’...Fuck.’
"Himl."
Siersha called , once again.
Shyamal’s leg slowly loosened around my waist.
She didn’t seem to be in the mood now and neither was I.
With a sigh, I took it out from her and adjusted my pants.
Shyamal just stood there so I had to fix her dress myself.
"Leave it."
When I rubbed away the wetness from her thighs, she took away my handkerchief.
When I looked up at her face, there was a slight blush on her face.
"Himl."
Siersha’s voice echoed once again.
"Yeah," I said, glancing at Shyamal. "Please be mindful of your words."
Shyamal pouted, looking away. "I know."
I let out another sigh as I knew... things won’t end well.
The barrier made of void energy slowly disintegrated and I saw her.
With her arms folded and face colder than ice, she stood there.
Siersha still wore her crimson dress but for so reason, she was giving off... bad vibes.
Her crimson eyes t with Shyamal, who didn’t look away.
"Who is she?" she asked, pointing at her. "I don’t rember seeing her."
"Uh, she is Shyamal," I said, gesturing at her. "And Shyamal, this is Siersha."
"You should introduce better," Siersha imdiately said. "I am your fiancée now."
"And you should introduce better as well," Shyamal also said, without looking away from her. "I am his first lover."
"Technically it’s not..."
I could see a nerve forming on Shyamal’s forehead so my words died down.
... Chill girl, you will die from blood pressure.
Siersha took a step forward, her eyes narrowing.
There was no anger in them— not the explosive kind— but there was sothing really bad.
... Jealousy.
Her fingers drumd against her arm.
"I don’t rember giving permission for anyone else to be around you like that, Himl."
The anger behind those words was stinging .
Shyamal crossed her arms, raising her chin slightly. "And I don’t rember asking for permission."
Oh no.
I rubbed the back of my neck, trying to keep the tension from choking . "Okay, let’s all just—"
"You were kissing him in my house," Siersha said, cutting off as she stepped closer to Shyamal.
Her eyes trailing between both of our lips.
"Correction." Shyamal tilted her head, smirking slightly. "We weren’t kissing. We were—"
"Shyamal." I warned, voice low.
She stuck her tongue out at like a child caught sneaking sweets.
Siersha blinked once, her fingers stopped moving. "I... I see."
The pain in her voice was clear as day as she looked at the floor.
After a while of silence, she looked at . "Can you give a few minutes alone with her?"
I blinked. "Uh... what?"
Siersha didn’t repeat herself.
She just kept her eyes on ... a tear fell, which she quickly wiped away.
And now I feel guilty for what I did.
I looked at Shyamal, who was still looking at her. "I will be fine."
"I’ll be at the garden hall," I muttered, stepping back and turning toward the door of the chamber. "And please, no fighting."
---
---
As soon as Himl walked out of the place, the tension between the two rose imdiately.
Siersha slowly wiped the remaining tear as she smiled.
"Ahh, Shyamal," she said, walking a step closer. "I heard a lot about you."
Shyamal raised a brow. "Good things or bad?"
Siersha let out a soft chuckle, though her eyes didn’t soften. "A bit of both."
"Why do that stupid act of crying?" Shyamal asked, tilting her head.
"Because I am hurt and he should feel the guilt," Siersha replied, still smiling. "I need to make sure he doesn’t do stupid things in events like this."
"A manipulative bitch," Shyamal said, as they both stood close. "Just like Esray."
Siersha smiled sweetly, but she didn’t refute her words.
"I’ve never been the type to share," Siersha said, stopping a few feet from her. "Especially not when it cos to soone I care about."
Shyamal didn’t back away. Instead, she took a step forward too.
"Then maybe you shouldn’t get involved with soone who was already loved."
Siersha’s smile faded. "Is that what this is? Love?"
"Isn’t it obvious?" Shyamal tilted her head, brushing a hand through her long hair.
"We may not have a title, but I’ve been by his side long before you ca into the picture."
"You were a secret," Siersha replied calmly. "I’m not."
That actually made Shyamal pause for a second.
"I don’t care about titles," Shyamal said at last. "He’s mine, whether you like it or not."
"But he’s also mine now," Siersha replied, her voice calm but firm. "And I don’t plan on leaving."
The two stared at each other, unblinking, like two predators in the sa den.
Then, to Shyamal’s surprise, Siersha smiled again. "He is gentle to you, isn’t he?"
Shyamal blinked. "What?"
"Nothing much," Siersha replied. "I am just wondering if you have ever seen the real him?"
She frowned in confusion. "Real him?"
"You see, he isn’t as lovable as he seems," Siersha replied, circling the girl. "He is much more happy when he is with ."
"That’s a lie."
"Oh, you wish," Siersha replied. "But that’s the inevitable truth."
Shyamal narrowed her eyes, tracking Siersha’s movents.
"I’ve seen plenty of sides to him," Shyamal said, voice steady. "You don’t get to decide which version of Himl is the real one."
"Enough," Shyamal said, annoyance clear in her tone. "One more word and—"
"There is a reason Christina never trusted you, Shyamal," Siersha cut in her words.
