"I've prepared a surprise for you," Thanatos pointed to the edge of the square and continued, "a gift for my future wife. You'll surely appreciate it."

Aria followed his gaze and felt shocked once again. Oliver stood on the farther end, his leg injured and wrapped in bandages. Two guards held his arms, and the slender Oliver looked like a puppet hanging between two burly soldiers, swaying precariously.

"See, shouldn't you thank me? That day, I not only saved your life but also rescued your friend, and I arranged for the best doctor for him," Thanatos cast a meaningful glance. "Actually, I didn't plan to do this, but I was afraid you'd cause trouble. If you cooperate very well today, I promise your friend will be safe."

Until her father, King Magnus, was burned alive on the pyre, Aria didn't utter a word, silent tears sliding down her face. She didn't want her father to know she was here, which was why she requested Thanatos not to announce the engagement while her father was still alive, a request he tacitly agreed to.

As Thanatos pulled Aria towards the crowd to announce their engagement, the square erupted in jeers. But the insults and mockery only made Thanatos smile more satisfied.

"Didn't you want to know why I'm marrying you? If I marry King Magnus's daughter, guess... will those followers come to rescue you?" he affectionately kissed Aria's hand and whispered.

Aria wanted to slap him hard, but he held her hand.

"Are you using me?" Aria hissed lowly.

"I intend to root out the weeds," he sneered. "Actually, your father knew I was going to marry you, but he cares more about his subjects. He didn't even offer a blessing for our engagement." He deliberately squeezed Aria's hand, making the wounds from the scales her had shed even more painful.

King Magnus's downfall was merely the beginning of this disaster, his blood staining the soil of Sovereign Bastion. Meanwhile, Aria's grief and anger seemed to scorch her soul from within. Thanatos's conspiracy, akin to a black tide, ruthlessly devoured lives and hope, pushing them towards an endless abyss.

Since that day, Aria seemed to have lost all sorrow and joy. She sat in a chair by the window, gazing outside. Even the pleading of the injured handmaid elicited no response from her.

In the distance, the sound of hooves echoed as warhorses passed through the city gates. Every day at sunrise, Thanatos would lead the cavalry back to the city.

Soon after, someone pushed open the door.

"How long has she been like this?" he asked the injured handmaid. She knelt before him in fear, crying uncontrollably, shaking her head.

" Since the day you burned my father, let her go. Don't torment her anymore," Aria weakly replied.

"I know what you're planning."

He angrily dismissed the handmaid, removing his black leather gloves. He strode forward, forcefully pulling the curtains closed. Dust floated in the air, causing Aria to cough. He turned back, his voice filled with fury. "Do you think that if you're dead, I'll let go of those followers?They don't know if you're a corpse or a living person in this room. As long as I keep silent, I can use your body to capture them."

Aria averted her gaze, unwilling to respond.

"I've announced our engagement. You should consider it an honor," he continued, still enraged.

"How amusing," Aria remarked sarcastically.

He paced around, growing more agitated by the uneaten food on the plate. Amid Aria's resistance and defiance, his anger gradually subsided. Thanatos approached the table, pulled out a dagger, and speared a ripe fruit.

"I've been at war for a long time, but I've rarely sacked a city," his tone softened. "Once, I spared a poor boy who should have been executed. It was the greatest mistake of my life. After he escaped, he revealed my location. You can guess what happened next..."

"They will come for you, to kill you," Aria replied angrily.

Thanatos handed her the fruit. In the room with closed curtains, the red stone on the dagger still emitted a beautiful glow. He noticed Aria's gaze and passed the dagger along with the fruit to her.

"They didn't kill me, but they planted a... Devil's eye..." he pointed to the eye on the scar. "They arrogantly thought they could control me with it, but ultimately, I escaped."

Aria stared at him intently as he paused to catch his breath and continued, "That was the most painful moment of my life. Can you imagine the agony of having a Devil's eye in your own eye? I hid in a damp cave, facing a puddle of mud. Before they found me, I cut out the dark eye with this dagger.

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Aria held the dagger, looking surprised.As she picked up the fruit, a piercing icy sensation shot through her fingertips, and her hand was cut.

"A highly rare dragonbone dagger, capable of killing many unimaginable things, all supernatural entities," Thanatos took the dagger back, sheathing it in his belt. He looked at the ripe fruit in Aria's hand, then spoke impatiently, "Eat it, and don't make me resort to drastic measures again."

As he watched Aria eat the fruit, his cold gaze softened somewhat.

"Why is it there on your neck? Shouldn't the Devil's eye be on your eye?" Aria stared into his eyes and asked.

"The Devil's eye grows all over the body, like a seed that takes root and sprouts, its roots eventually taking over my entire body, robbing one of all willpower," he unbuttoned his collar, the scar extending all the way to his heart. "Unfortunately, they let me escape, and then, I led the army to flatten the entire city."

"Who were they?" Aria asked.

"They're all dead, why bother with who they were?"

"So you're afraid of light?" Aria noticed his disdain even for the light seeping through the curtains.

"It hurts my eyes and reminds me of the pain I've suffered. Every time it hurts, my anger deepens," he said with disgust.

