The Villain's Dead Wife

Meanwhile, on Kairan's side--

Kairan strode down the hallway with his usual poker face, his steps as measured as his expression. But his confident stride faltered when he spotted someone heading his way. With the grace of a professional spy, he abruptly turned on his heel and began walking back in the direction he'd come from.

"Stop, Kairan! Where are you going?" The soft, female voice echoed through the hall, clearly belonging to his mother.

Kairan's pace quickened, but the woman caught up with him, panting slightly as she placed a hand on his shoulder.

"Kairan, are you playing the 'avoid your mother' game again?" she asked, her tone a mix of curiosity and mild exasperation.

He turned to face her, his expression deadpan. "I'm on a mission to save my life."

She chuckled, a warm and reassuring sound. "Who would dare harm my powerful son?"

Kairan's gaze softened as he looked at the woman. Empress Elysia Van Ashbourne, with her dirty blonde hair and hazel eyes, was all love and kindness-qualities that made her a beacon in Kairan's otherwise stormy world.

She glanced around and noticed that all the vases she'd painstakingly arranged had gone missing from their usual spots. Her eyes narrowed as she looked back at Kairan, who simply pressed his lips together in an expression of feigned innocene.

"Kairan, Ancillin told me you broke all the vases she'd painstakingly arranged had gone missing from their usual spots. Her eyes narrowed as she looked back at Kairan, who simply pressed his lips together in an expression of feigned innocence.

"Kairan, Ancillin told me you broke all the vases. Don't you care about my feelings?" she asked, her voice holding a mix of disappointment and amusement.

Kairan replied dryly, "Don't keep anything precious in my palace. It'll end up broken. Your heart included."

"And I'm heading somewhere important, mother. Please don't follow me."

Empress Elysia gasped in mock horror. "I wasn't following you! I was merely taking care of you, just like I did when you were a child."

Kairan simply shrugged and walked past her.

As soon as he out of sight, Elysia let out a sigh of relief. "If not for Ancillin, I wouldn't dare visit the demonic son of the Emperor. This palace is like a minefield!"

Kairan took steady, purposeful strides, his gaze focused ahead as he muttered under his breath, "Shadow."

In an instant, his cat-dog hybriid companion appeared out a nowhere. The creature, with its sleek, predatory grace, padded silently behind its owner, a constant, vigilant presence.

Meanwhile, Meredia was at the training field, observing her brother Kirill. He was in his element, instructing knights and young lads with the precision and authority of a seasoned warrior.

Meredia stood quietly in the corner, her eyes narrowed in determination as she watched the training session unfold.

[Meredia's Pov]

Once I master swordsmanship, I'II show that irritable knucklehead Kairan what I'm truly capable of. Just you wait, Kairan. Hahaha!

As I chuckled to myself, I noticed all the knights were sprawled on the ground, some trembling while clutching their swords like they were holding onto their last shred of dignity.

Kirill walked over, wiping sweat off his face, looking like he'd just wrestled a dragon.

I approached him, pulling out my handkerchief, and started dabbing his face with exaggerated care. "You're brilliant brother."

He puffed up his chest with a smirk, "Oh, so you've finally noticed. It's about time. I guess all those years of you being lost in your own world finally paid off."

I nodded eagerly, like a kid who's just met their favorite superhero. "I always knew you were amazing, but wow!"

"And there it is," he continued with his usual smugness, "The sister who was either too busy admiring herself or getting pampered to notice her brother was busy saving the world one training session at a time."

Seriously, can I get a restraining order on his ego?

"And about learning swordsmanship," Kirill said, his eyes twinkling with mischief, "I'm swamped here with these fine, fallen knights. But don't fret. I have someone in mind who can teach you even better than me. He's a bit of a legend himself. And who knows, he might even teach you to be a bit less of a klutz than you usually are."

So now I have to deal with another one of his mysterious, over-the-top teachers. Great.

Kirill grinned, giving my back a pat with a confidence only someone with a gigantic ego could muster. "And don't worry, this new teacher is top-notch. He's known for turning the clumsiest recruits into sword-fighting maestros. I'm sure he'II work wonders on you."

