“If you won’t let me live, then let me end this myself. Because I can’t—no, I won’t—go back to that room. Not this time.”
The Duke’s eyes widened briefly, his composure cracking just enough to show a flicker of alarm. His mana barrier shimmered faintly, but he didn’t move. He studied her, his expression unreadable, his body rigid with tension.
“Aeliana,” he said slowly, his tone measured but edged with steel. “Put the knife down.”
“No,” she whispered, her tears spilling freely now. Her chest heaved as she struggled to keep her voice steady. “You don’t get to tell me what to do anymore. If you send me back, I might as well be dead. At least this way, it’s my choice.”
“You’re not thinking clearly,” he said, his voice softer but no less firm. “You know as well as I do that I could take that knife from you before you even blink. Don’t force my hand.”
She let out a bitter laugh, her gaze flicking briefly to him. “Then why haven’t you? Maybe you’re waiting to see if I’ll actually do it. Maybe you don’t care.”
The Duke’s fists clenched at his sides, but he didn’t move. His eyes locked onto hers, a storm of emotions roiling behind his steady gaze—anger, grief, frustration, and something far more vulnerable.
“You think this will solve anything?” he asked, his voice low and deliberate. “This isn’t strength, Aeliana. This is cowardice. Is that how you want to face the world?”
Her grip tightened on the knife, her knuckles whitening as the blade trembled against her skin. “You don’t understand,” she said hoarsely. “You’ve never been trapped like this. You’ve never felt what it’s like to suffocate every day. I just want to feel alive again—even if it’s the last thing I do.”
“You are alive,” he said, his voice rising with frustration. “And as long as you are, there’s hope. But not like this, Aeliana. Not like this.”
Tears blurred her vision as she pressed the blade harder, though she knew, deep down, she wouldn’t go through with it. The gesture wasn’t about ending her life—it was about making him see her, making him understand the depth of her despair.
The Duke exhaled deeply, the sound heavy and tired, as though the weight of the entire world rested on his shoulders. For a moment, he stood silent, his sharp gaze locked on Aeliana’s trembling form, the knife still quivering in her hands. Then, with a voice that carried both resignation and steel, he said a single word:
“Fine.”
Aeliana’s breath caught, her wide eyes lifting to meet his. She hadn’t expected him to relent, not after years of unyielding control. The knife slipped from her grasp, clattering to the floor as she stared at him, disbelieving.
The Duke’s expression remained unreadable, but the slight furrow in his brow betrayed his inner turmoil. “I will allow you to join the expedition,” he said carefully, his tone measured. “But only under strict conditions. You will observe from a distance. You will not engage, you will not interfere, and you will not place yourself in harm’s way.”
Aeliana blinked rapidly, her breath uneven. Relief and disbelief swirled within her, and for a moment, she struggled to find her voice. “I… I understand.”
“You will not go unmonitored,” the Duke continued, his voice firm. “I will ensure you have a secure vantage point from which to watch, but you will be under constant supervision. Guards will accompany you at all times, and the moment you attempt something reckless, they will remove you.”
“That’s fine,” Aeliana said quickly, her voice trembling with eagerness. She clutched the fabric of her robes, her heart racing. “I won’t do anything foolish.”
The Duke’s piercing gaze lingered on her for a moment longer, as though searching for any hint of deceit. Satisfied, he gave a curt nod. “Very well. But mark my words, Aeliana. This is not a reward or a concession. This is your final chance to prove to me that you can act with responsibility.”
Her lips parted to respond, but no words came. Instead, she simply nodded, her throat too tight with emotion to speak.
“Go now,” the Duke said, turning toward the door. “Rest and prepare. We leave at dawn.”
As he strode out of the room, his presence like a receding storm, Aeliana stood frozen for a long moment, her mind racing. She glanced toward the window again, the sight of the endless ocean pulling at her heart.
This was it—her chance to feel a piece of the world again, even if only from afar. The thought of standing at the edge of something vast and untamed filled her with both fear and exhilaration.
