A wide smirk spread across my face.
This ball had exceeded my expectations. Outside the duchy, citizens are succumbing to death because of famine and war; on the other hand, these nobles are enjoying the world's best feast. Truly fantastic and heartless.
I sighed and went forward. Just at that time, two of the guards came dashing towards me only to get their heads ripped off. It was satisfying, a feeling of killing someone; that's what I thought it would be. But for some strange reason it was quite empty right in my chest.
Anyway, this caught quite a commotion. Everyone was frightened, running here and there for their lives. After becoming the Duchess, I have to handle these arrogant fools. For now, let's head straight towards the final boss.
After a few moments, this grand hall became empty. My footsteps rang loudly. Blood was dripping down my sword. I moved up, slashing all the ants coming in my path.
Tinkles of blood were splattered on his face. Both were looking so cute, frightened like that.
"Happy birthday, dear sister."
I wished her well with my whole heart poured in an affectionate smile. It wasn't tough to come here; Mr. Duke had spoiled all his money on this brat, so his military power was too weak.
Like a normal human being, I entered the ball while cutting several heads.
My so-called paternal uncle came in front of her, blocking me. It's not much to see any way; she was shaking from this distance like a coward hiding behind her father; it was appealing.
Without my knowing, a smirk spread across my face. His eye turned red. Yeah, it's not bloodshot; it did change its color to red. Which indicated he will try to burn me alive.
"Why is this wench here?" He growled in anger.
"That hurts." I sadly replied. Calling me a wench was an insult to that word. Edward gritted his teeth. Seeing his state, a laugh came out of my mouth.
"Haha. Looks like your body understood me, your grace."
You know the difference between our power.
"If you don't mind getting burned." He snarled at me. Fear was maintained in his red eyes. He was trying hard to play. He continued with a warning, "Stop this trouble right now."
"Shhh," I used my other hand to silence his useless attempt to run. Striking another guard who came from behind, it splattered blood on my face.
"Know your place, Uncle." I replied with a smile. Edward's fist clenched; veins popped out on his beautiful face. "I'm here under his majesty's order."
Time for some political shit. Pulling out the imperial decree of his execution, I replied, "All your scams are now open for everyone to see. Citizens are dying because of your negligence, whereas you're wasting the so-called tax money on a lowly life like hers."
"You're just a substitute, remember." I commented in an ironic tone. His sword got engulfed in fire; piercing through the air, he tried to strike first.
"Fake!!! It's all fake!!!" He growled. The look on his face was so cute... Like a child fighting against her father.
"Of course," I shrugged. Your death would've come regardless. This was just a cover for me.
"Stop these pathetic moves." I yawned at him. "Are you trying to defy his Majesty?"
Seriously? I slashed my sword through the air, which created a gust of wind. "It can't even roast a chicken. Idiot."
His fire went off. He was shocked to see a person like me this strong. "Lemme show you real fun." I chuckled. Changing my eye color to red, a circle of fire separated three of us from the rest of the crowd. "See these carefully with your disgustingly weak eyes, EDWARD."
I maniacally called him, just hitting the spot that angers him the most. "THIS IS THE REAL POWER OF RAISIS."
Flames were reflecting on his crimson eyes. For the first time in his life he experienced fear; this thought alone made my day. I went forward to do the remaining job.
**
"Stop this. Right now... cough."
Edward was on his knees. Blood was dripping from his head.
It was fun to see. But I wasn't satisfied; an emptiness filled my chest. Maybe it's because never once did he apologize or beg. I pouted at his attitude.
"At least beg." My blade was touching his chin. "I might give you mercy."
"..." His gaze was firm. Even though his body had accepted fear, his heart refused to believe it. "I will never kneel to the likes of you."
So, who the heck is kneeling in front of me now?
'It will be fun to crumble this attitude.' I laughed in my mind. A smirk remained on his face; I glanced towards his 'heart piece,' and a crazy thought came into my mind.