"If only you were competent enough, maybe I wouldn’t have been with Himl."
Shyamal’s hand twitched, as if resisting the urge to summon her scythe.
"How do you know Christina?"
"Oh, I know her a lot better than you do," Siersha replied, standing in front of her. "I also know that you are useless."
"...."
Shyamal looked down at her as she leaned closer.
"You’re proud of that?" she asked, stepping closer. "You used timing and pity to crawl into his heart, and now you act like you own it?"
"Shut up—"
"But don’t worry," Siersha said, smiling brightly. "I will look after Himl for you."
For Shyamal, that was the most punchable face she had ever seen.
Siersha smiled sweetly as she turned around. "Well, you can die in Taishareth’s hands now."
Siersha’s steps halted as she felt cold steel on her throat.
"How do you know?" Shyamal asked, her voice low. "How do you know I am going to die?"
Siersha’s smile turned even brighter.
---
---
’They are not going to kill each other, right?’
[]
’Urgh, please don’t.’
I let out a tired sigh as I walked around the garden with nobles and people of different houses.
Despite being here, my mind was still back with those two.
Even though I am flattered by them fighting over , I don’t like the consequences after that.
’I just hope Siersha doesn’t do her rage bait shit.’
Knowing her, she would most probably do it without any second thought.
’aurgh.’
I rubbed my temples as I took a glass of wine from a waiter.
The wine didn’t help, not when I couldn’t even taste it.
I kept imagining the scenario playing out behind closed doors.
Why did I think leaving them alone was a good idea?
I took another sip, hoping the buzz would hit quickly. It didn’t.
’Soone help .’
[]
’Shut up, Inna.’
[]
’You’re not helping.’
[]
’.....’
I wonder if there is a spell that can cure my goddess possession.
I pinched the bridge of my nose and sighed again.
It was the fifth sigh in less than ten minutes.
If I made one more, I’d probably collapse into a sigh coma.
I tried to shift my focus, looking around the garden.
The silence wasn’t for long as I noticed two people walking towards .
My body imdiately tensed up as I noticed the king of Demiurges with Edwin.
The tall vampire stood right in front of , making every other noble look at us.
Edwin made a barrier to keep our words to ourselves.
"Sothing I can help with?" I asked, looking at him.
"It’s an honor to et you at last," Kryllios extended his hand. "I have heard a lot about you."
I looked at his hand and then at his face. "Pardon my question, but who the fuck allowed you here?"
Kryllios’s smile didn’t falter, even at my blunt question.
"Straightforward. Just as they said," he replied, his hand still extended.
I didn’t take it.
"I’ll ask again," I said, quieter this ti. "Who allowed you in my palace?"
Edwin cleared his throat beside him. "I allowed him here," he said. "The elves and vampires of Akasha barely care about the war in Lumina."
I took another sip of the wine. "Why are you here?"
"I will get straight to the point," Edwin said, his voice cold. "Why did you kidnap House Atretic’s youngest son?"
I blinked, though I was expecting this question. "So I can use him as a bargaining chip."
"What for?" It was Kryllios who asked.
"So I can free what’s mine," I replied, taking a sip of the wine. "And to end the war as well—"
Edwin took the wine from my hand and threw it away.
The glass shattered against the stone floor, crimson liquid spreading like blood.
I looked at Edwin slowly. "You owe a drink."
He didn’t smile. "You would do no such thing."
I blinked innocently. "Why? Don’t you want the war to end—?"
"Don’t make fun of !" Edwin barked, glaring at . "I fucking hate the elves, and I will never help them."
I smiled, looking at him. "I see—"
"You will do as I say," Edwin cut in once again. "Return the youngest child to them right now."
I barely controlled my anger as my eyelids twitched.
Still, I asked. "Why should I do that?"
Edwin finally let himself smile.
"Don’t you want to live a good life?" he asked, taking a step closer. "Tell what would happen if I tell everyone how you killed the World Tree?"
The little happiness that I had vanished as I coldly looked at him.
Edwin patted my shoulder like he owned . "Now do as I fucking say."
"...."
I don’t like it.
I don’t like it one bit when soone thinks they are above .
They all remind of my mother and... I don’t like it one bit.
Still, I smiled. "As you say."
"Good," he smiled in satisfaction as I turned around.
His barrier broke as I walked towards the main altar.
[]
’He left no choice.’
[]
’Don’t worry,’ I thought, as I stepped on the altar. ’I am strong enough to face them.’
CLAP!!
A sudden clap from made everyone turn to face .
Edwin and Kryllios looked the most confused.
Ignoring all that, I drew in a deep breath before I smiled.
"The citizens of Akasha," I said, my voice firm. "I have sothing to announce."
Everyone looked interested to hear what I have to say.
So...
I didn’t let them wait.
"The World Tree that was supposed to take the current one is dead."
A gasp escaped everyone’s lips, even though they all knew it.
Edwin looked at in horror as I raised both my hands to my side.
The gasps only grew louder when Neplh froze the air and Muspelh burned it.
"And I was the one who killed the World Tree."
I said, my voice echoing in the silence.
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