Tyrant of the Ruined Sun-Chapter 190: Price of Fraternal Salvation and Maternal Advice

Chapter 190: Price of Fraternal Salvation and Maternal Advice

"...Lady Elisabetta." I replied, my hand still held in the escort position, having just been on the precipice of inviting Eve to our now habitual nightly dance, while our customary entourage, with the addition of Weixiao and Ziyi gave her odd looks full of perplexity at her presence.

She then switched her stance and turned to the others, and performed another series of greeting bows, with the ones she performed for Darius and Abraham being the most reverent of the lot, eclipsing even her salutations to the heir and princess of the east; which despite being actions standing slightly in opposition to the strict dogmatic tenets of royal etiquette, no one judged or corrected her display; for they not only gave genuine respect to the age of the ancient men, who were even older than her own father, but they also paid proper tribute to the two titanic behemoths, and all their immemorial deeds.

And though Isaac also belonged to the same echelon of giants as Darius and Abraham, and fully deserved such honours as well, he didn’t and preferably would never receive such momentous acclaim.

For his wasn’t a life in the spotlight, but in the nearby shadow, where his deeds but not validation will forever be buried, away from the prying eyes of the ignorant and wise alike, while bar a few would truly know the full scope of his heinous yet necessary feats, and those who did, would never and have never denied him the fear and respect associated with it.

"So, to what do I owe the pleasure, my lady?" I then asked, my voice a steady stream of frigid words, like a freshly thawed river still clinging on to winter’s chill, betraying none of my true thoughts of disgruntled displeasure at having her unexpectedly scrap the plan I had priorly devised, while my eerie eyes faintly pulsed with restrained madness behind the black irises of my abyssal eyes.

Yet in contrast to all those who stared too long into my unsettling globes, she did not show any signs of discomfort or anxiety, nor did she immediately answer my query, but instead raised her head and unflinchingly stared back at me, her gaze remaining as steadfast as her unspoken will, which was all too obvious for me gleam.

She was here demanding, no longer requesting, a meeting like the one she asked for two days ago; the same one she had petitioned for her brother’s sake, and the same one I had decided not to answer for the time being, all of which for the desired purpose of further heightening her increasing sense of helplessness and urgency, creating the perfect fertile soil needed to escalate her rabid anxiety, which in turn would more easily allow me to harvest her bountiful crop of desperation, that would all but guarantee me her fathomless gratitude, that I then would cleverly wrap in harmless words until it is all but warped into an unpayable debt, that can only be reimbursed in the form of actions of espionage and subterfuge; yet it all appears to have been for naught now, with this unexpected action of hers.

’It seems I had both underestimated her boldness, and overestimated her patience; or perhaps she truly was that desperate to save her brother the coming sha...’ I had been musing in mild intrigue, when my thoughts were suddenly interrupted by the skin prickling sensations of countless pairs of eyes swarming us, followed quickly by the screeching wails of my thoughts warning me of a possible serpentine scheme at hand.

’If she is here so confidently, then she must have prepared accordingly!’ I thought in alarm, as my eyes, as though pulled by invisible anchors, dug sieves through the surrounding crowd, trying to catch the fleeting images and mangled mirages of any signs of her ploy, yet all I caught was the usual crowds of the ostentatious attendees, conversing, eating and dancing among themselves, while sloppy attempts of subtlety glancing at us were stolen every few seconds, which could be easily excused by Elisabetta’s unusual presence among our group this night.

This was further supported by the confused eyes directed our way from the northern princess’ own father and sisters, who truly seemed to be bewildered by her presence by our side, with her sisters even beginning to whisper amongst each other in speculation about her sudden action.

But the final nail in the coffin for my imagined threat, was when I returned my attention back to her, she was still standing defiantly before me, her intention clear, if now proven to be foolishly unwise, foolhardy even.

’It seems I confused her destitution with self-assurance. Or I should more accurately say that her destitution furled her courage.’ I thought in mild shock, continuing to stare at her for a moment longer, before I finally relented, knowing full well that I must adapt to the situation before even more annoying pairs of eyes are directed towards us.

"Very well." I softly said, as I gently enveloped Eve’s hand in both of mine, pulling her slightly closer to me, as I whispered a few vague instructions, that most would assume were little more than sweet nothings, due to my blatantly romantic motives with the mysterious blonde I have been attending the ball with for the past few days.

Once done, I pulled back from her, and she simply moved closer to my brothers, and I knew she was already working to implement and even improve upon my plan, as evidenced by the thin, subtle film of divine power that stuck to her like a second skin, allowing no one to sense her tenuous ministrations of the shadows.

"Follow me." I instructed Elisabetta, a few brief seconds before a large commotion suddenly erupted on the other side of the hall, wherein a couple of the servants passing refreshments to the crowd became startled and accidently threw their trays onto the floor, splashing liquid over some of the important dignitaries and royalties, all but ruining their expensive costumes and attire.

Meanwhile we silently made our way to one of the unoccupied terraces of the castle, before we quickly drew the curtains to not be disturbed. And though we didn’t escape everyone’s eyes, especially those of her indomitable father, and envious sisters, who already grew Cheshire grins, we managed to skirt around most of them, as they became more focused on the loud mess afar.

Something I also shared, as I then felt a slight disturbance from my shadow, just as the door shut, and a light grin forced itself upon my features, for I knew who had also joined us.

"You’re far bolder than I thought." Were the first words I spoke once we were alone.

