"Oh, I now understand why my daughter fell for you," Lydia said, her heterochromatic eyes — one golden, one sticky-red — calmly observing Asael, who was looking at her as if holding himself back from snapping her neck in a full three-hundred-and-sixty degrees.

That made her laugh.

Asael didn't bother responding to her words.

They were inside the throne room, painted in a shade of red so deep one might believe it had been forged from blood itself. Lydia Drought sat calmly upon her crimson throne, her red hair combed into a single massive knot behind her head and pinned in place by a red dagger. She wore a striking black dress that flowed past her knees, hiding the luxurious heels beneath her feet.

She sat cross-legged, resting her chin upon her right fist, her eyes locked on the chained Asael standing several steps below her.

He was bathed and healed now, wearing a black suit that fit perfectly against his pale, almost gray skin, his shadowy black hair and eyes completing the look of cold restraint.

His gaze was icy.

"I do not have time to entertain you, boy," Lydia said, her voice carrying a faint note of amusement. "So you either start talking and have a nice discussion with your mother-in-law… or you go back to the prison and wait for your death."

"Death?" Asael finally spoke, his voice like the low growl of a fiend. "I would have chosen that option long ago if it were only me." He spat in anger.

"I would have preferred never to see the light of this world if it meant being your slave."

"Slave?" Lydia echoed, chuckling softly. "That's an ugly word, boy. You will simply be someone loyal and obedient to this Empire. Nothing more, nothing less."

She tilted her head slightly to the left, her golden eye glowing with an eerie light. "And tell me, isn't that a given? You are a noble of this Empire. Your loyalty and obedience were never things that needed to be discussed. They were never supposed to be the reason I chained you."

Asael shook his head slowly.

"Loyalty…" he began, taking a step forward, his black eyes deep as a bottomless void. "Loyalty is not given. Loyalty is earned. And you have done nothing — let me emphasize, absolutely nothing — to earn that from me."

"And another thing, you heartless woman. Loyalty is a two-way street. You cannot expect it if you are not ready to give it back."

He gritted his teeth until a deep creaking sound echoed through the throne room. "So how dare you talk about loyalty with me? Stop your act, woman."

"You don't care about loyalty. You care about obedience. You want someone to obey you without ever thinking of doing the opposite."

He paused, locking his cold, furious eyes onto Lydia's beautiful yet demonic gaze. "You just want a goddamn slave."

The room fell silent. Then a dry, rasping sound escaped Lydia's lips, like two stones grinding against each other. It was unpleasant.

And yet, it was supposed to be a chuckle.

"Heartless…" she whispered, tasting the word. "You are wrong, boy. I am not heartless, I just use my heart less."

"And tell me…" her voice shifted, becoming cold and demonic, a melody laced with malice,

"Will that change your situation, knowing that I want a slave?" she asked. "Will knowing that I do not care what you think, what you feel, or what you believe… make you feel any better?"

"Or will it only give you another reason to feed your hatred for me and to plan my downfall?"

"Tell me, Asael Shadeborn… what if I told you I want you as my slave? What if I told you that I want you to follow my orders like the obedient shadow you are… what would happen then?"

Asael's knuckles went pale as he glared at Lydia. Multiple thoughts — violent, cruel, tempting — whispered into his mind, begging him to give in.

But he knew better. So he held it in.

"See?" Lydia continued, her tone suddenly lighter. "It changes nothing. So let's do this as amicably as possible. After all…"

Her smile widened.

"You are my daughter's lover… and the father of my granddaughter."

"Do you even care about them?" Asael growled.

"I do," Lydia answered simply, then uncrossed her legs and lowered them gracefully onto the platform. She stood slowly, her body swaying with an effortless sensuality, each of her steps echoing sharply across the room.

Asael stood still, watching her as she approached him, step by step.

He didn't know why, but in that moment, he felt like a lost lamb frozen at the sight of a ravenous wolf.

"They are my blood," Lydia continued softly. "I care about them enough not to kill them after the incident with you. But…"

She took another step, and the distance between them vanished and in an instant, she was an inch of him.

Her perfume, rose and vanilla, struck his senses like a turbulent gust of wind.

"…this Empire needs to be elevated. And I will need every bit of help… even from a shadow."

Asael didn't respond. Looking at Lydia, assessing his current situation, he understood perfectly that acting angry or perturbed would not help him.

There was no need to feel that way. His fate had already been sealed the moment he willingly accepted the burden of a father.

Here, in front of Lydia, he was no longer Asael Shadeborn, Prince of Shadows.

