Chapter 116: Black and White Part II 

Killian’s POV 

The musical perfomance went on for a long time, in harmony with the companion. 

“Your performance is beautiful! Please, keep playing 

I practically smiled with pride. “Well, I tried my best to compete with you” 

“Alright, stop being so smug, oh arrogant king. Keep dancing on those keys and let me hear it all day” she pleaded between her whining. 

‘As you wish, my queen.” 

Because of that request, I pushed myself to present my performance as perfectly as possible. Ruby seemed to love my talent and praised me for it. That made me happy. I had no idea how long I kept playing. Maybe ten hours or more. I found it hard to guess the exact number. By now, the entire kingdom must have been growing restless. The servants whispered nervously in the hallways, and the guards stood stiffly at their posts, exchanging uneasy glances. I didn’t care as long as Ruby was pleased. 

“Killian, why does the melody sound different?” 

I furrowed my brow in confusion. I was sure I was playing the notes correctly. But after a few more minutes, I realized the change. At first, the music was beautiful, romantic, and full of warmth. But as time passed, the melody cared darker emotions: despair, sorrow, and violence. 

The notes crashed against the walls like waves in a storm, echoing through the grand hall, pulling everyone into madness. No one dared to interrupt. No one knew how to stop it. Except for Ruby. She said she didn’t like this new melody. I wanted to tell her that it was special, just for her but then, I suddenly heard Ruby’s sobs. 

Panic surged through me. I tried to ask her what was wrong without stopping my hands from playing the piano. Instead of an answer, Ruby wrapped her arms around me from the side and whispered that she loved me. 

“I’ve always wished to see you like this one day, Killian.* 

I couldn’t remember when my fingers had gone numb; the pain was nothing more than a joke compared to what I had endured in the past. Blood pooled on the ivory keys, seeping into the crevices. My hands trembled, my knuckles had turned white, and my skin was rough and torn from hours of torment. My breath came in ragged gasps, my vision blurred in places. Everything was spinning. 

“Killian!” 

A voice cut through the haze. It felt familiar. But when I tried to place it. I failed. 

Footsteps struck the marble floor before skidding to a halt in front of me. One golden eye, wild with panic, stared at me. Behind him, Sean held his ground, his usual calm barely masking his concern. Only then did I realize–it was Leonidas. 

“WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU DOING?!” he shouted. 

“Killian, stop!” Leonidas grabbed me, but the moment his hand touched my shoulder, my body jolted violently. 

“Hey! Focus your eyes on me!” 

“Get your hands off me, you wretched creature!” I snapped, my gaze darting wildly. 

“Great. My new title is just delightful, huh? Damn it, you’re barely breathing!” 

He tried to pull me away, but my body refused to cooperate. My limbs were frozen in place, unwilling to move from the piano bench. My thoughts drifted not to the one person I had always loved. Panic and frustration surged through me. I could feel her presence as if she were still here with me. Then where was she now?! I was alone! 

A sorrowful howl, reminiscent of my wolf, Elysian, tore from my throat. 

“You believe me, don’t you?” I whimpered like a lost child. “I saw Ruby come here! Isn’t that funny?” 

Leonidas’s eyes widened as he processed the words his king had just spoken. He shook his head and grabbed my shoulders, shaking me violently. 

“For God’s sake! Again?! Damn it, you wretched king! Wake up!” 

“Killian Rudwick!” 

I tilted my head as Leonidas waved his hand ir Successfully unlocked! its hazy in my vision. I let out an irritated growl, 

swatting his arm away. Instead of listening, I began playing on 

from feeling sad again. 

“Please, Killian. This isn’t real!” 

e Ruby would love, one that would keep her 

I lifted my gaze to meet his, my eyes dark with sorrow. “Do you doubt me, Beta?” 

1/3 

Chapter 116 Black and White Part II 

His mouth fell open, and more curses spilled from his lips. Some of his words filled me with such hatred that, at one point, I finally realized something. My eyes flickered around the room. My pulse pounded in my ears. 