"I offer my most humble apologies to the Ruinous Dragon, but I patience and time were becoming an increasingly scarce resource for me to maintain." She instantly replied as she bowed.

"Why?" I asked, my left brow stretching comfortably across my forehead.

"My brother, Nicholas." She muttered. "He has to re-join the ball starting tomorrow, or else his reputation will only grow worse until he’s seen as nothing more than a craven coward."

"I see." I nodded disinterestedly, when in actuality it was still I who was continuing to fuel the flames of contempt. "But I was told that you’re sisters were put in charge of refurbishing your brother’s ruined reputation." I then casually argued.

She wasn’t surprised I knew, for the entire international community had already known by now, as her sisters’ methods were amateurish at best and utterly childish at worst, at least in the eyes of the centuries old monarchs present here today, who if asked, would honestly reply with an amused chuckle, much like how an elderly person might do, when looking at clueless children undertaking the momentous effort of their first steps; utterly void of any of any finesse.

"They’re still too young, and this role is still far above them." She calmly explained a moment later.

I nodded, agreeing with her words, before I responded "So what does that have to with me? I’m sure my Grand Vizier already conveyed our lack of connection with this matter."

"He did." She did not heckle with me, but instead relented on the whole matter a moment later, by decisively saying "And I’m not here to dredge up this topic once again."

"Then what is it you want?" I asked fully knowing her need, but I still feigned ignorance wanting her to speak it herself.

"Your help." She again said without hesitation, clearly having readied herself beforehand.

"You want my help? Even though you suspect me to be the one responsible for this in the first place?" I played the fool a little longer, allowing her to continue walking my desired by her own volition the whole way.

"Yes." She unflinchingly declared, her voice never once straining or faltering, as she continued "Whether or not you admit to having a hand in the matter, it still stands as a fact that you have the ability to set all the wrong

Though her words sounded desperate to the inattentive, but they still carried within them the sting of defiance, for she was basically saying that she knows that I have a hand in the problem plaguing her family right now, but she doesn’t care nor need my confession, merely my aid.

And for a moment, juts a fraction of second, her current self and temperament began to slightly resemble my beloved Eve.

"Do you truly trust and believe in your little brother to such an extent? Or is this your own way of atoning for your sin of starting this whole mess in the first place?" I genuinely asked, not for some other shady purpose, but simply due to curiosity.

"Yes." Was all she replied with, making it unclear which of the two she agreed with, or maybe if she agreed with both.

Seeing this, I decided to forsake my momentary impulse, and return to the matter at hand, by asking "And what do you suppose I benefit from such an effort?"

"Anything." She instantly replied, causing even the stow away in my shadow to justle in shock. 𝒻𝓇𝑒𝘦𝘸𝑒𝒷𝓃ℴ𝑣𝘦𝑙.𝒸ℴ𝘮

"Anything?" I parroted a second later with voice of coated thickly, yet evenly in doubt and surprise.

"Yes." She again affirmed with absolutely no hesitation. "You may ask of me one single thing, and I swear to you upon the Goddess herself, that I will comply with it. Be it political favours, classified information, even..." For the first time since she began conversing with me she paused with uncertainty, before again continuing "even my body if you so wish it, I will offer it to you without resistance"

Echoing with the finale of her words, I heard a low thump from my shadow, eliciting a small smile to emerge upon my face, as I retorted chuckling "I’m afraid I have little interest in your influence or your skills of subterfuge. As for your last offer..."I momentarily paused in sadistic delight, causing the two present to catch their breathe, before I clarified "I’m afraid I have little interest in sleeping with anyone who isn’t my current lover."

At that moment I swore I could’ve heard a sigh of relief from the one before me, and a breathe of approval from the one behind me.

That was, at least, until I continued my words with an acidic tone wrapped in devilish charm "But I do have another matter I think your skills would fit perfectly for."

***

Meanwhile, a boy with pale skin and snow white hair that stuck messily to his sweat slicked forehead, much like his sweat soaked clothes clinging like a second skin to his chest, shot up from his bed with manic eyes, as he greedily inhaled mouthfuls of cool air that stung his dry throat.

’The same dream again this night!’ He fearfully thought. ’The same dream of peace and ice, then of war and blood, and finally of ash, ruin and...’ His thoughts then paused, as if his subconscious didn’t want to remember anymore, before he eventually forced himself to finish ’And Hellfire!’

"Did you have another nightmare sweetheart?" A concerned, motherly voice then sounded out to his left, along with the sound of water spilling upon more water, causing him to swivel his head around with such urgency that he nearly made himself dizzy with the sudden movement.

"Mother? You’re here?" He whisperingly muttered as he steadied himself, his eyes still not fully released from their sleep glazed state, as he found his mother wringing dry a piece of silken clothe in a nearby basin of slowly steaming water.

"Of course, where else would I be?" She queried back with a jokingly offended voice, before she brought her hand near his face to wipe away his sweat, the same and sole activity she’s been doing for hours by now.

"Father and my sisters?" He then slowly asked, enjoying his mothers tender care.

"At the Banquette. King Aegaeon is to reveal the second event tonight, so it would be rude to not be present." She answered, focusing on her current task.

"Mother, may I ask you something?" He spoke again almost a full minute later.

"Of course, my dear. Anything you want." She tenderly replied, as she continued carefully wiping away the sweat on her son’s face with the warm, damp towel. "What’s been on your mind?"

Nicholas remained quiet for a moment, as though carefully weighing his words, before finally saying "What do you think of lord Alexander?"