V2 Chapter 59

“…ho? Did this mean you realized that it was, indeed, my doing…?”

Blue Bird’s pretty face smiled, like a beautiful flower, it was extremely alluring.

“And here I thought you would be fooled into thinking it was her highness Oriel’s desperate action to making you hers…after all, even you should have now realized what she thought about you, all this time—I didn’t see you as that much of an idiot,”

“I thought at first, indeed…” Cian swallowed his sudden anxiety and slight apprehension, stubbornly displaying a courageous indifference as he walked over the bed, passing through Blue Bird’s body where he smelled the scent of rose and jasmine.

“…but some things don’t add up…” Cian muttered with a frown. “…besides, the way my sister acts after she wakes up was too natural, don’t you think…? It’s as if she doesn’t know anything about the strange smell that had assaulted me, and arousing my blood.” After he finished talking, he glared at Blue Bird defiantly while the latter was just smiling as usual. "And in matters of elimination, you are the only one who I could think of, to do something like this for the sake of your own entertainment,"

Blue Bird laughed heartily as she listened to Cian's reply; “Indeed, it was me… the aphrodisiac I used doesn’t work on women but great for men… even the purest and innocent sheep would turn into an ugly wolf the moment they smell a tiny bit of it.”

“…you know what you did, right…?” Cian growled. “If a tiny mistake happens, my life…as well as hers would have been over in an instant…!” he glared ferociously at her. Cian, at this moment, has an urge to take a bit of her. Unfortunately, with his current power, he would just be beaten up easily by her. And thus, he can only grit his teeth and remember this humiliation for the revenge in the future.

“Oh please, it’s not like you didn’t enjoy it, in fact, aren’t you quite happy…?”

“…that’s the only part that I am thankful for, you have my thanks…” Cian smirked.

Blue Bird let out a laugh after hearing Cian’s words, “You are really honest, though I don’t know whether you are thanking me, or scolding me…”

“…both,” Cian replied lightly. Then, he turned at Ruka and said, “…serve some tea and snacks,”

“Yes, master,” Ruka bowed and then after glancing one last time at Blue Bird, she turned around and left.

“Well, don’t you think I’m just being a good aunt, fulfilling my beloved nephew’s happiness…? Oriel seemed to be content and happy now that you had broken that last line,”

“…but I still prefer if I had done it in my own pace and my own will…” Cian snorted. “Anyway, what do you want…? You don’t need to tell me you did that because you are feeling sympathetic on our situation? Even if you let me be dragged by a thousand Drakon, I would never believe it!”

“…what an uncute nephew you have become,” Blue Bird sigh, “You are far cuter when you are a kid,”

“…good times last for a moment, bad times last for eternity…for you, it might have been wonderful moments, and you still want it to last a little longer. But for me…it was nothing but nightmares that are still haunting me even now… so, I beg you, please do keep those dreams for yourself, if possible…” Cian gritted his teeth.

“Really…you have gotten better in playing words of wisdom… never thought you have such talent in literature, which, if I remember correctly, you hated the most~” Blue Bird muttered.

At this moment, Ruka finally returned, bringing a tray of a tea set and a plate of fries-like pastries, straight and curly—looking strange yet comical to look at.

“…hating something doesn’t mean we do not need it. This world is not that considerate to people like me—those you hated are actually the most important things in the world, which you must abide and learn… knowledge is one of them…” Cian received the tea Ruka gave him and sip lightly. “…aren’t you the one who had taught that to me… in a very unfriendly way…? Your Excellency…?”

“That’s surprising…well, I accept your gratitude,” Blue Bird smiled faintly.

“…please do,” Cian rolled his eyes. “So…do you just want to hear my words of gratitude…right? Then, you got it… you can go now,”

“What a very unsociable nephew~” Blue Bird sigh mournfully, but her expression didn’t the least bit change. “Oh well, I was just a bit curious… as to what my dear nephew was planning and scheming all this while,”

“…I was not planning anything… even if I say that you won’t believe it, either way. So why are you still asking me?” Cian replied half-heartedly.

“I suspected this was your attitude,” Blue Bird muttered a little grimly, “And I may as well tell you that I’m not going to stand for it.”

“What do you mean?” Cian asked. His expression 'innocent' and harmless.

