[Author's note: Yes, yes. This chapter is still in Simon's perspective... Should I keep mentioning it? Hm...]

I was surprised, but I could not let myself show it. I merely smiled instead, "A brothel? What is she doing at a brothel?"

No wonder it took us so long to find her. We were looking for her in houses or better neighborhoods. I would never think to look for a woman who has only known a life of luxury to be staying in the lower-class neighborhood. However, not only was she living in such a poverty-stricken area, but she was actually staying at a brothel in the red-light district! It was completely…

Surprising.

The man spoke, "Your Highness. What are your orders?"

I nodded at him, "Since we have found her, we will go forward with the plan."

"And the family? Should we return the son as promised?"

I smiled sadistically, "Return the son? Never. We have to get rid of loose ends."

"Yes, your Highness. Should I go do that now?"

I stopped him, "No. I need them for just a little longer. You all should just get ready and wait for my command."

He bowed to me before leaving once more. I returned back to the house unable to wait to move on with my plan. Soon, I will be able to get my revenge on that witchy woman. I will be able to make her pay for everything she did to me.

Ah, but it is such a shame I will have to kill this family to cover up the truth. But one can never be too sure. The more that knows, the more that could tell.

I turned to the man, "We will soon move on to phase two, but first I must go say hello to that mother of mine."

_____

I stood in front of the brothel wearing a dark cloak. Beside me were two large men wearing cloaks and hiding their swords underneath just as I was. I coldly watched the brothel with a rage growing in my heart. On the street was a troupe playing their music loudly. Onlookers cheered and sang to the beat.

The brothel was hidden in the red-light district by various alleys and tall walls. No one could see it from the street. This was to add to its anonymity. They wanted to catch richer fish that were interested in hiding the fact that they wanted to go to a brothel. It worked too.

They didn't have to advertise their workers either. Just the name of the brothel was enough to pique interest of the richer clientele.

It's clear that my mother chose this place because she thought it would hide her well. Such a shame that the one thing that was supposed to keep her safe and hidden would now make it easier to kill her without being stopped.

I looked at the man beside me, "Is everyone in place?"

"Yes, your Highness. Everyone has surrounded the building."

"Good. Don't let anyone leave or enter."

"Yes, your Highness."

I stepped toward the brothel and went to the door. An older woman with a large bosom practically in her face looked at me with a frown, "Get lost kid. We don't serve youngsters here."

I looked at her with cold eyes, "Disgusting."

I pulled out my sword and chopped off her head before she could make another distasteful noise. I stepped into the house with blood dripping down the sword. I looked around to see a lavish main room filled with people wearing masks to hide their identity. Woman of all shapes, sizes, and ages sat on their laps giggling at them vivaciously. Once they saw me, the chatter stopped.

One of the brothel bodyguards looked at me with a frown, "Hey Kid. You shouldn't be here. Where is Madam-"

Without difficulty, I swiped my blade across his chest delivering a deep and fatal wound. When the people inside saw the man fall with blood slowly leaking out of his corpse, they began to scream. I nodded at the two men in cloaks beside me.

Pandemonium soon ensued.

The ones in the main area were screaming as they fought to run away and save themselves. However, we were far faster and stronger than any of them. Those who did manage to run outside were quickly cut down from the men I had waiting there.

Their screams were drowned out by the loud music playing on the street nearby.

As blood stained my sword red, I caught sight of movement on the second floor. I paused to look up. What I saw was not a woman, but a goddess. She was truly a beauty. Her golden sun kissed skin hadn't aged a day. She was still young and enchanting. Her clothes didn't try to hide her figure but hung off of her as if she was too ethereal to cling to. Her dark black eyes were like bottomless pits trying to suck down anyone inside of them.

My ruthless eyes made contact with those bottomless pits.

I could not contain my grin of excitement.

"Found you~"

Her eyes shrank back in fear and she quickly turned away. She ran back to her room as I slowly climbed the stairs. The sound of my blade scratched the floor as I dragged it while laughing to myself. Anyone else who had the misfortune of being in my path was sliced in half. I did not care that I was soon covered in blood.

I threw open the door and saw as she flinched while halfway out of the windowsill. I tilted my head with a smile, "Planning on jumping? I'm afraid that won't do any good. I have men outside as well. They won't let you run from me."

She turned to face me with eyes filled with resolve, "Who are you!?"

My smile froze. Did she really not recognize me?

I clenched my fist around my sword. Something evil was chanting in my ear.

Kill her.

Kill her.

Kill her.

She abandoned you.

She gave you to that man.

She wanted you to suffer.

Now she doesn't even recognize you.

She forgot all about you.

In her eyes, you are nothing but the dirt beneath her feet.

Kill her.

Kill her.

Kill her.

I swallowed down those desires and smiled as I removed my hood, "You really don't recognize me?"

She looked confused for a moment as she looked at me closely. Then her eyes lit up in understanding, "S-Simon? I-Is that really you?"

I frowned as I saw her eyes water as if she was reunited with a lost love one. She rushed towards me with her arms outstretched.

KILL HER!

I kicked her stomach with all my strength. She flew backwards and hit the wall with a large thud. She wailed in pain as she hit the ground. I watched as papers were knocked down from the impact. I reached down and picked one up.

It was an advertisement. There was a silhouette drawing of a woman in a foreign outfit with snakes coiled along her arms and neck. It read: Come see the snake charmer! Her beauty will stun not only the hearts of men, but the hearts of serpents as well!

I raised an eyebrow, "Snake charmer? I see… So you weren't just living here. You were working here as well. And I see you weren't working in the kitchen either."

She crawled to the wicker basket beside her and reached out. However, her hand hesitated before she opened it. I looked up from the paper with a frown. I stomped on her hand and kicked it away. She let out a cry of pain as she held her broken hand.

I frowned, "Don't even think about sending your little snakes after me."

She bit her lip and muttered in a weak voice, "Simon… Oh Simon… What happened to you?..."

I grit my teeth as I stared at her in hatred. My own mother was dressed like a commonplace whore. She wore a scandalous outfit that didn't hide anything. It was a body that attracted all men from around the Imperial City.

How disgusting.

My own mother- acting like this?! Dressing like this?! Had she no shame!?

I clenched my fist around the hilt of my sword. I looked at her with anger burning in my chest, but I made sure not to show it. My voice was cold, "My own mother, the Holy Empress, has become nothing but a common slut of the Imperial Kingdom."

She turned to look at me without fear, "How dare you say that?! I am your mother!"

"Haah? My mother? What a joke. You think I was too young to remember, but you are mistaken. You handed me over to the King all too graciously!"

She was stunned, "Graciously?! He took you from me! There was nothing I could do! If I resisted, I would have been killed. He may have killed you then just to punish me!"

I looked at her feeling as if the darkness in my heart was turning me cold. I glared at her, "Oh, but you seem to have found it rather easy to run from the Kingdom and defy the King all for the sake of that bastard child."

"Simon! Please! I would have never wanted to put you in harms way. That's precisely why I begged Gilyn to help you!"

"Help me?"