CHAPTER 97: MARRIAGE PROPOSAL

SERENA MAIZONO

25 DAYS AGO

For the first time and forever, I have finally granted an audience with the current emperor. It’s been a while since I last stepped on the halls of the castle of Alterra, and the last time I went here was when Sirius Elkyria is the emperor. Right now, the one sitting on the throne is no other than Emperor Michael Eldritch.

When I entered the throne room, I can see Eldritch looking at me with sparkles. He should have been amazed by my beauty as he never faded his smile at me. I don’t want to make long eye contact with him, so I averted my gaze to the decors of the throne room. 

I noticed that there are four flags on the sides of the throne room, each corresponds to the sigil of the four empires. This only signifies that Eldritch has really succeeded in uniting the empires into one single nation. Just like what I’ve learned in history, the great one country of ancient Alterra has finally been revived.

My eyes gazed back again to the throne, and I saw a teenage dragonoid wearing a pink lotus dress. Her Eyes of Deus is glaring at me with intent to harm, and I don’t know the reason why. This Dragonoid girl Sakuradrop looked so pissed, and maybe it has something to do with me being here in the very same room.

“Your majesty.” I bowed shortly. I know it’s against my will and I feel like betraying my love Xenon for acknowledging him as my emperor, but I have to make face for now. Besides, I owe Eldritch a favor. “For what reason did you summon me?”

“Serena Maizono,” Eldritch muttered with a saint-like smile as he averted my question. “You’re as beautiful as most people say. In fact, the word beautiful is blasphemy for your existence. Your gorgeous appearance and angel attitude make you a true goddess.”

“Likewise, your highness. You are beyond handsome and saintly. I am truly grateful for pardoning my mother and making her free.” I glared at the current emperor. As of this moment, I want to wash my tongue with soap.

“I like how you address me, oh, Dragon Queen. But I’m sorry, your sarcasm would not sway me.” Eldritch returned my fiery stare at his eyes. 

Good. I’m done making faces with him, and I’m pretty sure he’s done too. We can finally talk to our heart's content and be free to throw any words that are suitable for both of us.

“Where is Xenon?” I finally raised my voice.

Eldritch did not say anything. He just smiled. Then he snapped his fingers, signaling someone to do his job. A mind-controlled dragonoid butler of the castle approached me and presented me something. It was my knight’s Futuretech Glove. Seeing such precious things makes me want to burst out in tears. Xenon almost never takes this glove off. I can only wonder where he is right now.

“Don’t worry, my best friend is very much alive.” Eldritch finally spoke.

Tears flowed from my eyes. Hearing the good news, I wanted to holler out loud. Now that Eldritch has told me his condition, all that’s left for me is to see him. I’ll do anything to see him again.

“Please let me see him! Just once! Once is enough!” I cried as I bowed. “He’s sick. His heart only has more than a month to live. Please, your majesty!”

“Ho, that was news to me,” Eldritch said. “I thought my best friend is some kind of cockroach that can’t be killed. I never knew he’s just a dead-man-walking.”

“Emperor Eldritch, please let me see him again! I’ll do anything you want!” I begged again.

Eldritch maintained his smile as she scanned my whole body. His eyes are a little bit perverted, and I can see through all his intentions. Meanwhile, I can see Sakuradrop getting pissed more. Is she mad that his master is taking a look at another else’s dragonoid?

“I’ll let you see him every day for one condition,” Eldritch said. Suddenly, he stood up from his throne and lent out his hand. “Marry me.”

“What!?”

I can understand how perverted this man is, despite his saint-like appearance. I knew that it would end this way, but I think marrying him would be unnecessary. I’m a dragonoid, and if his intentions are purely malicious, he could have ordered me to become his slave. But why marry?

Eldritch spread out his hands and showed the ancient paintings at the ceiling of this castle. “Long ago, long before dragons and humans exist, there was only darkness. Darkness did not bore life as it never did. This lifeless void is called the Ultimate Necross. I’ve learned it from Xenon’s historian father.”

“What’s the connection of that Ultimate Necross in marrying you?” I asked confused.

