Killed Me? Now I Have Your Power-Chapter 42: The Golden Voice

Chapter 42 – The Golden Voice

Sora Asterion—Princess of the illustrious Celestial Empire.

A power so old, so vast, so dominant in this deep and beautiful world called Fokay that even time bowed its head as they marched forward—never falling, only rising.

They were just that powerful. Just that talented. Just that... special.

And Sora?

She was their youngest princess. A gifted girl who awakened an Origin linked to the sun and the stars. A rare affinity. But that wasn’t all—Sora was also known throughout the empire for her talent in rune craftsmanship.

She was talented. She had the background. And so she had the pressure.

Because her family demanded nothing less than perfection.

She had to be excellent. Had to be a symbol. Had to be what the people could look up to—their shining light.

But here’s the thing...

Sora was still just a girl.

A girl who wanted to do things other than training or memorizing political jargon or choking on etiquette manuals written by dead men in gold-plated robes.

She wanted friends. Laughter. Talks about meaningless little things that had nothing to do with the fate of an empire.

She wanted all of that.

But she had none of it.

Instead, she’d been given a whole castle—an entire estate built just for her—in one of their hidden domains. All for the purpose of pushing her solar abilities to the next level.

That’s why she was here. That’s why this castle even existed.

It was her gilded cage.

And at first, she trained. She obeyed. She followed orders like a good princess should.

But when enough time passed, and she realized she was truly alone—no maids, no distractions, just guards posted far beneath who wouldn’t even show their faces unless summoned—

Sora began to explore.

She started dabbling in the little curiosities she had picked up from the hushed gossip of servants.

And one thing... pulled her in more than anything else.

Singing.

The first time she tried?

Oh, gods...

It was like something inside her cracked open. Like the stars themselves danced in her throat. Like this was what she was born to do.

But a princess of the Celestial Empire? Singing?

Unthinkable.

That sort of behavior would be crushed. Disciplined.

So she kept it secret.

To the world, she remained the haughty, powerful, cold prodigy. But when she was alone...

She was just Sora. The girl who sang to herself in her lonely castle.

It was supposed to stay that way.

Forever.

So... ’why was there an intruder here?’ Sora thought silently.

Why was someone standing in front of her now, after hearing her sing?

Sora’s face hardened instantly. Her golden eyes flared with rage and shame—but before she could even speak—

Kaden beat her to it.

"Don’t say anything."

His voice was calm. Controlled.

Then he slowly pulled out an artifact—one Sora recognized immediately.

A restraint. The kind used by guards when subduing dangerous prisoners.

Her eyes widened.

She moved instinctively, tried to escape his grip—but she couldn’t.

Kaden’s strength stat was at 175.

And while she was an Awakened Rank just like him, she was clearly more of a long-range specialist. She couldn’t match that kind of physical power.

And so soon she was bound by a chain like artifacts that also blocked her usage of mana.

He covered her mouth with a cloth, sealing her voice completely.

Only once she was fully restrained did Kaden exhale and relax a little. He walked over, shut the door softly.

Then turned back toward her.

The girl before him was beautiful.

Golden hair that shimmered like melted sun, eyes so vivid they looked like they’d been sculpted from burning stars. There were faint specks inside her irises—tiny, delicate stars swirling, hidden, subtle. Her very gaze carried heat.

But Kaden wasn’t distracted.

And the same way he looked at her—analyzing, measuring—she looked back.

Sora saw him.

Dark, messy hair. Pale white skin. Blood-red eyes, deep and sharp enough to wound. Eyes that even she, a princess, found stunning.

But that didn’t mean she liked any of this.

Not one bit.

She glared at him with so much venom it was almost funny.

Kaden crouched down to meet her eye to eye, then spoke calmly, his tone firm and clear.

"Look, princess... I don’t want this either."

"You can see my rank. I’m just a lowly Awakened, barely surviving. Before you assume I’m here to do something to you or hurt you, think for a second..."

"Do I really look like someone who got into this place by choice? The only two entrances to this forest are that teleportation portal—the one in your room and the one controlled by your guards."

Kaden let his words settle.

He wasn’t here to threaten her.

He was here to make her understand.

Because unlike Rome, he couldn’t torture this girl into helping him.

He wouldn’t.

She was a princess of the Celestial Empire.

That wasn’t someone you touched recklessly. Not when you were weak.

He knew better.

So he compromised. He tried the path of reason.

And Sora, despite herself, listened. She blinked, surprised. Then began shaking her head wildly, trying to say something.

Kaden hesitated, then removed the cloth from her mouth.

"Ahh..." Sora exhaled loudly, catching her breath.

Then she raised her head and looked straight at him.

"You... you were thrown here by The Will," she said—not as a question, but as a conclusion.

Kaden nodded. "Yes. And I just want to get out. I knew if your guards saw me, they wouldn’t care about any explanation. They’d just kill me."

"So I came here—to ask for your help. I need you to change the portal’s destination."

He said it all in one breath.

Sora watched him quietly, absorbing his desperation, his reasoning. He wasn’t wrong. The guards wouldn’t have asked questions.

But even so...

"Why do you think I’d help you?" Sora asked, her voice now sharp and cold, with that same imperial pride curling around her tongue.

"You forced your way into my room. You gagged me. You bound me. And now you want a favor?"

Her face twisted with disdain.

Kaden stood still.

Then sighed.

He expected this.

This was Fokay. A world ruled by strength, lineage, and cruelty. Darklore was twisted—but Fokay? It was colder. Worse.

Kaden could be cruel.

But not enough.

There was still softness inside him.

Not that he hated it. He liked that part of himself—the part that remembered humanity.

But if that part got in the way of his survival?

He could silence it. Easily.

His smirk returned as he pulled out something else. An artifact plundered from Rome.

A small, metallic ball.

A recording artifact.

Rare rank.

The moment Sora saw it, her instincts screamed.

And sure enough—

"You’ve got a beautiful voice, Princess..." Kaden said softly.

Sora’s heart skipped.

Her face paled. Her eyes widened in horror.

’No. Way.’

Kaden leaned in just slightly, voice almost a whisper.

"How about I share that lovely song with the guards below?"

—End of Chapter 42—

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