Undead Beast Master: Living Solely for My Desires-Chapter 241: Where No One Dared

Zaroth was about to say his wish but stopped a second later, he gazed at the emperor's eyes as he asked.

"I can ask anybody from the royal family for something, right?"

Draconis grimaced as he heard Zaroth's question. At this moment, the emperor imagined the worst.

If Zaroth wanted to ask for Amara's hand in marriage, things would turn ugly. Draconis wasn't willing to give his daughter to this man, but refusing would be like admitting that there was a limit to what the emperor was willing to grant.

"Of course," Draconis answered, his voice sounding a little forceful. The message he was trying to send was clear: 'Be careful with what you are planning.'

Zaroth smiled as he turned his head and began to walk to the side of the emperor.

*****

It was weird in a way, she was sitting in one of the thrones yet nobody looked at her.

Most of the people were trying to keep distance from her. Not that Althea could blame them in any way. They believed the rumors that if one were to touch her, they would get her curse, and as such everybody was careful around her.

Even the little people that liked her couldn't show it openly, as this could invite the wrath of the emperor, so she was isolated, forgotten, unneeded.

She may be a Queen, but at the same time it didn't seem like it.

She may have a certain amount of status, but it didn't seem like it.

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It had been so long… yet not once. Not even one time had somebody referred to her as a Queen.

No matter if it was because the people were scared of her or the emperor's wrath. Nobody showed even the tiniest amount of respect for her.

But it was alright. She had lived most of her life that way, so she had become familiar with isolation.

When the time of the truth came and Elysia and Draconis clashed, things wouldn't change that much for her. She didn't have that much longer to live anyway, it was a miracle that she had survived so long despite her curse.

The muscle rot curse infected all muscles, and the heart was a muscle as well, so sooner or later it would eventually stop. It might be one fateful day when she found herself under a lot of pressure, or she could pass peacefully during her sleep. Though she was only in her early forties, her health was already worse than that of someone well over a hundred.

Wasn't it ironic in a way? A queen was one of the people that were supposed to receive the most respect out of everybody, and yet she never did.

She would live the rest of her short life without experiencing respect even once, she would die never being treated like a human. What a miserable life that is—

"My Queen."

Althea's eyes widened for a second. Somebody had said these words, yet they didn't sound distant. it was like they weren't meant for the other emperor's wives but for her.

But that couldn't be the case, right?

…And yet Althea felt like she should lift her gaze from the floor.

In front of her was a man with white hair and green cat-like eyes. She recognized that this was Zaroth.

She had been informed that the man and her were on the same side… but that did not explain why he was kneeling in front of her at this very moment.

The surrounding had turned deadly silent as everybody was looking at Zaroth with wide eyes.

He had referred to Althea as 'queen'—not only that, but he had done so in front of the emperor's gaze. Yet the man did not appear fazed in the slightest, almost like he didn't fear anything at all.

After hesitating for a few seconds Althea's lips parted. "Yes?"

Zaroth's eyes widened for a moment. This was the first time he had heard her speak, as all this time she had been patiently staring at the ground, trying to appear invisible, most likely due to the emperor's orders.

'Her voice… it's so calming. It sounds so much like Mother's…' At that realization, it was as if a hole opened inside his chest. Looking at her felt the same as looking at his late mother—a fragile woman, close to death, whom he was meant to protect.

"I have been informed that I can request my wish to be fulfilled by every member of the royal family," he spoke calmly, trying to hide the fact that his heart was beating wildly.

Althea's eyes widened even further. The man in front of her had referred to her as a member of the royal family. This surely would anger Draconis immensely, in fact she was able to feel his gaze at her…

And yet she didn't look, she was too busy looking at Zaroth.

'Why is he doing this? This is surely not a part of Elysia's plan in any way. He had earned his wish fair and square, she wouldn't tell him what to wish with it… does that mean he is acting out of his own volition?'

"The fact that you are standing before me—does that mean your wish concerns me?" Althea asked. Though she was despised, she had been sent on numerous political missions and had learned to maintain her composure, even under pressure.

"Yes, it does. But fear not—it's nothing grand or impossible to grant," Zaroth replied.

"…Then speak, what is your wish?"

Zaroth's lips curved into a warm smile. "Would you have a dance with me?"

…

Silence.

Everybody was processing the words that Zaroth had just spoken.

He had not just referred to Althea as a queen and a member of the royal family but now wanted to dance with her?!

Althea seemed stunned, now she was sure that this was in no way connected to Elysia's plan.

Meaning that Zaroth honestly wanted to just have a dance with her.

"I…" Althea's lips parted, but she stopped a second later. She wasn't sure how to respond. This was not something that she had ever expected to happen.

'Even if the chances are small, is it possible that he is unaware of my condition?' she wondered.

"You may not be aware, but close contact with me is generally discouraged, as it could—"

Grab

Althea stopped mid-sentence as she felt a warm hand grip hers.

Before Althea could finish her sentence, Zaroth had grasped her right hand as if ready to guide her to the dancing ring of the ball.

…Althea gazed at her hand… When was the last time she had felt a human's touch? She genuinely couldn't remember, it had been seeming so distant…

And now Zaroth was gripping her hand like it was no big deal.

"Please," he spoke as he made his voice loud enough to carry around the deadly silent ball. "I do not believe in stupid rumors whose only goal is to spread misinformation."

…Althea wasn't paying attention to him anymore as her gaze was still locked on their hands.

"So let me repeat myself," Zaroth spoke as he pulled her hand toward him.

"Would you have a dance with me?"