From the start, Eleonora didn’t believe that her charm alone pulled the Junior Duke of Kars all the way to Nargoz. But never could she expect that her new suitor was greedy enough to covet what even the empire didn’t dare snatch.
“I pondered the question for a long time, and it just so happens that you and I are the best match. In today’s Arcadia, only I dare marry you. Only I am willing to risk Nargoz’s outrage to free you from captivity and give you the vengeance you so dearly seek. At the same time, only you can free me from my predicament and help me claim the Tear. What do you say?” Kilian asked, making Eleonora realize that the rumors about the rakish Junior Duke didn’t deserve much credit.
“You’re the betrothed of Anke von Karsten-Rulweil, no woman in Arcadia dares marry you—expect me, of course. Why you’d want to ruin a match even imperial princes crave, I don’t know. But you’re right about that. Now the question is, how could you possibly use the Tear? Even bloodkins can’t channel it, to say nothing of a human teen,” Eleonora countered.
Though a monstrous race whose insatiable hunger ruined civilizations, chiropterans possessed a unique trait: throughout their immortal lives, they could each shed one Blood Tear.
The Blood Tear contained the expression of thrice the strongest magical powers the chiropteran would achieve in his life. Indeed, like a divination stone, the Blood Tear accurately calculated the limit its owner would reach, and tripled it.
Shedding the Tear was no mean feat and required an eruption of the chiropteran’s most heartfelt emotions. Interestingly, anyone besides the owner could theoretically use the Tear. But because it siphoned an outrageous quantity of lifeforce, humans and bloodkins couldn’t.
In ancient times, chiropterans attempted to force tears out of one another, but met total failure. Once they shed their tear, however, they lost all human emotions, becoming cold herders and barbaric killing machines.
It was during the Eternal Night that, for reasons still unknown, Kalarac, the Eldest of the Chiropteran Dynasty, shed his Tear and entrusted it to his first bloodkin vassals. And Following his mystery-laced retreat, he left it behind.
“My body is special and can endure the Tear’s negative effects. But before I can seize it, we must first…”
“Obtain Oliver’s assistance, or make me the reigning Queen of Nargoz,” Eleonora finished for Kilian. And seeing the two lying on the bed in such an intimate exchange, Ailith—still encased in the wall—couldn’t believe that a few minutes prior, Kilian broke in through the window.
“And that’s where I come into play. Although your powers probably surpass mine, only I hold both the will and ability to make you queen—a seat you can’t take without crushing your brother’s skull.
I will give you the crown and all its authority. The state and its 200 million citizens. Lay down plans to prevent you from suffering Oliver’s incomming fate, and give you the freedom to live as you see fit. The only thing I can’t promise you, is a man’s true love and utter devotion, because I too have bills to collect and a blood ladder to climb.
Knowing this, will you marry me?” The mild words thundered in Eleonora’s mind, and pushing against her chains, she pulled her face closer to Kilian, nearly brushing her lips against his.
“You won’t ask the details of how I became the way I am?”
“I don’t need to know. But if you speak, I will listen.”
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“What about the previous marriages and the roots of our family grudge?”
“I know the gist. But if you speak, I will listen.”
“How about trust? Do you think you can trust a snake?”
This time, Kilian paused, and flashed Eleonora the most enrapturing smile she’d faced in her life.
“I know enough to realize that you’re just like me. Broken, yes. Callous, yes. But though you may commit heinous acts, you will never bare your fangs at someone that treats you with sincerity. That being the case, I have nothing to fear.” In the instant those words left his lips, Kilian could swear that in Eleonora’s eyes, he saw a different person. The feeling didn’t last a second, and for the first time in four years, the princess chuckled.
“Very well, as long as you can take the key to my anti-magic chains from my brother and obtain his submission, I will give you my hand,” Eleonora replied, and turned away from Kilian.
“Ailith, from now on, you must obey all of the Junior Duke’s orders and help him in whatever way he wishes you to,” Eleonora added before closing her eyes. Regaining her human form, Ailith flew out of the cracked wall, and as if nothing had occurred, curtsied toward Kilian. However, with a wave of his hand, he dismissed her.
“I’ve had eyes on you for a long time and did my homework. If everything goes according to plan, your huntmaster won’t be necessary. But if her strength and knowledge can be of use, I will let you know,” Kilian said, stood up, and split into detached molecules to fly back into his chambers.
As soon as Kilian departed, Ailith spun toward her mistress, showing a gaze full of confusion.
“Mistress, this is unwise. As long as we keep up with the hunt, in a year at worst, you will regain enough powers to crush your chains. As for that Oliver, with I here, how could he harm you? That Kilian plays the strings of human emotions and is as cunning as his father. You can’t trust him,” With heaving breasts and trembling fists, Ailith rushed toward Eleonora’s side and made her case.
But while she usually took her longtime servant’s advice, this time, Eleonora shook her head.
“Ailith, what is our kind’s greatest woe?”
“Our world is barren of sincerity.”
“Right, no matter how hard we try, we are cursed to never find anyone able to treat us with genuineness. You say he’s playing with the strings of my emotions, but with Kars’ ressources, Nargoz’s current predicament and a few schemes, he can force Oliver to hand over the Tear. Instead, he chose to make me feel indispensable. That being the case, I will return the favor and give him a chance,” Eleonora replied, and seeing the rare smile stretching her mistress’ lips, Ailith couldn’t bear to argue. How many centuries had it been since the last time?