Chapter 134: Dawn: The Succubus's Suffering [VIP]
"Long time no see, Lucien!"
Following a familiar voice, Alfonso, known as the "White Death", appeared in front of Xiao Yun with a pitch-black army and the azure Lake Lilia as the backdrop. His long silver-white hair, which almost blended with his white cloak and white armor, fluttered in the wind, revealing his handsome face that still reminded people of a nobleman even as he grew older.
He was already thirty years old, no longer young, nor was he the impoverished young man who once roamed casinos and bars, making a living by gambling and stealing. However, even though his facial features had long been shrouded in the darkness and compromise of power, his golden-green eyes still flashed with hunger and sharpness, like a dangerous yet charming black flame.
A man and a horse walked through the Garden of Eros and came to Xiao Yun.
Alfonso jumped down lightly and hugged his long-lost friend.
"The last time I came to the Little Love Palace, you were in Dalavia dealing with the Black Death, so I didn't get to see you. I didn't expect that when we meet again, it would be—"
"I didn't expect that..."
Xiao Yun sighed and invited Alfonso in to discuss in detail.
"Wait a moment--"
Alfonso turned and said apologetically to Mikael and Marina, "When I set out, the six coastal nations were still debating whether to intervene in the civil war in the Sun Empire. Considering that Maga was under siege and in urgent need of relief, I only brought 3,000 elite cavalry. I hope this won't be too much of a burden on the citizens of Maga."
"In addition, I also brought some gold as a small subsidy for Maga."
"Your Majesty Alfonso is truly thoughtful and considerate."
"Maja is a beautiful place. No one would want to let this pearl be covered in dust."
"Alfonso..."
For a moment, a myriad of emotions surged in Xiao Yun's chest, but he couldn't put them into words. He could only take a deep breath and force a smile: "We will soon end this nightmare, and my brother will be back with me soon..."
"I know. Me too..."
Alfonso sighed. "If I had known this would happen, I shouldn't have chased the throne of Barakhania. If I had stayed by his side, Maga wouldn't have been besieged, and you wouldn't have left Denos without sufficient defenses to rescue Maga. The tragedy we all didn't want to see would never have happened... It was only me, only me..."
"What nonsense are you talking about! The Denos incident involves many aspects. It's not like you can avoid tragedy by giving up the throne! Besides, becoming king is your dream, and it's also an important part of your brother's plan!"
Xiao Yun paused for a moment, then smiled bitterly and said, "If you can't get the throne, our current situation will be even more passive!"
"but--"
"Let's go to the living room and talk slowly."
"good."
…
…
After entering the living room, Alfonso took off his armor and changed into a loose robe popular in the Empire of the Sun, plus a sleeveless jacket with gold thread trim. He instantly transformed from a handsome and dashing general into a noble and elegant aristocrat, if his eyes could lose the innate beast-like sharpness.
Looking at Alfonso like this, Xiao Yun couldn't help but think of Yaris's evaluation again.
(…What he truly wanted was neither the crown nor me. He was simply chasing his own dream, a beautiful, fragile dream from his youth.)
The attendant came forward, brought a variety of drinks and more than a dozen snacks and side dishes of different flavors, and then left the hall to avoid disturbing the private conversation between the two nobles.
"Now, there are only two of us here."
Alfonso picked up the wine glass, his eyes flashing with displeasure: "We've finished reminiscing about the past at the door, now it's time to get down to business."
"No problem. I plan to hold a military meeting tonight to discuss tomorrow's operations and the following operations. You will also participate, correct?"
"Of course there's no problem with the meeting, but there's something I must explain in advance—"
"What is it?"
"To me, His Highness Yaris is the most important and special person. I will not participate in any action that may cause harm to His Highness! I will even firmly oppose it!"
"That's my attitude, too. No matter what happens, I won't risk my brother's life."
"That's good."
Alfonso let out a long sigh, then asked a question so direct that it was hard to answer.
"How is the economic situation in the Holy Sun Empire?"
"ah?"
Xiao Yun was a little surprised.
Seeing this, Alfonso sighed deeply. "I know this question is abrupt, but it's a topic that must be discussed, and we can't even avoid it... Every aspect of a country's operations requires money, and war burns even more money... Now is a critical moment of life and death. The people who join the Holy Empire Army may not care about their salaries, driven by their loyalty to save their country and their dedication to avenging their loved ones. But as high-ranking military officials, we must not neglect the importance of money... We need money, lots and lots of money..."
"You're quite right."
