"I've heard of you—the current ace of the Empire's assassination corps, Kuro."
Eblana's opening remark caught Kuro off guard: "Where did you learn that?"
This wasn't the kind of information one could just dig up casually.
The identities within the Empire's assassination corps were strictly confidential—it was precisely because they left no traces that they could inspire the greatest fear.
Even when she had left the assassination corps and joined Esdeath's command, she had done so under the guise of a civilian Teigu user.
Was this woman truly just so backwater noble who'd never even been to the capital? How could she possibly know such things? Where was she getting her information?
"Don't underestimate my intelligence network."
Eblana didn't answer her directly, but Kuro already had a guess.
"Was it my sister... It was my sister, wasn't it!?"
Eblana had no connections in the capital, so her only source of information had to be through the Revolutionary Army.
The thought that this woman before her had been in contact with her sister—or might even have a way to reach her—made Kuro's emotions surge uncontrollably.
"Do not be disrespectful before Her Highness the Princess!"
Liver, standing behind Kuro, rebuked sharply.
Of course, his consciousness was actually still locked away in a dark corner; these words were spoken under Eblana's control.
"Her Highness... the Princess...?"
Kuro was utterly bewildered by those words.
Princess? Who? This dragon woman?
"Before you sits the Empire's forr Emperor's firstborn daughter!"
"What...?"
Firstborn daughter?
The title stunned Kuro for a mont, but she quickly sensed sothing off.
'If you're the firstborn princess, why are you at the Empire's borders?'
She didn't get to voice the question because, before she could speak, Eblana cut the topic short: "Liver, that identity holds no aning for ."
Beneath her platinum bangs, green eyes shadowed yet seemingly glinting with an eerie light, making the cold disdain within them perfectly clear:
"My identity was never defined by being soone's daughter."
That disdain, coupled with strength that even surpassed Esdeath's, made Kuro swallow her doubts.
Right. A powerhouse of this caliber, unmatched in the world, wouldn't need so hollow title. Driven by such pride in her rebellion, she'd surely despise being reminded of any 'princess' status.
What she wanted was to beco a 'founder-queen,' not 'the Empire's Xth usurper-emperor.'
Understanding this, Kuro's suspicions faded entirely. But... with those doubts gone, her focus returned to what truly mattered: "You know my sister?"
"Ah, you an Aka."
Eblana replied casually: "Yes, I do know her. In fact, she's one of my valued subordinates."
Though she'd only beco her subordinate a few days ago, and technically wasn't directly under her but rather under her own subordinate's command—Eblana had no doubt that if her opinion clashed with Najenda's, Aka would unhesitatingly side with Najenda.
But that didn't matter. Eblana was quite accustod to spinning tales.
"Your subordinate...?"
Kuro was puzzled and began questioning her earlier assumption: "Are you a Revolutionary Army officer?"
That had seed impossible monts ago, but if Aka was with the Revolutionaries and Eblana claid Aka was her subordinate, then Eblana must be part of the Revolutionary Army too.
"What if I told you Aka isn't actually with the Revolutionary Army?"
Eblana suggested.
"...?"
"It seems you really didn't know."
Eblana rose from her seat, her expression tinged with a hint of pity: "I thought her story was ant to protect you, but it seems she truly made an unimaginably difficult decision."
"What do you an? Protect how?"
Kuro grew more confused with each word.
She felt this woman was spinning lies, yet... she couldn't just dismiss it as nonsense. Instead, she wanted to hear more.
"Do you think I'd keep you here without reason? Do you think I'd untie you for no purpose? Do I strike you as soone who'd waste ti chatting with a prisoner out of boredom?"
Kuro didn't think so, which was why she'd asked from the start—what was the aning of all this.
"Let tell you sothing first. Aka's departure from the Empire was under my orders."
Eblana ignored the sudden surge of killing intent from Kuro and continued:
"Her mission was to infiltrate the Revolutionary Army, gather intelligence for , and secretly protect those loyal souls who could help the Empire endure."
"..."
Kuro furrowed her brows.
So... her sister hadn't actually joined the Revolutionary Army?
This news left her adrift in confusion.
The Revolutionary Army was the Empire's enemy.
Ever since she began carrying out missions, Kuro had been fighting them. Her comrades, ntors, seniors, and juniors had all fallen one by one in battles against the Revolutionaries.
When she learned Aka had defected and joined them, Kuro simply couldn't comprehend it.
That was the organization responsible for so many of their comrades' deaths. How could her sister join the very group that had killed their friends?
It made no sense, was unforgivable—yet she still loved her sister deeply. Even if Aka had betrayed everyone, even if she'd betrayed Kuro herself, that love remained.
That was why she wanted to kill her sister, then turn her into an eternal companion—so they could be together forever, with everyone else.
But... what if joining the Revolutionaries was a lie?
"No... that's not right. She still betrayed the Empire..."
Kuro felt utterly conflicted. She wanted to let go of the hatred, yet she couldn't simply erase years of obsession with just a few words.
"How can one betray a country that's already dead?"
Eblana countered: "Was the nation you protected the Empire as it is now? Or would any place simply called 'Empire' suffice? Kuro, what is it you truly wish to protect?"
Kuro had never considered such questions.
Eblana walked over and gently brushed aside the hair covering the girl's eyes. The motion was so tender that Kuro, lost in thought, didn't even think to react defensively at first.
"Aka's desire to protect isn't so incomprehensible ideal. She wanted to safeguard what her comrades gave their lives to defend. That sothing wasn't rely a place, but the hope for a better nation. That remained true until not long ago."
"But the country is dead. What she sought to protect no longer exists. Now, both the Empire's upper echelons and the Revolutionary Army are targets of her vengeance."
Listening to the near-corrosive whisper in her ear, Kuro pressed her lips together, silent.
Kuro couldn't verify the truth of the dragon woman's words, yet she dearly wanted to believe them.
Her sister hadn't betrayed them, but was undercover, pretending to betray?
This possibility—one Kuro had never entertained—took root in her heart.
Even though she rembered their last eting with painful clarity, rembered Aka's expression perfectly, had been utterly certain of her sincerity... but what if she'd rembered wrong?
What if the hypnosis and obsession had distorted her mory of her sister's face?
Surely Eblana wasn't lying to her? After all, if Eblana wanted to, she could just turn Kuro into another servant—far easier than spinning such elaborate tales to win her power.
Could it be... she truly had rembered wrong?
Watching Kuro's struggle—wanting to believe, finding it hard to believe, yet forcing herself toward belief—Eblana felt no rush. After all, imdiate acceptance would have been unrealistic.
Still, she'd need to send Najenda a letter soon, so Aka could get her story straight.
-- --
T/N: I have a Patreon! Webnovel will get 3 Chapters Every Day, and advanced chapters will be uploaded on Patreon.
It may not seem worth it now, but maybe in the future. Who knows!
[email protected]/AspenTL
If you guys wanna check it out.
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