Remaking Of Lady Cruel

Chapter Forty-One: The Darkness Creeping In

The atmosphere became heavy again. Viviene felt like she’s going to evaporate soon due to the tension between the prince and her brother.

“Second prince, why are you here?” She asked planning to end this as soon as possible. Ian smiled at them showing his white teeth.

“Since you already asked that, and the Young Duke is here, I’m here for a marriage proposal for you, Viviene.” He said directly.

Viviene blink many times and felt her brain was blown away.

‘What!? A marriage proposal!?’ She blurted inside her head as she look at the prince with a gaping mouth.

“Are you serious, second prince?” Arthur asked in confirmation of the absurdity he heard.

“Of course, Young Duke.” He answered.

“Why? Why are you saying this, second prince?” Viviene asked in a blank face.

“Why not? You’re a very good match for me.” He said proudly.

Viviene thought he is out of his mind or perhaps brainless. She can even sense Arthur’s anger towards him. She smiled brightly at him.

“Who wouldn’t want to marry you, second prince? You’re handsome and obviously smart.” She wanted to puke of how disgusting her words are.

“Then..”

“But I refuse.” She immediately said with her eyes glowed pallidly. The prince’s grinning face frown at her answer.

“But why?”

“Its simple, because I don’t want to get married. I’ll remain single for the rest of my time here.” She responded firmly with unshaken eyes. Arthur’s hands clench and his face harden, so as the other people inside. “I am sure that you are aware of my health condition, Second Prince.” She added.

“B-But I can help you—”

“No one can help me.” She interrupted heavily, refusing to let him talk. Her sweet smile vanished and her eyes turned cold. But it didn’t last when her lips lift to a sad smile and her eyes show mockery at him. “How ironic, you want to help me escape the fate of death yet you are also one of those people who acted blind when I was drowning in the Faszia Lake. Didn’t you want me to be dead too? Like everyone else does?” She asked in a chilling voice.

His eyes trembled. At that moment he was really in there looking at the drowning Viviene. His eyes were full of disgust and insult towards her. The look that not him but everyone has telling her that dying would suit her very well.

‘Poor Viviene. I feel bad for her to experience such cruelty and coldness of everyone around her.’ She pondered painfully. Her expression turned back to normal and saw everyone’s crestfallen mood.

“Viviene.” The second prince stammered.

“Second Prince, please stop calling me by my first name. I don’t remember that I gave you permission to call me that.” Ian shut his mouth, then she added. “Don’t let yourself become too confident, prince. Always remain your feet on the ground and your eyes understanding to the things in front of you. Please excuse me, I am not feeling well.”

She stood up and walk outside while Merriam followed her with a sullen look. The people who were left in the room was speechless. They can still feel the coldness in the room that sends shivers down their spines.

No one expected that she’s capable of giving such intimidating aura.

“Second prince, the butler will see you off. I hope you respect my sister’s decision.” Arthur manage to mutter just recovered from what happened earlier.

“No. I am—“

“Second prince.” Arthur called with a dreadful voice. His eyes glowed dangerously bright blue as he glared at him. “Are you not aware of how the House Cruel capabilities? My sister said no so ‘respect’ her choice. If not, then I wont hesitate to stop whatever plan you have to gain my sister. I wont let you.” He warned.

“Hah. Are you threatening a royalty?”

“I don’t dare to do that, so please leave while I still have some patience.”

Ian can feel the fear creeping inside his chest. He gritted his teeth and went out with his knight. He is very angry and disappointed of Viviene’s refusal of his marriage proposal.

‘You’ll definitely regret this.’ He thought grimly as he went out of the Cruel Mansion.

While Viviene is walking back to her room, Merriam suddenly speak with a dejected tone.

“Milady, are you still angry to Young Master and the rest after what happened in the Faszia Lake?”

She stopped from walking and turn her head to face her. She smiled lightheartedly to hide her real emotion that is raging deep inside her.

“Do you really want to know, Merriam? If you want to know, then you will be the second one to be aware of it.”

“The second one?”

“Lady Walmeir was the first one.” She answered leisurely.

“Lady Walmeir?”

“To tell you honestly Merriam, I am always angry and hateful to the things around me.” She said as her eyes glowed broodingly. Merriam’s eyes trembled as she saw how her the light of her eyes vanished for a second. “Not even a single day that I didn’t hate them. Its still here, in my chest, residing and refusing to die down.” She added as she touch her chest.

“M-Milady.”

“I even hated it when they started to take care of me, now that I’m dying. I know they were all guilty but why now? I cant understand and somehow, I felt disgusted.” She explained.

“Milady, I’m sorry.”

Those were the only words that Merriam can tell to the confused Viviene. She stared at her with an expressionless face.

“I didn’t know that you’re having a hard time.” She sadly added to her.

