Secret World: I Became a God Through Lies

Chapter 406 Prelude to a Lament
When lies collapse, the truth does not emerge.
Instead, there is a deeper layer of lies and sorrow.

"The courage I gained with my life"

But ultimately, it became the burden that crushed him.

—Liseria Trean, *The Diary of a Destitute Man*

My name is Liseria, Liseria Trean, the youngest daughter of King Henrian VII, the Lion King, and the final writer of this kingdom.

If you still fantasize that I am still that gentle, kind, and beloved princess, then you are destined to face the most utter disappointment.

Because that girl never existed in this world in the first place.

Yes, it never existed.

My childhood memories are like a gilded dream, with palaces so luxurious they resembled the abode of gods, maids walking with light steps, and nobles humble and elegant.

My father, His Majesty Henrian, always embraced me with a warm and loving smile, calling me the most precious treasure in his palm.

My sisters and brothers surrounded me, like rose bushes, their fragrance sweet and intoxicating.

However, that was nothing more than the most exquisite lie in the world.

As I stood in front of the mirror, gazing at the girl with long, golden hair as dazzling as the sunlight...

Behind her clear, gentle eyes, another cold voice always whispers quietly:

"A hypocritical and pathetic doll, you don't deserve any of this..."

At first, I was afraid of that voice, and I tried to fill the ever-growing void with more kindness and more love.

I bestow smiles and favors, yearning for the approval of commoners, nobles, and priests.

But every time night falls and I am alone, that voice returns, growing colder and sharper:
"You think they love you? They're just using you. Sooner or later, they'll betray you."

Ultimately, the voice became a prophecy, and the prophecy came true.

The Mirror Lake Reflection incident swept in, and my beloved father, Henrian VII, left this world in an absurd and nihilistic way.

He personally handed me the Azure Lion Card—a mysterious symbol of courage and determination.

He probably thought that this power could save me, or even save this kingdom on the verge of collapse.

However, my dear father, you are so wrong. The courage you gave me was never salvation, but a poison that brought about complete awakening.

The moment I touched upon the mysteries of the Azure Lion, the mask of falsehood crumbled.
The sacred power of self-sacrifice and saving the world no longer flows in my veins; instead, it is greed and fanaticism that urges me to sacrifice countless lives for my own liberation.

Why must it be me who sacrifices myself? Why not them? Why must I be tormented by their expectations and desires?

After her father's death, Medici ruled the country with iron fist and violence. The path she paved with blood became the fertile ground I needed.

Despair, fear, and pain—these are the nectar that nourishes the soul for a lamenter of death.

The Lamenter of Despair, a Cataclysmic Sequence, is a mysterious path that only women can tread, a dark gate that can only be opened by those immersed in extreme depression, inferiority, and despair.

It whispered repeatedly in my mind, revealing the deepest truth:
Tragedy is eternal, despair is truth, and all joy and hope are nothing but fantasies used by mortals to deceive themselves.

All you have to do is tear away their disguise and force them to confront the emptiness and cruelty of this world.

In this dark revelry of self-discovery, I experienced true joy for the first time.

I'm tired of being that sweet-smiling princess, tired of being bound by everyone's expectations, tired of endless hypocritical dedication and sacrifice.

I no longer want to give anything to anyone; I just want to see those fake smiles crumble, to watch their faces contorted with pain.

Hearing them cry and wail in despair is the most moving beauty, the melody that completely captivates me.

The day after Si Ming left, I fully awakened in the Azure Lion Castle.

Medici's ignorance and arrogance, her persecution and repression, made me clearly see the power I craved.

Alleston, the city I once loved so deeply, will become the most magnificent stage in the script of my destiny.

Everyone will become an actor in my hands, and every sorrow will become a masterpiece I create.

When sorrow engulfs the city like a flood, when despair erodes everyone's soul, I will ascend the steps of the Cataclysmic Calamity and become the true ruler.

Yes, they betrayed me.

But so what? Because now I understand that I never craved their cheap and hypocritical love and approval.

