Chapter 213: “Rebel,” Slaughter
Love is a light, so green it makes you panic.
Lena’s two-faced behavior was so extreme that Vanessa began to doubt whether the devil from that night was the same Lena before her.
And Snow.
Vanessa felt a pang of loss. Although they weren’t officially wives, their childhood friendship had been like an arranged marriage.
Subconsciously, Vanessa had always had feelings for Snow, but she wasn’t one to initiate, and neither was Snow, so their budding romance had withered before it could bloom, or perhaps it was buried deep within their hearts, never to be spoken of again.
But now—
Seeing Snow and Lena together, they seemed strangely compatible, making Vanessa feel defeated for the first time.
If Lena had brought her physical pain, then Snow’s appearance was a purely mental attack!
Her iron will wavered.
Her heart felt like it had been shattered into a thousand pieces, the pain unbearable. She knew this was her own insecurity, which only made it worse.
But even so, Vanessa didn’t choose to leave.
Vanessa chose to endure the suffocation and heartache, watching them from a distance…
She wasn’t on the list of people who should leave.
Vanessa composed herself, telling herself not to be so self-conscious, this was just Lena’s scheme, don’t fall into the trap…
Yes! Lena was the root of all evil, the source of all sin!
It was all Lena’s fault!!
With this excuse, Vanessa’s confusion cleared.
That devil she hated, she would fight her to the end!!
“Sister?” Angel’s worried voice brought Vanessa back to reality. “Are you not feeling well? Did you catch a cold?”
Hearing Angel’s voice, Vanessa’s thoughts returned, and she waved her hand dismissively. “Just a small cold, it’s nothing…”
“No!”
Angel was serious. “Sister, take off your clothes, the rain is getting heavier, you can’t wear wet clothes.”
Take off her clothes here?
In front of the damned Lena?
Vanessa hesitated for a moment, but Angel didn’t give her a chance, reaching behind her and untying the ribbon at her neck…
Her robes fell to her ankles.
Vanessa’s skin was fair and smooth, cold as jade, like the purest alabaster, exuding a seductive fragrance.
“No!”
Vanessa crouched down, the memory of Lena’s brutality from that night flashing through her mind.
It had become an indelible scar.
“Sister, what’s wrong?”
Angel said softly, “It’s okay, we’re all girls, we’ll put them back on when they’re dry.”
The four of them knew each other, and although they were naked, they still wore underwear.
Besides, it was normal for girls to see each other’s bodies, right?
Angel gently blew on Vanessa’s skin, as if caressing a fragile object, then her hands wrapped around Vanessa’s slender waist.
She smiled, her voice soft and sweet. “Sister’s waist is so slender, but your… assets are so… ‘impressive’~”
She playfully cupped them…
Super, super huge!
“Enough!” Vanessa’s face darkened, but she didn’t push Angel away, her cheeks flushing. “There are others here!”
“Others? Lena is my wife, and Miss Snow is your fiancée, who else is there?”
Angel blinked, leading Vanessa to the fire.
“Sister, you’re too reserved, that’s why you’re not popular.”
“I don’t need friends, unreliable teammates are useless!”
Vanessa glanced at Snow as she spoke.
Snow, her expression blank, poked the fire with a stick, her stocking-clad feet close to the flames, steam rising from them.
She seemed to not understand, only focused on the fire.
Vanessa pursed her lips, ignoring her.
“Want some?”
Lena boiled two cups of water, one for Angel, the other she offered to Vanessa and Snow. “Who wants it?”
She moved towards Vanessa.
Vanessa sneered, “A devil’s charity!”
“…Fine.”
Lena offered it to Snow, who remained silent, not taking it. “Since no one wants it, I’ll drink it myself.”
Lena took a sip of the hot water, enjoying the warmth.
There was a reason why some people liked hot drinks.
The warmth spread through her body, dispelling the cold, a comforting feeling.
But before she could enjoy it for long, Snow walked over and took the cup from her, sipping it slowly.
She seemed to prefer used cups.
Lena shrugged. “Fine, as long as you’re happy, that’s what I wanted to teach you.”
Angel pulled her aside.
“Hey, Lena…” Angel’s expression was strange, her voice low. “Don’t you think Miss Snow is acting a little strange?”
“I think she’s normal, just like usual,” Lena said nonchalantly.
“So Miss Snow always uses your cups?” Angel crossed her arms.
“Uh, not really…”
She glanced at Snow.
Snow had drunk half the cup, her expression dazed, like a computer that had crashed.
“But we see each other often, she’s been short on money lately, so I introduced her to a part-time job,” Lena said seriously.
“Oh—”
Angel’s voice was filled with meaning. “A secretary’s job, or a… mmm!”
“What are you talking about? Snow is still pure and innocent.”
Lena covered Angel’s mouth, then slowly released her.
“Mmm… who knows for how long…” Angel’s voice was tinged with jealousy.
It was impossible not to be jealous, no one was that magnanimous.
But Angel also understood why Lena was approaching Snow.
Her beloved wife had a grand dream.
And she understood and supported it.
Because Lena’s business was her business, being by her side, that was the only thing she could do.
“Don’t worry, I haven’t done anything to Snow, and neither has she.”
“Hmph, if you were cheating on me, I would have found out long ago.”
“Really?”
Lena feigned surprise.
“Professor Agnes,” Angel muttered a name that made Lena’s jaw drop, then continued, “Don’t think you can hide anything from me, and don’t treat me like a child.”
In fact, Angel had been in contact with Agnes, she knew about their affair.
The rumors that had spread through the academy were true.
Even if Angel objected, it would only cause more trouble, so she had accepted it, after all, Lena loved her the most, everything else was secondary.
Her boundaries were slowly expanding…
“Who’s next, Snow? Then Diana?”