Blue Bird’s eyes narrowed, “I mean that I’ve no intention of leaving you alone no matter what horrors are you making…”

“… …”

“I don’t know what you are doing… however, if ever the country was affected by it, I will be your enemy… my dearest nephew…please do not forget that,”

Cian stared at Blue Bird. Then, his lips curled upwards, “…I love my mother, my sister… my people, so why would I think of doing something against the Demon World…? I think you’re over thinking it too much, your Excellency. In fact, I really wonder why you would think I would do such a thing,”

“That’s because…I can see a red star above you, my dearest nephew…” Blue Bird smiled with a smile yet not a smile.

“A red…star?” Cian tilted his head.

“Ah…and it’s not a good sign,”

“You’re pulling my leg…?” Cian frowned.

“I don’t know what you mean about pulling your leg, but I can assure you I am not. And also, whether you believe it or not… what I said is the truth… you’re a very dangerous person, nephew… It was vague before but there is indeed a sign… but never been this clear as blood before…”

“… …”

“…I don’t know what happened… but something must have occurred. Probably, also the reason why you suddenly change so much in just a blink of an eye… but… I admit I deem you a very dangerous person, nephew…” Bluebird's expression darkens as she stared at Cian as if studying his expression.

“Color me surprised…” Cian said. “…I never expected I would be dangerous in your Excellency’s eyes…though, what does red star signifies, I wonder…”

“It’s not something you would need to know… just that, it’s not something glorious, either… I only saw several people who held such stars and all of them… dyed their path in carnage, whether it was other races or their own… they are not individuals that should be left alone, for sure…”

Cian was silent for a long moment. Only too clearly could he visualize the world the moment he made his true move. In this world, there are too many people who are unneeded, who are not necessary for him…

And so, indeed, the land will be dyed in blood as he knows he would never show mercy, no matter who it was. “That was quite an interesting talk,” Cian muttered with a faint smile. “…however, I fail to recognize why such…oh so important role to be upon me. I am but a weak, unassuming, coward who only knows how to bully the weak and fear the strong…trash and a waste in many people’s eyes. Such a role to give unto someone like me, the world sure is twisted in some angles, don’t you think, your Excellency?”

“…we both know that is not the truth…and that, you nephew is one terrifying beast that dawn upon the sleeve of an imp. You don’t need to put wool over my eyes, such a thing is unnecessary… I believe,” Bluebird's eyes narrowed. But her lips curled up into a beautiful smile.

Cian heaves a sigh of helplessness. “…you’re overestimating me, your Excellency. Who didn’t know about the trash prince…?”

Blue Bird’s brows furrowed. “Stop bringing the public’s opinion before me as I don’t care the least bit about their idiocracies…! This is about you, Aanuel! I don’t know what you’re planning but you are playing a very dangerous game!”

“Playing about what game…?” Cian continued to play the fool.

“…then, so be it. Don’t admit it, that’s fine as it is…” Blue Bird glared at Cian for a while then she stood up, flicking her beautiful azure colored hair. “Let’s just see what kind of interesting ploy you are planning…but there is just one thing I want to ask, what did you do to that human knight…? Did you kill her…?”

“…If you are talking about the one who had attacked me, I don’t know. I passed out…and didn’t know what had happened at the end…” Cian shook his head and slumped in his bed.

Blue Bird didn’t say anything and just stared at him, “…then, let’s leave it at that. But be warned, dear nephew…those who stand beneath the red star always have terrible endings…” then, she disappeared.

Cian stared at the place where she vanished and his lips curled into a faint smile. After feeling her true departure, he turned towards the window and stared into the beautiful moon as big and bright as the sun. “…I’m not fond of tragedy, Bluebird…fairytale is much better…and I’ll make sure, I will have the ‘live happily ever after’ kind of ending…"

Cian’s red and blue eyes glowed brightly.

"...for certain…!”

… …

Ezra woke to find gray daylight seeping into the room, framing the dark drapes in a colorless glow as snow pattered on the windows. With a groggy vision, she levered herself up from the rumpled sheets and sat up, pushing her hair out of her face as she looked at the cavernous room.

I guess I haven’t died…

It was real… judging from the surroundings she cannot recognize, then her losing was real. Was she captured…? Ezra closed her eyes, bracing for the grief to steamroll her. But the pain didn’t come. Only a dull ache, a heavy sadness.

Blinking, she opened her eyes again…what had happened…? What had occurred after that…?

My body’s not bad either…

Ezra grasped her body and indeed her clothes were changed into a new one. Her face turned pale but then… why does she feel nothing strange…? There’s no ache nor soreness… especially down there.

