It all began when her father returned from a trip to Crucox, bringing with him a boy.
"This is Thesis. He'll be staying with us for a while."
But despite her father courteous tone, the guards shoved the boy forward and forced him to his knees.
"He needs to be properly disciplined."
"Oh?"
Noelle lifted her frosted gaze, eyes gleaming with interest as she tucked a strand of hair behind her ear.
Her eyes settled on the boy before her.
Golden-brown irises glared back at her with raw defiance.
Such enormous presence and purity.
How curious.
A faint smile tugged at the corner of her lips as she narrowed her eyes, visibly amused.
"Our new pet doesn't seem very obedient, Father."
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.
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Valeria Empire. House de Belmont of Caerthaine.
Among the eight major families that ruled the world, the House of Belmont stood as the most loyal power beneath the Emperor's feet.
They live in the shadows of Caerthaine, a family forged from silence, secrets, and sins.
The Belmont family were born with hair as dark as ravens and eyes like freshly spilled blood.
According to the story 'The Crown', a tragic revenge novel. The book that the shadows offered to Noelle after her death.
Belmont were the ultimate villains.
Their downfall began to spiral before they even realised.
When the second prince of the Valerian Empire, Thesis Kirros Yve Valeria, the rightful heir, was stripped of his title.
And the man responsible for this hideous act was none other the head of the Belmont family, Rupert Belmont.
My beloved father.
Thud.
"Lock him in the tower until he learns obedience," Rupert Belmont commanded from his seat.
"Yes, my lord," the guards answered, dragging the unyielding boy away by his chains.
Poor thing.
A boy carrying such a potent aura but shackled on his wrist.
Noelle brush her hair lightly and lowered her eyes unintentionally as it follows.
The chains links clinked and blood trailed on the marble.
Regrettably, the boy who just entered the Belmont family.
He was the unfortunate second prince!!
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The night was quiet, save for the whispers of cicadas carried on the wind.
Her long gown silvered like starlight, dragged softly along the stone steps as Noelle made her way toward an otherwise unremarkable courtyard.
The deeper she walked, the flame of her lantern flickering with each breath of air, until she stopped in front of an iron gate.
"Open the gate."
"M'lady," Langi, the guard on duty, flinched. "Tonight… the moon is at its peak…"
"I see. Are you denying my orders?"
Noelle shifted her wintry eyes and locking in the man before her. Does he dare?
Langi hesitated.
"But… the Lord—"
"No need to be so tense."
Noelle whispered. "I'm only taking a look. I promise."
Her lips curved into an elegant arc. "They won't notice a thing."
Langi trembled under the weight of her stare and finally gave in.
Good heavens, he thought, fumbling for the keys. Why is M'lady becoming more frightening by the day?
"Very well… please be careful, M'lady."
He unlocked the heavy gate with a rusty click.
"Oh, and Young Master Runes just brought in a fresh batch today," he added cautiously.
Noelle chuckled. "How pleasant."
With a careless wave of her wrist, she stepped into the dark.
The moment she crossed the threshold, the cold greeted her like an old friend and a strange sweet scent lingered in the air.
In the shadows, vivid red flowers bloomed like open wounds.
Right…
This was the breeding ground for Abyssal Lilies.
A poisonous flower born only in the depths of Caerthaine, they fed on decay and moonlight.
Their petals were the color of blood, thriving on corpses buried beneath the soil.
Beautiful. Deadly things. Just like this family.
But who would've guessed? Hidden beyond this garden of rot, Noelle had discovered a secret passage leading straight into the tower.
The passage was damp, steeped in mildew and silence. After a long descent, Noelle emerged into the tower.
Her father was confident enough to believed no one could breach this place. He didn't even see the need to place a single guard inside the tower.
Of course not. His shadows circled the perimeter like hounds. His confidence was carved from cruelty.
This tower… it was Caerthaine's spine.
A place for torture, confinement. Centuries of pain stacked in silence.
Noelle strolled through it as if on a garden path. She finally stopped in front of a rusted cell door.
There, inside, lay the boy from earlier, barely breathing. Bloodied and unconscious.
What a pitiful little thing.
She stood still, raising her lantern to catch a clearer view.
Her light brushing over the mess of dark hair. His hands were still bound by shackles. His limbs were bruised black and blue.
"It seems Father doesn't intend to let go."
She studied him, quietly.
At least his whole body seems to be complete.
According to father's standard, he was generous enough.
She had long lost count of the soul that perished here.
Father had hidden the boy's identity and brought him here without a word, chained like a stray animal. He must have a reasonable excuse.
But Noelle was determined not share that destiny.
The Second Prince of Valeria, Thesis Kirros Yve Valeria, is a weapon waiting to be unsheathed.
Click.
She inserted a key into the door and turned.
Whatever Father's intentions were, she didn't care.
That boy belongs to me.