Here, he was simply Asael, father of Valentine. A father who wanted nothing more than the happiness of his daughter.

He exhaled softly, letting his mind relax. In moments like these, he couldn't help but think of his one and only friend…

Kaden.

He asked himself what Kaden would do if he were in his place. Or rather, what would Kaden think of him if he witnessed this scene?

This scene of him accepting a collar. Accepting to be a slave.

Would he scorn him? Call him unworthy?

Or would he smile and tell him it was the right choice?

He wanted to know. No…he needed to know. He needed to know if he was still worthy of his friendship.

And ah…

'I miss you, my friend. The dungeon… I shouldn't, but I miss it because of you.'

He wanted to speak to him again. Because somehow, he was sure Kaden would find a way out of this. He didn't know how, but he was certain…if Kaden were here, he would not be trapped.

But he wasn't Kaden.

And Kaden wasn't here to guide him.

He was alone, like a lost lamb standing before a wolf. And like any lost lamb…

"As you will," Asael said finally.

…he was eaten.

But even a lamb has a will. And he would not fall alone.

Lydia's smile widened. "From now on, you are Asael, The Empire's Shadow."

"Swear your loyalty. Swear your obedience. Take your Oath. Shroud this Empire in your protective darkness, and drown our enemies in the depths of shadow."

She leaned closer, her lips almost brushing his, their breaths intertwining like twin serpents.

"As for me…I will feed you. I will clothe you. I will give you every resource you need. Everything you desire…ask, and I will grant it, so long as it does not compromise the Empire."

Her voice was soft. Too soft.

"Now… swear your loyalty upon The Will. Not to me, but to the Empire."

Asael paused, then spoke, his tone cold and deliberate.

"If you want me to swear, then you must make sure that Rose and Valentine…" he said, each word dragging like iron, "…nothing must happen to them. If my daughter bears even a single wound on her body or even mental because of you or this Empire, my oath will be void and…"

He smiled. A cold, lifeless smile.

"I will destroy this Empire."

"Are you that capable?" Lydia taunted.

But Asael's smile didn't waver. "You'll know if that day ever comes. And believe me, Lydia…"

"At that time, nothing will stop me from sinking this Empire into depthless shadow." He leaned in closer, his breath brushing her ear as he whispered,

"On that, I swear it on my daughter's life and on my most cherished bond. And when this Empire you love so much is reduced to nothing…"

Here, his tone turned gentle.

"I will fucking kill you, bitch."

Lydia's smile widened, stretching unnaturally wide to reveal perfectly lined white teeth…the smile of a madwoman. Her heterochromatic eyes gleamed with wicked delight.

"Oh, son-in-law… do you wish to capture my heart too?" she asked, chuckling coldly. "How greedy of you. But…"

She placed both hands on Asael's shoulders, pushing him back slightly, forcing him to look directly at her.

"The threats of a chained man are worthless. One soon to be a slave, no less. Still, I shall remember your words, Shadow."

Asael clicked his tongue. Having nothing left to lose, he suddenly felt his heart emptied of all fear and apprehension toward Lydia.

She needed him. But he didn't need her.

And she knew it. She also knew that using his daughter as leverage any further would cost her more than she was prepared to lose.

Lydia Drought was no fool. She knew better than to corner a man who had no escape left. After all…

A cornered man with nothing to lose was more dangerous than anything this world could create.

And that was exactly why she would protect Valentine. And by protecting Valentine, she would inevitably protect Rose as well.

Because Asael wanted Valentine to never suffer from pain that could be avoided. And hurting Rose would cause exactly that, because Valentine loved her mother dearly.

Just as Rose loved her daughter.

And that was precisely what Asael swore.

"I will follow your orders and give my loyalty and obedience to the Empire. I will be its Shadow. And I will remain as such, for as long as my daughter remains free from harm. No matter if it comes from this Empire or its enemies. No matter the shape or form it takes."

Lydia's smile faltered slightly, but she knew pressing further would be unwise.

Only then did she realize that by binding Asael to her… she had also bound herself to him.

That realization made both of them smile… wide, deranged grins filled with madness and mutual understanding.

"Ah, Shadow, you are lucky I need you."

"Keep that need to yourself."

Lydia's grin only deepened as she spun on her heels, her voice echoing through the crimson hall.

"We will do many things together, Shadow. Now that you have submitted, we can begin."

She sat back upon her throne, eyes gleaming like blood and gold.

"But first…"

Her gaze fell to the shackles still binding Asael's wrists and legs.

"…let's not make my dear granddaughter see you in this state, shall we?"

—End of Chapter 286—

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