Chapter Fourteen: A Sinister Secret Deal Pact in The Dark

It was a full-moon night. The surroundings were shrouded in darkness and thick mist. The dead trees stood like hands buried in the ground, and only the moonlight illuminated the area.

The night was silent—there wasn't a single sound. In that eerie place, Elizabeth walked alone. She had no companions, but what was more puzzling was why she was there, far from Obsidian Seth (Death in North). She kept looking around, as if checking whether someone was following her. Once she was sure she was alone, she suddenly ran toward a path covered in dense fog.

After running for a while, she stopped at a large lake. There, she saw an old house in the distance. The lamps inside glowed softly through the windows. The house was made of wood—not too big, but not too small either. Surrounding it were dead trees and a thin veil of mist.

Without hesitation, she stepped onto the wooden bridge leading to the house. She couldn't wait to meet the mysterious being who supposedly knew where to find the enigmatic voice. Vlood and Lord Draegon had been searching for days but had yet to find it. They had even released the women they had captured, realizing none of them possessed the rare voice they sought.

Seizing the opportunity, Elizabeth decided to secretly search for this mysterious being herself, without telling anyone. It was as if she had her own hidden agenda.

Upon entering the old house, she saw a man sitting on a sofa with a faded rose color. He had naturally sharp, devilish eyebrows and deep blue eyes that resembled the ocean. His lips were blood-red, like a vampire's, and a small, neatly trimmed beard ran from his chin to his jawline. He appeared to be around thirty years old.

The man gazed at her calmly, as if he had been waiting for her. Elizabeth sat down and curled her lips in mild annoyance. The man gave her an intense, piercing stare before speaking.

"It's good that you've arrived," he said.

"So you were expecting me. Hmmm… Let's not waste time," Elizabeth replied bluntly.

"There's a price for the information you're asking for," the man stated.

"I don't understand why everyone talks about you, Blade. It could have been someone else, right?" Elizabeth said.

"I don't know why you're so eager to learn about this. What are you trying to prove? Power? A higher position?" he asked.

"What if I told you I want to become the queen of Obsidian Seth (Death in North) and be equal to the rulers of the other regions of Drakhenholt (Dark World)?" Elizabeth said with a smirk.

"You're still scheming in the shadows, Elizabeth," Blade replied.

"You know me, Blade. Now, tell me what I need to know," Elizabeth demanded.

"You'll find the being you seek in Cognito Ormanı (Hidden Forest), located in the heart of Lux Ormanı (Mansion Forest)," Blade answered.

"I know that place. It's where that old hag lives," Elizabeth muttered.

"What do you want in exchange?" she added.

"A woman," Blade answered briefly.

"A woman? How many do you need? I can get you as many as you want," Elizabeth scoffed.

"You misunderstand. I want the woman destined for your king," Blade clarified.

"It's strange that she's the one you want, but I like your request. If she disappears… nothing will stand in the way of my plans," Elizabeth said, grinning.

"Come secretly to the back of the palace tomorrow morning. You will get what you asked for," she added.

Elizabeth quickly left the place where the young man was. She vanished like a bubble and returned to the palace as if nothing had happened. As she walked toward her chamber, she encountered Elysia. She gave Elysia a sinister smile, leaving the latter puzzled. Elysia knew that Elizabeth did not treat her well.

That night, as Elysia prepared to rest, she entered her room, exhaustion visible on her face due to the king's numerous orders. She couldn't fully understand the king's temperament—sometimes he was kind, yet other times he was harsh.

She made sure to lock both the door and the windows of her new chamber. She also covered the windows with white curtains, as she did every night. She was afraid that someone might see her without the bandana covering her face. She quickly went to the bathhouse to bathe. Elysia loved bathing at night and in the morning—a habit she had developed since living in the orphanage.

She swiftly removed her black clothing and hung it up. She submerged herself in the white bathtub, which was lined with gold. The surroundings were adorned with golden floral carvings and intricate designs. The floor was so polished that Elysia could see her own reflection. A large mirror was mounted on the white wall, also framed in gold. The room contained a toilet and a sink, both white and gold, resembling a modern-day design. It was clear that Lord Draegon had meticulously planned every detail, as he had a keen eye for design.

Elysia felt the cold water embrace her body. Only the bathhouse bore witness to her true form—a breathtaking beauty that could captivate any man.

After finishing her bath, she stood up and stepped out of the tub, her entire body and long hair dripping with water. She wrapped herself in a white towel and looked at her reflection in the mirror. Elysia could see her own stunning face. But instead of feeling joy, sadness overwhelmed her. She had endured many hardships. Because of her beauty, many men had tried to force her into marriage against her will. She had always run away, moving from place to place until she ended up in the orphanage.

Now, her greatest fear was that the king—or anyone else—would discover her secret. She was terrified of being exposed.

The next morning, after getting ready, one of her fellow servants called her, saying that the king had summoned her outside the kingdom for an errand. She immediately went to the designated place and saw the withered trees.

She looked around, glancing left and right, but the king was nowhere to be found. She considered going back, thinking that the king might not actually be there. There were times when he would summon her, only for her to find no trace of him.

However, just as she was about to enter the small door, she heard footsteps behind her. She quickly turned around and saw a man—tall and dressed in black.

Fear gripped her as she recognized him. Her body trembled uncontrollably, paralyzed with terror. Even as she tried to step back, she couldn't move.

The man was incredibly fast. In the blink of an eye, he was already standing in front of her—so close that she could feel his breath.

"Elysia..." the man said, his lips curling into a sinister smirk.

"U...Uncle...B...Blade..." Elysia stammered, her voice trembling with fear.