Chapter 90
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Violet's First Words - Episode 90
Bludin's jaw dropped as he heard Ash's whisper.
"Why are you so frightened? This is only the beginning. You'll have to pay the price for daring to lay a hand on my Violet, won't you? Ah, but before that."
Ash withdrew a single slip of paper from his breast pocket. As Bludin attempted to flee, Ash casually drew the sword at his waist and hurled it.
"Gasp, wheeze!"
Bludin stared at the blade embedded beside his face, nearly losing control of his bladder.
"To Bludin."
Ash began reading the note with an expressionless face.
<As you likely anticipated, I am Violet. So you've gone so far as to commit crimes just to marry me belatedly—I understand your intentions perfectly. At the moment when your hopes crumble and your family faces complete ruin, I thought this would be roughly the worst moment of your life, so I'm leaving you these words now. Being engaged to you was the most shameful period of my entire existence. Yet there is one thing I gained from it: the opportunity to observe firsthand one of history's greatest fools and imbeciles. It has granted me the wisdom to simply avoid anyone bearing similar traits throughout my life. Farewell, and I sincerely hope your life remains ruined forever. When your family collapses, you'll likely end up in prison, but I shall continue to flourish.>
Ash continued unhurriedly. He cleared his throat and flipped the paper over to continue reading.
【...To reiterate: you are the dregs of humanity, a maggot worth less than dust. Even if you rot in prison, you'll merely endure a miserable existence there. Perhaps it would be a kindness to the world if you simply threw away your own life. Should you need assistance with that, I, Ash, shall personally help you....】
Ash shrugged and carefully tucked the note back into his breast pocket.
"One parting insult, delivered as requested. Consider this matter closed."
"You damnable bastard—you added that last part yourself!"
Bludin ground his teeth as he spoke, tears glistening at the corners of his eyes.
"For someone of below-average intellect, your instincts are remarkably sharp. Even a stone can roll if given enough momentum."
Ash remarked with feigned admiration.
"You wretched dog! Violet is mine! I won't let someone like you take her from me!"
Bludin cried out with defiant eyes. Ash simply nodded.
"Then you should have treated her better when you had the chance. Though even if you had, someone like you was never worthy of Violet in the first place. Still, it's a commendable sentiment."
"...."
"Now then, shall we see if you can still say such things in a moment? I find I have little patience for livestock attempting human speech."
Bludin's screams began to echo through the nearly empty hotel. Bestial cries followed in succession. The only guests one could truly call patrons within this hotel were two men bound and forced to their knees on the first floor. They were members of the Shatra Holy Knight Order, sent today under Bella's orders to surveil Violet.
"Hmm, Ash should perhaps leave one of his hands intact. It would make obtaining a confession far more convenient," Gran muttered. The Heresy Inquisitors were stationed throughout the first-floor hall. Gran gestured to one of them.
"Ah, I should arrange this beforehand. Tomorrow morning, go to the Camelaine Family residence posing as a hotel staff member and deliver this note. Tell them the newlyweds will be sleeping in quite late tomorrow, so they needn't worry and should attend the Temple event instead. The wedding ceremony can be held in the evening. Of course, the recipient should be Marlon Camelaine. He'll understand if you mention it's from his son."
"Oh right, I need to ask you in advance. Tomorrow morning, go to the Camelaine Family and pose as a hotel staff member to deliver a note. Tell them not to worry because the newlyweds plan to sleep in very late tomorrow, and to attend the Temple event. Say that the wedding ceremony can be held in the evening instead. Of course, the person receiving the note is Marlon Camelaine. He'll understand if you tell him it's from his son."
* * *
Bella had left Violet beautifully adorned in the hotel room the previous night. She'd instructed two people—members of the Shatra Holy Knight Order and fellow Night Shadow operatives like herself—to monitor the situation. 'By tomorrow, I should be able to announce the marriage. Even an idiot like Bludin is getting married. My luck is impeccable.' Bella herself had risen early in the morning and departed for the outskirts. It was to attend an event at the Grand Temple. The carriage moved smoothly. Seated comfortably in the back, Bella was in an excellent mood. 'The Capital Grand Temple requested that Violet attend this event without fail, but it can't be helped. She has something more important to do.' Bella had been active in Kaizeria for several years and had only just been appointed as commander. Ordinarily, she should have garnered considerable attention upon assuming the position. She was beautiful and a capable knight, after all. But because Violet had recently become so popular, Bella had failed to receive any notable recognition. The Religious Sect wanted Bella to become famous. They had carefully cultivated children like her from a young age because they hoped they would eventually rise to positions of power. Thus, converting as many people as possible was the ultimate objective. 'Once Violet marries, people will be disappointed. They believed she would continue to flourish as a knight, but instead she's suddenly marrying into a powerful family.' It was entirely different from marrying the Ravens Grand Duke. The Ravens Grand Duke and Violet were a couple beloved by the people. But Bludin's family was currently plagued by scandal. The masses would feel betrayed by Violet's unexpected turn of events. Then, gradually, their interest in her would fade. 'Finally, it's my time to shine.' Today's schedule for Bella was to attend the Grand Temple event. She wore a refined dress in black tones and adorned her hair with a black flower. Moreover, today held one more thing to anticipate. 'The Ravens Grand Duke must have missed me.' For some time, Bella had not reported to the Shatra Holy Knight Order under the pretext of assisting with Violet's training. Naturally, she hadn't seen Ash for several days. Yet Ash had sent her a note, as if he'd been missing her. It was a note expressing his desire to meet her at today's Grand Temple event. 'I mustn't forget what's most important. Making Ash Ravensworth mine is crucial, but the most important thing is seducing Ash Ravensworth to extract information from him.' Ash had been postponing the sharing of information about the Seven Sins under the pretext of awaiting Kaizeria's permission. But their greatest objective was to obtain the Seven Sins themselves. The calamities the demons had installed throughout the Capital. While they were calamities to the Empire's people, conversely, whoever obtained them would gain immense power. In this world, there were two groups possessing the most information about the Seven Sins. Those affiliated with the Kaizerian Temple. And the cultists who coveted the Seven Sins. Then the carriage came to a halt. Today's Grand Temple event was being held at the Colosseum on the Capital Outskirts. The Colosseum was a place where, long ago, demons had brought humans to fight one another. Today's event was held to honor the saints who had perished while driving out the remnants of demons remaining in the Capital. As Bella descended from the carriage, her attendant knights approached. Escorted by them, Bella began walking like a princess. People gazed upon them with reverent eyes—the members of the Shatra Holy Knight Order clad in pristine white armor.
"The Shatra Holy Knight Order has arrived."
"They're as composed and dignified as the rumors suggest."
The crowd's eyes shone with admiration as they beheld them. During those years Bella spent in the Underground Chamber of Kaizeria, she had desperately yearned for such reverent gazes from people. 'Where is the Ravens Grand Duke? I need to meet with him.' Yet Ash had not appeared even after the ceremony began. As Bella glanced around, she spotted a gathering of people. The Temple had arranged chairs for attendees on the central stage of the Colosseum for today's event. Before it stood a dais. Upon the platform, the organizers from the Capital Grand Temple were making final preparations for the ceremony. But there was a third faction—neither attendees nor hosts. The Heresy Inquisitors, standing apart from the crowd. They wore long black cloaks with hoods drawn over their faces, standing in silence as they absently touched the hilts of their swords at their waists. 'Heresy Inquisitors? What are they doing here?' These Heresy Inquisitors were precisely the ones most despised by those involved with demon-worshipping cults.
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