Silvia had barely caught her breath when she noticed movement along the path. A woman appeared, her steps precise and controlled, dressed in a simple yet elegant uniform that spoke of her position in service. There was a quiet dignity in the way she moved, but also a subtle tension, as though she measured every step carefully.
Adrian glanced up, his expression remaining calm and unreadable. "Minnie," he greeted, his voice carrying an almost dispassionate tone.
Minnie gave a small nod, stopping a respectful distance away from the bench. "Master Adrian," she replied with the same cool detachment. There was no warmth between them, just a transactional understanding. "Lady Rose sent me to tend to your needs." Her eyes flickered momentarily toward Silvia, assessing the situation before her gaze returned to Adrian. Her professionalism never wavered, though something about her quiet glance carried a slight edge of curiosity.
Adrian's nod was subtle but deliberate. He gestured toward Silvia. "This is Silvia. She will be staying with me from now on."
A single eyebrow rose on Minnie's otherwise impassive face, though her expression remained unreadable. "Understood." She glanced briefly toward the manor, her demeanor unchanged. "I'll fetch something for her to eat."
"Thank you," Adrian replied, his words clipped, offering no further explanation. Minnie bowed her head slightly and walked briskly back toward the manor, her departure as quiet as her entrance.
Silvia watched her leave, the awkwardness settling in her chest like a heavy stone. It was clear that Adrian and Minnie weren't close, nor did they share any semblance of a friendship. Their interaction was strictly functional, a reminder that Adrian's life, no matter how powerful, was isolated.
But her mind couldn't linger on that thought for long. She had too many questions swirling inside her, questions that she could no longer keep in.
She turned back to Adrian, her voice soft but strained. "Why did you tell her I'll be staying with you?"
Adrian's gaze met hers, calm and unwavering, his dark eyes betraying nothing of the storm that must surely reside within him. He remained silent for a moment. The world seemed to hang in suspense, as though the very air held its breath in anticipation.
Finally, in that same steady, unnerving tone, he spoke. "Because from now on, Silvia, you are not just someone I saved."
He stepped closer, the weight of his words filling the space between them. " Because from now on, You are my empress."
Silvia's breath caught, her pulse quickening as the gravity of what he had just said sank in. Empress? The word echoed in her mind, but it felt foreign, impossible. She searched Adrian's face for any sign of jest, any crack in his calm facade, but found none. His expression was unwavering, as though he had just stated an undeniable fact.
Her lips parted, but no words came. She couldn't fully process the weight of his declaration. This wasn't the role she had expected; this wasn't the life she had imagined. She had been a hunted girl, terrified and alone. Now, in a span of mere moments, she had been thrust into something she didn't yet understand.
Adrian's gaze never left hers, his tone deepening with intensity. "This isn't just about protection. It's about power. You will stand beside me, but in doing so, you must find the strength to face what is coming. We are about to step into a war unlike any you've imagined."
The world seemed to shift beneath Silvia's feet, a tidal wave of pressure crashing over her. Her mind spun, trying to grasp the enormity of his words. Was this real? Or had her recent trauma and exhaustion clouded her senses?
A small part of her stirred, a flicker of something deep within her, perhaps a glimmer of understanding or a sudden surge of resolve. She wasn't sure what it was, but it was there, burning softly, igniting a part of her that had been dormant for far too long.
"I..." she began, her voice faltering. She didn't know what to say, how to react, or what this all truly meant.
"You'll have time to understand," Adrian said softly, his voice a mix of reassurance and command. But there was no doubt in his tone, no room for argument. "For now, rest. And remember, Silvia..." He leaned closer, his words a whispered promise that carried the weight of destiny. "You're no longer running. You're rising."
---
Somewhere in the City
The narrow hallway echoed with soft footsteps, a figure moving quickly and silently through the dark. The path led to a set of heavy stone doors. The figure reached out, pushing the doors open with slow, deliberate force. Once inside, the door shut behind him, plunging the room into darkness.
Without hesitation, the figure retrieved a small lamp from his robes. The flame flickered once before being extinguished. As the light disappeared, veins of magic began to pulse faintly along the walls, lighting up the room in a dim, ethereal glow. The crystals embedded in the corners brightened, casting strange, shifting shadows across the room.
The figure approached the far wall, his movements now silent. With a subtle wave of his hand, a circular mirror, nearly a meter tall, materialized in the air. The frame gleamed silver, inscribed with symbols that shimmered and twisted in the dim light, as though alive.
He murmured an incantation, his voice low and reverent. The runes on the mirror began to glow a soft blue, their light growing brighter by the second. The figure stepped back, lowering to one knee, his head bowed low.
"My lady," he whispered, his voice filled with respect. "I have something to report."
The mirror remained still for a moment, reflecting only the dim room. Then, with a shudder, its surface distorted, gray-white fog swirling within. The fog thickened, expanding outward until it spilled from the mirror and filled the room. The power it carried was suffocating in its intensity.
As the fog settled, a figure began to take shape within it. Feminine, tall, and draped in mist, her form was obscured, yet her presence radiated an undeniable authority. The very air seemed to tremble in her wake.
The kneeling figure did not move, waiting patiently for permission to speak.
"Speak," the fog-wrapped figure commanded, her voice like ice, cold and cutting.
The kneeling man hesitated, choosing his words carefully. "We observed Adrian as instructed. Eric and Jimmy engaged him, but..." His voice faltered momentarily. "Adrian seem to have sensed our presence, even though we hid in the void."
The figure in the fog remained silent for a long moment, her form shifting subtly as though processing the information. Her voice, when it came, was sharp. "Are you certain?"
The man nodded. "Yes, my lady. I am certain."
Her figure hummed softly, as if in contemplation. "Strange. Adrian was fated to die that night. Something, someone, intervened."
After a long pause, she spoke again, her tone firm and commanding. "Leave the city. Prepare for his arrival in the Imperial City. We must be ready."
The kneeling man bowed lower. "As you command."
The fog receded, the mirror fading until it vanished, leaving the room dark and silent once more.
---
In an Unknown Place
Far from the city, in a vast, dark hall, another figure knelt before a shrouded throne. The darkness was thick, almost tangible, swirling around the figure seated upon the throne, obscuring them completely. Yet the weight of their presence was undeniable.
The kneeling figure had just finished his report. Silence filled the hall, the air heavy with anticipation.
Finally, the figure on the throne stirred, his voice low and gravelly, echoing with power. "Adrian sensed you?"
The figure on the floor hesitated. "I believe so, my lord."
A deep, rumbling hum filled the hall. "Curious. Adrian should not possess such abilities... not yet. Someone must be helping him."
The being on the throne leaned forward slightly, the darkness around him thickening. "Go to the Imperial City. Begin preparations. He will come."
The kneeling figure bowed deeply. "As you command, my lord."
As the figure disappeared, the being on the throne whispered, his voice filled with amusement. "Adrian... what power have you gained?" His smile grew wider, hidden within the mist. "Interesting indeed."
And with that, the hall was plunged back into silence, the darkness once again ruling supreme.