Chapter 26: "What is Blackstone?" Emeriel asked. "It is the domain of Grand Lord Vladya. He rules the western wing of this estate, and his home is there," Livia explained. Then, in a quieter tone, she added, "I wonder why he wants to see me." Emeriel wiped his eyes, swallowing tightly. "Do you think it's about my sister?" "You may go now. I have already told Slave Master Gaine that you will work in the cellar for now. The soldiers will come for you soon." A cellar slave? It was not ideal, but it could have been worse. "Thank you, Madam Livia, for everything," Emeriel said softly, standing to leave. "Emeriel?" He turned back, looking at her. "Yes, Madam?" Livia hesitated. "I would not hold out hope regarding Aekeira." When she said nothing more, tears once again sprang to Emeriel's eyes, and he let out a quiet sob. He had dreaded the thought, refusing to entertain it. But deep down, he knew he had been fooling himself. Emeriel walked unsteadily back to his chambers and locked the door. Falling to the floor, he wept bitterly. PRINCE EMERIEL Three days passed, and Emeriel was moved to the slave quarters in the southern wing. The room he was given was small and bare, with only a tiny bed in one corner. Thankfully, Madam Livia had managed to get him clothes that covered his whole body, sparing him from the revealing attire other slaves wore. As the evening fell, marking his first day as a cellar slave, Emeriel tightened the chest-binds around his chest and put on his work clothes. He tied his hair into a ponytail. He hadn't heard anything about Aekeira. He hadn't seen his sister. g Ɐ lnσ ν???? ℓs․com, your storytelling home Whenever he tried to ask Madam Livia, she would change the subject. Emeriel refused to believe his sister was dead and her body discarded-at least during the day. But at night, he would curl up on his cold bed and cry himself to sleep. Every single time. Emeriel had seen Grand Lord Vladya and Grand Lord Ottai, but not the one called Grand Lord Zaiper. Whenever his name was mentioned, the Urekai maids and human slaves would all look terrified. Every single one of them. "He is the worst of all the grand lords," the slave girl Amie had whispered to him the day before, her eyes wide as she looked around to make sure no one was listening and the hallway was empty. "Lord Ottai can be sweet when he wants to be, and Lord Vladya is very scary. But like Lord Ottai, he is fair and just in his leadership. But Lord Zaiper?" Amie had glanced around again. "He is a monster. His slaves die every day. Some starve, others are tortured for fun, and some are even raped to death. His slave masters are the worst, and Lord Zaiper does not care. He does not even see us as human." Emeriel's eyes had widened to the root of his hair. "This lord is worse than Lord Vladya?" "Actually, Grand Lord Vladya is not that bad," Amie had stated firmly. "When it comes to ruling and running the kingdom, he is as fair as you could hope for from a Urekai lord. He just hates humans. He never holds back when dealing with humans. Compared to Lord Zaiper, though, he is an angel." The younger girl had paused. "Stay away from Lord Zaiper at all costs." Discover our latest featured short drama reel. Watch now and enjoy the story!