Rise of the Lustful Evil Monarch (Re)

Virelle's POV

I kept my expression blank, though I sneered inwardly. My so-called mother had never loved me.

She didn't even tolerate me. She hated me with such passion it burned like fire.

All because she wanted a boy who would inherit the throne of the duchy in the future after my father but I came out as a girl ruining her lifelong aspiration and desires.

And my father? He was even worse. I clenched my fists and shoved those bitter memories into the depths of my mind. I didn't want to think about them anymore as they were part of a life I intended to leave behind soon.

I steeled myself, pushing away the temporary weakness that had crept into my thoughts. Why should I care about becoming someone's Heartshadow? I'll change my destiny myself. I'll break the shackles that have bound me and free myself from the bad decisions and schemes of those bastards.

"Enough for now," the dragoness called, her voice breaking through my spiraling thoughts. "Virelle, come here."

I stepped forward, standing before her with practiced poise.

"Take Velcy and assign her an empty room," she instructed. "Help her learn the Aegaryn script so she can quickly grasp the history, customs, and knowledge of the world's powers. As for her magic and ascension, I will handle that myself."

I nodded silently, then gestured for Velcy to follow me. As we left the room, my gaze lingered on Ethan's sleeping face for a moment and a multitude of thoughts swirled in my mind.

With a soft sigh, I dismissed them. There's no point in dwelling on him. Nothing good will come from any association with him. He will only be in danger due to me.
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I focused on the task at hand. I'll teach her the Aegaryn script—no, wait. My thoughts came to a sudden halt.

The dragoness didn't specify that I had to teach her personally. I can assign and call for a local Arcane Linguist from Scarlet Hollow City. Who wouldn't leap at the chance to teach in the Duchess's castle?

As for the history, customs, and power structure of the world? She can learn all of that from the library. First, though, she needs to master the Aegaryn script.

The Aegaryn script itself was very essential for anyone in this world. It was the foundation of everything, from the art of elemental manipulation to the creation of runes and sigils and even to rare occupations like crafting potions and forging spells. Without it, she won't get far.

Even obscure fields like necromancy and summoning were steeped in the Aegaryn script. It was essential for her to learn this as without it no matter how strong or mysterious her ancient bloodline might be, she would amount to nothing.

She was going to be Ethan's Heartshadow. That alone meant I had to help her even if the dragoness hadn't ordered it. Ethan had saved my life, and in return I would assist his future Heartshadow.

But when would he wake up? Had something truly gone wrong with him? Was that ominous wolf head really that dangerous? But why hadn't I sensed it ever? My mind churned with worry as his silence and stillness unsettled me more than I could admit.

But weird thoughts kept sprouting inside my head as I my mind kept thinking about him.

I want to see his eyes on me again. I want to taste that soul-melting blood again.

Suddenly, I licked my lips as an itching sensation spread through my body. My thoughts wandered to the underground ambush, to that moment when I had been sucking his finger.

Heat rose in my cheeks and it flooded my body leading me to feel a mix of embarrassment and lightheadedness.

What had I been thinking back then? What must he have thought of me? Did he see me as some desperate, unhinged woman?

The worry gnawed at me and I bit my lip in frustration as I tried to dispel the shameful thoughts and led Velcy along the dimly lit stairs of the underground well.

Ethan's POV

When I had been about to witness the heavenly clash between the giany blood sword that seemed like a divine punishment and the roaring giant silver wolf head, a sudden darkness flashed before my eyes.

The next thing I knew, I had fallen into unconsciousness.

I woke after an untold stretch of time and my head buzzed with a dull ache throbbing behind my eyes.

Instinctively, I tried to circulate my magic power but to my horror, I couldn't sense even a flicker of it. Desperate, I attempted to feel my body but then I realized I couldn't even sense my hands.

Finally, I opened the only thing I seemed to have control over and that was my eyes. All around me, a dark fog churned like an endless tide.

Thanks to my dark vision, I discerned that I was standing or rather existing in some kind of clearing. Looking upward, I saw only roiling black clouds and occasional flashes of black lightning made the already dark world even more dark.

I couldn't even register a single living being or even the hint of one in my senses. Yet what unnerved me most was the complete lack of color in this strange world. Everything existed in shades of black and grey.

By all logic, it should have been a lifeless and oppressive place. Yet I felt... at home. Though I lacked a physical nose, I inhaled what seemed like the purest air and its soothing touch eased the ache in my unreal eyes as if it had never been there.

It didn't take long to realize I was not in the real world. This place... I had no doubt I was in some kind of soul form.

Slowly, I extended my senses outward and discovered that I was a small black cloud, hovering just above the surface which was covered in tall black grass that swayed in an unseen breeze.