Chapter 18 - 18 - Alia’s Story (1)
Chapter 18: Chapter 18 - Alia's Story (1)
"But I don't understand why my life would be in danger if Mother left the heir battle position,"
Ryuk still felt there were many questions in his mind. If not all, he would get answers to those he found most crucial.
"As I said, young master, after the princess left the position, the other two also followed her path. But, Both of their reasons and motivations for doing such a thing don't align with their previous standings against Princess."
Hearing Wang's words, Ryuk became more curious but he knew it was not time to know such details, As right now, except for knowing some political games, he needed answers to something more urgent.
"Hypothetically, let's assume if I had killed Edward here, what would have happened?"
Ryuk felt the need to ask this question to know why at the end of his previous life, no one came to save Edward, just like they now did.
He also didn't want to reveal his past life, so he asked that way, maintaining his caution as even if Wang was under his control.
He was not a fool to not understand that if someone had lived for more than 6000 years, they couldn't be just some ducklings, can they?
"If you had done it right now, the Devereux family would have first tested you to see if you were fit to be an heir. If not, then..."
"They would have thrown me aside for surviving on my own."
Looking at Wang, who was interrupted by him in the middle, Ryuk didn't say much and just kept looking at him.
"Yes, young master, but the Patriarch is not that merciles—"
Wang stopped in his tracks as he felt an immense aura pressure emanating from Ryuk as he spoke.
"It's okay, Uncle Wang. You can leave now."
Wang bowed and left the place following his orders.
Ryuk kept looking at his disappearing back,'Merciful, isn't it an irony?
He found it quite amusing that someone would select heirs by having them eliminate their own family members and then claimed to be Merciful.
However, at that moment, he didn't feel the need to explore the Devereux family any further.
He was uncertain about the power dynamics beyond Heindal's borders,'I need to get stronger,'
'System, is the Patriarch of the Devereux family among those detected from Ardoros?'
Ryuk commanded, as if his doubt was true, then it was not the time to delve into this matter any further.
[ No, should I give you information about those four detected from Ardoros Continent? ]
'No need, as I don't want to be a cat here,'
Ryuk couldn't help but be cautious now, remembering a small phrase from his previous world.
'Curiosity killed the cat'
While he was curious about the power of the individual occupying the highest seat on one of the most influential continents, he wasn't willing to acquire this knowledge at the expense of something even more precious.
He left the dungeon to wait and increase his strength, and until he turned twelve, it would be the age where he could create his «Ether Core»
Normally, after coming here, he started studying and through which he came to know about Mana being the only energy used here.
Until he started learning from Wang, to his surprise, he used something different from mana, though he called it that.
Ryuk knew it was far purer and denser than normal mana he was using. But neither he tried to learn about it nor he needed to, as at the age of twelve, he formed an «Ether Core» for himself.
Ether is a far denser and concentrated version of mana, but here's the catch: normally, it was only used as a sword aura and not to enforce one's body, as it took a huge toll on a person's body, causing their muscles to rupture.
But again, it came as a surprise how he was able to wield that power without any drawback.
After he defeated Wang, he was satisfied, knowing his experiment worked, but it was all shattered into pieces when he stood against his mother.
Though with his Core, he held his ground for a long time, at the end of the day, due to the consumption of mana the «Ether Core» took, he became exhausted, making his mother intentionally withdraw on the pretext of her own fatigue.
But he was not an idiot to not notice her physical state that was anything but fatigue.
Slowly time passed, and at last, he only found two things:
First - his mother didn't use Mana at all
Second - it was impossible to defeat her in close range.
Causing him to change his strategy and focus on magic circles to defeat her, and the rest is history.....
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As the Moon's rays made their way into one of the rooms of the Palace, where a woman was seated on a chair, pondering something before she noticed the arrival of an old man.
"What happened, Uncle Wang? Did he go hard on you?"
Seeing Alisia's smirk, Wang couldn't help but blame his own fate for being entangled with this mother and son duo.
"No, he was as lenient as the Princess herself"
"Did you tell him everything?"
Alisia asked in a firm voice, as the moonlight added to her black hair and her Amber eyes added a more dominant presence.
"No, he seemed cautious and avoided inquiring further,"
Alisia, upon hearing Wang's words, understood Ryuk's mentality, and she appreciated it, as it was not the time for him to know more than he could digest.
"By the way, appoint Dalia's daughter as Ryuk's personal maid"
Hearing Alisia's words, Wang felt confused, as Dalia's sister had already been appointed as Ryuk's personal maid, and now her daughter too, but he could only follow orders.
"I understand"
WHOOSH
He bowed before vanishing, leaving woman alone in the room, Alisia noticing his departure looked towards window at the vast sky.
'He is growing well, husband'
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Morning rays of Gaia fallen on a room's window as graced a lying figure of a boy making his eyes fluttered revealing Amber orbs.
'What's with this fragrance', His eyes shot open as his nose caught a smell that was too nostalgic for him.
He looked at the table beside him as a little girl was placing a tea cup, noticing his gaze she suddenly startled before swiftly bowing,"Good morning, Your highness".
Ryuk looking at Alia first felt surprise before understanding the reason for her to be here, just like in previous life, She must have again appointed by his mother.