“You should have known the signs. You’ve met Necross Messiah. Now that the messenger of darkness has appeared, it is certain that Necross Ascension will happen. My late wife Marisse Trystgade saw the future with her Oracle magic. She prophesied that the battle between the living and the dead will happen a few years from now, and the world shall end. However, Marisse also saw one glimpse of hope. The Eye of Deus, which I possess, will be the key to winning the war against Necross.”

I had a glimpse of Sakuradrop, and she seemed a little bit calmer. I had the sweet time to study her crimson eyes with black sclera from afar. Truly, the Eye of Deus is powerful magic. It can be used to amplify psychic properties such as mind-control technology and even enhancing Heartstopper Curse.

Eldritch continued to tell his story. “I may have the Eye of Deus, but I know that I need allies to fight against Necross. That is why I have to conquer the world. Elysia, Sargus, Fleija, and Alterra. I need to unite them all in order to have a good chance of winning the war against Necross. I have to get all the cooperation of humans and dragonoids. I need more allies, and subjects, to fight with me against the absolute evil.” 

Eldritch spread out his hands pointing at me, acting like a theatrical performer. 

“That is why I need you, Serena Maizono; heir to the throne of dragons, to marry me. The united kingdom of humans and dragonoids will surely defeat Necross’ ascension. Come, join me, and we can rebuild this world together.”

I bowed down and submitted myself to deep thought. Back when I first unlocked my Elform, I saw the very same future Eldritch described. I saw Zac Schneider’s intention of reviving Necross. I saw Necross Messiah and killed him temporarily with my arrows. Eldritch is talking about the truth about Necross Ascension. 

“So your reason for dominating the whole world is to unite and save it,” I muttered.

“Yes. Yes, you get it, oh Dragon Queen.” Eldritch said. “Even your knight Xenon should’ve known better about my true intentions. We originally wanted to fill the prophecy by ourselves, but things have changed. I needed to have Cheng Du’s and Marisse Trystgade’s cooperation with the war that is about to come.”

Logically and morally, it would be wise for me to take up his hand for marriage. If I can become an empress, I would be able to have the Dragonoid Rights Bill passed. Dragonoids like me will never have to suffer anymore. Dragonoids and humans would be of the same standing and they can work together. Marrying Eldritch would also guarantee the world’s safety from the ultimate darkness. 

And If I marry him, I’ll get to see Xenon again. There are no downsides to taking up on his offer.

However…

Deep inside my heart, I know that it is not right. I still love Xenon Wingate with all my soul. If I betray him for the safety of the world, I don’t think I’ll be able to forgive myself. Xenon will also never be able to forgive me, as he hates traitors the most.

I genuflected in front of her majesty and bowed.

“I’m sorry, your highness. I will not take up your offer.” I proudly said as I speak out my heart. “I only belong to a person who is my friend, my master, my knight, and my love. I will not betray him no matter the cost.”

For the first time in this meeting, I saw Eldritch frown. His eyes lost its glow and his irises became small. He became mad in just a mere split-second upon hearing his marriage proposal rejected.

“You fool! You think this is a trivial matter!? The world is at stake, and you choose to be selfish! What happened to your dream of giving happiness to the whole world!?”

“That is not the proper way, your highness,” I said with a hint of a smile. “That destiny is not yours to be fulfilled. That’s not my destiny either. We both know that no one in this room is fated to fight against Necross. You are not the one prophesied to save the world from the undead. Neither am I, nor your dragonoid Sakuradrop. You’re just a man who’s trying to fit your guts in a can because of your savior-complex.”

“Heh!” Eldritch covered her left eye with his hand and his shoulders shrugged repeatedly. And before he knew it, he was already laughing out loud. “Hehehehe… Hahahahaha!!! Fuhahaha!!! Funny! You’re so funny, Serena Maizono! You really are fit to become the best wife!”

“I’m sorry, Emperor Eldritch. But as I have said, I will not marry you.” I said again.

Suddenly, Eldritch’s eyes glowed. His eyes transformed from blue to red, and his white sclera turned black. A powerful shockwave pulsed with him as the epicenter, and the surroundings became crimson for a second.

“I am not asking you, fool! I am ordering you! With the psychic powers of the Eye of Deus, I command you! Serena Maizono, submit yourself and be my wife!”