AT ORVILLE MARKET ~
(Kiana walked into the herb shop, greeting Faye with a warm smile.)
KIANA ~ Good morning, Faye.
(Faye, a young girl with a bright smile, looked up from behind the counter.)
FAYE ~ Oh, Kiana! Good morning! What brings you here today?
(Kiana pulled out a piece of paper from her pocket and scanned it quickly.)
KIANA ~ I am looking for calendula. Do you have any?
(Faye nodded, her eyes scanning the shelves.)
FAYE ~ Yes, but we only have a little bit left.
(Kiana nodded, unfazed.)
KIANA ~ Okay, I'll take 1kg, please.
(As Faye began packaging the calendula, she asked,)
FAYE ~ What was Viorel working on this time?
KIANA ~ I don't know. She just told me to buy this.
(Just then, a handsome man walked into the shop, drawing the attention of everyone around him. Kiana, however, remained unbothered, focusing on her transaction.Faye's eyes lit up as she greeted the stranger.)
FAYE ~ Hey, young man! What can I get for you?
(As Faye chatted with the man, Kiana thought to herself,)
KIANA ~ These handsome men are just about looks; inside, they're often different. True handsomeness comes from within, like my father.
(The stranger, none other than Noa, a vampire with the ability to read thoughts, smiled to himself as he caught Kiana's inner thoughts.Faye, still charmed by Noa's presence, asked,)
FAYE ~ Can I know your name?
NOA ~ Noa (expression neutral.)
(Faye's eyes widened.)
FAYE ~ Wow, it suits you perfectly! And you're so handsome!
(Noa's expression remained straight as he thanked her.Meanwhile, Kiana grew impatient, waiting for Faye to finish packaging her calendula.)
KIANA ~ Faye, can I get my herbs quickly? I have to go.
NOA ~ I want calendula.
(Faye's eyes darted between Kiana and Noa, confusion etched on her face. She had only enough calendula for one customer, and both were asking for it.)
KIANA ~ Give it to me. I asked first.
(Faye hesitated, looking at Noa's charismatic features.)
FAYE ~ Kiana, umm...he's also asking for it...and I don't know if he'll come back. Why don't you come back this evening? I'll have more calendula then, and I'll give it to you.
KIANA ~But I need it urgently. We really need it.
(Despite Kiana's persistence, Faye decided to give the calendula to Noa.)
KIANA ~ I'm sorry, Kiana. Come back this evening, and I'll make sure to have enough for you.
KIANA ~ Faye..(Supper annoyed)
NOA ~ (Thought to himself) Looks like my handsomeness won again..😌
(Kiana approached Noa, who was about to leave the shop.)
KIANA ~ Hey, hey!
(Noa turned around, his piercing eyes meeting Kiana's.)
NOA ~ Is there something wrong?
(he asked, his deep voice a contrast to Kiana's urgent tone.)
(Kiana looked up at Noa, who towered over her like a giant.)
KIANA ~ Yes...I mean, no...Can I ask you for something?
(Noa's expression seemed to say, "Go ahead," and Kiana took a deep breath.)
KIANA ~ Can you share your herb with me? Just a little bit?
(Noa's response was immediate and direct.) NOA ~ No.
(Kiana's eyes widened, and she tried again.)
KIANA ~ Please? It's really urgent. I need it. Just a little bit. I'll pay you.
(Noa's expression remained firm.)
NOA ~ I don't like to share my things.
KIANA ~ Ehh...just a little bit, mister...please...an injured lady really needs it.
(Noa's response caught Kiana off guard.) NOA ~ I am also injured.
(Kiana raised an eyebrow.)
KIANA ~ I can't see any injury.
(Noa's smile was subtle, but his actions were not. He opened his shirt, revealing his chest. Kiana, anticipating something inappropriate, had already covered her eyes with her fingers.)
NOA ~ You can see tho..I am allowing you to see..(his voice low and smooth)
(Just then, Astra and Ivelle arrived, mistaking the scene for something more sinister. Astra stepped forward, shielding Kiana.)
ASTRA ~ Hey, back off!
(Ivelle joined in, her eyes flashing.)
IVELLE ~ Yeah, back off! What do you want?
(Kiana tried to intervene, but Astra covered her mouth with her hand.)
KIANA ~ Astra...no,(Kiana mumbled, her words muffled.)
(Astra and Ivelle glared at Noa, who simply smiled. Ivelle whispered,)
IVELLE ~ What a creepy person.
ASTRA ~ Did he do something to you? Just tell me, don't be afraid.(To Kiana)
(Before Kiana could respond,
IVELLE ~ Hongdae guy..
NOA ~ What is that?
IVELLE ~ Wae? She said go away...Men like him are so dangerous. And Hongdae guy means a stereotype of young men known for bold yet awkward attempts to pick up women, often objectifying them..
