"Cedric" I began in a serious tone, sighing. His gaze fell on mine.
"The Nightshades... Why were they after me?" I asked, not to open old wounds but to find out why they wanted to kill me. I had the right to know because I knew I didn’t do anything wrong.
Cedric’s eyes hardened, I waited for his reply, for a minute there he seemed like he didn’t wanna talk about it but I really needed to know.
"First you must know what the Nightshades are" He began.
I gulped, I knew what I was about to hear will not be pleasant, the Nightshade didn’t seem like that, they were killers, they killed Mint, my fist tightened at the memory.
"Nightshades are neither humans nor monsters, you could say they are in between, some say they are made by magic, there are a lot of things about them that deem inhuman"
I shivered at his words.
"Due to their capabilities and their nature, they grew isolated from the world but began a profession as assassins, taking up any job for a high price"
"They were ordered to kill me", the realization struck me, they weren’t just after me by coincidence, someone ordered the hit.
"B-But why? And who would do such?"
"Because of me," he said in a ragged whisper. I blinked in confusion.
"What?"
"Being next in line to the throne calls for enemies... they were trying to get to you through me" he said as his jaw tightened, the anger evident in his eyes, they were after me, because Cedric was next in line, it all made sense now.
"Power struggle, thirst for power... it began the moment the Emperor fell sick, an Emperor without an heir to succeed, the floor is open for anyone who seeks it," he said with a tightened fist.
"It’s my fault something like this happened to you".
"Was my life at risk because of a rumor that hasn’t been set to motion?" I was angry and hurt at the same time.
"It’s no longer a rumor anymore, Sylvia,"
My gaze fell on him.
"W-What do you mean?"
"I will ascend the throne", my heart skipped a beat when he replied, this was a reality I wasn’t actually really to face, I thought maybe just maybe they were just rumors but I was only fooling myself, Cedric was the pride of the Empire who brought years of peace, but I should know better, this was bound to happen, but I wasn’t ready for it, everything will drastically change, I was meant to be just married off to a household and try to adjust, I wasn’t ready for this big part.
He got off the bed, standing. "Sylvia," he said.
My hands fidgeting together, my gaze on them, I did not meet him so that he wouldn’t see how hesitant I was.
"I promise you Sylvia... none of this will ever happen again, You shall not attend any events in the meantime, the Castle will be the safest place for you,"
"Why do you want to become Emperor?" I asked in a whisper but I was sure he heard me. I didn’t have any right to judge or question anything, this was by far something set in motion way before I met him.
"I have always known I would, the moment the Emperor took a liking to me, the moment I was born and decided to father no children as his... I guess this is what you call destiny"
I gulped, so the Emperor had planned such a thing since Cedric was a baby, he had always considered Cedric his true heir, I wasn’t just married to a powerful warlock, I was married to the next in line to the throne, I never saw all this coming.
"Do you not agree to this, Sylvia?" He asked, I watched as he lightened up the candle with just a wave of his hand, his unreadable gaze on it.
"I-I do not know," I said in a whisper looking away.
"It’s okay if you do not feel right by it"
My gaze shifted to him, he was playing with the flames of the candle as it swiftly rotated in his hand.
"You never asked for any of this", the flame settled down, his gaze shifting to me.
"It’s just a burden to you".
My eyes trembled at his words, he was right, everything he said was true, I never agreed to any of this, it was just a choice set in stone, but I knew one thing my heart was truest with.
"I want to be by your side," I said honestly, I never thought I would be able to say these words, but I can’t deny it either.
I saw his eyes soften by my words, I rose to my feet, walking up to him, I placed a hand on his chest, my thumb rubbing against it.
"Even though I may be the devil?" he said in a ragged whisper. Why does he keep saying that!
"I do not-"
"Sylvia", he took my hand against his chest, I could tell he wanted to say something but he remained silent, but still I waited, I wanted him to say something.
"You truly are a strange being... after what you saw, you would still say those words," he said like a mystery.
"I-I don’t completely understand it myself but I-" he placed a finger on my lips, a smile against his lips, I would never get used to him smiling, it was like a dream come true, like my dreams have come to reality, the smile on his lips just made him look ever so dashing, adding more to his handsome look, his eyes were the brightest green right now and I loved it.
"Let’s have some sleep, it’s late," he said with a nudge of his head. I frowned, taking his finger off.
"But I still want to talk... I have questions" I said with a pouting face.
"I will answer those tomorrow"
"Bu-" I gasped when he carried me, placing me on the bed.
"A curious creature you are, you never seem to get enough do you?"