The Crown and The Rose
Chapter 58: A Kiss And A Freefall

Chapter 58: A Kiss And A Freefall

The Crown

I jerk upward in a sitting position, my heart beating in my throat. There is no way that Erick can be here. Zhen Xin has set up a barrier that can only be invaded by light magic users. Not even Edward can invade this barrier, unlike mine. The chances for Erick to pass through the veil are close to impossible.

How did he get in here? No, why is he here?

My throat is a desert as my eyes dart around me. I know I am in danger because Erick would never sneak into my room like this. Nor, would he stare at me like this. And to my absolute horror, I can’t find Zhen Xin anywhere in the bed.

"Are you looking for him, Holy Prince?" An ice slides down my spine and sweat beads form on my hairline. My head snaps in Erick’s direction. His one hand is lifted from where Zhen Xin is dangling and a smile—that can only be described as pure evil is taking place on his face. "Unfortunately, I have already taken care of your precious cat, no, tiger."

"H-How did you get in here, Nix?" I manage to get out through my mouth, my tongue feels so heavy that I can’t speak. I am extremely vulnerable at this moment. The temperature is also dropping dangerously.

Nix inches closer to me, and I get to see Erick’s face clearly. It’s so sickly pale that I get goosebumps just by seeing his face. "Oh, my Holy Prince, you lot have so little knowledge on fallen angels that you always make deathly mistakes that can easily take your life. So pitiful."

I taste vomit at the back of my throat as I subconsciously shrink further and further toward the bed frame as if it will be able to help me out of the situation. There is a storm outside and with the rumbling sound of the clouds, the roars of thunder, and the harsh thrust of raindrops against the earth, I doubt anyone will be able to hear me even if I scream my lungs out.

"Y-You didn’t answer my question." I try to by myself sometimes even though knowing that, it will be nothing but futile because this time, no one is coming to save me.

Edward is in his room and in his room and he will not hear my cries and pleadings from here. There is a damn light barrier outside. No one—no demon can invade it. Even if Vermilion gets informed that I am in grave danger, there is nothing he can do about it. I will die. I will die just like this. This is not what I signed up for when I agreed to stay put in the palace.

"I know you are trying to buy time, Holy Prince," Nix says, tossing Zhen Xin out of the door of the balcony. My eyes widen as I witness Zhen Xin drop from the balcony. I shrike in horror and grief. But Nix pays me no mind. "But I also know that it is futile, Holy Prince. No one is coming to save you."

"Zhen Xin!" I scramble out of the bed and wobble to the balcony. I look down from the edge. The night is so dark, so loud that I can see and hear nothing. Not even the loud crash Zhen Xin made with his and the solid ground’s impact. My pulse skyrockets and my vision blurs as my chest tightens with grief. "Oh, no, no, no, nononono..." I ignore how hard the fierce wind slaps my skin and how hard the raindrops thrust onto my skin, soaking me.

"Is my prince remorseful?" Nix walks up to stand beside me, "Is that cat—tiger was so dear to my prince?" There is a mocking tone in his voice, making me go blind with rage.

I whirl around and grab him by his collar, pulling him down to my eye level. My eyes are bloodshot from the rage that is dominating my adrenaline rush in my system. "You piece of trash! How dare you?!"

And a thought crosses my mind, I will just toss him off the balcony and be done with it. I will kill him.

As if to has read my thought, Nix speaks up, "Oh, no, no, my prince, you wouldn’t want that. This is the body of your friend. What was his name—Erick? And for your information, he is still alive." His smile doesn’t falter.

I blink, my grips loosening around his collar, "E-Erick...?" I blurt out, "H-How...?"

"After Lord Vermilion rescued you from me, I thought that kidnapping Erick was a great idea, I’d be able to hold it against you somehow." Nix straightens up, "So, I hid him here, in this palace, and waited for the right time to strike. And currently, I am obtaining all his magic power and controlling his body. He will die soon enough and then I will obtain your body. It will be a great aid for me to step into the human realm and will help me to claim the throne of the Blade Empire."

My heart squeezes, "T-This is absurd! You can’t do this!" I stumble back, my back hitting the railing of the balcony. We are forty feet above the ground. Anyone would die if they fell from this height.

"Oh, I can my prince. Absolutely can." He leans forward, his face breath away from mine, "This is solely the reason that I am pursuing you. Other than that..." His eyes flicker over my face, making my stomach crunch, "You are extremely gorgeous, you know that prince? This man, Erick, has taken a romantic liking to you."

"W-What are you talking about?" I gulp, trying my best not to throw up. I have always known how Erick feels about me. But it is nothing serious. Because all he is attracted to is my face and nothing else. He has admitted that on the very first day, we met.

His hand reaches up, creasing my cheek in a sickly gentle manner, he inches forward, his lips almost brushing against mine, "You are too gorgeous for a man. I might as well enjoy your beauty a little before I take it for myself." And his lips are on mine, his hands coming to grab my waist.

My eyes widen and everything I know is disgust. The urge to throw up is overwhelming as his tongue darts out and tries to pry open my lips. I try to push him away with everything I have but he doesn’t budge. He is too strong for me as the way I am now.

I knee his stomach and he lets out a low growl, stumbling backward, his face twitching in pain. I take the opportunity and climb up the railing, my body swaying a little as the stormy wind hits me. My wet silver hair slaps my face like whips so hard that it stings.

"Before you can take my body, I shall make sure that it isn’t takeable anymore." I wasn’t originally intending to jump but my foot slips and my heart hikes up to my throat. I am in a freefall.

Oh, shit.