Chapter 22: Useless Child

***WARNING: This chapter contains foul language.

***Alright Now Continuation Of Chapter 22...

-Next day, Lepiliondel Training grounds-

'Swish, Swish, Swish'

"Brother" (Adelina, said)

'Swish, Swish, Swish'

"Brother Arian" (Adelina, said)

'Swish, Swish, Swish'

"Brother!" (Adelina, yelled)

'Halt'

'Turn'

Arian who had been swinging his sword since early in the morning with red eyes sore as if he had cried and eyebags under his eyes had decided to swing his sword solitary in the wooden practice area away from any of the knights.

He had not managed to hear Adelina's cheerful voice as he continued to focus on swinging the sword.

It wasn't till Adelina had yelled calling him that had brought him back to his scenes.

He turned to look at her with his emotionless face.

"!" (Adelina)

Adelina's eyes widen at his red eyes, his eye bags, and his emotionless face.

He had not seen Arian like that ever since Aurora had destroyed their mother's sanctuary.

Well thanks to her who had done it, waited for Aurora to enter, and blamed it on her.

It made Adelina's stomach boil in anger.

She had thought she had gotten Arian completely off her but apparently, it seemed that she was wrong.

He came home last night looking very much worse than today in the morning.

He shut himself in the room and unexpectedly rebelled against his father.

Marquess Elex had expected a report from him but Arian walked away ignoring him going into his room.

Marquess Elex was extremely mad but decided to let him cool off whatever had happened and she who wanted to know what had happened had tried to enter his room.

She wanted to play her part as a caring sister worried for his well-being but he had refused her.

He had locked his door and told her to go away with a snapy tone.

At that moment she couldn't help to feel worried if Aurora had said something that had changed his mind.

Of course, she had sent to kidnap her but knowing Arian she doubted that he'd believe her, she thought that her brother would yell at her and mistreat her after telling him that it was Aurora who had sent the snakes to her bed.

Or maybe was it because that bloodthirsty bastard was there....she thought conflicted.

She had to claim her territory again and try him again in the morning.

Lately, she had started to become doubtful as she noticed Arian stopping every day after she left entered her room, and sat on her bed.

He'd walk around her room and gaze from the window looking at their mother's garden.

Even his attitude had slightly changed with her, sometimes he was restless or sometimes it was as if he started to dislike her touch.

Whenever she spoke of her Arian avoided any conversation that had to do with her and went out to train just like today.

After yesterday's incidents, it was normal for her to doubt.

She had hoped the influence that she had on him would have still work but it seemed she was wrong.

"Oh brother, your face" (Adelina, said)

She raised her voice as she pretended to look at him surprised using her right hand to cover her mouth.

"Why are you like-" (Adelina, asked)

She removed her right hand covering her mouth and tried to reach toward Arian's cheek to check him but Arian had moved his face dogging her touch.

"...." (Adelina)

A sweat drop fell from her cheeks seeing how he definitely avoided her touch.

"What do you want?" (Arian, asked)

He looked away with an exhausted tone.

As if he had no energy left in him.

"I'm training" (Arian, said)

He added on as he did not look at her.

"..." (Adelina)

A few seconds of silence passed when Adelina's voice sounded again.

"What did sister say to you?" (Adelina, asked)

Adelina asked with an unreadable face however her dark blue eyes held a glim of hostility.

"...." (Arian)

Arian finally turned to look at her.

He let silence cover them again.

"Did you know that Aurora was kidnapped?" (Arian, asked)

Finally, his lips parted as he asked with a studying face.

'So she told him...' (Adelina's inner thoughts)

"What sister was kidnapped?!" (Adelina, said)

Adelina raised her voice pretending to be shocked and worried for Aurora.

"..." (Arian)

"Brother is she alright?! Is she not hurt?!" (Adelina, asked)

She continued to raise her voice worriedly as she approached Arian closer.

"I must tell Father! We have to go see sister!" (Adelina, yelled)

She finally reached Arian's biceps holding it tight as if begging him to take her to see Aurora.

"If she's hurt then-" (Adelina, yelled)

"She said you orchestrated it" (Arian, said)

Suddenly Arian's voice sounded from above her.

She looked at him who looked at her with a tint of cold wary eyes.

'What...don't tell me he believes her...' (Adelina's inner thoughts)

Her eyes couldn't help but widen.

