After exactly seven days, everyone was once again summoned back at the grand hall.

The emperor, prime minister, princes, princesses and nobles gathered but different from before there were ten people kneeling in front of the throne, some were doing it solemnly, some were shaking from either fear or embarrassment, some was busy admiring the hall, but most of them do not care and just seated casually, they were the only people that survived the bloody battle royale that culled thousands of prisoners.

Many nobles look at them with disgust but none of them cared except for one girl.

“You are tasked to scout the way towards the dragon however if the strength you showed can be on par with the mighty dragon and slay it, then consider yourself free.” the emperor said with a smile close to ridicule.

“Yes Your Majesty, I promised that I will bring you the head of the dragon.” the man who was situated in the front most said.

“Pfff~”

The nobles didn't hide their laughter even the emperor himself is laughing due to how ridiculous his claim is.

“Hahahaha!”

A loud laughter towered the their reserved chuckles it came from a short man blessed with an innocent angel-like smile, and the nobles then became quiet when they saw him.

“Oh, why did you stop laughing?” he asked in a warm smile.

“Your in the presence of the Emperor, you scum!” A knight that was boiling in anger unsheathed his sword but before it leaved his sheath he was stopped by the emperor.

“Let him be, for his days was numbered already.”

Faced against the smirk filled with ridicule the man just smiled back innocently.

The emperor did not harp anymore as he continued, “Even though you have sinned, you once proved your skills, Lance Bright you are to lead this group.”

“It is my pleasure Your Majesty.” Lance answered while doing the salute knights do.

“We lost contact to the Frontier City in the North after the revolution, once you are there tell its situation in your reports.”

When they heard the word 'revolution' all the people in the hall except for the prisoners send a hateful glance towards the red haired man that was digging his ears.

“Set off tomorrow.”

Not being able to stomach their presence the emperor ended the ceremony earlier.

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

Only Lance was still respectful until the end unlike the rest of the group.

The prisoners was the first to go out followed by the nobles until the emperor and prime minister was the only people left in the large hall.

“She's still as beautiful as I remember, Richard.” Emperor Romone shed his formality as he called the prime minister by his name.

“I am surprised you didn't kill her after what happened, do you want that accident be recreated again Your Majesty?”

When Richard joked that, Romone straightened his back and one of his hand reflexively went towards the middle of his legs.

“Why did you let me remember that, of course I would like to at least taste her once but due to damn problems sprouting one after another I almost forgotten her.”

Richard shook his head, “But it looks like she will die with this expedition.”

“Sigh, I am already this old and if I can't have her, then I won't let anyone have her too.” Romone's eyes turned cold for a moment.

“If you just didn't have weakness for a woman I am sure you'd be a perfect Emperor already.”

This narrative has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. If you see it on Amazon, please report it.

“Richard you are funny, a perfect person does not exist, all person have weakness. If there is really a perfect person like you said I am sure it would not be a human, it will be either a God or—”

“A Devil.”

The royal magician who appeared out of nowhere stole the word out the emperor's mouth.

He smiled at them before he gave a bow, “I am sorry for interrupting your talk Your Majesty and Prime Minister but—”

…

The next day, before the group's departure Lance excused himself without minding the red-hair man's scrutinizing gaze.

He went towards the forest surrounding the castle and trekked the cliff before arriving at a mansion.

He then took out a dagger out of the sheath tied on his leg, then using itd blade he reflected the light of the sun towards the window in the veranda of the mansion, after a while it slowly opened and a head peeked out looking carefully towards where the forest ends.

After seeing the handkerchief being waved at the distance a beautiful face once covered by window panes showed itself.

Her golden silky hair and her bright lake blue eyes were shining and in the corner of her eyes tears threaten to fall but before it could, it was caught by the curled finger of the man who just jumped over the veranda.

“Lance!”

The first princess of the Empire, Rosanne hugged Lance the prisoner with a blushing cheeks like a girl in love, if someone saw this they will surely try to paint this scene before reporting to the emperor.