She was shrivelling to the core of her body. Edward's eyes widened; he understood my signal and then, quickly like a mad dog, started pleading.
"DON'T TOUCH HER. SHE DID NOTHING WRONG; I'M YOUR CRIMINAL. PLEASE STOP."
"SHH," I repulsively commented. "I'm in charge of what to do or not. So, keep your lowly voice down, uncle."
He went silent. All fun was gone now. The remaining thing to do was to send this pair to hell.
I pouted. Bringing the blade closer to his neck, but before killing him, I wanted to verify something; a word came out of my mouth, "Were you the one who killed my mother?"
He flinched. His lips curled up, forming into a laugh. In that empty banquet, his maniacal laugh started to ring.
"HHAHAHAHAHAHHA" Looking up at me, he snarled. "DID YOU REALLY THINK IT'S ME??? SO IN THE END YOU DID A USELESS INVESTIGATION TO FIND THE PERSON WHO ABANDONED YOU JUST AFTER YOUR BIRTH?????."
Strange enough, these hurt my mind. I felt a strange pain in my chest after hearing these.
"Oh," he took a surprise at my action and in an ironic way commented, "IN THE END YOU WERE JEALOUS OF MY DAUGHTER?"
All veins popped up. Clutching my sword tighter, I was ready to kill him. This maniac can't even keep quiet before death; such a weirdo.
"WHO CRAVES FOR SOMETHING THEY NEVER TASTED?" I replied with a laugh. "I'm making these clear now. You aren't dying for torturing me lower than a slave."
"Not for starving me so that I'll just die. Punishing me for the crime I never committed. Again and again locking me in that cold room. Making my whole body bruised and banning me from talking with anyone."
I said all these in one go. A smile appeared on his face as I looked down at him. "NOT EVEN FOR KILLING THE MOTHER I HAD NEVER SEEN."
A tear rolled down my cheek, falling on the floor flooded with his blood. I continued, "This is for killing Diana."
Edward spit out,. Laughing again, he maniacally replied, "That lowly maid? Uh, it's a shame to die for that worthless ser-"
Before he could complete his sentence, his head was severed off. I sighed at this maniac. Why did he even try this?
"Talking like this as if sparring time even at the last moments of his life."
I halted. Sparring time? My gaze shifted to another person; she was nowhere. I gritted my teeth. So, in the end, this maniac saved his adopted daughter. Nevermind, this isn't enough for her to be safe from my clutches.
"What a love."
Sitting on the throne, I smeared the blood on my face. Now I was the Duchess of Elmar, a thing no one had ever thought would come true.
"Ha ha."
Tying my hair in a bunch, I looked at the dead body in front of me. My only dream was accomplished; now I'm the Duchess, and Edward is dead. Irena will die sooner; everything was going according to my plan, but... somehow a strange hesitation was in my mind.
A strange feeling, missing something as if I lost something important.
Nevertheless, it's over now. I hate to admit it, but I'm out of stamina after fighting this maniac. No matter how strong I am, at the end he was also a rightful heir of the duchy. A wrong step would've cost me a life.
My whole body was facing the aftereffects of Raisis.
'This ancestral Karma.' I mumbled.
Raisis, the power of red eyes, is only possessed by the rightful blood of Alfredo. It's nothing special but a drug that has more aftereffects than uses.
My vision started to wobble, and soon enough I collapsed on the ground....
That's what I thought, but to my surprise, someone was holding onto me. Carefully, with soft touches. It was difficult to grasp wtf he was shouting, and I was too tired to see his face.
Logically speaking, my body should've reacted to that person's touch. But instead of cutting him in half, strangely I felt it was safe to close my eyes in his grasp. I felt like, no matter what happens, he will protect me from the aftermath... But why is it so??
And as if it was the most natural thing to do, my body surrendered. I closed my eyes to get a good rest.
////