I raised an eyebrow, "Is this teacher going to be a grumpy old knight who hates everyone and thinks smiling is a sign of weakness?"

Kirill laughed. "Oh, no. He's actually-"

"Oh, he is here," Kirill said, his eyes lighting up as he looked in a certain direction.

I followed his gaze and my face fell as I saw the familiar cat-dog hybrid.

"What, he's gonna teach me sword fighting? Really? Is this some sort of joke?"

Kirill chuckled, placing his hands on his hips like he was ready to bask in his own brilliance. "Oh no! I wish he could. She's brilliant too. But you will be taught by Prince-"

I suddenly realized who the hybrid belonged to. My eyes widened, and I could feel a full-blown panic attack approaching.

Not him! Please, not him!

Kirill finished with a flourish," --Kairan Alistair Ashbourne."

I stared, my eyes twitching and my lips moving in a silent struggle between a smile and a cry. There he was, walking towards us with his chin held high, posture as stiff as a board, and steps that seemed to cover more ground than a marching parade.

Well, this is just fantastic. I might as well start practicing my dramatic fainting for when she starts training me.

As Kairan drew nearer, I felt the dramatic urge to faint coming on strong. I tilted my head back, gazing up at the sun with exaggerated despair. My hand flew to my forehead in the classic swoon pose. "Oh my god, brother," I moaned, "I think I'm gonna faint again. I can't see. My vision is getting hazy."

Kirill's concern was instant. "Oh my god, are you alright? Should I call the doctor?"

I managed a weak, almost melodramatic voice, "No, brother, I think I might need rest." With my most bleeding and innocent tone, a brother can't refuse.

By the time Kairan reached us, Kirill was anxiously hovering over me, and I was perfectly hovering over me, and I was perfectly positioned for maximum effect. Kairan approached, standing before us with his usual regual air. Kirill greeted him with an overly polite bow, and kairan responded with a small, surprisingly genuine smile.

The sight took me back; until now, Kairan had been all smirks of dominance and power. But this smile was like he was greeting a dear friend. My mind raced.

Kirill, with his hand still on my shoulder, said, "I think you're late, Your Majesty, the Crown Prince. My sister is feeling weak again, and I think she needs rest."

Kairan's gaze shifted to me, and I felt his eyes piercing through my act. How could he know Meredia so well after meeting her only once? The man had an uncanny ability to see through drama, and his amused smirk told me he was completely aware of my little performance.

"Oh!"

Kairan's indifferent "Oh!" was about as comforting as a snowball in the desert. My fainting act was rapidly unraveling as he responded with that single, aloof word.

"Your Royal Highness... I-I didn't know why brother would call you. You are the Crown Prince of Valkathra, and I can't afford to ruin your routine with my foolish request."

Kairan shook his head with a smirk. "I'm going to be a king soon, so staying loyal matters. If I'm not loyal to own friend, what's the point?"

Friends!? What in the actual heck? Is Kirill his friend?

I turned to Kirill, eyes wide with disbelief. "F-friends?"

Kirill chuckled. "We were at the academy together. I remember envying you."

Kairan added smoothly, "And that made us friends."

What in the world!?

"That's why I called Kairan here to teach you personally, Mery."

I forced a smile, feeling my act wobble. "Very well. Haha! Haha! But... I think I'm feeling a bit faint."

"Oh, right. Can we start tomorrow, Kairan?" Kirill asked, holding me with exaggerated concern.

Kairan nodded, "Yes, we can."

Just when I thought I'd escaped, Kairan's mouth opened again. "Lady faints a lot. She even fainted during the ceremony when I caught her trying to--"

What the heck! Why is he airing my failed escape plan!

Desperate to end the drama, I leapt up with a flourish. "Ahhhh! I suddenly feel so energetic!" I failed my arms like a windmill in a tornado.

Kirill stared at me, dumbfounded. "Mery?"

I gave him my most innocent, if not slightly frantic, grin. Sorry, dear brother! It's all this devil's fault!

Internally, I was mentally turning Kairan into a pinata. His smirk said he wasn't done yet and might reveal every embarrassing detail if I didn't wrap this up quickly.