took the guitar and went to the center stage, facing the audience. She put the guitar in her arms. Her eyes were half closed. She smiled, and before she knew it, she remembered her old memories with Colleen. She felt nostalgic but sad at the same time.
“You have not heard this song. It’s nothing special, but I hope this song will bring back some memories close to your heart.” Irelina’s bittersweet expression as she placed her fingers on the fingerboard.
Medicius used his peculiar eyes to see her behind the veil. ‘Irelina, why do you look sad? Is her song perhaps for her family? He thought.
Her fingers move nimbly on the strings, strumming a gentle melody that drifts through the crowd. Sitting atop the highest wall separating the Fallon Organization from the ruins, she reminisces about her past with Colleen.
“Hey, Iris, what do you plan on doing after we leave the organization?” Colleen asked.
“I don’t know. I never thought about it.” Iris said.
“Come on, you should have one, at least.”
Iris looked at Colleen sideways. “Then, what about you?”
“Me? I want to have a small family of my own. Have a loving husband with four adorable kids and live in a small town in Greenland.” Colleen said as she smiled, looking at the far end of the dry ruins.
“Wow, I can’t believe you have set your plans. Now I feel that I should also have one.”
“It’s just a plan. But if it doesn’t work,” she looked at Iris and said, “Shall the two of us live far away together in Greenland and raise some cattle?” She grinned.
Iris chuckled. “Then, I will milk the cattle if that happens.”
The touches of laughter they had throughout the sunset would be their last time together. With a wistful smile, she sings the song she had written like a classic motion roll film.
Do you still remember? The time when we’re together.
We were running wild and free. Like we used to be
But then again, you’re not here.
At that moment, it took Zeddrick’s attention that the very word from Irelina’s lips was shafts stabbed in his heart. He remembered the endless love he had with the former empress, Earlena. The time they were sharing the peals of laughter and the confession of his love for her under the Wisteria tree. Her sweet smile and gracefulness were vivid in his memories. Earlena was everything to him. No one can replace his beloved.
Can you still remember? The promises we made together.
That we will live forever, Loving ‘till eternity
But then again, you’re no longer here.
But for Irelina, no matter how the cruel world neglected and used her, she remained kind and forgiving. She remained compassionate despite being killed out of her loyalty to the organization. Because in her heart, she truly desires to live in peace. She briefly averted her glance to the emperor’s seat. ‘Those looks in his eyes feel like he drowned himself in misery.’ Irelina thought and glanced back to the audience.
The regent noticed His Majesty’s frown, but the flame in his eyes was sad. But everyone’s attention was on Irelina. They were surprised by her expressive voice.
How can I love- you? How can I be there for you?
I gave my heart, my life, my soul. To be with you
Please come back to me. Please stay with me…forever - I will be here.
She ended the melody passionately, which left everyone tongue-tied. Then, she heard a clap from the opposite side. It was Sidañian smiling at her. She smiled back. Zeddrick noticed how the Emperor of Horos looked at her admirably as he furrowed and clenched his fist. He was not happy that Irelina was befriending his unwanted guest.
Everyone clapped and cheered for her remarkable performance and heard them compliment her voice. She returned the guitar to the musician, who was also impressed by her voice. She stood before the emperor and the regent, which annoyed Dianthus even more. Zeddrick looked at her coldly with a gaze of fury. Irelina could sense that His Majesty was a coarse man.
She slightly bowed her head. “I guess my song did not please, His Majesty.”
“The song you sing is rubbish.” He insulted her, and the Regent was surprised by his disrespectful manner.
“Like I said, Your Majesty, the song is nothing special. It is only a song I wrote. I apologize if it did not meet your expectations.”
Dianthus smirked. ‘Ha! Do you think such a stupid song will flatter His Majesty’s heart? What a fool you are.’
“If you have nothing else to do here, you may leave.” Zeddrick scoffed at her.
She felt annoyed behind her veil. ‘You should at least say thank you, you jerk. Do you think it was easy to sing in front of so many people just to get insulted by you? Whatever, the hell I care. I kept the best for last, so be ready,’ she grinned.
She confidently smiled and said, “Not a problem, Your Majesty.” She paused and added, “But, before I go, Your Majesty, there’s one thing that has been bothering me since I woke up from a coma.”
“And what is that?” His tone was disinterested.
“The rumors about my ugly face. I wonder who spread such stupid rumors, who never seen my face at all.” Her tone was blunt.
The guests started to murmur again. ‘Stupid rumor?’ Zeddrick thought, furrowing his brows towards her. Medicius quietly came forward and stood beside Castaeus. He was surprised to see Medicius beside him and noticed his worried face. Medicius gulped and felt nervous as he looked at Regent Robina's composed posture. ‘Irelina, what are you planning to do?’ Medicius worriedly thought.
‘Why does he look worried? Is it because he doesn’t want her to become a laughingstock tonight?’ Castaeus wondered but was also curious to see behind that veil.
“Since Your Majesty and Regent Robina has acknowledged me as the 9th Concubine of this empire, I would like to take this opportunity to show everyone what I truly looked like.” She confidently said.
“Ha! Are you sure about that? You don’t want to lose your face when they see how ugly you are!” Zeddrick mocked and offended her.
Irelina challenged him. “Do you want to make a bet?” she smirked.
“Ha! Do you dare to challenge me as your emperor? 9th Concubine, Irelina Mercius.” His tone was loud and heartless.
Most of them felt sorry for Irelina with all the murmurs surrounding her. Dianthus was looking forward to seeing her get humiliated in front of everybody.
Irelina grinned with self-confidence. “Why not? I have nothing to lose anyway.”
Zeddrick furrowed, “Fine, tell me what you want.”
“If I lose, I will quietly leave Hēnte and accept the Emperor of Horos’s request to move into his empire.” She lied and glimpsed at Sidañian, who was astounded by her sudden words, ‘I’m sorry, Sadi, I want this bet to work. I will make it up to you.’ She felt guilty about her behavior.
But, Sidañian just smirked, crossing his arms and thought, ‘She got me there. Now everyone is looking at me. Irelina Mercius, you are indeed an interesting lady.’
“But if you win?” His Majesty asked.
“And, If I win,” she glanced directly toward Dianthus and thought, ‘My hunch was never wrong. I know who the culprit is. So, let’s play for a while. What do you say, Dianthus?’ She smirked and said, “Please grant me full authority to find the culprit who tried to kill me and punish according to the Law of Verticulas.” Her tone was firm.
The Golden Hall became noisy because of the shocking news they had heard. Zeddrick was bewildered in disbelief, ‘Why is she so confident to risk herself to find the culprit we never caught for the last three years?’ He paused, and his eyes widened, ’Or did she already know who the culprit was from the beginning?
Regent Robina intervened, “Your Majesty, this is not—”
“How confident are you in finding the culprit? Saying these words will put your life at stake if you wrongly accuse the person.” His tone was stern.
“I know. It’s not easy because you need proof for that,” Irelina said and thought, ‘I’ve worked as an assassin all my life; do you think I will fail in this era? She smirked again.
Zeddrick pondered. ’She’s right. Without valid proof, we cannot punish the person. The culprit is very cautious in using dark magic.”
The Golden Empire Emperor, Zeddrick Apeus Verticulas
Irelina tilted her head to spice the night. “But what can I do? The culprit is here. Standing in this crowd and having a great time.” She smirked and mischievously thought, ‘I am going to play mind games in your head, you arrogant jerk. I’m not going to let you humiliate me again.’ She felt no remorse with her wicked smile behind the veil.
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