The Third Prince Of Darkness

Before setting out on the journey back, I ensured that the two princesses of the two great empires were properly disguised. Although, neither Tamerid nor Tiamat referred to themselves as empires anymore; they were now merely kingdoms. In this world, declaring oneself an emperor was, in a way, declaring oneself the most powerful individual. Naturally, since Alpshar was indisputably the most powerful person on the continent at the moment, all kingdoms, except for the Island Federation and the Kingdom of Herumzam, were his vassals.

In addition to the vassals, thanks to the territories Alpshar had conquered after the war, a quarter of the continent now belonged entirely to the Southern Empire. Yet, there was still a chance to defeat Alpshar. Of course, this would take some time, but when the time came, I would have to face him in battle. For now, though, if I were to return to more immediate matters, there were three women in my carriage who bore execution orders. Two of them were in love with me, while one harbored only positive thoughts toward me.

Turning to Catherine, I asked, "What do you plan to do now?"

Catherine snapped out of her dazed expression at my sudden question and looked at me with her light blue eyes. "I don't know... I have no home, no family to return to anymore."

Her voice was cracked, but there were no tears in her eyes. It was as if she had lost so much that she no longer had the strength to grieve. Silence filled the carriage for a moment, broken only by the faint creak of the wheels against the stony road. Evangeline, seated beside Catherine, spoke up in a soft yet brave voice,

"You're not alone. We've all lost something, but that doesn't mean we can't start anew." Her deep, dark blue eyes seemed to convey a glimmer of hope to Catherine.

Roxanne, on the other hand, chose to remain silent. She rested her head on my shoulder and clung tightly to my arm. She seemed in better spirits now, at least not appearing sad.

"Catherine, stay with us for a while. Decide what you want to do when you're ready."

Catherine took a deep breath and studied my face. There was still hesitation in her eyes, but it seemed as though she inwardly recognized my suggestion as her best option. After a few seconds of thought, she nodded slightly.

"Alright... I hope I won't be a burden to your family," she said in a depressed tone.

Catherine had lost her parents at a very young age, and the only family she had left—her uncle—had issued a royal execution order against her. In short, she was a lonely, sorrowful young girl. For some reason, the fact that she had endured such a difficult life stirred a deep sympathy within me. Despite being a princess, her demeanor, way of speaking, and character were remarkably humble. Perhaps this reflected how much she had been denied in her childhood.

In this world, having power generally equated to wealth and comfort, but Catherine was an exception. She was one of those who had paid the heaviest price for power.

"No one will find you burdensome," I said gently. "Especially not when you're as sweet as you are."

Catherine's cheeks flushed slightly, and a shy smile appeared on her face. Her bashful expression lightened the heavy atmosphere in the carriage. Roxanne, lifting her head slightly from my shoulder, glanced at Catherine. She furrowed her brows faintly, but there was a subtle hint of satisfaction on her face, indicating that she, too, had noticed Catherine's momentary relief.

"After hearing such sweet words, I think we're all going to get a little jealous," Roxanne said teasingly, then rested her head back on my shoulder and murmured, "But Ethan, it wouldn't hurt if you limited those sweet words to me." Discover stories with empire

Evangeline chuckled softly. "Roxanne, you know Ethan treats everyone the same way. Though I might be a little envious," she said.

Evangeline's words further lightened the mood inside the carriage. While Roxanne laughed mockingly, Catherine's shy smile grew slightly wider. Yet, I knew I needed to tread carefully, as the dynamics between these three women could grow increasingly complex.

"Ethan, honestly... how do you manage to win everyone over so effortlessly? I suppose it's a talent of yours," Evangeline said slowly, with a hint of jealousy in her eyes.

"It's not a talent. People just open up once they feel safe. That's all there is to it."

Evangeline laughed softly as she watched Roxanne leaning against me. "So, is that why Roxanne opened up so quickly?" she asked.

"No. Roxanne's openness has more to do with her persistent nature," I replied with a smile.

At this, Roxanne chuckled softly, straightened up from my shoulder, and looked at me. "Persistent? Is that a bad thing? One must persist in love; otherwise, it can never be attained."

Catherine's eyes sparkled at these words while Evangeline and Roxanne began to bicker. Fortunately, it was more playful than serious, and the journey continued pleasantly. Eventually, we passed through the capital's gates without being stopped and proceeded toward the palace.