Xiao Yun said gloomily, "No matter how much the people worship their motherland, they all need to survive and eat. Therefore, during the war, we need food, weapons, equipment, and other supplies to be delivered on time and in sufficient quantities. After the war, we need to rebuild all industries damaged by the war and establish a new national government... Currently, we rely on the huge wealth accumulated by the Holy Family over thousands of years, but if everything depends solely on the Holy Family's wealth..."
"Yes, that's right... For example, if farmers start farming and merchants start trading, and the Holy Family relies on the economic operation of domestic talents like Ulysses, the country will soon be able to recover from the war and regain its prosperity and beauty. However..."
"You worry about the war
"Um."
Alfonso smiled bitterly and said, "When I was young, my only dream was to become king. I thought all the problems that had troubled me since childhood, such as being bullied, would be solved. I finally got the throne as I wished, and my land was more abundant and more fertile than that of the Grand Duke of Milos, whom I admired as a teenager. However, I began to feel bored. I was short of money and faced all kinds of headaches..."
"When I heard that the civil war had broken out and that you needed me, I was actually very happy. Not only because I could see you soon, but also because I could finally get rid of the tedious desk work and happily join the battlefield!"
"Um……"
"My heart has always been that free-spirited mercenary of yesteryear. The greatest allure of being a king to me is the ability to mobilize soldiers at will, throw myself into battle, and achieve victory... I wasn't born into a privileged family, but it was the battlefield that taught me how to survive, how to win, how to make money, how to manage... As long as I can fight, I'm satisfied!"
"But--"
"I know what you're trying to say, and I also know that only a pure tyrant or incompetent ruler can enjoy completely unrestricted happiness after becoming king, but the price is being abandoned and despised by everyone, including those around you. However, being forced to read a pile of boring documents and listen to a group of people's boring arguments every day... It's really annoying..."
"In short... regardless of whether the Holy Sun Empire has a future or not, I will spare no effort to help you. Together with you, I will fight against Edmund and reclaim Yaris. Even though doing so may cost me the throne of Barakhania."
Alfonso's expression gradually became serious.
"Even from a purely political perspective—God knows how much I hate using the word 'political'—my Barakhanian throne is firmly tied to you brothers. If anything were to happen to you brothers, even if I, without noble blood, relied on my military prowess and domestic policies to gain the unanimous support of Barakhania's middle and lower classes, I would lose everything under the combined stranglehold of Milos and other coastal states and the old Barakhanian aristocracy, and die a miserable death."
"So—regardless of personal feelings or pure profit, we must unite firmly and strive to achieve ultimate victory. I even intend to take this opportunity to lead my army across the Great Desert of Death to the True Human Empire on the Eastern Continent and drive that Shishi Emperor off our planet."
Alfonso said in a sonorous voice.
"You're too radical."
Xiao Yun said with a smile.
"I'd do anything like this to escape the boring, trivial affairs of domestic affairs."
"If my brother heard what you said, he would most likely smile weakly and tenderly, sighing, 'Hateful and pathetic Edmund! He still doesn't know what kind of insane enemy he's offended, nor does he realize that he was just a tool for him to achieve his ambitions and a toy for him to pass the time.'"
Xiao Yun said this sadly, raising his eyes and looking towards the direction of the royal capital.
There are enemies he must defeat, and also the people he misses most at the moment.
Alfonso stared at Xiao Yun in a trance, trying to see through the lines of Xiao Yun's profile who was so close to him, the person who was as dazzling as the Moon Goddess who was trapped in the deepest part of the royal capital.
…
…
In the corridor of the Palace of Light, there was a vague black shadow. It was Romila who took the opportunity when "Edmund" opened the barrier to welcome Yaris and others to sneak into the palace to look for Ulysses.
At this moment, he completely abandoned the beautiful appearance of a succubus, pressed his body into a thin piece, and kept moving among the shadows of the palace buildings of varying heights and the palace attendants, palace ladies, and royal knights who were walking woodenly.
(It’s so strange. At this moment, I have completely abandoned my human form and am walking like a shadow, clinging to the ground and walls. Yet, I feel more fulfilled and more like a human being than before…)
(Why? Why do I suddenly have this strange idea?)
For centuries, I have followed the nature of a succubus, draining the essence of humanity to gain life energy, leaving behind the legend of the demon Romilla in the red-light districts of more than one country. I thought I was familiar with every human emotion... Why do I still...?
Suddenly, Romila stopped.
Ahead was a heavily guarded tower, with a barrier covering its surface.
(Is Ulysses imprisoned here?)
(However, given Ulysses' identity and his various methods, it seems unnecessary to lock Ulysses in a tower...)
(The old man said that what He values is Ulysses's ability in domestic affairs. Ulysses himself is not worth being a hostage. Once He decides to tear his relationship apart... uh... It's so complicated. I think I need to grow my brain...)
