After getting permission from Artemis, Aish decided to go to prison and meet his shadow. But before that, he needed some things that would convince him that he was making the right decision. After getting everything ready, he started walking towards the prison.
He did not see Myra anywhere, so she left for Narva city. It would take 2-3 days for her to come back if she is in a hurry and uses the teleportation gates. But if she does not want to leave any trail behind, then it could take a week.
Why was Aish prepared to believe Esme, who could be the one who cursed him? There are 2 reasons for it: one, because after Aish thought about the plot carefully again, he noticed that Esme plays an important role in the story till the middle sections, and even after getting so much screen time in the plot, there was no information about her ever using cursed mana to curse Aish. The plot missed it, or it was something left out, but Aish had decided to take a chance. He still would not believe Esme; that is why he looked for the second reason, her sister, Megan Levette, or Erza Scarlett.
Just like how Esme was sent to spy on the Floren family, Erza was sent to Duke Belmont's family.
Esme, with her talent and power, was soon appointed as my shadow, while Erza, who lacked both talent and power, was placed as a maid. But due to one mishap in the beginning, she almost got caught and was punished by the Belmont family for working as a slave. Her life had been ruined forever; she contacted her clan, but the Scarlett clan decided to ignore her, thinking of her as trash or failed resource.
Esme, who learned about this, tried to free her, but her clan was against it, saying she should just focus on her mission unless she wants her sister killed to further avoid any risks. Esme, seeing no choice left, decided to continue her mission, hoping to one day free her sister. But fate pulled a joke on her as
In the novel, Erza died 1 year before the plot officially started due to some ailments, and Esme started blaming everyone else for her death. Erza's death is what pushed Esme into betraying the Floren family and later joining the protagonist camp.
In the plot, Esme confessed about her origins and promised to betray her own clan if the Floren family decided to help her get revenge for her sister. But instead, the Floren family did what any other logically sane person would do: they put her in prison. How could they trust a traitor and go to war against another Duke family for no reason or profit?
This development did not sit well with Esme, and when she found her chance, she ran away. Later she started killing her own clan members who came after her for betraying the clan, and when she learned of someone who was fighting against House Belmont, she joined hands with them.
This is how the shadow of the villain joined the protagonist. They made a deal where Leon helped her get her sister's revenge against the Belmont family and her own clan, while she helped him destroy the Floren family. Of course, protagonist Halo also did its magic, and she joined his ever-increasing harem.
But as someone wise once said, all traitors always end up dead. She too died with Aish's hands, further fueling the flame of the fight between the protagonist and the villain.
_
Now someone who was ready to betray everyone she ever knew and cared for, to just avenge her dead sister, what would she do if I had her sister with me? I have no plans to keep Esme with me forever; she betrayed us once she could do it again.
So Aish just decided to keep her sister hostage until he gets everything he needs done for. She will help him get all the chances that are helpful to him for his awakening and to kill that prophet. She was like a pawn or a minion to be used until he got a better subordinate.
'Awakening hurts like hell; I'm not the usual masochist protagonist happily going through pain for every level up. I mean, I did go through hell just one day after coming here, but if I can avoid it, why not do it? Plus, those heavenly chances are just waiting to be found by the protagonist; I'll just take them for myself. And that's what my shadow will do.'
'If you can't find someone you can trust, then look for someone you can control'—these were the words Nashi once said to him, and it's exactly what he planned to do after waking up from his nightmare.
_
When Aish reached the prison, Asher's team of Alphas was already standing guard there. They were all trained professionals, and Artemis had already informed them. So Aish did not have to waste his time going over everything again and went straight towards the light cell where Esme was put in.
[Every prison cell here was made of the toughest of metals and secured with the best of the arrays so no outside mana could enter there, an almost void zone.]
Esme's cell was filled with light, so much so that you could not find a single dark corner there. It was not the usual light from the sun or from a lamp, but pure dense light, which was spreading in every corner with the artifacts placed in every corner. For every vampire, light mana is their biggest weakness. That and hunger.
Esme, who has been trapped in this prison for the past 2 days, had her whole body turned red. The light mana had burned everything for her. Aish stood there for a few seconds and watched as her body squirmed when a new wave of light mana hit her. She looked no different from a deep-fried chicken hanging outside a mutton shop in his eyes. Obviously, if you ignore the torn black dress and her human features.