The capital seemed to be gradually regaining its former vibrancy. People no longer needed to live in constant hiding. Though most of their expressions were far from joyful, this was something that would improve over time.

After passing through the palace gates, Luciana greeted us at the entrance. She looked at each woman by my side. Though their hair and a few facial features differed, they were all undeniably beautiful.

Luciana welcomed them warmly with a smile, but I caught a well-hidden hint of jealousy in her eyes. It was a reassuring sight, as it confirmed that our relationship wasn't one-sided.

Since the weather was cold, we quickly headed inside together. Before taking us to a large room, Luciana asked the women if they wished to rest. Only Catherine expressed a desire to rest and was escorted to her designated room in the palace by another servant.

The rest of us proceeded to one of the palace's grand sitting rooms. Nearly everyone was there: Isabella, Kayle, Ellera, and Avanne.

The atmosphere of the room was palpable the moment I stepped in. For an instant, all eyes turned to me. Thanks to Luciana's warm welcome, the attention didn't linger on me for long, but the presence of Roxanne and Evangeline drew curious expressions from the women in the room.

"Ethan, introduce us to your new guests," Isabella said.

"You can reveal your true selves. The woman on my right is Evangeline, the fifth princess of the Tamerid Empire. On my left is Roxanne, a woman who loves me so much that she would risk her life for me. And currently resting in her room is Catherine, the sole and rightful heir of the Tiamat Empire."

A moment of silence fell over the room. The weight of these names had a palpable effect on everyone. It was not every day that one saw the heirs of former empires like Tamerid and Tiamat together. And it was even more unusual for them to be by my side, bound to such a different fate. Especially in these dangerous days

Isabella stepped forward, bowing slightly toward Evangeline in greeting. "Princess Evangeline, we are delighted to have you here. I hope you feel safe with Ethan by your side."Nôv(el)B\\jnn

Evangeline nodded with a faint smile. "Thank you. It's truly comforting to see such hospitality in these difficult times."

As I took the head seat next to my mother, the women engaged in conversation. Leaning toward Luciana, I whispered, pulling her closer to me. "Are you ready to tell everyone about what's between us now?" I asked.

Luciana looked at me in surprise at first. Her face flushed immediately, but then, seeing the seriousness in my gaze, she found confidence. She nodded and took a sip of her new good friend, the red wine.

"Since everyone is already here..." I began loudly, drawing everyone's attention. "Every woman in this room is a woman I love, and they will be my future wives. And I want you all to know that"

My words echoed through the room, and for a moment, there was deep silence. The expressions on everyone's faces varied—some were shocked, others bashful, and some thoughtful. My eyes scanned each of them in turn. Luciana's cheeks were slightly flushed, but the sparkle of happiness in her eyes was more apparent than anything else.

The first reaction came from Kayle,

"Wait, what does this mean, Ethan?" she asked.

"I believe I was quite clear."

"Do you mean even my mother will be your wife?"

I nodded in confirmation of Kayle's question. Her expression shifted from shock to astonishment. "This... is rather unconventional," she said hesitantly, then turned to her mother, Isabella. "Mother, is this true?"

Isabella took a deep breath and maintained her smile as she looked at me. "Yes, Kayle. Ethan and I... we love each other. This isn't a new decision; we've felt this way for a long time, but we were waiting for the right time to share it."

The expressions on the faces of the other women in the room changed in various ways. Roxanne and Evangeline exchanged silent glances, while a subtle smile played on Luciana's lips. However, Avanne stepped back in surprise.

"Wait... when you said every woman in this room... Your Majesty, are you also including your mother, Luciana?"

A faint smile appeared on Luciana's face, though her eyes held seriousness. Taking the lead, I began to speak.

"Yes, Avanne. The bond between my mom and me may not be conventional. But there's no point in denying or hiding our true feelings."

The silence in the room grew heavier, as if everyone was trying to process the situation. Eyes darted from one person to another, with no one willing to speak first. Finally, Roxanne let out a faint, ironic chuckle and crossed her arms over her chest as she spoke.

"Wow, Ethan. You're certainly bold. Not just many princesses, but even your own mother is on this list. I suppose no one in this world can resist you."

This chapter upload first at NovelBin.Com