"You came," Duke Josef Asad elegantly sat on what looked like a throne as he smiled at Ava. "Take a seat." He gestured towards the chair across from him. It looked just like his chair, except this one was smaller, thinner. Though, the fact that it shimmered like gold made Ava think that this was intentional.
It was like the seat of a king and queen.
She sat opposite him and looked around. Four knights surrounded them. They had their backs against Ava and the Duke.
Then another man stood behind the Duke.
Who would have four knights and a large warrior around them, even in a private chamber like this? She recalled the butler earlier calling this room a parlor room.
This should be a place for visitors, right?
"I presume you are here because of... Alexandra?"
Ava eyed the man standing next to Josef. A mohawk cut and a large scar on his right jaw that accompanied his giant-like stature could easily intimidate anyone. Her gaze landed on the man’s large sword at his back.
"Why asked questions when you already know the answer?’ she quipped back as she dragged her gaze back to the Duke. Duke Josef Asad was wearing a black elegant frock coat that reminded her of the renaissance era. To be honest, this made the Duke look more handsome and mysterious.
"Not asking questions is boring. Don’t you think so?"
"I love boring."
"Still as feisty as ever. Didn’t you hear? Alexandra is... under this mansion."
That’s right, the Duke somehow convinced the current monarch to transfer Alexandra to the dungeon just below the man’s mansion. He said it was more secure. But Damon knew that this was a blatant provocation from Josef’s side.
Damon concluded that there was a possibility that the Monarch himself killed his own son and wanted to frame Damon for doing it. After all, the Monarch has more than thirty children. The death of someone considered lascivious and useless isn’t really a loss.
"Alex isn’t a friend. You can kill her if you want to."
Josef lifted an eyebrow. Then he smirked.
"Is that so?"
She pursed her lips in response.
"But you are here, aren’t you?" he asked.
"Yes."
"Is this the supposed action of someone who doesn’t care?"
"I am here out of curiosity."
"Curiosity?"
"Why frame Alex."
"Frame Alex? How did you come up with such an absurd notion?"
"Alex wouldn’t harm a prince. She’s not a fool." Alex was born here. This was her home. Why would she do something so stupid that could put her life at risk inside this place? "I knew you did it."
"Oh... what an accusation." Josef lifted his hand when the scarred man standing behind him took a step toward Ava. "It’s alright, Johnson. This is not a war zone. How could you act like that towards a woman?"
"But— "
"Lower your daggers. She’s just stating what’s on her mind. Which I find amusing." Josef clapped his hand and three men wearing a black and white maid uniform walked inside the room. They placed some refreshments and confections on the circular table between Ava and Josef. "Not many people would say such things in front of me, Eve."
"I’ve heard."
"Then you must have heard why people fear me?"
She nodded in response. There is no point in acting innocent in front of a man like this.
"I remember a subordinate who told me I was... a devil for burning a village." Josef leaned back. "Did you know what happened to him?"
"I don’t wanna know."
"But I would tell you anyway." Josef smiled at him, showing a little dimple on his cheek. It was exactly like Matthew’s. She clenched her jaws. The fact that he looked like Matthew and acted like this since they met should have meant something. "I cut his tongue off and then I let him watch as I burn another village."
"That was cruel."
Josef shrugged. "This world is very cruel. That is a fact. And the easier for you to accept that, the easier your life becomes."
"So why Alex?" she asked.
"Just because?"
"Bullshit."
Johnson took another step, but again, Josef held his hand up. "Calm down, Johnson. The woman was just being herself. And I quite like it."
"It looks like your subordinate doesn’t like it when someone tells the truth?" Ava looked at Johnson with mockery.
"Oh, they hate it."
"That’s absurd."
"I know," Josef nodded. "But then again, only the strong survive in this world. Who cares about the truth when you can rule over people using your strength?"
Ava said nothing. The man was actually telling the truth. For some reason, there is no law in this world. For instance, if one of Josef’s people would kill him while he was sleeping, then they became the next Duke. It was just that simple. Everything can be solved by fighting and killing. Children and the weak became slaves and would be oppressed.
The strong ruled over the weak.
It was total chaos. Total anarchy.
"In this world, strength prevails over right and wrong." Josef continued. "Does that surprise you?"
"No."
"Does this mean the world that you came from has such rules too?"
"Yes."
"Ah... Hahahahahaha! You are really — " Josef’s laughter echoed inside the place. "How amusing. I have never met someone so honest." Then the glee on his face vanished as he met Ava’s gaze. "This makes me like you more..."
"Like?"
"Yes."
"Are you — Is that a confession?"
"Confession? No." Josef shook his head. Then she snorted and said, "Confession requires an answer, no?"
"And you don’t need one?"
Hearing this, Josef crossed his leg and leaned toward her. "No." He smiled. "I want you, Eve, and I... always get what I want."
"So, you did that to Alex just because you like me?" she asked.
"Just?" he smirked. "You don’t get it, do you?"
"Get what?"
"I don’t JUST like someone, Eve. In fact, I never liked someone before I met you. And since you are the first person who I like, it is your obligation to comply with my demands. This isn’t about a confession. This is just me telling you and I want you and I will have you whether you like it... or not." He smiled. "Do thee und’rstand?"
.....
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