Mellic/Asna PoV
Even now, I still think about what will happen to Yna during the exe*cution. I know that this book favors her, so it’s not far-fetched to think she might escape. But before that, I need to get ahead of her and seize her remaining hope.
The Glessia is the most powerful of all the empires; they are at the top of everything. So, while there's still time, I need to win the favor of the Emperor of Glessia, no matter what happens.
I won’t allow you to spread chaos throughout the empire. From the very beginning, I knew Yna was a formidable opponent, which is why I’ve been avoiding her. But it looks like I really have to face her now.
Venom and I were walking when I suddenly stopped upon seeing a familiar figure in front of me, surrounded by people. I ran to chase after her, hearing Venom shout my name, but I didn’t stop until I reached a narrow alley.
"Do you really think you can k*ill me that easily, Asna?" I turned around and saw Yna taking off her hoodie, grinning at me.
"So you escaped after all?" I forced myself to stay calm in front of her despite the growing irritation and anger inside me. She laughed loudly as if she had lost her mind.
"You underestimated my abilities, Asna... Just because you've won over everyone doesn't mean you've already won... Remember that when we compare ourselves, I'm still better than you."
"By the way, I remember being told that Elloi's power is too weak to bring you down... Well, because of that, I thought of using Glessia."
"The truth is, the people of Glessia have wanted me to join them for a long time, but I didn’t accept because I also want to be Empress of Elloi. But right now, I need them to take you down."
"Then do you think you've scared me just because you got Glessia? Well, I'm sorry to tell you this, Yna, but that's not enough to make me kneel. No matter how much you twist things around, you can't win against me."
"I WILL K*ILL YOU ASNA NO MATTER THE COST!! YOU PI*SSED ME OFF SO MUCH THAT I WANT YOU BU*RNED ALIVE!!!" She screamed at me with a deadly glare.
"Then show me what you've got. But before that, you're going first into the grave." I noticed she pulled out a blade from her hoodie; I sensed it was no ordinary weapon.
She lunged at me, and I realized my body wouldn’t move.
"Die here!" I tried to move but couldn’t at all. I closed my eyes and waited for Yna to stab me, but when I opened them again, Venom was in front of me with the blade buried in his hand.
"Venom!?" Yna exclaimed as she embraced him while he smiled at me.
"Get off." Yna stepped back when she saw Venom’s deadly glare directed at her.
Venom held my shoulders so that my body could move again.
"Asna, are you okay?" I could see the worry in his eyes for me.
"Venom, you can't do this! You love me and not that woman! Asna is just trying to seduce you!" There he goes again with his pity act.
"Sh*ut up, Yna! Just stop before I ki*ll you." She laughed at Venom and caressed his cheek.
"Really? I'm so hurt that you'd say that to me, Venom. Do you know how much I love you?" I saw her about to kiss Venom when my body instinctively pulled him away from her.
"Try touching your fil*thy lips on Venom and I won't hesitate to shoot you." I took out my gun and aimed it at her.
I stood in front of Venom as if protecting him.
"We'll see each other again, Venom. And I'll make sure that when I return, I'll be the one you love again and not that woman." As she disappeared, I was suddenly startled when someone hugged me from behind.
"Are you okay, Eve? You're shaking." That’s when I realized my hands were trembling.
"You don't need to do that again, my Eve. I can ki*ll those people you hate the most. I'll do everything just to keep you safe." He gently caressed my cheek and kissed my forehead before smiling at me.
"I can give you everything you want—even my life, Eve." Then my heart started beating so loudly.
I couldn't speak because of how fast my heart was racing. It felt like I was going dizzy...
"You don't need to ki*ll Venom because all I want is for you to be happy and find your happy ending in life. Live well, Venom." I smiled at him because among all the characters in this book, it wasn’t just Asna who became miserable; Venom did too.
I know he's the villain attempting to kidnap Yna just to be loved. He just wants someone to love him; that's why he did those things. But unfortunately, the people around him are putting ma*licious acts against him. Yes! He wanted to ra*pe Yna in the story just because he was desperate—but now...
I’ll make sure he never experiences that again. The more time passes, the more I'm getting to know him.
"Did I hear you say you want me to be happy?" he said seriously.
"Yes! More than anything else."
"Then... Marry me Asna because that will make me happy."
