Zhan's  pov

Emperor Alistair Solvaris Ravaryn was an old man around the age of fifty and he was a bastard.

He was old bald, fat and ugly and I hated him with my whole being, this was the man who lusted after young children, killed people who opposed families, wiped out entire villages and clans just because he felt like it.

And once upon a time I supported him too, I assisted in carrying out those ruthless orders. I hated myself for that. Once upon a time even I blindly believed the emperor and served the crown, my eyes only opened when the destruction I assisted came to my door and destroyed my life as well, only then did I see the monster I was serving , I was blind.

Was Yibo like that too? Was he also blind? Can I convince him to join me? But what level of blindness could convince him to slaughter his own family? Even after seeing the intensity of his loyalty can I bring him to my side?

"Your Majesty." my father greeted and we all bowed our heads in front of the emperor, I grit my teeth and looked down at the floor, I couldn't face him.

"Rise my dear subjects", he said in his disgusting voice and we all looked up, the emperor smiled at us and my father presented the gift that we brought for the princess. However I noticed how the emperor was looking at my sister with his cold wicked eyes. Rage flashed through my eyes and I wanted to kill him then and there.

But I couldn't do that so I just clenched my fist, grit my teeth and lowered my head once again.

"I appreciate the gifts Duke they are lovely." The emperor said, "its been a while since we have met, I would like to have a chat with you."

"Sure, your majesty." my father said, while I just stood there and said nothing, I wanted this ordeal to be over, I tried to focus somewhere else and that's when my eyes fell on Yibo who was looking at me, watching me with intense eyes, he knew something was up with me, of course he knew he always knew.

I avoided my eye contact with him and soon I was able to walk away.

I stayed at the banquet for a few more moments before I couldn't take it anymore and finally walked out.

"My lord why are you leaving so soon?" Cedric my knight asked as he followed me to my carriage, "I am not feeling well" was all I replied.

Cedric did not ask my anything anymore, he knew how to read the mood. I just closed my eyes as I sat in my carriage and thought of my next move.

Once I reached my house, I went straight to my room and started to write whatever I remembered about my past life.

In this life I was going to support Prince Simon, but he is in danger right now, if my memory serves right then he is going to die soon and the rebel forces will all shatter without a capable leader they won't be able to do anything.

My first task is to protect prince Simon and save his life, gain his trust and join him this time, in this way I can became the part of the rebel forces. Right now prince Simon did not trust that was because my family was close with the Wang family and more than that my own family was very loyal to the emperor.

I took my pen and started to strategies, I wrote all the names, all the places that were important to my plan.

It took me a few hours and finally when I was done I took a deep breathe and sat down.

As I was looking at my plan I suddenly heard a knock on my window and opened it, and an owl flew into my room, I smiled and raised my arm and it came and sat on it, I gently patted it's head, "how are you Azure?" I said as I looked at the paper wrapped on his feet, I pulled it and read it's content.

"Are you alright? You left without saying anything."

It was a message from Yibo.

I held the note and closed my eyes, Yibo was making this so hard for me. At this point of time he still cared for me, he still loved me. My heart ached because there might be a future where he and I might not have a happy ending and that was already killing me.

I loved Yibo, I loved him with all my heart and will always love him, this love was the only thinking causing my so much anguish.

I took my pen and wrote down another lie, telling him that was I fine and was just under the weather, that I will make it upto him. This was our new reality built on lies, because from here on I do not trust Yibo.

I tied my response to Azure's leg and patted the bird's head before it went away.

~~

A few days passed just like that and finally the day that I waited for arrived.

Everywhere year during the spring season the kingdom celebrates the festival of Bastina, it is the festival season and everywhere there would be carnivals, fest and many more things.

However the nobles and the royal family had their own ways of celebrating the festival of Bastina that is by organizing a hunting game. Where all the nobles and members of royal families gather to take part in the hunting game.

Whoever kills the most prey wins and they also get a huge price, sometimes the winners also dedicate all their hunted preys to their partners as a way to profess their love.

However my objective to take part in this hunt was different, I had to take part in this hunt because in my last life this was the even when prince Simon died.