"No brother how could I do that to my sister?!" (Adelina, yelled)

Adelina yelled at him looking at him as if she was framed wrongly.

"Then why did you poke her?" (Arian, asked)

"Why did you order those maids to feed her such trash?" (Arian, asked)

He asked coldly with a calm expression.

"!" (Adelina)

This...was definitely the face of someone not willing to take favoritism.

A person willing to be open-minded.

'Tremble'

Her hands trembled as she grabbed onto Arian's sleeve.

"N-No brother I swear the f-food was only to teach her a lesson, I never intended her to eat it" (Adelina, said)

"I n-never kidnap her I-I don't know who order to poke her b-but I had nothing to do p-please-" (Adelina, said)

She nervously said as her face started to turn pale at the reliance he was starting to lose.

She continued to lie trying to blame anyone than herself but Arian interrupted her again.

'Swish'

"You never intended to make her eat it? Then what the hell has she been eating this whole fricken time?!" (Arain, yelled)

Arian greeted his teeth yelling at her as he snapped away from her grip with hateful eyes.

"Do you think she'd kidnap herself on purpose Adelina is that it?! " (Arian, yelled)

He yelled at her as he scoffed.

"Aurora is a married woman, a woman wedded to that beast! She would never think of something like that!" (Arian, yelled)

"Why are you being so mean to me brother?! For all we know it could be that illegitimate monster who kidnapped her to get rid of her secretly!" (Adelina, yelled)

She yelled at him back trying to revoke.

"Ha, you think he'd do that to his own wife?!" (Arian, yelled)

"If he wanted to kill her he would have done so the moment she stepped in there!" (Arian, yelled)

"I hate that she had to marry such a thing but as much as I hate it, if it wasn't for him Aurora wouldn't have been alive!" (Arian, yelled)

He yelled at her harshly.

"..." (Adelina)

Adelina's words could not come out, she was in shock at how harshly he was speaking to her.

Arian who noticed it calmed down a little.

"I need to cool off and you have an audience with the empress, don't make her wait" (Arian, said)

He said as he passed her with indifference without looking at her.

'Clench'

She clenched her fist as she remained in silence.

'Kick'

"Argh!" (Adelina, yelled)

She yelled in frustration and anger as she kicked the wooden training stand Arian had trained in hitting herself.

..........

-Many minutes later, Rhone's outdoor greenhouse-

'Tss, Tss'

Water sprinkling down.

"I heard a rumor" (Fake Empress Paola, said)

"That it did not work to your favor" (Fake Empress Paola, said)

"...." (Adelina)

The fake empress wore a red dress holding a water-pouring watering can on her orange roses while Adelina stood nearby with an upset face at her comment.

"How could you be so useless?" (Fake Empress Paola, asked)

"Did you not learn before?" (Fake Empress Paola, asked)

She finally turned to look at Adelina up and down who wore a light blue dress.

"Things didn't go as planned thanks to that unexpected variable" (Adelina, said)

"I didn't think he would have found her...but Archibishop Ernest was freed" (Adelina, said)

"I will go to the temple before returning home" (Adelina, said)

She said with a calm expression as if favor could still work on her.

She could not make excuses and she knew that but as long as the Archibishop was still on her side that would be a plus.

That man loved her like a granddaughter all she had to do was butter him up and he would still stand by her side.

Just because she hadn't expected Dorion to show up and ruin her plan things could have turned in her favor.

She knew Adelina could not be disposed of no matter how the empress called her useless, that was because the empress needed her as well.

"..." (Fake Empress Paola, said)

'Turn'

'Tss'

She stared at her in silence scrunching her eyes at her then turned back to water her orange roses in silence.

"So he showed up...I was not wrong" (Fake Empress Paola, said)

She said with a tone that expected it.

"...?..." (Adelina)

Adelina slightly frowned in confusion.

"That man is in love with your sister, you have given her an advantage to her side" (Fake Empress Paola, said)

"In love?" (Adelina, asked)

Her face distorted as she asked.

"The snakes to your bed, that report it must have been him who sent them" (Fake Empress Paola, said)

She said with a calm expression then turned to look at her.

"You have dug yourself your own death" (Fake Empress Paola, said)

"If your sister requested so that man would not hesitate to kill you or any of your members unlike the royal family where he can't just do as he please" (Fake Empress Paola, said)

"However you and your family are a different case" (Fake Empress Paola, said)

She stared at her with pathetic eyes.