Venom PoV
I waited for her answer but was surprised by her expression. She glared at me in a way that hurt from how she looked at me.
"Don't ever ask me something like that again." Her cold reply made me feel abandoned as I clenched my fist and tried not to show sadness in front of her.
I followed her around... sometimes I don’t understand Asna; there are times when it seems like everything is okay but then she becomes distant about certain things. It’s hard to read what she's thinking—is this about Yna? It’s not like she's jealous; far from it based on how she acts.
I want to ask her or at least know what she’s thinking. Why? Why did she have such an expression when I asked her about marriage? Is there really no hope for Asna to ever like me?
"Venom." Asna called out my name and stopped me in my tracks.
"I need to go ahead of you; there are things I need to take care of." She was about to leave when I grabbed her arm.
"Why?" she asked.
"Asna can I ask you something?"
"Okay... What is it Venom?"
"What do you think? What are we really?" I asked her.
"What are you talking about Venom? That’s nonsense! You’re wasting my time—
"Please answer me!!! I don’t want to be stupid!!! Because it feels like I'm the only one who loves us both but that's not even my point! Why are you so kind to me Asna? You don’t even make me feel like there’s hope left for us—"
"Because you're the most pitiful person I've ever met—"
"So this is your sympathy? Because you see me as a pitiful person?" I laughed because it hurt so much hearing that from her.
"Why are you hurting now? Did I tell you before not to expect love you back—
"THEN STOP BEING NICE TO ME ASNA!!!" I shouted as tears fell down my cheeks.
"It makes me hope even more when you're like this. You know how much I love you. Please stop it! Because it's too painful being hopeless."
"Then don't hope for anything based on what I'm showing you! Don’t give malice or meaning into it so that you won't get hurt."
"Then how? Tell me! I love you so much but sometimes I'd rather give up but can't because as long as I'm alive and this heart beats for you I'm always a fool... It feels like you're a knife—every time I'm trying hard to love you it only hurts more."
"Then it's not my fault." Her words left me speechless. Is it really that simple? How long will this go on?
"What else should I do for you to love me back? Didn’t you say you'd want me happy? This is it Asna! You’re the only one who can make me happy." I held onto her hand but she pushed mine away.
"I can't do that Venom. It's better if you direct your love elsewhere—
"HOW CAN YOU SAY THAT!" My voice shook with anger as my hands trembled from what she said.
"Is it hard for you to love me Asna? Just tell me what’s wrong with me!!! I'll change myself for you—” She interrupted before speaking again.
“Honestly...I hate you Venom. Even if you change yourself nothing will happen because from the very beginning you've known that I've hated you yet you've continued insisting yourself on me.” My grip on her loosened as those words hit hard.
“Maybe… It’s my fault for loving you too much. Why do I let myself be affected by this? You've been hurting me for so long yet I've kept going.”
I smiled at her and approached...I wanted to explode with anger right now.
“Well it doesn’t mean I'll let you fall for someone else. That’s not allowed Asna! You can’t be happy with someone else. We’ll both suffer together. You can't love someone other than me Asna..."
Mellic/Asna PoV
“Violet prepare everything; I'm going somewhere important.” I said while rushing into the library and grabbing a large map.
Damn Yna! You're really testing my patience! The Glessia is the largest empire here and my plan was initially to gain their trust but she beat me to it.
“Asna what's happening?” Violet popped up at the door and grabbed my head due to anger and regret; if only I'd refused Venom's date offer then I'd have already gone to Glessia by now!
“Yna is now allied with Glessia.” Even Violet was shocked by this news.
“That Bi*tch! How did she escape from prison?” I'm not sure either but deep down inside, I know who helped her escape.
“That only means we can't touch that woman since she's under Glessia's protection. That's what I'm worried about because she's has a lot of connection outside the empire . How could I've been so stu*pid!! Of course Glessia would side with her but still—I should have been convincing them first.”
If Yna starts a war using Glessia's forces we’ll surely lose since we haven't finished building the weapons I've been working on yet!
“What’s your plan now Asna?” There's only one thing on my mind if we want a fighting chance against Yna:
“Do you know anyone who has knowledge about transformation magic?” Violet nodded affirmatively.
“Yes why?”
