Chosen Mate of the Beastmen Empire by Lewis Reed

Chapter 416

Chapter 416

“Look at you–not even that sad, huh?” Banon shook his head. “Royalty’s heartless, as expected.”

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As a fellow royal, he got it better than anyone. Aurelius had the same blood as him–naturally, they were cut from the same cloth. Nyx might’ve had a place in his heart, but it’d never outweigh himself, the throne, or the empire.

One Nyx died, another queen would come along eventually. The world’s full of beauties–none might match her, but he could find traces of her in others. An emperor wouldn’t die for love; he’d just fake some sentimental mourning.

“Come on, kill me to avenge her,” Banon said, pointing at his chest, inviting Aurelius to stab. “It’s the only thing you can do for her now.”

S

He’d waited for this day too long, long past wanting to live, just lacking the guts to end it himself. The sickness tormented him beyond death. He craved a quick end. Dragging Nyx down with him before dying was his proudest scheme.

“Hurry up already. Maybe I’ll catch Nyx on the road to the underworld,” he taunted, grinning wickedly. “You broke her heart -maybe she’d rather run into my arms and be my ghost bride.”

Setting aside hatred, Banon still remembered that first stunning glimpse–her delicate features, dressed in finery, sitting there like a goddess.

Every time he bedded the Voss sisters after that, he tried to find Nyx in their faces. But despite some slight similarities, they were nothing like her.

“The Voss sisters are still alive, right?” he said, pretending to be helpful. “They’re Nyx’s half–sisters. Not as pretty, but still beauties. I trained them well. If you miss Nyx, you could use them to take the edge off.”

“Shut up,” Aurelius snapped, too disgusted to listen. Smiling, he drew his sword and stabbed it next to Banon’s head.

The sharp blade sliced off a strand of his hair. He felt a cold sting on his cheek, then pain–blood trickling down into his ear. His already trembling body shook harder. Fear gripped him, leaving him speechless.

“Aurelius?” Nyx tied up her horse and stepped inside with Erik, catching the scene. Her eyes widened in shock. She thought, “He didn’t kill him, did he?‘

She lifted her skirt and hurried over. Seeing the guy on the bed still breathing, she relaxed, grabbed Aurelius by the collar, checked him for injuries, and then pulled him away. “Stay back from him.”

He hadn’t showered for so long. He was filthy, sick, and probably crawling with fleas. She rarely judged people, but it was hard not to judge Banon.

Once a dazzling royal, he’d let himself fall apart without servants, losing all dignity. Noticing Nyx’s look, the clean–freak kitty quickly retracted his claws, obediently stepping to her side.

Banon lay still, limbs rigid, staring blankly at Nyx’s face. ‘So alike. How can she look so much like her. Not just her face- every frown, every gesture, every move was identical.

After a long silence, it hit him. “No wonder you’re not grieving–no wonder you scoff at the Voss sisters. You’ve already found a better replacement!”

“Replacement?” Nyx’s ears perked up at the weird word. Her brain churned, finally getting it. She nearly lost it, thinking,

‘Does malaria mess with his brain too?‘

The two males flanked Nyx, shielding her from Banon’s prying eyes. No replacement. There’d never be one. Nyx was Nyx.

Aurelius looked down at him, cutting through his delusions. “Deep down, you know you’re a total loser. You’re just lying to yourself, too scared to admit it.”

Mon, 17 Mar MOD.

Chapter 416

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bare, Banon felt stripped naked in public, his face turning liver–red. With all

you still alive? Why didn’t you

weaker the body, the easier it was to catch deadly diseases. His loyal deathsworn, strong and fit, had all caught it from

him, knocking him flat. He couldn’t even crawl. It was like his bones gave out too. He slumped into a puddle, eyes locked on Nyx’s

color he’d never seen. He mumbled, “She’s a fairy. Fairies don’t catch plagues. The fairy didn’t choose me, so I lost the throne.

got mad at my scheming, so she cursed me with this sickness, making me suffer every torment. I

figured the shock had driven him nuts. Losing all curiosity, she waved outside, unwilling to look

his pulse once daily, record any changes, and watch for side effects,” she

He was the

a fragrant breeze, flanked by two fierce beasts. His

his mouth. He swallowed it and closed his eyes, waiting to die. Days passed, but the expected poison never kicked in. Banon

what he thought was slow poison twice a day, he didn’t feel poisoned–instead,

With some strength back, he finally emerged from his despair

physician’s tone was flat. “Malaria medicine.”

didn’t sound like poison.

retainer or deathsworn who looked like this. But this guy saving him outta nowhere had

reason.

a look like he was an idiot. “No.”

me?” Banon bristled at the look, barely keeping

you,” the physician said plainly, then bent back

pupils shrank. “Nyx is saving me?”

took over, his mind racing with fantasies. ‘She finally picked me this time? Does she want me on the throne?

better–I’m totally fine now,” he babbled, grabbing the physician’s sleeve. “Go tell Nyx I’ll do anything she says from

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Chapter 416

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to serve her willingly. A fairy always rewarded her followers well

He set the pen down, checked Banon’s

reported back to Lady Nyx, this recipe could

pulling out the

it without a second thought. Maybe his mindset had shifted-

sit or lie still, pacing the floor to burn off his joy, already picturing himself in dragon robes on the throne, Nyx

taste surged in his throat, blood rushing up. Banon stumbled and fell, eyes wide in disbelief. He stiffly looked down, seeing his clothes soaked with blood spilling from his mouth.

poison hit fast. Before he could even say Nyx’s name, his face twisted, and he stopped breathing. The physician packed up his bag, slung it

the trial ended, he’d act.

Hilltop City after his crimes, and turned against Aurelius, the emperor had been

He crossed Aurelius and the

**

Mountain, dropped dead in the villa and was buried as a commoner.

and near death. It made perfect sense, so no one cared. Common folk only mentioned it over tea, clapping and saying he got what he

supplies–medicine, grain, and a recipe from the court. Newspapers ran detailed mosquito–prevention notices, listing the

all these efforts, the epidemic didn’t make big waves. By winter, as the weather