"Yes."
Ruby nodded in response.
"Kneel." But before she could say anything, Adaliah ordered coldly.
Ruby complied without any protest, slowly lowering herself to her knees.
"...Delwyn contacted Ethan last night," Ruby inford, her head lowered. "...They've found the location of Moshel's Tomb."
Esray asked, "What else did he tell Ethan?"
"...Delwyn seed confident that they could kill Azariah at Moshel's Tomb," Ruby whispered softly, not looking up.
"...I don't know if he was confident in Ethan or soone else."
"Their leader?" Adaliah asked, her brows knitting together.
Esray glanced at her without replying.
She could vaguely predict what Delwyn was planning to do, and that worked in her favor.
"How does he plan to make Azariah visit Moshel's Tomb?" Esray asked, glancing back at Ruby.
"...Two days from now, they plan to abduct Christina," Ruby replied, closing her eyes. "...Ethan agreed to it."
"What a pathetic family they are." Esray sneered, leaning back in the chair. "...They should just die, don't you think, Ruby?"
Ruby's lips parted, but she quickly suppressed her urge to rebuke.
The fear she had for Esray was deeply engraved in her bones.
"...That reminds ." Esray's voice turned colder as she looked down at her. "...Have you fallen in love with Ethan?"
"...It's nothing like—"
"Don't lie." She flinched as Esray's gaze crucified her.
Ruby drew in a deep breath, her head hanging low. "...I love him."
"..."
Esray quietly looked down at her, with no emotion in her eyes.
Ruby's heartbeat quickened, her breath shallow.
"Did you forget the reason you got close to Ethan?" she asked.
"I never did," Ruby replied, shaking her head.
"My mind seems foggy; remind of the reason," Esray probed further.
Ruby bit her lip, her body trembling. "...So I can turn him against Azariah."
"Indeed." She rested her elbow on the armrest, her palm supporting her face.
"...Since the Ekari Kingdom incident, you've been using Ethan for your own agenda."
The mont Azariah refused to kill Inës, Esray ca up with a plan.
A simple plan to use Ethan in a more aningful way.
And a daughter of a declining noble family beca the most suitable pawn for her.
She helped Ruby's family in return for her assistance.
On the surface, Ruby's family may seem like it's crumbling, but they have far more wealth than most nobles of the empire.
After that, all she needed to do was convince Ruby that she was using Ethan as an extre way to train Azariah.
Even when Ruby got suspicious of her motives, she couldn't do anything.
"Are you going to tell him the truth?" Esray asked, glancing at the girl.
Ruby shook her head, sadness clear in her voice. "...I can't do that. I'm too entangled with you."
"True. He will hate you the mont you do," Esray added, and Ruby quietly nodded.
"...How long do I have to do it?" Ruby asked, looking up at her.
"No more." Esray replied as she stood up. "Delete all proof of us collaborating, Adaliah."
"Yes, my lady," Adaliah replied.
"..."
Ruby only blankly looked at Esray as she slowly walked towards her.
"...You are free to live your life." Esray whispered, gently patting Ruby's head.
"Live with your sins and share that boy's sin as well."
***
***
'Fuck, I want to go ho already.'
I groaned in frustration as I gulped down another glass of wine.
I looked around at the place I was in.
The younger generation had already been separated from the older ones.
And in a separate room, only the high-ranking nobles were gathered.
The three royal families sat in a higher place along with the saintess and Helena.
anwhile, the rest of the high-ranking youth talked among themselves.
'Fuck it.'
And once again, I stood alone without any company.
Christina asked to leave her alone for so ti.
And for so reason, I couldn't find anyone else here.
[...Azariah.]
'What?'
[...Are you not worried about Christina?]
'Is that even a question?'
[No, your reaction was milder than expected.]
I frowned as I leaned against the wall.
'...I don't have to freak out.'
Even though Christina made that stupid decision, it doesn't an I have to keep scolding her for it.
And even though she doesn't want it, I will protect her.
I won't let that bastard get anywhere near her.
