"I will not."

  Instantly, the Emperor rose to his feet.

  Lina stared at him. She knew this was the last straw. So, she did nothing, but smile. And in front of everyone, the deities, spirits, and everything in between, she lowered onto her knees.

  Everyone gasped. The sound resonated throughout the throne room. Not a single person dared to look away. Not a single person could fathom the outcome of this. The precious Princess who didn't even kneel when greeting her father, the one who never received consequences for her pranks, and the one that was never scolded, was putting aside her pride.

  When the great Princess of Heaven went to her knees, hands on the floor, and forehead kissing the ground, the entire world seemed to stop.

  "As your youngest, I beg of you, great Emperor, to spare mercy upon the God of War and let your flesh take his place."

  The Emperor tumbled forward in disbelief. He felt like the rug had been yanked from beneath his feet. He had always told her to never kneel. To never beg. For she never had to. Everything that was under the sky was hers. And she did everything he told her not to.

  Gone was his daughter. He could no longer see her as his own flesh and blood. The little girl, who sat on his lap, clutching at his white beard in amusement, and throwing her tiny arms around him in joy, was suddenly gone. He was beginning to forget her bright laughter as she ran from him in the maze. He slowly let go of the childhood they spent together, with her on his shoulders and her large smile gracing her face.

  "You whore."

  Everyone froze. No one thought of her as such. They only viewed her as a young girl. In their youth, who wouldn't have fallen in love with a great hero? All she had done was love the God of War. Was that such a sin? Perhaps so, for her red threads were not tied to his, but another. And the other was the right-hand man of the Emperor, Atlantis.

  "Your Majesty, Your Majesty, wait!" Atlantis shouted, dashing into the Throne Room. He had finally gotten past the guards, his face bloodied and his sword drawn. But it was far too late.

  "Atlantis," Lina realized.

  The Emperor had reached his daughter, grabbed her by the collar, and yanked her to her feet.

  "Let me take his place," Lina begged in the face of her father.

  Up close and personal, Lina saw the hatred he bore for her. More tears fell. Not because he terrified her, but because she knew this was where it all ended. She knew their father-daughter relationship was no more.

  "You despicable wench."

  PAK!

  Lina's head whipped to the side from the intensity of the slap. The blood drained from her face. Her cheek burned with heat. His palm was heavy and small droplets of red dewed on her skin. She shakily touched the burning area in disbelief.

  The first and only time he struck her.

  "You shouldn't have done that."

  Lina's heart soared as fast as it fell. Every pair of eyes turned to the calm, frightening voice. The God of War. He was here. And he sought blood.

  "No, stop!" Lina shouted, holding tightly onto her father.

  It was too late. The Emperor had drawn his hand. All of her pleas only infuriated him further. Upon seeing how much his daughter adored this man, the Emperor decided the God of War was better off dead. Better dead than tempting.

  "RUN!" Lina wailed, trying to dash to her lover.

  The ground trembled with each step. Even the wind came to a screeching halt at his presence. The storm died down. The thunder was subdued. All it took was the single step of the God of War. His powerful aura was hard to ignore. So was the murderous stare.

  "If I can't have the Princess, then I shall have your throne and make her my wife instead," the God of War said, his expression and voice eerily calm.

  "You dare challenge me in my own throne room?!" the Emperor snarled.

  WHOOSH!

  A sharp thunderbolt flew in the man's direction. With the single lift of his hand, the thunder bounced right back. It struck in the direction of the Emperor who banished the element as quickly as it came.

  Sparks flew and went towards Lina. But the impossible happened. A shield blossomed from her chest and instantly wrapped around the Princess, burning bright red. The color of blood. The magical aura only belonged to one person and one person in all of Heaven.

  The God of War.

  A single necklace glowed from the Princess' chest. Everyone knew exactly what this meant. The Princess was his woman. He had only one soul. One heart. And he had given it to the young Princess. It was at this moment that they realized this was no simple crush. No simple love. To give his heart and soul away was the greatest declaration of love, for the death of the Princess meant the death of him.

  If there was something that defied all of destiny, it was the passing of a soul and heart.

  "No." Even the Emperor realized the truth. The prophecy was unfolding before his very eyes. A true love that would seize his throne.

  Without warning, the Emperor's hands enclosed around his daughter's. Instantly, the God of War advanced forward.

  Lina saw it happen before she could prevent it. A fight between her father and her lover. Only one would remain victorious. Only one would come out alive. So, she took her own. It was the only way she could save them both.

  Lina took out the dagger from her waist.

  She saw her lover's face morph from composure to an expression that evoked calamity.

  "Stop—"

  Lina knew it was too late to turn back time. Too late to reverse the exact moment the rain fell and they crossed paths. All of this was her fault. So she willingly took the punishment.

  With the very dagger he gifted her, Lina sliced her throat.

  Blood spewed to the marble grounds. Her body went limp.

  A wretched scream was heard in the distance.

  Darkness enveloped her…… And the Princess was no more.