"You can wait Outside",
Ryuk firmly ordered as Alia bowed and left the room while he kept looking at her direction as she disappeared before turning his Amber eyes towards tea cup.
.....
{ A/n: Alia's present Illustration in comment }
Alia's POV
Thud
'It hurts'
I looked at Aunt, who was, as always, irritated due to the bullying of palace maids.
"Don't touch me, you pest!"
But I just wanted to apply ointment to relieve her pain,'It's bleeding'
I looked at the wound on my knee; it had become her regular thing.
Whenever her aunt had some irritation, she would beat her or release her frustration on her.
"Sorry, Aunt"
I stood, took the ointment with me, and left for the other room. As I placed the medicine in its usual place, I couldn't help but think about my previous life.
' Maybe just a few more years,' I needed to endure for a few more years until I become a maid in the palace and then, I would be able to meet His Highness.
I came back and saw Aunt eating some high-quality bread.
'Perhaps she had stolen it, which led the palace maids to reprimand her.'
As a personal maid of His Highness, one needed to maintain the image of a maid, but Aunt, as usual, was acting like this.
"What are you looking at? Go make me something to eat."
I nodded and moved towards the kitchen. Nowadays, I prepared food for her.
'Don't know what His Highness must be doing right now'
Due to Aunt's personality, I didn't know if she was taking care of His Highness or not.
I don't blame His Highness for what happened to me. After all, it was my fault to believe that woman. I hate all of this.
'Why did I believe Diana instead of His Highness?'
I felt frustrated due to my own naivety. The moment that girl came into our life, it all shattered like a house of cards.
But, whatever, I will work hard again and become a palace maid.
I will definitely not let that girl destroy my life again.
Knock knock Rêađ lat𝒆st ch𝒂/p/ters on n𝒐/v/𝒆/l(b)i𝒏(.)c/𝒐/m
I heard a knock on the door. As Aunt gestured to open it, I made my way towards it.
"Is this the house of Miss Dalia?"
I saw a person standing at the door with a letter.
Why was he using my mother's name?
When I was young, Mother had left with my sister while leaving a message. I don't know what it was, but whenever I asked Aunt, she cursed Mother and beat me, saying it was some useless excuse to abandon me.
"Yes, I am her daughter, Alia. Please tell me how I can help you, Sir."
The man's eyes widened, as he wouldn't have expected such words from a little girl of humble background.
But what to do, I had to learn all this to prove myself as a better maid for His Highness.
"Oh, here, Little Lady."
He gave me the letter and left the door. I saw the insignia of the Royal family, signifying it was from the Selvius family,' Is it for Aunt?'
"Whose letter is that?"
Aunt came beside and snatched the letter from my hand.
"Don't hold a Royal letter with your dirty hands. It should be for my promotion."
I heard Aunt's words and turned to leave the place as there was nothing I could do.
But I couldn't help but feel confused as to why she would even get a promotion with her attitude. Whatever, I have to prepare something.
"What the hell!"
I covered my ears due to her sudden shout, turning towards her. I saw her widened eyes, gritting her teeth while shivering, maybe with anger while looking at the letter.
'W-what? Why is she coming towards me?'
SMACK
Thud
"Ouch, it hurts," it really hurts.
My cheeks felt completely warm as I looked towards her.
"You bitches, first your mother, and now you are after my things."
Why is she angry?
What thing is she talking about?
She threw the letter at my face, and it fell on the floor.
'What is this about?:
I swiftly took the letter and read it.
"I-I am appointed as His Highness's personal maid"
I couldn't control my happiness as tears welled up looking at the letters.
Finally, I will be able to meet you, His Highness.
"You pest! How do you know how to read?"
I heard her voice as she never let me learn about words in fear that I would become more successful than her.
But it is enough now.
Now I don't need to endure anymore.
...
"Tell me, you pest—"
"Shut up"
Before Elsa could complete her sentence, she was interrupted by Alia, igniting her frustration further.
"You!, you orphan!"
Elsa moved towards Alia who was on the floor to hit her once again.
WHOOSH
'?!?'
Elsa's eyes widened as she felt a cold and stinging sensation in her neck.
As she shifted her gaze to look at the object, she saw a small ice crystal with a sharp edge pointing at her neck.
"T-this!?"
A bead of sweat dripped from her forehead, noticing the sharpness of the ice crystal that could pierce her neck at any moment.
"Listen, Aunt Elsa. From now on, do only what is told, not less, not more, or else—"
Alia's sapphire eyes were luminous like crystal, while her short silver hair shone with silver glint.
Her finger was pointed towards Elsa's neck as the ice piece moved slightly, causing a small drop of blood to escape Elsa's skin.
"P-please..."
Elsa was horrified to her wits, as if looking at a ghost in front of her. The ice crystal had just exerted a small amount of pressure, and this happened.
What if it pierced? 'No, I don't want to die'
"Leave"
Elsa, feeling the ice crystal leaving her neck, took a breath that had been stuck in her throat for a while and stammered as she went upstairs, clutching her neck,' I-i am safe'
Looking at Elsa's disappearing back, Alia, who was still seated on the floor with a red mark on her face, felt that her pain was nothing compared to her happiness.
'I will meet you soon, Your Highness'