She heard before that the first time always hurt, but why it did not?

Or was it because she had been asleep for a long time that she couldn’t feel anything anymore…?!

“…before you misunderstand, I didn’t do anything. I’m not someone who would touch a lifeless ‘corpse’ that look nothing but a string-less puppet.”

Suddenly, a voice rang out from within the room.

“Who’s there?!” Ezra sprung out from the bed and turned towards the owner of the voice, only to see a very familiar figure sitting near the fireplace.

“You!!” Ezra subconsciously grabbed her sword but her side was empty. Panicked, she made a desperate turned around, preparing to run away, but—

“I advise you not to do anything or raise your voice, if not, if my sister found you here, you would be executed… then, I wouldn’t be able to save you anymore…” Cian was unperturbed by her sudden hostility and lifted the teapot, he poured tea into two teacups, added milk then glanced at her, “Though, even if you have a sword, it would be of use, so you might as well behave. It's not worth you getting beat up again.” His lips arched up into a confident smile.

Ezra gritted her teeth and scowled in anger; “You didn't beat me. You ignored the rules of engagement! In a fair fight, I'd kill you!”

Cian chuckled. “Well, that's not much incentive for me to fight fair then, is it?”

This bastard…!!

“What are you doing…? What do you want?!” Ezra gritted her teeth and asked with a murderous intention.

“Calm down your nerves, if I want you dead… you would have been long ago. And also, even if I wanted something from you, you wouldn’t be able to protect it from me. Why bother being so defensive…?" Cian sneered. "Desperation? A futile effort. Whatever, come…I have some good tea and I can assure you, there is no poison there or anything strange. I bet your stomach is calling,”

“A demon like you…? I would be an idiot to trust you!” Ezra glared at him.

“Your choice…” Cian smothered a sigh. “…however, even if I am a demon… that is only my race, my kind… just like you are a human, even if you wanted to be something else. It’s not enough to justify anything or something…not like I choose to be a demon in the first place,” he spread his favorite strawberry flavored jam onto the bread, crunched on it with a casual bite, and then took a sip of tea.

When the young woman knight was silent, he continued; “…in fact, your war, all of it has nothing to do with me. So I beg you not to involve me or named me for those accused…whether you humans or us demons are the one who was in the wrong, all of that has nothing to do with me. So spare me with the hostility… I saved you, no, it should be, I spare you because of that as well…”

“Lies! A demon like you?! Do you think you can fool me?!” Ezra roared in anger.

“Be my guest… if that is what you want to believe then let it be. I don’t have any reason to make you trust me or believe in me… but why don’t you use your brain a little? You know about my abilities, as you experience them yourself personally…” Cian turned at her with a faint smile, “Then, why does no one know about me…? About my capabilities? My true self?”

“…?!”

“…I can guess that you have underestimated me, leading to your own destruction. Have you heard about me being called the trash prince…? A cowardly waste of a prince…unlike his excellent siblings. Isn’t that why you choose to attack me, wanting to kill me…? Because I was an easy target?” Cian finished his slice of bread and muttered with a leisurely voice. “…I’ll tell you now, those rumors are not deliberate…at least, no one tried to fool you because of it. You can scourge the entire Demon World but you will still hear the infamy of the Great Second Prince of the Demon Empire… covering long and wide,” Cian chuckled.

“What are you trying to say…?”

The fear she’d felt only seconds ago was speeding away, only to be replaced by aggravation now that she no longer felt threatened. At least, the demon youth before her seemed to have no hostility towards her. Though, that doesn’t mean she would trust him…!

“…That you wouldn’t kill me? That you would let me go…?! Is that what you are trying to say?”

Cian merely raised one eyebrow and gave her an amused smile, “At least you have some brain within that head of yours…”

“… …” Ezra stared at him, confused but also doubtful.

This demon…is he for real…?

What is he scheming about?

“…well, even if I say that…I advise you not to leave this room for now though…”

“What?”

“…due to your little idiocy towards me, my elder sister was furious and was flipping the entire city upside down just to find you. Poor slums got purified. Countless lives were lost. The City was lockdown and you take one step outside, your head will roll…not like that does matter to me anymore.”

"...??!"

Cian shrugs, “But since I had wasted my time sparing you, saving you from elder sister, I don’t want you to waste it for nothing…stay here for now and behave, not until my sister calms down of course…then, you can be on your way. I don’t care.”

"... ..."