Marcus’s chambers were washed in a dim silver glow. The moonlight spilled across the floor like broken glass. The room itself was pretty basic — calm and soothing but all Illaria felt was unease. Throughout the journey back Marcus had not uttered a single word to her. His silence was more deafening than his usual nonsensical chatter. His face carried a singular expression — disappointment. She didn’t know why but his disappointment had seeped into her right through her cemented exterior. She felt like she had failed him and that thought for some stupid reason was hurting her.
Illaria stood by the door, covered by her cloak, her expression unreadable. Marcus stood near the balcony, his back turned to her, his hands resting on the cold marble rail.
“You have lost your mind,” he said at last, as he turned to face her.
“Taking innocent lives in the name of vengeance, breaking into the lab without a plan — have you truly lost it, Illaria?”
She did not flinch. “I am doing what I must. It is my duty as a warrior to fight injustice regardless of what and who comes my way.”
“Duty?” His voice rose — not in anger, but in disbelief. “Since when did killing people and planning to kill more people become a duty? Your innocent family died in a war and now in the name of duty you are trying to murder other other innocent families. I don’t know who caused the war years ago, but right now you and that person do not sound different to me!”
Her jaw tightened. “Careful, Marcus.”
He took two fast and heavy steps forward and looked straight into her eyes as he replied, “Or what? You’ll kill me too?”
This content has been misappropriated from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.
The silence that followed was deafening to her. Why couldn’t she just say yes. She was going to end him by the end of the week.
Marcus, “Tell me something, Illaria. Do you truly believe everyone was against you? Amarin, Rigor, Amayra, me? Do you think we did not bleed for the same cause? That we did not lose people we loved? Yes, not like at your scale but you think pain was yours alone?”
Illaria’s lips parted, but she had no answer. His eyes were searching hers – begging her to show trust in her former allies but she couldn’t trust anyone. Illaria looked away from him.
Marcus continued in a slightly annoyed tone, “That is your problem Illaria. Either you let your emotions control the whole of you or you fucking bury them so deep that you can no longer face the truth. You can’t accept simple, plain truths. You run from truths instead of accepting them. You can’t accept anything then be it our five’s friendships, your dad’s actions and even—” He paused, a faint tremor breaking through, “Even the fact that you did love me.”
Illaria froze. The word love made her super uneasy.
“This is not the Illaria I knew,” Marcus continued quietly. “The Illaria I knew would die a thousand deaths before seeing an innocent perish. She was calm, composed, wise beyond her years. She fought for justice, not revenge. She…” His voice faltered, “…she was everything you are trying so hard to burn right now.”
“I don’t love you,” Illaria said at last, her voice cold, eyes still not meeting him. “I don’t know who told you that lie. And you’re right — I’m no longer the same person. That Illaria died seven years ago. All that remains now is what the world made of her. And in a few days she will also not remain.”
Her gaze hardened. “And until I achieve what I have set for, I will fight anyone who stands in my way. Including you.”
There was a painfully long silence. A sharp knock broke the silence.
“Your Majesty,” came a voice from outside. “Emperor Lyn requests your presence immediately.”
Marcus drew a slow breath. He turned to the door, then paused, his hand on the handle.
“You wish to fight?” he said, his tone laced with sadness, “Then let us end this the proper way.”
He looked over his shoulder and replied, “Meet me where you kissed me seven years ago. And yes, Illaria, I knew it was you, even with the blindfold.”
With a tone embodying determination he replied, “Let us see what wins this time — your hate for me, or my undying love for you.”
With that he left. The door shut behind him with a soft thud.
Illaria remained still. Marcus had accepted far too easily that she wasn’t going to listen to him — while she couldn’t even bring herself to accept that she had once loved him.