Chapter 297: It’s Over

"...Why should I trust you?"

’Oh, this is definitely her!’

"I understand your suspicion," Aeshvin replied. "After everything that’s happened, I would be careful too. No, in fact, it’s my fault since I couldn’t prevent this." He let out a shaky breath. "But your husband... he told me to tell you that he’s sorry for making you worry. And that he’ll come for you as soon as the battle is over."

"..."

"And... I’m sorry for saying those things about him before..."

"...Alright." The voice replied. "I’ll open the door now."

’...She’s gotten soft.’ Aeshvin sighed in disappointment inwardly. ’Love really does make people fools. To lower her guard so easily... how pitiful.’

But he wasn’t about to complain. If she wanted to hand herself over on a silver platter, who was he to refuse?

"Thank you." He said in a happy tone, with amusement dancing behind his eyes.

"...Hiss."

A moment later, the reinforced door slid open and the shimmering barrier around it faded away.

"I am coming in." Aeshvin stepped inside, his borrowed face arranged into a mask of concern.

Then he let his gaze sweep the room and spotted a woman seated alone in a wheelchair, her posture tense yet composed. And just in case, he used Synchronization again and probed the room.

’Hmm... There’s really no one else aside from us. Hehe. Hehe.’

He barely managed to stop himself from laughing out loud. He didn’t know whether it was truly because of love or her current condition. But to think she would be this stupid...

"...I see that you’re in good shape, Your Highness." The woman spoke, gesturing for him to take a seat. "They really must have been afraid of the Imperial Family’s retaliation to let you go unharmed like this."

"Mmm..." Aeshvin nodded as he walked over to the sofa beside the woman. "Actually, the real reason they let me go was to save their young master. They traded me with him."

"I see..." The woman muttered. "If they rescued their young master, why are they still fighting? Shouldn’t they have run away?"

"Well, from what I saw," Aeshvin replied in the body owner’s style, "our people stopped them. The whole arena was sealed, so they couldn’t use teleportation again." He then clenched his slender fists. "I wanted to fight too, but... I didn’t have any mana left, and Commander Ervin refused to let me stay. He said staying out of danger was the best thing I could do right now. Then City Lord escorted me away from the arena and had me teleport here."

Aeshvin slowly stood up, taking gentle steps toward the woman. Once he got near her, he knelt down in front of her and looked up. "I... I’m sorry, junior... This is happening because of me... The city, the people... your husband is in danger because I couldn’t foresee any of this. If I had just been stronger... smarter... maybe none of this would have happened."

He lowered his head, his shoulders trembling just enough to sell the act. "I know... that an apology isn’t enough. But I promise!" He raised his head, tears welling in his borrowed eyes. "I’ll do whatever it takes to make things right."

He reached out slowly, his fingers trembling as they moved toward her hands.

"Don’t touch me."

"!" Aeshvin ’froze’, his hand stopping mid-air. He looked up and found the woman staring down at him, her ice-blue eyes filled with nothing but disgust.

"...R-Right, I’m sorry." Aeshvin apologized, pretending to be startled and hurt by her reaction. He lowered his hand and let his shoulders slump, as if her rejection had struck something fragile inside him.

"Cut the act." The woman spoke. "I know it’s you."

"...Oh." Aeshvin’s expression shifted, the trembling act melting away in an instant. An amused smile spread across his lips. "You should have said that from the beginning! I really thought you’d actually gotten dumber for a moment there, you know."

"..." The woman stayed silent; however, her piercing gaze remained fixed on Aeshvin.

"Umm... Can you stop staring, please? You are making me feel a little nervous." He tilted his head, his smile still in place. "Or... is this your way of saying you missed me?"

"..." No response.

"...Sigh, alright, alright, I’ll stop it." Aeshvin raised both hands in mock surrender. Then, without warning, his hand shot forward, fingers aimed at her throat.

CLANG!

A golden barrier flared to life between them, stopping his strike inches from her skin.

"...Oh?" Aeshvin’s eyes widened for a split second before narrowing with interest. "Oh, is this why you let me in so easily?"

"...I advise you to surrender." The woman’s voice was indifferent. "It’s over. You’ve already lost... in your own game."

"Hmm? I lost?" Aeshvin tilted his head. "Now I’m really starting to think you became an idiot."

He reached into his dress and drew a dagger. Its blade was pure white, almost glowing, and the hilt was decorated with intricate engravings that screamed luxury.

"Do you really think your little artifact can withstand her?" he asked, his smile never faltering. Then he moved.

CLANG! CLANG! CLANG! CLANG!

A flurry of strikes rained down on the barrier in the span of a single breath. Each hit was precise, aimed at the same spot with deadly accuracy. But the golden light held firm, flaring brightly with every impact and repelling the blade without so much as a crack.

Aeshvin stepped back, his expression unchanging.

"...I guess you were right. This thing is sturdier than I thought. But..." His smile widened as he suddenly raised the dagger to his own throat. "Can it protect her? Your precious Senior Sister?"

"!" The woman’s eyes widened before returning to their indifferent state. "...You can’t do it."

"...Tsk." Aeshvin lowered the dagger. "I guess you haven’t changed."

He let out a sigh and dropped onto the floor, sitting cross-legged like a scolded child. He tapped his temple lazily with the tip of the dagger. "Sigh... Did I really lose? All that planning, all those pawns... gone to waste?"

For a moment, he looked genuinely bored. Then his eyes widened, and a slow grin crept back onto his face. He snapped his fingers.

"Hey! Do you wanna see something interesting?"