Chapter 245: The Emperor’s Wrath
[Osric’s POV—Imperial Palace—Hallway—Later]
The corridors of the main palace blurred as I moved, each step a calculated rush, my boots echoing against the marble like distant war drums. My mind raced faster than my feet could carry me. The moment I learned of what had happened at the altar—the vision, the glimpse of something beyond, something ancient—I knew there was no time to hesitate.
I had to reach His Majesty—now. One second longer and Lavinia could step into a library that shouldn’t be opened.
Because I know Lavinia... she will undoubtedly try to uncover why she had that vision. She already suspects something hidden within the Divine Library. And I cannot—I will not—let her find it.
This time, she glimpsed a fragment of the truth... but what if tomorrow she uncovers everything?
If that happens... I could lose her.
And i cannot let that happen... I could lose the entire world for her. But not her. Not ever.
I stepped out of the Emperor’s office, forcing my composure to mask the storm within. The guards immediately noticed, eyes sharp, hands brushing the hilts of their swords.
"I request an audience with His Majesty," I said, voice low but edged with steel. Every syllable carried the weight of urgency, of warning, of imminent danger.
The lead guard paused, scanning me carefully, reading the tension coiled in my posture and the unyielding resolve in my eyes. Then he bowed deeply.
"We shall inform His Majesty immediately, Lord Osric," he said, voice respectful, tinged with apprehension.
I nodded once, barely, and waited, each heartbeat dragging like a drum of warning. Every passing second could bring Lavinia one step closer to the secrets I was sworn to protect... secrets that could unravel everything.
The doors swung open, and Sir Ravick stepped out, brow furrowed, eyes sharp as ever.
"Lord Osric..." he began, tone cautious.
I stepped forward, voice clipped, urgent. "Sir Ravick... may I have an audience with His Majesty? It’s... imperative."
He froze, one hand on the doorframe. "His Majesty is leaving for a meeting—"
I cut him off, voice sharper, tension coiling like steel around my words. "It’s about Princess Lavinia."
Ravick’s eyes widened, his posture stiffening. "Did... did something happen to Princess?"
I clenched my jaw. "Please... it’s urgent."
He studied me for a long, tense moment, then nodded. "Very well. Come. Quickly."
As I stepped into the Emperor’s private chamber, the heavy scent of cedar and incense greeted me, and there he was—His Majesty, cloak draped over his broad shoulders, the very picture of a ruler about to stride into war or diplomacy. His gaze fell on me, sharp and piercing.
"Didn’t I tell you I am leaving for a meeting?" he barked, his voice like rolling thunder. "And yet... why, Osric, are you here, disrupting my time?"
I bowed, forcing my voice steady, though my insides churned. "Greetings, Your Majesty. Forgive the intrusion, but this matter cannot wait."
He exhaled, a long, deliberate sigh that seemed to fill the entire chamber with disdain. "There is no urgent matter... except, of course, anything regarding my daughter." His eyes flicked dangerously, a silent threat lurking beneath the surface.
"IT’S ABOUT HER, YOUR MAJESTY!" I interrupted, the words slicing the air like a blade.
The room fell into a deadly quiet.
His Majesty’s eyes narrowed, cutting daggers into my chest. His voice, low but deadly, thundered through the chamber: "The audacity to interrupt me... speak carefully, Osric. I hope whatever words you dare to utter are worth the insolence. Should they not be... I will not hesitate to throw you into the dungeon, even if my daughter herself pleads for your mercy."
I swallowed, my throat suddenly dry, and bowed deeper, every fiber of my being trembling under his gaze.
He strode past me, every step a command, and flopped onto the heavy couch like a lion claiming its throne. His piercing eyes bore into mine. "Speak... and speak well, Osric."
"I... Your Majesty," I began, hands tightening into fists at my sides. "Princess Lavinia... had a vision."
He lifted a brow, voice sharp and incredulous. "A vision? What do you mean by this? Explain yourself."
I drew in a steadying breath, knowing the weight of each word. "During the Divine Benediction Ceremony... the Princess had a vision. But it was not... ordinary. The vision... it showed her past life."
For a heartbeat, the chamber seemed to hold its breath. Ravick’s eyes widened, sharp as daggers, and His Majesty’s expression shifted from irritation to a stormy mix of shock and fear, a silent tempest threatening to spill over.