“Lets go now. I’m tired and a little dizzy. I want to rest.” She stated and turn her back from her.

“Yes, Milady.” Merriam obeyed as a tear fell down from her eye. Unfortunately, Viviene didn’t see it because she started walking again.

All her hatred she felt for them was from Viviene’s hurt feelings and broke heart. Only the real Viviene can forgive them but her. Faye Anne is just a somebody in this world. Feeling frustrated and depressed of her situation, she cant help but thought if she can still go back to her real world.

‘I don’t want to stay here any longer. So please, Viviene get back here!’

The second prince, Ian Lancelot Valliaña was the son of the second empress and once a concubine of the emperor. Because he is favored of the emperor he grew up in an environment with too much attention. Due to that, his childhood was much easier than the first prince, Aleiandro Damian. He had no care of what he have and was ignorant of how the world really works. Not until Aleiandro returned home as a war hero and was crowned as the next ruler of the empire. He was always compared to him from the skills, intelligence, and even to physical appearance.

The one who is more superior is Aleiandro, the crown prince and the inferior is Ian, the second prince. He became envious to him that he even send assassins to Aleiandro every night. But he never succeeded, because of the numerous deaths of the assassins he delivered to the crown prince’s door, he spread a rumor that the crown prince was a tyrant and knew nothing but to kill people. Aleiandro never cared of rumors so this time Ian succeeded in giving the people fear towards Aleiandro.

Once again, his fame became live again. But that didn’t last long when both Eliza and Viviene appeared. Both possess different kinds of popularity. Eliza who was known for being a kind-hearted woman and Viviene who was known as an evil one. Fearing that his fame will turn rock-bottom again, he manipulate Viviene secretly to ruin Eliza and Aleiandro’s relationship but that never happened. Instead, Viviene’s reputation became worse than before. Because of that, he thought of another way to gain more popularity and that is, to humiliate Viviene in front of Eliza and everyone.

And he succeeded.

He was known as the good prince who cared a lot for the kind-hearted Eliza and the tyrant prince Aleiandro’s happiness. While Viviene became more evil in everyone’s eyes. During the Rose Blooming event held in the imperial palace, he secretly sent an invitation to her and just as he expected, Viviene caused a scene.

He was about to stop her and protect the poor Eliza from the evil Viviene but the crown prince was faster and pushed Viviene to the lake causing her to drown.

“That b***h! How dare she refused me?” He yelled angrily as he entered his room. He vent his anger by smashing and throwing things inside his room.

Lately, he heard how Viviene changed and how she caught the crown prince’s attention. He thought it was just baseless rumors but later on he was surprised that all of it was true when he saw the two together in the capital.

He can still recall how she smiled sweetly yet her eyes shone complete indifference to him.

“No, I refuse to accept this!” He fumed as he sit on the chair and grab his hair in frustration. He is aware of the Cruel’s power and influence. Once the crown prince and Viviene married, the crown prince will be more powerful and influential than him.

“I must have Viviene for me.” He decided firmly as his hand clench.

Viviene woke up with a slight headache and dizziness. She felt her hands were cold and sweating then a sharp pain occurred in her chest and after that blood came out from her mouth.

‘Again. This is really a nuisance!’ She hissed as she wipe the blood on her sleeve. Someone knock the door.

“Come in.”

The door opened and Merriam entered.

“Good morning, Milady. Did you sleep well?” She greeted and asked as she went to open the blinds.

“Not really. Merriam, change the bedsheet and blanket while I take my bath.” She ordered as she stood up.

“Milady?”

She didn’t answer. Merriam went to her side when she saw the blood on the blanket and bedsheet. Its not because of Viviene’s monthly period since she also saw some blood in her white sleeping gown’s chest area and at the end of her sleeve.

“Milady, did you cough blood again?” She asked.

“Yes. Don’t worry I’ll go to the doctor and ask some medicine.”

Merriam cant help but worry so much for her worsening health. After assisting her in bathing and changing the bedsheet and blanket on her bed, she help her in dressing and then she went downstairs to eat breakfast with Arthur.

Viviene sits on the chair facing Arthur. She started eating the salad quietly when Arthur suddenly open his mouth.

“Viviene.” He called.

“Yes brother?”

“Don’t worry about the marriage proposal of the second prince. I already told him to leave you alone.” He stated while looking to her eyes.

‘Oh. That sounds great! May I have peace.’ She prayed and felt overjoyed of what Arthur said.

“Really? Thank you so much brother! He is hard to deal with.” She said in annoyance. “Cant he understand the word ‘no’? I pity him for being thoughtless.” She muttered wryly and took a spoonful of salad to her mouth.

“You really don’t like him.” He concluded.

“Of course. He is a pompous jerk who speaks nothing but nonsense.” She directly said to him without hesitation.