She knew her father’s conditions were strict, that she would be watched like a hawk, but she didn’t care. She hadn’t truly expected to be allowed this much.
Even if she could only observe, even if she couldn’t touch the water or feel the waves beneath her feet, it was enough. For now, it was enough.
With trembling hands, she wiped the tears from her cheeks and turned toward her bed. Tomorrow, she would see the ocean again. For the first time in years, she allowed herself to feel the faintest spark of hope.
‘Even if it’s the last time,’ she thought, her fingers curling into fists. ‘At least I’ll have this.’
********
Enjoy new stories from empire
The Duke stood in his chamber, the window open to the cool night air. The ocean stretched before him, dark and restless, its surface illuminated by the faint glow of the moon. Docked at the harbor below were dozens of ships, their sails furled and their crews idle, waiting for the order to sail. Yet they couldn’t, not with the sea in its current state—a perilous expanse teeming with danger.
His sharp eyes scanned the horizon, taking in the ships that bobbed gently in the harbor. Merchant vessels, war galleys, and the sleek outlines of privateers—every kind of ship was represented, their crews no doubt frustrated and restless. The Duke’s lips tightened as his thoughts churned.
‘This was supposed to be manageable,’ he thought bitterly. ‘The monsters always come, but never like this.’
The waves of sea creatures had grown increasingly aggressive over the past months, their attacks claiming not just merchant vessels but also adventurers and seasoned seafarers. Normally, such threats were left to the adventurers’ guild, a lucrative business for those willing to risk their lives. But this time, the monsters had come in unprecedented numbers, and the guild’s efforts had proven woefully insufficient.
‘It’s not just the creatures,’ the Duke thought, his jaw tightening. ‘The sea itself seems angry. The storms come too often, too suddenly. It’s as if something deeper is stirring beneath the waves.’
He turned his gaze inland, where his knights were stationed near the barracks. He had considered sending them to bolster the expedition, but the borders were too unstable. Skirmishes with raiders and rival houses had escalated in recent weeks, and the empire’s own internal strife had left no room for error. His forces were already stretched thin, balancing between protecting the estate and maintaining the fragile peace along the empire’s edges.
‘The Ventor Family,’ he thought darkly, his fists clenching at his sides. ‘Marquis Ventor really dared to do such a thing.’
The winds of change had begun to stir, carried by the ambitious actions of the Ventor Family. The Marquis’s so-called “witch hunt” had sent shockwaves through the empire, targeting long-standing institutions and sects…..
‘The chaos they’ve unleashed has left cracks in the empire’s foundation,’ the Duke mused grimly. ‘And maybe even the sea is no longer safe because of it.’
It was just a laughable comment.
The Duke’s thoughts shifted to the expedition group he had hastily assembled. It was a patchwork force—mercenaries, seasoned sailors, and whatever adventurers remained willing to take the risk. It wasn’t ideal, but it was a price that needed to be paid.
‘I can’t send my knights,’ he reminded himself again. ‘The borders are too unstable. The empire is teetering, and if Ventor’s hunt spreads further, there may be nothing left to salvage.’
His gaze drifted back to the ocean, his mind briefly flickering to Aeliana. Her request to join the expedition had caught him off guard, and even now, his agreement felt like a gamble he could ill afford. Yet, he had seen the desperation in her eyes, the fire that had burned despite her frailty.
‘If nothing else, it may give her some peace,’ he thought, though the words felt hollow.
A gust of wind swept through the open window, carrying with it the salt of the sea. The Duke exhaled heavily, his shoulders sagging under the weight of it all. The ocean, once a symbol of trade and prosperity, now felt like a chasm of uncertainty, its depths hiding more than just monsters.
‘The Ventor Family has opened Pandora’s box.’
He thought, his eyes narrowing.
‘Let’s hope that the thing that comes out of that box of Pandora is not something that will cause a distraction.’