The night in the Noxell Empire's palace was always long and cold.
The towering spires cast twisted shadows in the night, drifting like specters across the empty courtyard. The wind whispered through the corridors, its mournful wails resembling the cries of restless souls, or the growls of beasts.
Kassil stood alone on the balcony of his chamber, letting the cold night wind ruffle his cloak and dishevel his black hair.
His gaze was hollow and confused, as if he had lost focus.
His mind was in chaos, with a flood of thoughts and emotions crashing through him, drowning him.
Cecilia's gaze, Raven's curse, and…his own internal struggle.
He felt as though he were on the verge of madness.
He had never felt this way before.
He had always believed he was strong, omnipotent, the ruler of this world.
But now, he realized how fragile, how helpless, how…pitiful he truly was.
He wanted Cecilia's heart, but he had used the wrong methods.
Kassil thought that as long as he kept her captive, as long as he made her submit to his power, he could have everything.
But he was wrong.
All he had gained was her fear, her disgust, and her…hatred.
He never imagined she would speak of hating him, her words so blunt and unhesitating.
He even hated himself for publicly dealing with Raven, for bringing Cecilia's attention to him, for causing her to speak such cruel words to him.
Suddenly, a wave of dizziness washed over him, and his body swayed slightly.
He grabbed the railing, taking a deep breath, trying to calm himself.
But he found that no matter how hard he tried, he couldn't settle.
Illusions began to appear in his mind.
He saw Cecilia, standing before him, smiling at him.
Her spring-like smile caressed his wounded soul.
He reached out, wanting to touch her, but his hand passed through her body.
She was just a phantom.
"Cecilia..." he whispered, his voice filled with longing.
But Cecilia did not respond, she simply smiled at him, then slowly faded into the air.
"No..." Kassil cried in anguish, reaching for her, but he couldn't grasp anything.
The illusion disappeared, and in its place, another scene appeared.
He saw himself as a child, playing in the garden with his father, the Emperor of Noxell.
His father was so kind, so gentle, holding him close, telling him stories, teaching him swordsmanship.
That was the happiest time of his life.
But soon, the image shifted, and he saw his father become cold-hearted, cruel, and bloodthirsty.
His father had killed his mother, a gentle and kind human woman, and turned countless innocent humans into food for vampires.
His father had turned the entire Noxell Empire into a hell of blood and darkness.
"No…please, no…" Kassil shook his head in agony, not wanting to see or remember these things.
But the images clung to him like nightmares, impossible to escape.
Finally, he saw himself, under his father's coercion, walking step by step into darkness, into madness.
He had killed the girl he once loved, a human girl with a pure soul, just like Cecilia.
He had become a monster like his father, cold-hearted, cruel, bloodthirsty.
"No…I'm not a monster…I'm not..." Kassil screamed in agony, trying to break free from the nightmares, but he was powerless.
He felt his body being swallowed by darkness, his soul being corrupted by sin.
He was on the brink of collapse.
Suddenly, he felt a warm breath enveloping him.
He slowly opened his eyes and saw Cecilia.
She was standing before him, gazing at him with concern.
Her eyes were so gentle, so clear, as though they could wash away all his sins.
"How…how did you come here?" Kassil asked in a hoarse voice.
He couldn't believe Cecilia had come to see him.
"I heard your voice..." Cecilia whispered, "Are you... alright?"
Kassil looked at her, his eyes filled with complicated emotions.
He wanted to tell her that he was not well, that he was in pain, that he was going mad.
But he couldn't say anything.
He just silently gazed at her, as though trying to etch her image into his mind forever.
Cecilia looked at Kassil, her heart filled with worry.
She didn't understand why he had become like this.
At the same time, she couldn't control the desire inside her and slowly reached out, gently caressing his cheek.
"Don't be afraid..." she whispered, "I'll be here with you."
Kassil looked at her, confusion flashing in his eyes.
"Don't you…hate me?" he asked.
Cecilia shook her head.
"I don't hate you," she said. "I just... don't understand you."
"Why... why did you do this?" she asked. "Why... did you imprison me? Why... did you hurt me?"
Kassil looked at her, his eyes full of twisted pain.
He couldn't bring himself to say that he had lost his mind, that he had acted out of fear of losing her, of wanting to kill anyone who took her away.
He just silently watched her, as though trying to deeply imprint everything about her into his heart.
Cecilia looked at Kassil, a helpless sigh escaping her lips.
She knew deep down that there was an insurmountable chasm between her and Kassil.
They were different species, with different values, different ways of life.
There could never be true understanding or communication between them.
She and he... were destined to be a tragedy.
She slowly withdrew her hand and turned to leave.
But just then, Kassil suddenly grabbed her hand.
"Don't go..." he said in a hoarse voice, "Please... don't go..."
His eyes were filled with longing and pleading, as if he were a drowning man grasping at the last straw.
Cecilia's heart trembled slightly.
She looked at Kassil, her eyes full of complex emotions.
She didn't know what to do, but she couldn't resist his plea.
She slowly turned back around and looked at Kassil again.
"I..." she whispered, "I..."
Before she could finish her sentence, Kassil suddenly pulled her into his embrace, holding her tightly.
His embrace was still forceful, as though he wanted to press her into his very being.
Cecilia's body trembled slightly.
She felt a wave of suffocation, but she didn't struggle.
She silently endured Kassil's embrace, feeling the loneliness and despair in his heart.
She didn't know if what she was doing was right or wrong.
She only knew that she... couldn't leave him.