“Okay then here’s what we’ll do…” My fists clenched tightly because I'm not sure about what could happen next; but it's something I've got to do if I'm going to Yna's plans!
“I'll infiltrate Glessia pretending to be a servant!” Violet seemed hesitant about my decision.
“Are you crazy Asna? Do think they’ll spare your life once they find out you're a spy!? Please stop this! Don’t put your life on the line—there are other ways!”
“There are no other options Violet! This is the only way for me stop Yna from succeeding.”
“Asna!” Violet looked at me shaking her head but didn’t pay attention anymore after that.
“Just give me the address and I'll go there right now. Time is precious—I can’t waste any.”
Reluctantly Violet wrote down the address and handed it over.
“Be careful Asna. Please think about yourself too.”
“Don’t worry about it; I'll make sure I'll come back alive Violet—just tell Dad and Xyn I'm stepping out briefly.” Violet hugged me tightly so I returned the embrace.
“Take care while I'm gone.” It took all my strength not cry seeing Violet tear up as well while leaving.
I sighed deeply thinking when will happiness finally come for me? Whatever happens there—I must survive no matter what.
## Mellic/Asna PoV
I've finally arrived at the address where immediately met by store owner who ushered inside where looked around curiously. He retrieved something from a small box—a green circular necklace.
“I’m sorry dear; all transformation magic items have been sold out.” He scratched his head apologetically.
“You're beautiful enough already! But why do need transformation magic? With looks like yours—you’ll attract men easily------” He stopped abruptly upon seeing money drop into his hands.
“Wow that's quite a sum!” He exclaimed upon noticing the 30,000 gold coins I'd laid on his counter!
Without saying another word—I put on necklace looking into mirror realizing how commoner-like or even beggar-like appearance had become—no beauty whatsoever with rough skin due lack of proper care!
Now it's time head over Glessia where passing off as servant will be difficult given their strict security measures—no wonder why this empire has such a reputation!
I walked over towards carriage bound for Glessia which would take two weeks reach there—but also searched portals along way which wasn’t hard find either!
Finally arriving within Glessia—I marveled at towering palace inside along with guards stationed everywhere!
Upon entering everyone went through inspection process—I stood in line surrounded by throngs of people making it feel more like city than an empire!
“HAND OVER YOUR CLOTHING!! I'M SURE SAW A WEAPON ON YOU!” A guard yelled towards man close by.
“I’m hiding no weapon!” He protested as they stripped him down revealing an unusual blade attached underneath clothing—without mercy they exe*cuted him right before our eyes causing chills run down spine while head rolled across floor!
Suddenly nausea hit hard forcing vomit out—I couldn't help but draw attention from everyone nearby including an elderly woman who rushed over me rubbing my back soothingly.
“Are you okay dear? Here drink this.” She offered water which gratefully accepted gulping down quickly trying avoid blo*od splattered everywhere—but noticed kindly old lady ushering ahead through crowd!
Thanking her profusely—I handed over some food I'd brought along along with money as gratitude despite feeling slightly woozy still needing reach Glessia soonest possible!
Witnessing many events unfold made realize life here can be harsh especially if you're lower class—only those in high positions had rights to k*ill or abuse others while poor had no means fight back whatsoever!
Stopping momentarily outside small restaurant—I entered taking seat near corner where waitress approached smiling warmly.
“What would like order miss?” Noticing bruises covering body along with red marks around neck made uneasy feeling rise within chest...
After asking menu items available—I began ordering just then three men appeared behind waitress.
“Aiga! You're looking even prettier today!” One filthy man leered reaching out touch Aiga whose name was clearly written across name tag—watched helplessly as tears threatened spill forth while allowing herself be violated by trio men standing nearby...
As woman—it felt degrading infuriating witnessing their actions unfold right before my eyes—glaring fiercely drew attention towards myself!
“Oh look here! Is this friend yours Aiga?” One man sneered directing gaze towards myself laughing mockingly!
“I guess so.” He reached towards attempt grab hold—but I reflexively swatted hand away hearing bone crack loudly followed by swift blow landing against his neck sending another crashing down beside him causing shock ripple through surrounding crowd!
Rushing over towards Aiga handing remaining coins left which were last bit money had intended cover damages caused store earlier...
Just before exiting—she thanked me profusely causing nod acknowledgment before continuing onward until finally reaching destination!
To Be Continued…