“Leonidas,” I whispered again. “I’m playing for her. She asked me to. I swear!” 

But the truth was no one here. 

Only the golden glow of the palace’s grand chandeliers, shining brightly, and the torturous silence where music had once filled the space. 

“Killian, I’ve already told you. It’s all just a mirage,” he rasped. 

“She’s gone,” Leonidas emphasized. “She has been gone for centuries!” 

“Ruby Lucienne is alive!” 

The chair clattered to the floor as I lunged to my feet. My hands lifted from the piano, smearing blood across its polished wood. 

“Let me make this clear to you. She spoke to me. And you know? She told me she loves me more than anything!” 

Grief was written all over his face. “My king, you’re hallucinating.” 

I slammed all ten fingers onto the piano, sending a shrill, piercing note through the air. Everyone in the room clutched their ears. I glared at them all, my breathing ragged. 

“She used my first name, you know. She likes…” 

“Enough! Please!” 

My chest felt tight. My body trembled, every inch of me screaming for someone who, in reality, would never breathe again. My vision spun. The room swirled around me. And then, I felt it. The moment my strength failed. My knees buckled. My life force drained from me all at once. 

“Damn it!” 

Leonidas caught me just before I collapsed. “Sean, get help NOW!” 

I thrashed in his grip like a wild animal refusing to be caged. 

“Let go of me! I won’t tolerate your insolence just because we share the same ancestral blood!” 

Then came the pain, one that shut down every system in my body. A sharp blow to the back of my neck. Leonidas’s fist. The last thing I remembered was the apologetic look on my Beta’s face. 

When I woke up, my head pounded as if it had been split in two. My body ached, my throat burned. And my hands! 

I hurried to check them, only to find all ten fingers wrapped in fresh bandages. The sharp scent of antiseptic filled the room. I flexed my fingers, wincing at the sting. 

Great. I had ruined them again. 

“Ah, the corpse awakens.” 

Leonidas’s sarcastic voice was the first thing to greet me. He was slouched in the chair beside my bed, arms crossed, his expression unimpressed. 

I groaned, pressing the back of my hand against my forehead. 

“What happened?” 

Leonidas shot me a glare. “Oh, you know, just the usual late–night madness. Ten hours of playing the piano, fingers bleeding, a full–blown breakdown over your long–dead lover, hallucinations, and,” 

He took a breath before continuing, “A tantrum that nearly gave Sean a heart attack, and me knocking you out because you wouldn’t stop screaming. Want me to go on?” 

My blood ran cold at his confession. I clamped a hand over my mouth, my breathing heavy. I tried to remember, but no matter how many times I forced myself to train my memory from scratch, I always failed. 

Nothing. 

Leonidas leaned forward. The subtle code in his expression was enough for me to understand. I averted my gaze, my eyes landing on the fresh wounds along my knuckles once more, a testament to the destruction I had inflicted upon myself. 

I swallowed hard. “Forgive me, Leonidas. I didn’t realize at all. I lost control.” 

“Damn it, you scared the hell out of me!” Leonidas half–yelled. Then, his tone softened. “You don’t need to worry about me. I‘ m fine. What I want to know is you. Are you okay, Killian?” 

“Listen,” Leonidas sighed, running a hand through his hair so roughly that a few strands came loose. “I know you loved her. I know she still haunts you. But making a mess of yourself won’t bring the dead back, Your Majesty.” 

I clenched my jaw. “So, what do you expect me to do? Forget her?” 

Chapter 116 Black and White Part II 

“No,” he said grimly. “But I do expect you to hold on. You’re my cousin. You’re also a King. And I can’t stand watching you destroy yourself like this.” 

I stayed silent as Leonidas launched into a lecture. It went on for more than half an hour. I didn’t interrupt him once. I knew this was my fault. 

With a deep sigh, Leonidas stood up. “Get some rest. I’m not going anywhere.” 

“Thanks, loser.” 

He stopped, then smirked over his shoulder. “Next time, cry like a normal person instead of giving the entire palace a heart attack.” 

“Noted, Beta.” 

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