‘I vow, in the name of the kingdom of the brightest star, Sirius, and to the rightful emperor, Lucilius Yves Theodore…’

His red eyes gazed upon her bowed head. It was black magic. She was casting a spell on herself and on him.

‘Glory be to you, so long as I live, I shall protect you and this kingdom, down to the last gleam of my power, and I shall not die before the stars align.’

She raised her head and stared into his eyes; green orbs that never shone and exuded no emotions. He could never read her. 

She held out her arm and as she ran her other hand over the arm, blood seeped out of her skin, as if it was sliced by a thin thread. Droplets of blood fell on the glistening marble floor of the Hall.

He saw the black, dangerous aura emitting from the blood. 

She stood and walked towards him. He never flinched when she stopped right by his feet and touched his cheek with her bloody hand. 

‘I am bound to you, Your Majesty, and you shall use me as you would,’ she spoke. ‘You will forget my words but our hearts and souls remember. Absit omen.’