What I truly craved, from beginning to end, was only their unreserved pain and despair.

If everyone betrays me, I will betray everyone.

Their wails and destruction will sound the elegy that fate has bestowed upon me.

Ah, what a wonderful awakening!

The sound of the shackles breaking was so crisp, and the lightness after the weight was removed was so wonderful, as if at this moment I had finally gained true freedom.

My name is Liseria, Liseria Trean, the youngest daughter of the Lion King, and the last writer of the Trean Empire—

I will use the sorrow and grief of the world to write my final poem.

“Dear Father, can you see this?”

Your most beloved little princess

It has become something you can't even imagine.

The purest creator of tragedy.

At the top of the Tower of Sacred Chastity, mist drifted like a ghost, hazy and cold, as if gently draping the city in a veil of death.

Liseria stood silently by the window, the cold moonlight casting dark shadows on her pale, jade-like face.

Her once pure and gentle eyes were now completely empty and deep, like the nothingness left behind after countless stars fell.

She slowly raised her hand, her slender fingertips tracing a silent arc in the air.

It was as if it had drawn the final line for that last vestige of reason and humanity.

“Let’s end it here…” Liseria sighed softly, a gentle yet sinister smile playing on her lips. “Goodbye, my pathetic and foolish self.”

The city of Areston below the window fell into complete silence, resembling a vast and solemn graveyard under the eerie blood moon.

An indescribable sorrow permeated the streets and alleys, as if countless ghosts were weeping softly.

The sadness, despair, and pain flowed like a gentle stream into the depths of Liseria's soul.

Since birth, she had never felt so carefree and bright.

In the past, she struggled with boundless depression and self-doubt, yearning for redemption, but to no avail. But now things are different—

As she poured all her despair and sorrow into the city, she felt an unprecedented sense of freedom and joy.

"So, the true liberation comes from transferring one's pain to others..."

Liseria whispered obsessively, her voice tinged with a secret ecstasy and madness.

"I finally understand, this is my destiny, I am the writer of this stage of fate!"

A twisted, excited light gradually emerged in her eyes, and her laughter grew softer yet colder.

The sound echoed slowly in the tower's shadow, as if chanting a lament for the end of the world with those ethereal ghosts.

Meanwhile, inside Morningstar Manor.

A subtle tremor suddenly resounded through the silent manor, and an eerie, deep door appeared out of thin air.
It shimmered with a faint blue light, seemingly connected to some distant and indescribable dimension.

The next moment, the doorknob turned gently, and a black-haired Eastern gentleman stepped in, returning to his own world.

Si Ming has returned.

Alan, the young man from Broken Tower Street, had been anxiously waiting for a long time. He hurriedly stepped forward, respectfully took the outer robe from the Master of Fate, and said in a slightly trembling voice, "Sir, you've finally returned!"

Si Ming glanced at Alan and saw the panic and helplessness in his eyes, then turned to look out the window.

The eerie, blood-red moon enveloped the entire city of Areston, and the church spires seemed to transform into countless sharp daggers, piercing the gray sky.

He frowned slightly, his expression revealing deep bitterness and helplessness, and sighed:

“Selene, you’re right… This city has already headed into the abyss, with no possibility of turning back.”

Behind her, Selene gave a soft snort, a mocking smile playing on her lips, her tone tinged with helplessness and sorrow:
“I told you long ago that the greatest folly of mankind is to think that they can save everyone. But you just wouldn’t believe it.”

In a secluded courtyard of Morning Star Manor, the candlelight was dim and faint, barely dispelling the chill and despair that permeated the room.

The room was so quiet that even breathing seemed to be held back, and the air was filled with the smell of illness, depression, and struggle.

Alan looked up at Siming with a face full of anxiety, her eyes filled with extreme worry and helplessness:
"Sir, my brother... I'm afraid he really can't hold on much longer. In the past few days, his life force has been getting weaker and weaker, and the doctors have already given up on treatment."

Si Ming gently patted Alan's trembling shoulder, his tone soft yet reassuring: "Don't worry, let's go in and take a look."