Aish signaled Alpha's and they turned off the light mana supply.
"Put her in the other room; I want to talk about something." Aish said and turned around to walk into the other room, which at least had a chair to sit in.
'It's going to be a long discussion; I can't just stand there all this time. Plus, if we're both standing, what's the difference? Aish thought to himself.
Soon Esme was released from her chains and moved into the other room.
Aish sits in silence, watching Esme as she is chained to the empty chair in front of him. She looked broken and battered, her clothes torn and her skin still raw from the burns.
Aish felt nauseous at the sight. In both his lives he had seen a lot of stuff, but torture was something he never did or saw. He believed in ending things faster due to his lazy personality. That is, if you are not Nashi. That guy _.
"We'll be outside, young master."
The guard's voice broke out from Aish's thoughts, and he nodded his head. He then looked towards Esme and asked.
"Are you okay?"
Esme looks up at him, her eyes full of anger and pain. "What do you think? I have already _" Esme was saying something but stopped talking as she saw it wasn't any other guard or Artemis.
"Aish, what are you doing here?"
"I came to see you, of course. Why did you do it, Esme?" He asked.
Esme looked down, not saying anything. What could she say? She had been following Aish every moment for the last 3 years, and she could understand how hurt he must have felt after learning about her betrayal.
"Why did you want to kill me, Esme? I thought you were my friend, my shadow." Aish asked, his voice hoarse as if he were disappointed and sad.
"I didn't; I had no idea who cursed you, Aish. Believe me, it wasn't me." Esme replied hurriedly.
She already knew she would be killed, as chances of her getting out were nothing. She had worked in the Floren family for years; she knew Artemis would never allow her to leave. She just did not want to die knowing that she failed the only 2 people whom she cared about. Her sister was already abandoned and now trapped here; she had no chance of ever seeing her. That is why she wanted to apologize to Aish, the only other person whom she cared about. She had been working as his shadow for 3 years now; she watched him every moment, every day. Even though she knew one day she would be caught and what she was doing was just betraying their trust, she liked her job. She had seen Aish enjoying the childhood she or her sister never had. They were trained from childhood and later sent out to work as spies; they did not have a single happy memory. So, when she saw Aish or Amelia happily enjoying their lives, she hated it. She felt jealous, but as time passed, that jealousy turned to attention and then care. Their innocence and playfulness are what helped her when she thought about her sister.
She even wanted to confess everything and ask their help to free her sister, then they could all live together. But she knew it was just a fantasy, so she kept quiet, kept watching from the sidelines, until 2 days ago when Aish suddenly fell unconscious, and she was put in prison.
When she learned about the curse, she was heartbroken, thinking that she had failed to protect him too, just like she could not protect her sister.
It was only when Artemis came to ask her questions that she learned that Aish was saved. So, she happily told Artemis everything she could; she even agreed to use the truth orb* just to make Artemis believe her, but she still did not trust her.
[Truth orb]: An artifact that, when used, can detect if a person is lying or speaking the truth. Used during the interrogation or torture process. Its limitations are that it cannot be used without permission.
This was also the reason Artemis agreed to free Esme when Aish asked for it. She knew Esme was not the one who cursed him, but if not for Aish, she would kill her to avoid any future risks.
_
And why should I trust you now? You've been lying to us for years." Aish said.
Esme was glad that she got to see him one last time, as now she could apologize to him directly. But just like Artemis, he did not trust her either, so she just bowed her head, not knowing how to respond. It was then that Aish's next words surprised her.
"Myra went to get your sister." He spoke.
Esme looked up with disbelieving eyes, as she thought it was Artemis who believed her story and tried to help her.
"Did lady Artemis trust me?" she asked, hopefully.
"No, she was planning to kill you," Aish said.
"Then _." Esme could not think of anyone who would help or trust her now.
"I asked my mother to free you. And she agreed." Aish said and watched as Esme's mouth opened in shock, she could not think of what to say. He watched as a smile came to her face and tears were sliding down her eyes. She felt happiness at the thought that her dream would come true soon, but then Aish continued, "But you can't live with us. You must leave.