'...Even if I have to keep her locked in a room for years.'
[...Are you going to take away her freedom?]
'I will do anything to keep her with .'
[.....]
"Aren't you lonely, Sir Azariah?" My gaze turned toward the voice.
Helena stood up from her seat, smiling at .
Everyone quieted down and looked towards , waiting for my response.
I smiled brightly. "I am fine, Lady Helena, don't worry about ."
"Oh, how could I not?" she replied as she stepped down, walking towards . "...That would be rude."
"I am fine—"
"Co with ."
"....."
I looked at her as she grabbed my hand, smiling.
I yanked my hand away. "Like I said, I am fine."
"I see." She nodded, standing beside . "Then I shall accompany you here."
I grimaced in frustration, picking up another glass of wine. "Do as you please."
She smiled, leaning against the wall, and a mont later the saintess Lucretia also stood up and joined us.
Without a word she quietly ate her chocolate.
The Mizraim Empire's princess and prince followed behind, as did the rest of the royal family.
"..."
And now, I was surrounded by them.
'What a pain.'
I groaned as I picked up another glass.
"Aren't you drinking a little too much?" Arianell, who had been silent, interrupted .
"None of your business," I replied without glancing at her.
"Still—"
"Don't act like you care for now," I cut in, glaring at her.
She quieted down, gently nodding.
She looked hurt, but I chose to ignore her.
"What a tragedy you both are," Helena whispered, looking at us both.
I didn't say a word and continued drinking.
"Asgrim told once that you desired as your marriage partner." My body halted as I heard a beautiful voice.
I turned to look at the gray-haired girl, Princess Roxanna.
Up close, I could clearly see why people called her divine beauty.
"What?" I tilted my head in confusion, looking at her.
"During the trip," she replied, and sothing clicked in my mind.
"...Yeah, I did say that," I replied, and I could hear quite a few gasps from around .
"Does that offer still stand?" she asked, and in an instant, the place quieted down.
I squinted my eyes as I replied, "No, I am happy with my current fiancée."
"You sure are," Helena comnted sarcastically, making my face twitch.
"I see," Roxanna replied, showing little emotion, and turned around, walking away without a word as her brother followed her.
"...How does it feel to reject a princess?" Helena asked as I gulped down another glass of wine.
"Nothing," I replied. "Princess."
Her smile faltered for a second, but she quickly recovered.
"Better question." She grinned, clasping her hands as she turned to look at . "...How do you feel about Christina being the Avatar?"
"...."
I sighed, rubbing my temples in frustration.
"Tell ."
"...It was her choice," I replied, keeping my anger in check. "And I respect her decision."
'...I fucking don't.'
I groaned inwardly, keeping a stoic face.
"You don't seem to love her," Helena comnted with the sa smile.
I felt sothing snap within .
With a smile, I replied, "At least Anastasia is better than those three hypocrit—"
"Azariah!"
Arianell yelled, making halt. I turned to look at her, glaring at .
I could see many others glaring at as well.
I sighed, feeling my head throb in pain.
"Don't bother , Princess," I replied, glancing at Helena.
"And if you don't understand that, I'll say it again in your words—'Thou shalt fuck off.'"
She still smiled as I turned to walk away, pushing Johnathan out of my way.
'I hate her.'
I don't know much about her from the ga; in the first place, I never played the third ga.
I just have so mories.
And I know from them...
...That Helena...
Is a fucking snake, a living parasite.
She eats away the church from the inside, killing everyone holding important ranks within the church all by herself.
She alone is the reason the church collapses in the ga.
And to make it worse, she did all of this just because she was bored.
...Fucking bitch.
"You are naive, Sir Azariah." My steps halted as I heard Helena's voice. "Truly naive."
I turned around, looking at her stepping toward . I asked, "Am I now?"
"You say she is better—on what basis?" she asked, standing in front of .
"Isn't that the truth?"
"Let tell you a secret." She leaned closer, her mouth close to my ear as she whispered,
"Anastasia massacred an entire race in the Epoch of Rebirth."
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