Upon entering the room, the light was dim and gloomy. An old woman sat upright by the bed, her face withered and frail from prolonged weeping.

The moment Si Ming stepped into the house, a faint but genuine light suddenly appeared in the old woman's eyes, as if a person on the verge of death had finally received their last salvation.

The old woman tried to speak, but her throat was dry and she could only utter meaningless murmurs and groans. Si Ming nodded slightly, indicating that she should rest assured.

He turned to look at the boy on the bed, his small body huddled in the thick blankets, his lips purple, his breath as faint as a candle flame that might be extinguished at any moment.

Si Ming frowned and said softly to Selian, "His life force is almost exhausted."

Selene shrugged and said indifferently, "So, should I bite him? If he can survive, he might live."

Si Ming shook his head helplessly: "The transformation of vampires is not a good solution, especially at a time like this."

After a moment of contemplation, Si Ming took out a mysterious card that glowed faintly from his bosom.

It was a low-level Life-type Mystic Card, with delicate patterns depicting fairies dancing among flowers, radiating a warm and gentle glow.

Si Ming glanced at the people in the room and said softly, "Alan, you, your mother, and your sister, all of you, reach out your hands."

Alan reached out his hand without hesitation, and his younger sister Naya obediently followed suit.
The old woman, however, withdrew her hand in fear and pleaded in a low voice, "Don't touch that thing... it will bring disaster!"

Si Ming glanced at her, sighed, and gave up trying to force her.

The mysterious card gently fell into Naya's hand, instantly radiating a soft glow. A small, exquisite honey sprite slowly appeared, dancing lightly on the girl's fingertips.

Si Ming smiled and patted Alan on the shoulder: "Teach Naya to control it, and let the life force slowly nourish your younger brother."

Alan nodded firmly: "I understand, sir!"

Si Ming turned and left, his footsteps fading into the distance. Behind him, the old woman sobbed softly again, whispering words of sorrow and despair:
"Alan... won't those mysterious things really bring disaster?"

Alan gazed at the dancing sprite in his sister's palm and said in a deep voice, "Mother, even if there really is a curse, I am willing to bear it."

Outside the window, the blood moon still hung high, and under its pale light, it seemed as if fate was quietly weaving a tragedy that no one could escape.

Night fell like a heavy black curtain, silently enveloping Morning Star Manor.

A strange blood moon hung high in the clouds, emitting a morbid and eerie red glow that pierced through the thick fog.
Like tentacles, they slowly extend into every dark corner of the manor, quietly probing every secret hidden within.

On the balcony of the main building, a dim yellow wall lamp swayed with a faint halo, barely dispelling a sliver of the thick darkness around it.

Si Ming stood alone before the railing, his gaze as calm as the deep sea, staring at the distant, gloomy Areston.

His profile was obscured by shadow, leaving only a faint outline visible.

His expression was inscrutable, with only the occasional subtle fluctuations between his brows revealing the hidden worries and confusion deep within his heart.

"What are you thinking about, my dear master?" A voice as smooth as silk, yet carrying a hint of eerie laughter, sounded from behind.

Like a sinister flower suddenly blooming in the darkness, it sends chills down one's spine.

Si Ming slowly turned his head, his gaze sweeping across the shadows as he looked at Selian, who was walking out slowly.

Tonight, she changed into a black gothic gown, with intricate dark silver patterns intertwining like chains, the hem swaying gently, like a flower of death quietly blooming in the darkness.

Her pale cheeks were bathed in the sickly moonlight, and her dark red lips were slightly upturned, revealing two sharp fangs.
That blend of beauty and danger is captivating, yet instinctively terrifying.

"Thinking about Alleston's fate,"

Si Ming sighed softly, then leaned against the cold railing, his voice low and resonant like an echo from afar.

"As soon as I set foot on this land, I felt that the entire city was permeated with an indescribable eerie atmosphere."

Medici's celestial calamity ritual had already begun, but strangely, I also sensed another powerful force quietly brewing.

It was as if they were secretly confronting her, plotting an even more clandestine and dangerous ritual.