NOA ~ Oh..I am not like that..(Fully shocked what he heard)
(Noa's smile grew wider as he passed by Kiana, his eyes locking onto hers. Kiana watched as he walked away, feeling a mix of frustration and annoying)
Kiana was about to explain the situation to Astra and Ivelle when someone came running towards her, looking frantic. "Kiana, Kiana!" the messenger exclaimed.
Kiana's eyes widened as she turned to face the messenger. "What happened???"
The messenger, out of breath, delivered the devastating news: "Your father is going to be executed by the Emperor. He'll be dead."
Kiana's heart dropped. She choked back a sob and started running towards the palace, her eyes streaming with tears. Astra and Ivelle followed closely behind, shocked by the sudden turn of events. Just that morning, Kiana had met her father, and now...
Kiana ran with a speed that showed she didn't care about her safety. Her eyes wouldn't stop tearing as she ran towards the palace. She was crying and didn't see a sharp piece of iron on the ground. She tripped and hurt her leg badly, but the pain didn't matter as much as her sadness.
As she ran, she cried out, calling for her father. "Father! Father!" She couldn't shake off the feeling that someone was playing a cruel joke on her. But it didn't matter; she just wanted to see her father and know he was okay. She didn't believe the news; she just needed to see him being okay..
After reaching the palace, Kiana found the ground filled with a crowd. Seeing her, everyone made a way, their faces filled with shock and worry. The people of Orville had grown fond of Kiana,she won every single Orville peoples heart, and seeing her in this state, they couldn't help but feel concerned for her.
Kiana pushed through the crowd and reached the center, where she saw the Emperor's sword pressed against her father's neck. His whole body was bleeding, and Kiana's world came crashing down around her.
The Emperor's voice was filled with disappointment and anger.
EMPEROR ~ I didn't even think you would do that, Knight Koa. I thought you were closest to me. But the thing you did...there's only death as punishment.
(Knight Koa remained silent, his head bowed, without replying.)
EMPEROR ~ Your betrayal...you have been a trusted person of our kingdom for years. Your loyalty towards the kingdom has been a facade.
Kiana rushed forward to cover her father, but the soldiers pushed her back. She was crying uncontrollably, unable to believe what was happening. Her father would never do anything bad; she knew how hard he had worked for Orville.
She was sobbing, her body shaking with each cry. The soldiers stopped her from reaching her father by holding her tightly and she felt like she had lost all her energy. She couldn't even move, couldn't even breathe properly. Her heart ached seeing her father like this, and her legs trembled beneath her.
"Why is this happening?" she thought. "Does she deserve this?" Suddenly, blood stains splattered onto her face. She stopped crying, looked in front of her, and saw the soldiers release her. She fell to the ground, trying to realize what was happening.
Astra and Ivelle rushed to her side, trying to close her eyes. But she saw everything - her father's dead body lying in front of her. Astra covered her eyes with her fingers, but the scene replayed in her mind.
The Emperor ordered Kiana's death, the daughter of the traitor Koa. The people remained silent, but they were against the Emperor's decision. They knew how these father and daughter were.
As the soldiers approached Kiana, Ivelle and Astra stood in front of her, becoming a shield. Ivelle, who didn't know how to fight, seemed ready to sacrifice herself for her friend. Astra, who couldn't live without Kiana, stood firm, determined to protect her.
The Emperor ordered the soldiers to kill Ivelle and Astra as well. Ivelle thought, "No, she can't see her friend dying. It's better to die with her.My life isn't existing without Astra and Kiana."Astra thought, "Kiana is everything to her. She can't live without her." Both friends stood firm, ready to give their lives for Kiana.
The soldiers started attacking, and Astra used her vampire abilities to defend. However, with more than 12 soldiers attacking her at the same time, she couldn't manage to fend them off and got hurt.
Ivelle, who was covering Kiana, stood ready to sacrifice herself. A soldier approached her, and the katana drew closer to her body. But just as the blow was about to land, a black smog suddenly appeared on the scene.
Everyone started coughing, unable to see or breathe properly. When the black smog cleared, Kiana, Ivelle, and Astra's bodies lay motionless on the ground, their lives lost in the chaos.
The Emperor smiled and ordered the soldiers to burn the dead bodies. The soldiers obeyed, and the flames engulfed the lifeless forms of Kiana, Ivelle, and Astra.
As the fire burned, the people of Orville retreated to their homes, their hearts heavy with grief.An Empty Heart we can say. They walked in silence, their faces etched with sorrow, as if carrying the weight of their beloved ones' loss.
FROM AUTHOR ~
So, Do you want to know why did the Emperor order Knight Koa's execution?? Stay tuned for the next chapter...Hehehehehe..