*CANDICE*

"MY FELLOW Black Heart Rebels, I gathered you all tonight because of a dreadful news."

The laughters and whisperings gone silent as we listen to our leader. My heart started to beat faster as the nerves and excitement hits me. Something big is coming.

Win gone silent for a moment as he looked at us with his cold eyes. His anger and agony are reflected on his icy blue eyes. I saw him clenched his fists before continuing.

"The Trebs have fallen. The Conqueror has taken the Land of Treb."

I scoffed in disbelief.

The Land of Treb is one of our allies. They supply our needs—from weaponry to medicine. We did received a report three days ago that the Conqueror left the kingdom with 100 soldiers, but it said that they were headed for Aquaria, the water city—not the land east to it.

But the Land of Treb have 10,000 men ready to protect their kingdom anytime. How the heck did the Conqueror defeated them with just a hundred?

"Aside from the fall of Treb, the Conqueror also took some of our brothers," Win continued. "He has Severius, Lucas and Bertoldt."

My eyes immediately looked for Delicias, Severius' and Lucas' younger sister—and Bertoldt's wife. Her white porcelain skin turned paler as she look at Win's eyes. She quiver as she try to suppress her tears from falling. I can see her lips start to bleed as she continue to bite them to stop herself from crying. There's no room for tears in the Black Heart Rebels.

"In five days, the Conqueror will host a tea party to celebrate his conquest. Daughters of nobles and his generals' family will attend the celebration. There, we will commence our first direct attack to the Conqueror!"

Everyone stood up from their seats and unsheathed their weapons.

"We will not let any of our fallen brothers die in vain! We will stop the King of Belmoure in his greediness! We will claim the Conqueror's throat in five days!" Win shouted and raised his unsheathed dagger. "To the Black Heart Rebels!"

"To the Black Heart Rebels!" everyone shouted in sync as they raise their weapons into the air.

"Death for the Black Conqueror!" Win added.

"Death to the Conqueror!" we shouted at the top of our lungs.

My fiery eyes were reflected on my sharp dagger.

Death for Prince Luther James. Death for the crown prince.

❀°˖✧˖°✿°˖✧˖°✿°˖✧˖°❀

"CANDICE, why did the leader didn't mention about the guys who have been captured? Aren't we going to rescue them?"

Nat and I looked at Nina as if she asked a very stupid question.

Everybody, except the commanders, were dismissed and put on standby after Win's announcement. They were instructed to wait for further instructions from their respective commanders.

"Last rule of the Black Heart Rebels: never get caught. Those three are as good as dead and every rebels knows that. Are you really one of us, huh, midget?" Nat said to Nina after flicking her forehead.

Nina rubbed her hurt forehead and glared at Nat. "I remember the rules, jerk! I just thought he would make an exception this time. Bertoldt is his nephew anyway and his only blood relative—no offense, Candice."

"None taken," I said with a straight face.

"I just thought he will save him to preserve his bloodline," Nina continued.

Nat laughed at Nina's reasoning. "We are not royals! There's no need to preserve anything other than our pride and beliefs. Besides, he has Candice. He doesn't need any other relative!"

"Fine! I just asked! Chill, man."

I sighed and left them alone. I went to my father—our leader and my adoptive father. Nat also followed me not long after Nina took off somewhere else.

"Now that you're all here, take the papers that has your name on it," Win said and handed us some documents.

I received three pieces of paper: a blueprint of a manor, a list of nobles' names, and a list of fake names. Nat only received one paper.

"To those who received more than one paper, you will be our frontliners. Make sure that no one leaves the party, and no one ruins our plan," Win explained.

I browse through the list. I'll play the role of Callista Agir, a new money heiress from a family of wealthy silk merchants.

"Others will stay behind the shadows and wait for the signal to attack. Once you heard the screech of a male red-tailed hawk, commence the attack at once. You only have one task: killing them all."

The side of my lips curled up as Win dismissed us all.

"Did you got a good role? You're smile is alluring—and dangerous," Nat said as he leaned over to take a look at my papers.

"Nah, it's not the role. It's the anticipation of seeing the face of the Conqueror once I took off his black mask—after I kill him, of course."

Nat laughed—really amused of what I said. "You better kill him fast, my darling. Or else, my dagger will be the one who'll slice up his throat."