"Her... past life?" the Emperor’s voice rumbled, low, each word striking like a whip. "Explain! What do you mean by this? Are you saying... she remembers things that she wasn’t supposed to? Things that are forbidden?"
I nodded, jaw tight, heart hammering against my ribs. "Yes, Your Majesty. And... I fear she may seek more. The Divine Library... she may attempt to enter it to uncover the truths hidden there."
His Majesty’s eyes narrowed, a storm gathering behind his gaze. He rose from the couch with a sudden, terrifying intensity, the weight of his presence filling the room.
"What... what kind of vision did she have?" His voice was low and dangerous, but each word struck like a hammer on iron.
I gulped, my voice barely a whisper. "She said... she saw... she was lying dead... in your arms... at the temple... and Rey... was standing in front of you... instead of the priest."
Ravick’s face went white. "Your Majesty... that’s the vision from the night you begged time to be turned back."
The Emperor’s hands ran through his hair in a rare gesture of panic, the motion tense and almost desperate. His crimson eyes snapped to mine, sharp as daggers.
"And... why... why did Lavinia tell you this?"
I flinched, words catching in my throat.
Why would a girl share such a secret with a man? Because she trusts me... because she loves me. But the truth was dangerous... and I knew His Majesty would never see it that way.
"I ASKED YOU! WHY DID SHE TELL YOU THAT?!" His roar shattered the chamber like rolling thunder.
I clenched my fists at my sides, the weight of the truth crushing me. I had no choice but to admit it. "...Because... she trusts me, Your Majesty... and..."
He stepped closer, every inch of his towering form radiating wrath. His voice was sharp, every syllable a whip cracking across the floor. "...And? Speak!"
I swallowed hard, knowing the storm I was about to unleash. "We... we have confessed our feelings to each other..."
Time froze for a heartbeat. The Emperor’s hands shot out, grabbing my collar with terrifying force. His crimson eyes blazed, wide and furious.
"HOW DARE YOU!" he bellowed, his voice shaking the walls. I choked, struggling to catch a breath.
"You... your Majesty..." I croaked, panic clawing at my voice.
Ravick stepped forward cautiously, hands raised in a plea. "Your Majesty... please, control your temper—"
But the Emperor ignored him entirely. His grip tightened, fingers like iron around my neck, his voice low, lethal, and trembling with pure fury.
"Didn’t I tell you... to stay away from my daughter? To never lay a gaze upon her with your filthy, betraying eyes? And now... you dare confess to her... her heart... after everything that has happened? AFTER ALL SHE LOST BECAUSE OF YOU IN THE PAST LIFE?!"
Ravick’s face paled, stepping closer, voice shaking, "Your Majesty... he might... he might—die if you—"
The Emperor’s glare cut through him like a blade. "I don’t care if he dies! He will pay for this audacity! I will not allow my Lavinia, my precious daughter, to be ensnared by the likes of him—the one who betrayed her... chose someone else instead of her... in the last life!!"
My lungs burned, panic clawing at my chest. I tried to steady my voice. "Your Majesty... I... I only want to protect her... I would die a thousand times for her—"
The Emperor’s roar shook the ceiling. "Protect her? PROTECT HER?! You, the traitor of blood and past, dare speak of protection?! Do not dare use her as an excuse to cover your sins! I know... I know you do not love her... it is your guilt! And... I will not—will not—let my daughter’s heart be trampled, betrayed by your damned conscience!"
With a violent motion, he released me and shoved me across the polished floor. I skidded, coughing, chest burning from the impact.
"Step back from my daughter’s life, Osric!" His voice was low now, every word a blade slicing through the air. "Stand beside her only as her protector—nothing more! Nothing less! You will watch, you will guard... but you will never... never be her heart’s choice!"
I coughed again, struggling to steady myself, pain and fear warring within me.
Ravick stepped forward cautiously, voice trembling but urgent. "Your Majesty... first... first we must stop the Princess from reaching the Divine Library. She cannot enter... not now... or... or everything—everything will be ruined."
The Emperor’s crimson eyes flashed with an intensity that made the air feel molten. "Then stop her. Do whatever it takes. Do not fail me, Ravick. Nothing... no obstacle, no loyalty, no fear... will stand in the way of keeping my Lavinia safe from the consequences of secrets she was never meant to uncover."
I pressed myself against the floor, chest heaving, knowing in my bones that no matter the tyranny, no matter the orders... Lavinia would find a way. And that thought... that unbearable thought... made my blood run cold.