Angel leaned against Lena’s shoulder, looking up at her.
“Hmm,” Lena raised her chin.
“What does ‘hmm’ mean?”
“It means it’s still undecided…”
Lena scratched her face.
Damn it, can we please not talk about this anymore?
It was so awkward.
And in front of Snow and Angel, Lena couldn’t bring herself to say “I want them all”…
This damned rain, a barrier to her freedom.
The three of them exchanged glances, their expressions varied, anticipation, hatred, sorrow…
This was probably Lena’s most difficult decision, concerning her future happiness and her status in the family.
…
“Your Highness, the troops are assembled, ready to depart.”
Caramy knelt on one knee, bowing.
“Mm, good, you’re becoming more and more like a captain of the Imperial Guard.” Diana kicked her pink lolita shoes, jumping down from a high place.
An Imperial Guard acted as a cushion, and Diana landed gracefully.
“Let’s go! Target! Senior Weakling!”
“Your Highness, we’re here to eliminate the rebel remnants, not Miss Lena…”
Caramy reminded her softly.
“Ahem, I… I… of course I know! Do you think I don’t know?! Hmph! Saving Senior Weakling is also part of the plan!”
Diana tossed her head haughtily.
She waved her hand, leading the Imperial Guard southeast.
At the same time, the Empress’s special forces, the [Ten Directions Society], had also assembled.
They marched with Red’s Imperial Guard, under the pouring rain, a few slender figures moving among the black-clad soldiers, like ghosts in the shadows.
The sound of splashing water, marching footsteps.
Uniform and synchronized.
Soon, the circus came into view, shrouded in mist.
Red, sitting in his carriage, gestured for them to stop.
He frowned. “Maintain discipline, wait for my command.”
“Yes!”
A stern-faced young man replied. His name was Hecate, the commander of the Imperial Guard, his authority second only to Red’s, but he only answered to the Empress.
For this joint operation, the Empress had granted Hecate command of the Imperial Guard, under Red’s supervision, a “cooperative effort,” but in reality, Hecate was there to control Red, a classic case of borrowing a knife to kill.
This made Red feel frustrated, although he wouldn’t admit it, he had been outmaneuvered by his own mother…
“Hecate, report.”
Red lifted a corner of the carriage curtain.
Hecate, in his black raincoat, stood in the muddy water, rain dripping from his hood, his expression grim. After a moment of silence, he replied, “It’s more complicated than we thought. The storm was too sudden, there are still civilians inside the circus, I suggest we abandon a frontal assault and magic bombardment, and instead, send in small teams to block the exits, then let the [Ten Directions Society] infiltrate and eliminate the remnants.”
This was his suggestion, but not necessarily Red’s.
A carpet bombing was the most reliable option, and the one the Empress would prefer.
But considering the civilians, Hecate hoped Red would choose his plan.
After all, Hecate had also come from a humble background, he understood the value of innocent lives, but they had no say in their own fate.
If Red insisted on sacrificing the civilians, Hecate would have to obey.
He fell silent, waiting for Red’s command.
After half a minute…
“Kill them.”
Red’s single word was a death sentence, a testament to the royal family’s authority and ruthlessness.
And a soldier’s duty was to obey.
Hecate sighed, his rough fingers tracing a cross on his chest, as if praying for the souls of the soon-to-be-dead…
With a single command,
Countless colorful magic flowers bloomed in the night sky.
The cold rain instantly evaporated, replaced by endless flames.
Boom—
Thunder roared, the rain pouring down, obscuring the vision, the wind howling, the earth trembling, everyone holding their breath, enduring the sudden, violent storm.
A moment of chaos, then explosions.
Screams filled the circus, some crushed by falling meteorites, others buried under collapsing structures.
This was a slaughter.
Red watched with excitement, exclaiming, “Excellent, at this rate, the remnants will be wiped out soon.”
Of course.
No one could survive such a dense barrage of attacks. They had brought so many soldiers, even the court’s Grand Magus, to completely annihilate the [Nea Cult] hiding in the circus.
A newly emerged, heretical cult.
They worshipped the power of an [Evil God], attempting to overthrow the empire and establish their own new order.
This was the last of them.
They would be reduced to ashes in this storm, a warning to the world, a foundation for the empire’s stability.
“Embrace peace, mortals, I have saved you,” Red laughed. “Your deaths are meaningful, I will become the king of Almeria, the ruler of this world!”
Red stepped out of the carriage, feeling the cold rain on his face, his eyes closed, as if he had already conquered the world.
So satisfying, he ignored Hecate’s strange look.
The iron-blooded officer’s lips seemed to be twitching…
…
“Are you kidding me, is Red crazy?!”
Diana grabbed Caramy’s collar, her eyes wide as saucers. “Senior Weakling is in there, and so is Hero Snow, doesn’t he know the [Nea Cult] lured the hero to the circus?!”
“Perhaps the information was wrong, after all, we have an informant in the circus, and they…” Caramy said cautiously.
“You mean Jonathan and the others?”
Diana, acting like a grown-up, tapped her chin thoughtfully.
Caramy seized the opportunity. “Yes, the hero’s arrival was a complete accident, the leader of the [Nea Cult] must have wanted to use the hero as a shield, to buy time to escape.”
“But he didn’t expect Prince Red to completely disregard the civilians, even the hero, of course, it’s also possible he didn’t know the hero was there…”
This slaughter made Caramy realize the terror of the powerful.
At least Lena wasn’t so ruthless, she was kind to her subordinates, with many benefits.
“What should we do now? Rush in and save them?”
“And get blown to bits?! You idiot! Weakling!”
Diana stamped her foot, her ponytail swaying.
Her expression turned worried. “Senior Weakling won’t die, she definitely won’t! Lena is strong, we have to believe in her…”