(Forget it, I don’t want to think about it anymore! This tower is patrolled by the army and surrounded by a barrier, so there must be something very important inside! Once I find out the secret of the tower, I will sneak over to Her Royal Highness and discuss it with Her Royal Highness!)
Romila thought to herself, disappearing into the empty corridor like a ghost blown away by the wind.
…
…
The night gradually faded away, and the signs of dawn appeared in the eastern sky. A faint light shone through the barrier and onto a five-story tower building called the White Tower located in the center of the Palace of Light.
The official name of the White Tower is the prayer tower dedicated to the twin gods by Queen Cheraniya. The entire tower is built with white marble and the overall shape is extremely beautiful, like a saint who has gone through hardships but still has a pure and flawless heart.
Therefore, people are more accustomed to calling it "White Tower" or "Holy Maiden Tower" rather than its cumbersome and verbose original name.
As a prayer tower exclusively for royal women of all dynasties, the interior of the White Tower is very luxurious. The walls are covered with luxurious brocade wallpaper, and various exquisite and expensive paintings are hung on the walls. The carpets are as soft as grass. Every piece of furniture is carefully carved and decorated with exquisite and luxurious statues, vases, and antiques. It is only opened on holy days for the use of royal women.
The White Tower at this moment is very different from before.
Not only were the number of patrolling guards more than three times the usual number, but the lights in the windows on the fourth and fifth floors of the tower were also kept on all night long. However, there had been no holy days requiring the use of the prayer tower for the entire month, and Queen Dowager Catherine had been unable to leave her own chambers due to a serious illness two months earlier.
If someone well versed in magic and mysticism observed the White Tower closely, they would find that the fourth and fifth floors of the White Tower were enveloped in a pure white, shimmering, noble aura, which formed a sharp contrast with the oppressive, dark green, and evil barrier that enveloped the Palace of Light.
The patrolling guards walked back and forth with spears in hand. When they passed a bush—
(Now!)
Romila, who was lurking in the bushes, decisively blended into the shadows of the guards. With the help of several interweaving of figures, she successfully slipped into the first floor of the White Tower. She then climbed up the stairs, which were so faint that they were almost invisible, and soon arrived at the entrance to the fourth floor.
[Kelly! Kelly! Open the door! It's me!]
Through the door, Romila used magic to call out to Kelly who was behind the door.
Hearing the sound, Kelly immediately opened the door, used his shadow to lead Romila into the room, stood in front of the window as if nothing had happened, and pretended to mutter to himself.
"Hey, I wonder what's going on outside right now?"
[It's terrible. I walked around the palace and couldn't find Ulysses, nor could I find a way out, but I did find some strange and terrifying things.]
Romila answered as she popped her head out from Kelly's shadow and looked around curiously.
How is the situation here?
"So far, He has been quite polite to Your Highness, allowing us to stay in the White Tower to take care of Your Highness's food, clothing, and daily life, and also allowing Your Highness to eat only the food we cook, but..."
"He has forbidden us from contacting the outside world. Even Your Highness's food must be made from ingredients provided by them, most of which Your Highness cannot accept."
Kelly's eyes fell on the bloody meat piled on the side.
[…This thing looks like human flesh.]
Romila curled her lips.
"Especially these ingredients that look like human flesh."
[Really human flesh?! What does he want to do?!]
"He wanted to use this method to force Your Highness to surrender, but Your Highness never gave up the struggle."
Kelly turned around, picked up the thick soup and egg custard on the table, and took Romila, who was hiding in the shadows, through the iron gate guarded by the guards and into the extremely exquisite and elegant room on the fifth floor of the White Tower.
The room has a high ceiling, with a luxurious bed with a canopy in the middle. The four walls are decorated with hand-woven tapestries depicting the beautiful life of the gods. The furniture is mostly oriental lacquerware inlaid with gold thread and mother-of-pearl on the surface. Even if the room is dimly lit, the gold thread and mother-of-pearl inlaid on the furniture still sparkles.
In the corner of the room stood a white marble pitcher filled with freshly picked Rosa Marie, which blended with the fragrance of Bisarua, which already filled the air, making it even more fragrant and sweet.
"Your Highness—"
Kelly walked into the room, called out respectfully, then put the food aside, walked to the big bed, and helped his master sit up.
"Please eat a little."
"good."
With the help of Kelly, Yaris ate slowly.
Romila, who was hiding in Kelly's shadow, carefully poked her head out and looked at the thin, almost transparent figure in front of her.