“I see. Anyway, aside from that there’s also another one I want to tell you.”

“What is it?”

“Don’t visit the capital yet.”

“Why?”

“There’s been a recent incident of k********g of women. It is still under investigation so refrain from visiting the capital for now.” He explained. “We suspected that a cult was behind this awful incident.” He added.

“A cult? What does it do to their victims?” She asked showing interest of the topic.

“You really want to know?”

“Yes.” She answered without second thoughts while looking at him directly. He sighed and answered with a blank expression.

“They took their victim’s heart and eyes.”

She felt all her hairs are raising.

‘It’s so cruel!’ She exclaimed inside her head.

“Yes. I’ll do that. Thank you for telling me, brother.” She chirped and continue eating her breakfast.

After breakfast, she return to her room to write a letter to the duke. She decided that after writing, she will meet Ulysses to tease his ugly lucky stars and his glass jar. After writing, she handed the letter to Finnian to send it to the duke in the Northelle.

“I hope father is well in there. Even though the enemies didn’t make any movements yet, it is still dangerous.”

“I am certain that His Grace is doing well, Milady. He Grace will surely feel glad when he receive this letter.”

“Are you sure about that?” She inquired.

“Of course, Milady. I can guarantee you that His Grace will immediately write a response to you.” He ensure with a smile. She smiled back at him before bidding goodbye and went back to her room.

She took the cloak and wore the ring around her finger. With a snap of her fingers, she arrived at the familiar tree but she’s sitting on the branch. She went down swiftly and saw Ulysses walking towards the tree holding the glass jar. When he saw her his eyes glittered without him realizing it and went to her.

“Hello, angel.” He greeted.

“Hi and will you stop calling me that? Seriously, I am not an angel.” She demanded. She took a handkerchief from her pocket and put it on the ground before sitting. Ulysses did as well.

“I like calling you that one. I like seeing your annoyed face.”

“Funny, Ulysses. How is your stars doing?” She asked to change the subject.

“Still stars.” He answered in sarcasm. She roll her eyes and sighed.

“I had enough of annoyance you know?”

“What happened?” He asked and started folding paper strips again.

“I have become popular to men lately.” She answered and sighed again. He glance at him before laughing shortly.

“You’re being funny.”

“It’s the truth though. The second prince just propose a marriage proposal yesterday.”

“What!?”

She was surprise by his sudden raise of voice. She held her chest as she watch him with wide eyes.

‘what’s wrong with this man?’ She asked herself nervously. ‘Ah. He said he wants to marry me too.’ She answered herself and sighed.

“Should I invade the Valliaña empire today?” He asked gravely.

“No! Why would you?”

“Aside from capturing a precious friend of mine and mock my capabilities and my power, that bastard also wants to marry you.” He answered with a hint of being scornful.

“Cant you just have talk about it?”

“Why’s that?”

“There’s no good from wars. Many innocent people will die.” She explained. Ulysses did not mutter anything. “But if you really want to do it, do it after I die.” She added.

“You will not die. I wont let it.” He said gravely to her while not looking at her directly. She laughed at his answer that made him stare at her.

“How can you be so sure about it? You will stop it by magic? Its impossible. Death is inevitable.”

“Still, I want you to be my wife.” He insisted.

“Wow. But no. I’m going to stay single until the day I die.”

“Until you die? How ridiculous.” He lick his lower lip and stare at her face with his grumpy face. “Then why do you keep on coming here?” He asked.

“Huh? Isn’t it obvious that this place is mine first?”

“Yours? This is mine.”

“No way!” She sighed and stood up. “Well, perhaps its because you don’t pity me.” She answered uncertainly.

“It was because I have a sad and a difficult-to-understand story.” She muttered and chuckled.

“A sad story? What sad story do you have?” He inquired. She look at her in a ridiculous way. The wind blow gently towards them, lifting her hair a little.

“You’re weird. Who would want a sad story?” She asked watching him with a small smile on her lips. Arthur’s eyes were fixed only to Viviene.

He loves her smiles but it was so sad that his heart throb.

Meanwhile in a place where no one knows but the darkness, a man with a crow mask was sitting on a throne like a king. Men wearing masks and black cloaks entered while dragging a commoner lady in front of him.

“Master, this is the last one.” One of the man dragging her towards them.

“Please! Have mercy! Don’t kill me please!”

The poor girl beg. The man on the throne stood up and went down. He touch the crying face of the girl.

“Don’t cry. You’ll damage your eyes.” He said. The girl stopped from sobbing when the man suddenly he pluck the girl’s eyes. The girl yelled in pain. He stab her chest with his long clawed hand and rip out her heart. The man ate her heart and the eyes on the altar.

“For the ones who was blinded by the light, rage your darkness and scattered them on ground. Darkness should prevail.”

The man chanted and the eyes on the altar were took by something in the darkness.