Lazily Yours.

Lyca smirked, but because of Xu Ke's hand on her neck, she was unable to say anything. 

"Who do you think you are!?" Xu Ke hissed at her. "What gives you the right to speak to me as if… as if you were there?" He used more effort and lifted her away from the bamboo. "Do you really think I wouldn't kill you just because you know her?" When he saw Lyca's smile, Xu Ke added. "Did you think I am afraid of your father? Listen here… The Xu Family is going to own this empire. You and your family will die by our hands."

"You know— " Lyca struggled to speak as her hand tried to removed Xu Ke's hand from her neck. "You can have everything in this world… and I would only care about the necklace." She beamed before she suddenly kicked the side of his face. Surprise and anger flashed in Xu Ke's eyes.

This wasn't from the attack. Rather, it was because Lyca had actually snatched the necklace while he was clutching her neck. Xu Ke staggered when Lyca's knees hit his chin. Then he watched as Lyca stood by the Lake a few feet away from where he was.

"You— " He wasn't expecting her to still hide a little bit of her strength.

"This world can burn, Young Master Xu. And I would never care."

He paused at her words as he recalled this was the same words as that woman told him when they were talking about the empire. Huang Lena… The woman never had the ambition to stand by him when he becomes the king. The woman wanted to stay in the shadows, killing and living the life that she wanted with her family. The woman… The woman that wasn't willing to give up her life just to be with the life that he wanted. The foolish woman. "You are— " He slowly jumped from the bamboo and landed a few feet away from her. He stared at the necklace in her hand before his eyes landed on her smiling face. "Those words."

"Even if I burn with them?" Lyca suddenly added. "Yes. Even if you burn with them." She watched as Xu Ke's eyes widened. Seeing this, she continued. "But what if… I want to own this world?" These were the exact conversation that they had before their wedding. "Are you willing to stand by my side?"

"Shut up!" Xu Ke tried to attack her. But this time, she was too quick to avoid him. 

"I am satisfied and happy right now, Young Master Xu. I am satisfied and happy with you. I don't like to change that." She continued. "But I want you to be with me."

"I said shut up! Stop talking! Shut up!"

"I would be with you. Just not next to you." Lyca said everything from her memories as if it just happened yesterday. "The throne is not suited for someone like me. I have no ambitions to become a ruler. I always wanted to live a simple life, Xu Ke. The complications in my life right now is enough. If I can't even subdue the other side of the family, properly. Then… how could I make a whole empire respect me?"

"I will kill you! Stop talking now!"

Lyca remained unfazed. Despite Xu Ke trying to attack her, she continued talking, reminding him of their conversation. "I respect you. Isn't that enough?" this was Xu Ke's words. Previously, it made her heart melt, her eyes watery. However, now, those were nothing but empty words and promises. "Stand by my side, Lena. Be my queen." She laughed at that. She? A Queen? She was a killer. She bathed in the blood of her enemies and loved watching their pain. How could someone like that become a Queen? She remembered not responding to his words. Instead, she kissed him. 

In the past, Huang Lena never wanted a complicated life. She was satisfied and happy. Doing missions with him, killing their targets together, making love under the moonlight. She was happy, and that's what matters. However, he was different. His ambitions were different. Seeing his face reddened as he attempted to make her shut her mouth seemed to bring some satisfaction inside her. "Young Master Xu… if you don't want her to stop your dreams. Why not just leave her?" Of course, she knew the answer to this question. Huang Lena liked Xu Ke, a lot. 

Would she really let the man leave him?

"Why did you have to kill her?" She continued speaking, enjoying the anger that flashed in Xu Ke's eyes. From the previous encounter, Lyca knew that she wouldn't be able to kill the man with her current skills. However, his life is no longer her business. Sometimes, living is more difficult than dying.

And what is more difficult than living with guilt and all the what if's inside one's brain?

She chuckled. "Just so you know… she would never forgive you." But she will move on and accept that she made a mistake in loving you. She would use this experience to learn and be careful in her next life. She will survive, and she will go back to the people that loved her and cherished her. "I hope I won't see you again, Young Master Xu. And I hope…. You won't stop thinking about her until the day you die." She smiled before she turned her back and disappeared from the lake.

It didn't take too long for her to arrive at her own palace. Lyca didn't even care to ask about the Emperor as she put the necklace on her neck. Then she held the necklace and closed her eyes, hoping this was enough to make her come back to him. When she realized that she was still in her quarters, Lyca didn't hide the disappointment in her eyes. 

Why is she still here?

Defeated, Lyca sat on the bed and let out a deep sigh. She can't stay in this world forever. She needed to get back. 

But how?

.....

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