“I'm back.”

“Yes...you are, but...you're going to go far away again and it will be more dangerous than the last, this time you could really die.”

In her sapphire eyes there is a sadness that cannot be hidden as she spoke those words.

The stone cold face that Lance have been showing finally broke into a smile as he hold her head close to his chest while his right hand took two cylindrical container one contain an unknown transparent liquid while the inside of the other cannot be seen.

“That's right, last time was dangerous and you also said the same thing.” He caress her head while opening the cap of the transparent bottle. “But didn't I came back safe? It will be the same this time, so wait for me I'll be back before the flowers bloom, at that time I will truly take your hand and you will be mine.”

Lance chugged down the liquid but did not drink it instead he took Rosanne’s chin and gave her a long deep kiss passing the unknown liquid to her.

Rosanne’s eyes widened in surprise by his action still she savored the moment and closed her eyes.

After a while when her face almost became beet red Lance separated both of their lips from each other, a string of saliva came from her mouth and he wiped it out with his thumb, when it passed her lips the color of rose could be seen dyeing it.

“Count the days while I am away, I promise to repay it double when I come back.”

“...Yes.”

Rosanne could not look at him in the eyes as the memory of their passionate kissing still linger her mind.

“Before I depart, here. If something happened show it to them.”

Lance gave her the cylindrical container that colored brass before jumping off the veranda and disappearing in the forest.

Rosanne stood there still spellbound by his kiss, it was not until a series of knocking came from the door of her room that the magic break.

“Coming!”

Holding the sides of his dress she hurriedly went towards the door with a smile in her face but after she saw the person on the outside her smile slowly fade away.

Different from when she's facing Lance her face was without expression, but there was an unconcealed disgust in her eyes.

“What does second brother want from me?”

Wearing a sleazy smile the second prince replied, “Didn't your etiquette instructor taught you how to properly welcomed your guest?”

“Yes she taught me how welcome the 'guests' not pests.”

“Haha, my sister your sarcasm never fails to amuse me.” He was laughing but his eyes aren't, he put strength on the hand that was holding the door making Rosanne stumbled and fall.

”Ouch!!”

Click~

He entered the room and locked the door, he then bent down and took hold her chin forcing her to look at his mashed face.

“Did you already forget your words? I already did the service, its time for your payment.”

“What words!? I said to let Lance free but you send him on a dangerous quest instead!”

She struggled to force his hand away from her face but its futile as it was unmovable as a boulder, she can't even use her magic forcing her to struggle in vain.

“No matter what I set him free, and do you really think that I would let the two of you get together to live happily ever after? Hah.”

“It was my wish to get him away from you for a long time! And the God blessed me when he was deemed traitor and now that he is sent towards his death I can finally take you for myself!”

Rosanne's body couldn't help but shiver as she felt her body being ogled by his lustful eyes.

“No! What are you doing!? No!”

She tried to shout for help and tried to punch him with her frail hands but it was all in vain, all her voice did was be blocked by a barrier and her strength pales compared to a man.

“Do you know how long I fantasized this? Ten! TEN whole years! That's why no matter what you do it all be in vain, so surrender your body to me!”

The prince savored her despairing look as he moved his face closer to hers, he licked his own lips making them wet while his thumb touches hers.

“This beautiful lips of yours, will finally be mine.”

“Lan—Ummpph!”

The tears of despair slowly slid down Rosanne's cheeks as she felt his dirty hand slowly went towards her chest.

But just as the prince about to catch those bunnies, his tentacle-like hand stiffened.

Thud~

The feeling of her mouth being invaded and her hands being locked suddenly disappeared, slowly Rosanne opened her tightly closed eyes and through her blurry vision she saw the monster that attacked her was laying down the carpeted floor, his eyes are wide open from the shock and his mouth that has their saliva mixed together started to froth.

The second prince died.

“Kyaaaaah!”