My eyebrow raised, followed by a snicker. "Are you challenging me, Nat?"

Nat flashed a seductive and devilish smile. "So what if I am? Are you going to bet?"

This time, I laughed. "Bring it on, Nat. I'm sure I'll be the winner."

"You better be sure, Candice. Because if I win—you'll be mine. No question asked."

I raised my middle finger. "In your dreams, Nat. I won't lose to you."

I left him laughing on his seat.

❀°˖✧˖°✿°˖✧˖°✿°˖✧˖°❀

TWO days have passed. The Black Heart Rebels moved to Belmoure, the capital of the kingdom, to prepare for the next three days.

"Delicias, take five. I'll handle that," I said as I try to take the spatula off her hand.

We are cooking lunch for everyone while they are busy preparing our supplies. The men are in charged of making extra weapons, while the women makes the herbal medicines. Now that the Trebs are gone, we need to secure our own supplies ourselves. The Trebs are our biggest sponsor so it really hurt the Black Heart Rebels' source of supplies.

"I'm okay, Candice. I'll finish this up. You can prepare the plates," Delicias said.

Her face is paler as ever and got thinner. Her cheekbones are very apparent that she almost looked like a skeleton. There are also two dark bags lurking under her puffy eyes.

"You're not okay, Delicias. You haven't slept for two days. You might get in an accident if you keep this up. In our current situation, we can't afford additional casualties," I said looking straight into her eyes. "Take five. That's an order."

Delicias got no choice but to obey me—her commander. She stopped stirring the pot and handed me her spatula.

I pat her shoulder. "I'll make sure that this will still be edible when they reach the plates, so relax." A weak smile escaped her lips for my corny joke.

The soup is done when I notice the sky turn dark. Numerous crows fly over the city—covering the wide sky. Nina suddenly came rushing in Area 74 B, heavily breathing and with a face that looks like she has seen a ghost.

"C-Candice, h-he's back. T-they're back. H-he... T-they..." Nina is catching her breath, holding both her knees. Blood drained from her face and cold sweat trails her forehead.

"Slow down, Nina. What's the rush?" I closed the lead of the cauldron and faced her. Delicias and the others also assembled around Nina.

Nina took a deep breath. Shivering, she grabbed my arm with her cold hands and looked at me with teary eyes.

"The Conqueror is back. Candice, he is a demon! He killed them! He killed those three!" Nina collapsed on the floor, weeping and kept repeating her last two sentences.

Delicias immediately took off. I followed her until we reach the end of Area 74 B. Cheering citylanders filled the streets. There are confetti, colorful handkerchiefs, and grain of rice flying everywhere. Everyone is celebrating for the arrival of their heroes—the Conqueror's mighty 100.

Delicias squirmed her way through the pile of cheering people. I followed her until we reach the side of the road.

"All hail the Conqueror!" the people shouted in joy.

Tall and strong-looking men in uniform started walking in front of us—one hand waving at the citizens, while the other holds their sheathed swords.

Delicias and I watched them quietly as they walk the road that leads to the palace.

"All hail King Lucius! All hail the Con—queror." The cheers of the people turned to whispers as three wagons slowly pass the road.

Delicias' face turned paler as her tears flowed on her face. I immediately closed her eyes and pulled her in my arms. She embraced me and wailed.

"Candice, I won't forgive him."

"Hush, Delicias." I held her tightly in my arms—trying to suppress both of our anger. Even I, wanted to shout and kill these sickly bastards.

One by one, the wagons passed us—carrying a decapitated head on each one. Severius', Lucas' and Bertoldt's head are plunged into a thin metallic spheres, piercing from their chins onto the top of their head. Their mouths are wide open and everyone can see how their tongues we're removed.

This is barbaric.

Following the wagons, a black steed carrying a black caped man is at the end of the parade. His face is covered by his black mask made of steel and glass but even without meeting his eyes, everyone can feel his intimidating, powerful and devilish aura. He rode his horse elegantly and proudly went straight to the palace. He held his head up high as his straight apathetic back turned away from us.

I clenched my teeth, took Delicias' arm, and turn my back on my comrades' inhumane public display.

You better enjoy your next three days, Conqueror—because that's all you got left.

I swear, I'll fucking kill you!