He was wearing a white silk pajamas, with thick black hair draped over his shoulders. His pale skin, having not seen the sun for a long time, looked as ethereal and fragile as an elf, but there was no trace of frustration or fear on his face.
[How strange... For years, I have always harbored intense anger, resentment, and jealousy towards Her Highness, especially since I knew my current face originated from Her Highness. But... now I actually...]
[Because you, like all other creatures, are a life form born on Ella, possessing all the complexities and emotions of love and hate inherent in life. The only difference between you and other creatures is that they were born from their parents' conception, while you were born from a magical experiment.]
(……)
Romila was extremely surprised.
[Princess, can you speak to me with your heart? ]
[Yes, I have always been able to do so, but I didn’t need to communicate with you in this way in the past.]
(All right.)
Still have questions?
Yaris looked at Romila helplessly.
Under the gaze of Yaris's eyes, as bright and deep as a night lake, Romila finally remembered her original purpose.
I…I…
【Have you found Ulysses?】
[No, but I found something more dangerous.]
What did you find?
[…I thought the tower was strange, so I sneaked in and discovered that the basement was filled with zombies or zombie-like creatures. I also saw that one of their leaders was Lias.]
[Lias? Are you sure?]
Yaris frowned.
[His body has been buried.]
[But that zombie looks exactly like Lias, with the same fat face and the same big belly... And Lias's size... His size is really impressive.]
【so……】
Yaris gently stroked the love goddess ring on the index finger of his left hand.
[Not only did He kill Lias and frame my brother and me, but He also turned Lias into a zombie?]
[That should be the case.]
Romila nodded repeatedly.
But why did He do this? Why mass-produce zombies? Even I know zombies can't be a fighting force.
[——How do you know that zombies can’t be a fighting force?]
【Well……】
Romila's eyes began to wander.
【Not convenient to answer? 】
【Uh-huh. 】
Romila nodded repeatedly.
Seeing this, Yaris sighed.
"Romila, you must leave the Palace of Light as soon as possible, find my brother, and tell him that we all have no choice but to fight! Also—he doesn't have to worry about my safety at all. Even if I were within His domain, He wouldn't dare do anything to me. As for the soon-to-be-born Demon Prince—"
[The Demon Prince...]
Hearing this, Romila's body, which had been compressed into a shadow, trembled.
[I am touching the Demon Prince, and he is eager to be touched by me.]
【ah? 】
[In short, the situation inside the palace is far more complicated than the outside world imagines, but as long as the Holy Empire Army can continue to achieve victory on the front lines, we will achieve final victory.]
[…I admit I’m stupid. I don’t understand what Her Royal Highness is saying at all. Furthermore, I can’t find a way to leave the palace. The barrier is completely flawless.]
Romila looked at Yaris in distress.
【Maybe I can find a way to get you out.】
Yaris glanced at Kelly who was standing there.
Kelly turned and picked the largest Rosa Marie flower from the marble pitcher, loosening the petals to reveal the stamens.
【Hide inside.】
【Hide in the heart of the flower? 】
Rosa Marie already has a strong fragrance, and after being in my room for two days and two nights, it has become stained with my scent. The two scents mixed together, combined with some magical techniques, can completely mask your scent, making the barrier mistakenly think it is a bunch of lifeless, withered flowers.
Oh!
Romila suddenly realized what was going on and quickly compressed herself into a ball the size of a ring and hid herself in the Rosa Marie flower.
Kelly bent down, picked up all the Rosamari in the pitcher, bowed, and left the room.
…
After Kelly left——
[Even though you are trapped in the White Tower and cut off from the outside world, you are still restless! ]
A black miasma emerged from above an antique mirror on the table and transformed into the figure of "Edmund".
"Why not enter the White Tower?"
Yaris asked casually.
[Because there's no need. You're already a caged bird, and your brother will soon be my captive. As for that little succubus...]
"You want to kill it?"
Would you go out of your way to find an ant and crush it to death?
Edmund said with a smile.
Yaris shook his head.
So I won't kill it, because I despise it, and besides—if it tells your brother everything you said, I can gain additional benefits from it.
"What are you planning?"
【I want to know what you are insisting on! 】
"Edmund" looked at Yaris angrily.
Long, long ago, our ancestors lived on their home planet. Because of a trivial mistake, they were driven from their homeland by the gods! The gods took away their land and forced them to travel across the vast sea of stars in search of a new home... This planet, this land, is the new home our ancestors found for us after enduring countless hardships!
[…From the beginning to the end, we had no intention of annihilating you. We acknowledge that you are the natives of this planet, even though your civilization is both inferior and ignorant… We want to merge with you to create a new race that combines the characteristics of both civilizations and lead this planet towards a better future.]
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