Selene's slender, pale fingers gently rested on the railing, her sharp nails gleaming with a cold, eerie light in the moonlight.
She turned her head to look at Si Ming, her eyes filled with interest and amusement: "Oh? So in this mysterious city, there are still people who dare to oppose Medici? This is getting more and more interesting."

Si Ming lowered his eyes, his deep gaze revealing contemplation and confusion:
"The other party was extremely well hidden; I couldn't even detect their specific identity."

Perhaps it's a hidden bishop within the church, or perhaps a mysterious master among the nobles who has never publicly revealed himself... Whoever it is, someone capable of orchestrating a celestial calamity ritual of this scale cannot be a simple individual.

Selene raised her head slightly, a hint of irony and innuendo in her alluring smile, and said softly:
"Master, haven't you ever considered that perhaps a friend you know, or a seemingly innocent and kind royal princess, is actually the most cunning actor in disguise?"

Siming paused for a moment, then shook his head and chuckled:
"Liseria? That's a rather absurd joke."

She was innocent and kind, like a flower in a glass greenhouse. Medici's cruelty was enough to completely destroy her. She shouldn't be the kind of person who would embark on the path of the Cataclysmic Disaster, let alone plan such a massive ritual.

Selene gazed meaningfully at Siming, a hint of mockery and pity flickering in her eyes: "Perhaps, my dear master. But don't you think the most wonderful thing about this world is the unpredictability of the human heart?"

Purity and kindness are nothing more than the most fragile masks. Or, shall we make a bet?

Si Ming fell into a brief silence, and the image of Liseria's clear yet fragile eyes involuntarily surfaced in his mind.

After a moment, he shook his head helplessly, completely dispelling that thought:
"Perhaps you are right, the human heart is as difficult to see through as a fog. But I am unwilling to doubt her, even for a moment, it makes me feel like I am falling into an ice cave."

“Your trust is sometimes foolishly endearing,” Celian smiled languidly, a slight upturn of her lips revealing a hint of allure and coldness.
"However, Alleston is now a theater of madness and despair, and no matter who the real protagonist is, the final outcome will be a tragedy."

What do you intend to do, Lord Siming?

Si Ming slightly raised his head, his expression gradually becoming resolute and calm, a mocking and self-deprecating smile appearing on his lips:
"Now that I've stepped onto this stage, I have no other choice."

In the tumultuous tide of Alleston's fate, how could the weavers of lies stand idly by?

"But Celian, you're right. I really shouldn't have trusted mortals, willing to hide behind my lies and watch this theatrical performance for me. Perhaps we would have witnessed a different, more beautiful story?"

Selene slowly approached Siming, her petite, pale body pressed close to him, her bright red lips near his ear.

He uttered a whisper, both cold and alluring: "So, you too are embarking on the path of the inhuman? My dear master, Lord Siming? But? Hiding in your lies? Not a bad suggestion, I like it."

Si Ming did not flinch, but calmly closed her eyes, a slightly bitter smile still playing on her lips:
"Perhaps, from the moment I took my first step on this path, I was no longer human. So, please allow me to weave a lie for you under the cover of night, Your Highness Princess Celian."

The night wind whispered, and the branches of the trees in the courtyard swayed quietly in the deep darkness, as if countless hidden tentacles were silently stretching out, mysteriously exploring the path ahead.

The blood-red moonlight grew even more eerie and intense, like some ancient lord silently gazing upon the world's tragedy and chaos.

Meanwhile, Si Ming and Selian's figures gradually disappeared into the endless darkness and mist, as if they had never existed.

The tragedy of Alleston has begun, but a new storm is about to break.

The liar on the stage of fate is finally ready to step into his own prelude.

"When you gaze into the abyss, the abyss also gazes into you."

But what's even more terrifying is that, perhaps without even realizing it, you've already become part of the abyss.

"Fate is neither good nor evil; it is merely a cold and ruthless gamble, and each of us is but an insignificant pawn in this game."

—Excerpt from "The Last Words of a Liar"

(End of this chapter)