"Won't you open the door, or do you want to keep me outside, sister?" Kael asked with a smile. Selena felt her body tremble but still moved to the door and opened it. Earlier, she had dismissed her maids and guards to enjoy some peace, leaving her alone now.
When she opened the door, a strange yet slightly familiar face greeted her. She had to look up—Kael had always been taller than her, but now he seemed even more imposing. His handsome, chiseled face, resembling that of a male god, was expressionless as he stood there.
"Can I come in?" Kael asked after Selena spent a few moments staring at him.
"Ah... yes," Selena replied, snapping out of her thoughts as she moved aside. "Please, come in."
Kael entered, his eyes scanning the room. It was different from Kim's room—there was a faint scent of roses in the air, and the red decor made the space feel both dim and illuminated at the same time. He spotted a set of chairs and chose one at random, sitting comfortably with his hand resting on the top of the couch.
"Brother, so... who tried to assassinate you?" Selena asked coquettishly, trying to maintain composure. She thought she might have to fight one last time, but her thoughts were clouded by fear. She clung to the hope that Kael might not suspect her. After all, she had always treated him kindly, and maybe her charm and innocence could save her. If Kael forgave her, perhaps their father would too.
She knew she couldn't go to her father—he was a man of principles and wouldn't bend his rules, even for her.
"Selena Stormbane... does that name ring a bell?" Kael asked plainly, his gaze piercing as he looked at his sister. She was breathtakingly beautiful, her figure seductive, but Kael finally understood what Lucian had felt about her.
"I..." Selena gasped, stepping back in shock. "Brother? Me... how, why?"
"Drop the act. You've been caught," Kael said firmly. Selena froze, her expression changing instantly.
"I never knew you were this smart," Selena said after a moment of silence. "I always thought you were a fool. Turns out, you were just pretending. You're more cunning than I ever realized." She sat on the edge of her bed, which was large—seven feet long and five feet wide.
Kael's voice remained calm. "I came here to tell you two things. First, Seraphina is crying her eyes out because her future husband is dead. She's already fallen for him, you know. I haven't told her your secrets yet. Your next move is up to you, but when you see her next, if you tell her—" Kael paused, his expression dark. Selena felt a chill run down her spine as she misinterpreted his words.
"Will he kill me? Am I not going to die anyway?" Selena thought, fear gripping her.
"She'll cry again—so annoying, but I don't care," Kael thought as he continued speaking. "Second, Father has decided to be merciful. For now, you'll be imprisoned in the Tower of Prisoners until he decides your punishment."
Selena let out a sigh of relief. "Thank you, brother," she said softly.
Kael smiled coldly. "Hahaha! You should have seen your face. You're going to die in a week." His voice was indifferent as he stood up to leave. Before he could move, Selena pushed him back onto the couch with her hands.
"Kael, please! I'm sorry for what I did. I don't want to die!" Selena cried, tears streaming down her face.
Kael sighed, watching her silently. She was just fifteen years old, and yet... now she had to face death. He observed her sobbing with a calm expression.
"Brother, what can I do to change your mind? I'm sorry! I shouldn't have tried to kill you. Lucian blinded me—I..." Selena pleaded between sobs.
"Nothing will make me change my mind," Kael replied coldly.
Selena hesitated, then spoke, desperation in her voice. "Brother... wait. How about my body? I... I'll give it to you." She began to strip, but Kael stood up and turned to leave.
Selena grabbed his hand, but Kael looked back and slapped her hard.
Selena fell to the ground, her cheek swelling and turning red. Kael hadn't used much strength—had he done so, his martial prowess would have killed her instantly. After all, she was just a normal human girl.
"I am your brother, bound to you by blood. Also, you're underage. It's disgusting how Lucian slept with you. Despicable." Kael's voice was filled with disdain as he opened the door and left, slamming it shut behind him.
Inside the room, Selena lay on the ground, sobbing as she curled up in shame and fear.
********
Outside…
A group of soldiers stood waiting.
"Arrest her and place her in the Tower of Prisoners. Floor 92," Kael ordered indifferently. The guards nodded and entered the room.
