CHAPTER#34: Blood Oath

For a moment she couldn't believe her ears. Her ears must have played a joke on her.

"How can we get married?!"She suddenly jolted up in shock.

"Are you playing a prank on me? This isn't the time to play around!" she shouted out loud.

"Calm down now..." he sighed. His ears were already ringing.

"You know by law the alchemists and royalty can't interact with each other's affairs."

"Do you think that I'm unaware of the laws? Or do you think I'm messing about right now? "

He looked more determined which took her aback for a moment.

"But... Will my father approve of it?"

She seemed hesitant to believe in his assurance.

She wondered what schemes he hid up his sleeves.

"It saddens me that you have zero trust in me after being partners this whole time." he pouted and grumbled.

"So it means we're forever partners in crime. Just like Luci used to tease us." she smiled recalling how Luciana used to scold them and added this phrase at the end of every punishment. Both of them used to snicker and laugh since Luciana was never hard on scolding them. She rarely got angry. At times she used to laugh it off with them.

"You've finally smiled."He grinned. As always he wore a big smile that reassured her. He was always a mischievous one since childhood. Many would be mistaken that he was a carefree and irresponsible brat. But every time he proved them wrong.

"Alright, let's leave those grievous moments aside for some time."

She nodded and smiled.

-"Does he know that I like him?" she blushed.

"Neli... Why marriage?"She saw her lips move and realized the question she was asking.

He paused and suddenly flushed.

"Hey now...Am I the only one who harbored one-sided love here?"He suddenly vented out disappointed.

She laughed out loud and teased him as they left the gardens.

-"Yes this is for the best."He thought watching Aria walking toward the palace courtyard.

-"I won't let anyone have her." he frowned.

"Catch!"He heard her call out.

He instinctively raised his hand and caught it in his fist.

He looked in his hand and saw something purple and half-green in color.

It was a fig.

Looked around feeling nostalgic about the place. His mother Lady Naila Arcea and the empress often used to have their time spent in lush green courtyards. His mother was more of an indoor type of person. She rarely stepped out of the mansion. That is when Aphrodite approached her and brought her to the courtyard after she felt nauseous while making a rare appearance at the victory celebration. She had beautiful blonde locks flowing down her waist and big almond eyes that reflected the deep brown autumn woods.

Cornelius had the same brown eyes as his mother.

The twilight sky made its appearance when Aria and Cornelius parted ways. He watched her take flight. The guards looked displeased by his appearance due to his connection with alchemy.

He looked at them darkly and left towards the main palace where he was escorted to the emperor's chambers. Being invited to his chambers meant personal business. He had half the idea of what it might be about.

"I greet the great holy light of Amanécer."He bowed and greeted Helios briefly.

"Drop the formalities now. Odite would've reprimanded you for such honorifics."He smiled wanly.

"As always you are soft on me uncle."He beamed forgetting his place as his subject.

"How's Naila... I mean your mother doing?"He asked. Although he knew what he might hear next.

"Mother... Has gone back to how she was before."He replied.

"I shouldn't have bothered asking then..." he sighed and inclined back on the couch.

"To what pleasure do I owe you for this invitation?"

"As always you don't waste time."He chuckled.

"I have been wanting an alchemist to assist with the restoration of ancient portals at the borders of Amanécer."

"Ancient portals?" he squinted as Helios raised his forefinger emitting golden light and placed it in a glass lamp. The lamp began to glow instantly.

"Yes...Ancient portals. Those to begin with on eastern and western borders."

"Surely uncle you know that it may be at an impossible feet."

"That's why I summoned a young prodigy who has never failed to accomplish a thing."

"It requires the reawakening of ancient magic. And we both know it is forbidden by law."Cornelius said defiantly.

"Yes... It is now... And this is why I shall assist you."

"Even if half the nobles in the empire resist?"

"I will take the risks... I need your assistance... For that... I will do anything." he looked sullen.

"So you plan to bring back the crowned princess at all costs?"

He knew that he hit the nail on his head judging by his expression.

"I thought as much."He shrugged.

"You have shared childhood days with Luci and my other daughters. I never had a son. Odite adored you over her nephews."

-"The empress was more witty than the emperor. He is a good warrior but not so good as a father or a king."

"I will carry out the task you've assigned me. It may be risky. However, there is a price that must be paid in return."

"I swear upon my honor I will give you anything you ask of me." he cut his forefinger and allowed the blood to seep out of the wound.

-"The oath of blood. Everyone knows if the oath is broken it may cost the oathbreaker's life. Or if it is something equivalent to it."

He knelt on one knee and did the same gesture. The faint light shone between their hands as he shook them with Helios'.

"Say what you want my child. Whilst the oath is being activated."

"I shall swear to carry out Your Majesty's task on the condition that when I fulfill the task regardless of it's outcome in positivity or negativity. I shall ask for the second princess of the Amanécer Empire Aria Mircea de Amanécer to be rightfully wedded to me as my lawful wife."

The light engulfed the imperial chambers and the symbol of Arcea and Mircea merged on the grounds. The Amanecerian symbol engulfed the two symbols. The light vanished in an instant. The symbol appeared behind his right ear.

It left Helios shocked and speechless at the same time.

"There is no going back now your majesty."He smiled.