"If you've achieved your goals, will you burn me alive then?"

He looked at Aria very seriously, his eyes staring directly at her, the one under the scar even slower to blink than the other. "After you, I haven't decided yet. Even if I'm ruthless, I can't burn my wife, can I?"

Aria shivered and lowered her gaze.

Suddenly, Thanatos yanked her up from the chair, leaving her dizzy and weak. She had been hungry for too long, and her entire body felt powerless. Thanatos embraced her, their faces almost touching. "I'm going to marry you. Do you know what that means?" he asked.

Aria looked at him in horror. She hadn't thought about this question because she didn't dare to. When her fear showed in her eyes, Thanatos raised his mouth even higher. "You're quite interesting. Haven't you thought about what might happen?"

"Let go of me," Aria tried to push him away, only to provoke another round of mockery. "Your father must have hated me deeply, not only did I occupy his kingdom, but I also slaughtered his people. And now, his only daughter will become my wife."

"We're only engaged,if I am to marry you, I'll definitely be a corpse," Aria shouted.

"Then I'll slaughter the entire city and let everyone accompany you to the grave."

Aria stared at him with suspicion. "Why do you hate my father? If you wanted to destroy us, you could have just killed him. Why torture him?"

"You've figured it out..." he said indifferently, his eyes emitting unpredictable emotions. "Can't you guess, Aria? I just told you everything."

Aria shocked, gazing at him, a suspicion forming in her mind. "You mean... my father implanted the Devil..."

"What do you think?" His cold gaze fell upon her face, he breath quickening with excitement.

"I don't believe you." Aria struggled desperately, her heart filled with anger. Her hand unexpectedly touched the soft curtains, and without hesitation, she yanked them forcefully, the curtains emitting a loud tearing sound as the glaring sunlight poured in.

Thanatos released her, stepping back.

"You're lying. My father would never implant the Devil's eye in anyone." Aria stood by the sunlit window, roaring angrily, her rage masking her inner fear. "You devil, it's all lies, stay away from me."

Thanatos narrowed his eyes, shielding them from the sun with his hand, his icy expression more terrifying than ever. Yet, he did not punish her, choosing instead to depart. He grasped the doorknob, not looking back, his voice hoarse as he said, "Lies are lies, time will prove me right."

With a dull thud, the door closed, and Aria sank to the floor, despairingly covering her face. She didn't believe him. After all, her father was just a mortal; how could he possibly control the Devil's eye? It was all lies, a scheme woven by Thanatos.

In this debate, Aria's inner conflict rages fiercely. On one hand, she desperately wants to believe in her father's goodness, firmly believing that he would never commit such cruel acts. However, on the other hand, she cannot deny that Thanatos' words seem to reveal a truth unknown to her. If not out of hatred, who else would commit so many cruel and terrifying acts?

"No, it's not possible," she murmurs softly to herself, but the unease in her heart grows stronger. She tries to find any reason to prove that her father could not be the mastermind behind this conspiracy, but her thoughts are consumed by the eerie scene and Thanatos' icy gaze.

She feels trapped in an inescapable labyrinth, every exit blocked by shadows and lies. Anger and despair intertwine, piercing her heart like a sharp blade.

Time passes by, staining the sky with crimson hues that spread over Sovereign Bastion. In the distance, the seal appears on the verge of being broken, and with the king's command lost, can the Iron Guard prevent this unfolding disaster? Aria's heart is filled with worry and unease. As night falls, the cries of the Night Ghoul echo like screams from the depths of hell, sending shivers down one's spine. Yet, Thanatos seems indifferent to these sounds, as if anticipating some event, while his army remains steadfast near the castle.

Through the maid's words, Aria learns that the expeditionary Iron Guard has not been captured and transported to Sovereign Bastion. This news offers her some relief from her anxiety, yet the unease within her remains unshakeable. She knows deep down that, no matter how she speculates, the outcome seems to point towards death...

On this silent night, Aria was immersed in her dreams when she was suddenly awakened by a faint sound of footsteps. She blinked sleepily, feeling a bit confused. She thought it might be a dream, but when an old strategist with gray-white hair, Hawk, suddenly appeared before her, her heart skipped a beat.

Aria jumped out of bed with excitement, but Hawk quickly held a finger to his lips, gesturing for quietness, and lowered his voice. "Shh, I don't want to be discovered while rescuing you, my princess."

"How did you know I was here?" Aria asked softly, her heart filled with surprise and curiosity.

Hawk glanced around the room, his gaze finally settling on a portrait hanging on the wall. "This is your mother's room, and it's heavily guarded," he said, his eyes shimmering with regret. "I arrived late. I thought you were all gone."

Aria's heart sank, and warm tears welled up in her eyes. She lowered her gaze, her voice choked with emotion. "Father... he's gone."

"That was his destiny, he chose to sacrifice himself to save his people. I thought Thanatos would end your life, but I never imagined he would declare his intention to marry you."

Aria exclaimed, "Hawk, he's using me as bait," as if soldiers might burst in the next second.

"Then his plan might be foiled. I know Sovereign Bastion better than he does," Hawk said, blinking. "But we must find a way to escape as soon as possible, or the situation will become even more dangerous."