As Kael walked away, his mind replayed the scene from earlier.
"Are the people in this world even normal? She's not even eighteen, yet they think she's ripe. Disgusting. No matter how beautiful or attractive she is, she's my blood. Her death is certain. I'll kill her with my own hands," Kael muttered as he strode forward.
A shadow flickered nearby as Darius appeared, watching Kael.
"He really has changed," Darius murmured. The king had been uncertain whether Kael would succumb to lust for his sister, given his past behavior. This moment proved otherwise—Kael was now far more unpredictable.
"This upcoming war... the king must send Kael into battle. Let's see how he fares," Darius thought before disappearing.
*****
"Crown Prince," a voice called out. Garrick appeared beside Kael, who nodded and continued walking toward his quarters with Garrick trailing behind. There, they encountered Ash.
Ash immediately knelt, slamming her head to the ground with a loud boom.
"Your Highness, I have something to confess. I'm sorry for everything. Please, give me a chance to repent!" Ash pleaded, trembling as fear consumed her.
Kael glanced at Ash, confused.
"Garrick, wait outside. Ash, follow me," Kael ordered. Ash quickly stood, her hair disheveled and her head throbbing from the impact earlier. She hurried after Kael, her fear evident.
Garrick nodded and stood outside. Inside, Kael sat on a chair, sipping red wine, while Ash knelt on the floor, her head bowed, refusing to look up.
"So, what did you want to confess?" Kael asked lightly.
"Your Highness... I... I am a spy sent by Crown Prince Lucian to kill you! But I swear, I haven't harmed you in any way. I haven't even touched you!" Ash blurted out, her words tumbling over each other as Kael watched her calmly.
"Alright. What's your true martial cultivation rank?" Kael asked indifferently.
"Stage nine, Martial Disciple realm," Ash replied, pouting slightly. Kael smiled faintly.
Host: Ash
Position: Maid of the Crown Prince (Spy of Lucian)
Race: Human
Rank: Martial Warrior, Stage 3
Luck: 500
"500? So, she's the third or fourth heroine? Her luck is low, but she can still aid the so-called son of destiny. And she's lying—how amusing," Kael thought, chuckling softly.
"Jack," Kael called out. A blond-haired man appeared instantly.
"Break her limbs," Kael ordered. Jack nodded and moved without hesitation.
A loud scream echoed through the room as Garrick, standing outside, frowned.
"Is the Crown Prince… doing what men and women do?" Garrick wondered but remained at his post.
*****
Inside…
"Still lying?" Kael asked, his voice cold as he stood up and grabbed Ash by her hair.
"At first, I thought you had some value. Now… you don't," Kael said indifferently. He lifted her off the ground by her head, her limbs dangling uselessly, and slowly twisted her neck. Her agonized screams filled the room, but no one came to help. Ash the maid of the crown prince was dead reuniting with her dead master.
Ding!
-Killed the third heroine.
-Disrupted the time flow.
-Rank increased.
-Grandmaster Stage Two achieved.
"What?!" Kael thought as his strength surged. He had broken through to the Martial Master realm—and beyond, reaching the Grandmaster realm. His senses sharpened drastically. Time seemed to slow, and he could hear the faintest heartbeats from across the castle and beyond.
Deep within the palace, multiple powerful figures stirred. One after another, their eyes snapped open as they sensed the shift in power.
"A Grandmaster realm expert has appeared? Which kingdom dares to send someone like this?"
"Whoever it is won't leave alive."
Terrifying auras spread throughout the kingdom, converging toward Kael's position.
The king felt his heart sink as he sensed the overwhelming energy.
"What's happening? Why are they all heading to Kael's chambers? Is there an assassin?" the king thought as he hurried toward the commotion.
"Brother? Which Grandmaster realm expert dares to harm you?" Valthera's voice echoed as she dashed through the castle. Her body flickered in and out of sight as she moved, her Grandmaster-level aura spreading far and wide.
The combined auras blanketed the entire kingdom, spanning tens of thousands of kilometers. Everyone felt the overwhelming energy and began to wonder if the kingdom was under attack.
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