'Clench'

Adelina clenched her fist at her words.

She hadn't realized that the day that man threw his helmet towards Aurora wouldn't have been for nothing, she should have known.

She didn't think a monster like him could take the likes of her, especially without seeing her face.

"!" (Adelina)

That was when she realized.

'The time Aurora said that he was the real prince, they must have met and seen each other's faces by coincidence, or how about when she let her wander around to get food what if she went and met with him showing her face?' (Adelina's inner thoughts)

It was undeniable that Aurora had been born with extreme beauty how could he not fall in love with her?

That was why she told her to cover her face at the tournament, that is why she made her father prohibit her from going on, and why she painted her as a jealous sister.

So no one would fall for her beauty.

"You finally understand" (Fake Empress Paola, said)

She said as she looked at Adelina's face in realization.

'Why didn't she order him to kill me...to kill us?' (Adelina's inner thoughts)

"Then..." (Adelina, said)

She said with a pause and conflicted thoughts.

"Because she not planning to kill you" (Fake Empress Paola, said)

The fake empress's voice was heard again.

"What?" (Adelina, asked)

"What do you mean?" (Adelina, asked)

She asked confused.

'Smirk'

The fake empress's lips rose into a smirk.

"She wants you to live life in hell" (Fake Empress Paola, said)

"...." (Adelina, said)

"She will take everything away from you and make you suffer slowly till one day you have nothing left she'd just simply kill you" (Fake Empress Paola, said)

"Why...are you telling me this?" (Adelna, asked)

She knew that the fake empress was provoking her, the fake empress must want something.

"Because you will no longer be the only saintess in this empire" (Fake Empress Paola, said)

"!!" (Adelina)

Her eyes widen.

"But she's the....prophecy..." (Adelina, said)

"That will no longer matter once the Chessurause temple divides into two factions meaning that not only will she be praised by a beauty that you could never have but powers stronger than you" (Fake Empress Paola, said)

"And you know who will gain far alongside her for your mistakes?" (Fake Empress Paola, asked)

She asked her, but it was quite obvious.

"That monster will soon receive favor making my son's position in danger all because of you" (Fake Empress Paola, said)

"I..." (Adelina, said)

She managed to not think that far off.

"That was the vein reason I never wanted this marriage, why I asked you to be careful" (Fake Empress Paola, said)

"No you only brought trouble to my hands" (Fake Empress Paola, said)

"....." (Adelina)

Adelina remained silent for a few seconds.

"Is there something I can do?" (Adelina, asked)

Adelna parted her lips as they shivered asking her.

"...." (Fake Empress Paola)

'Grind'

She grinned with malice.

"I'm glad the useless child finally has some sense to her" (Fake Empress Paola, said)

"We will destroy their persona once again" (Fake Empress Paola, said)

"She may become a highly admired saintess but who wouldn't hate a saintess if her reputation is worse than it was before?" (Fake Empress Paola, asked)

"That monster would commit anything for her, naturally his reputation would hit the pit" (Fake Empress Pala, said)

"But she hasn't manifested her powers yet?" (Adelina, asked)

"That's what I am hoping on, it will give me some time to keep focusing on the lookout for it" (Fake Empress Paola, said)

'There enough to become the saintess herself but not much more than that' (Fake Empress inner thoughts)

'She's just a girl who inherited a good amount of powers, so it's trivial for me although I don't like the end of the stick of her becoming a saintess' (Fake Empress inner thoughts)

She said more to herself.

"For now it is good that she can't manifest them if it's due to the trauma or a lucky shot back then it will take her some time" (Fake Empress Paola, said)

"All she could do is become a saintess candidate but cannot become a saintess yet since she can't use her powers" (Fake Empress Paola, said)

"In a couple of days the hunting competition will be held, I will see to it how I can get more of her blood however you have to look for something" (Fake Empress Paola, said)

"Look for something?" (Adelina, asked)

"Yes, in two days there will be a masquerade night auction holder" (Fake Empress Paola, said)

"There will be auction a couple of jewels and other items, within those jewels, there should be a holy blessed jewel so if you think they have divine power from you buy it" (Fake Empress Paola, said)

"In particular, I want a golden neckless with a heart shape" (Fake Empress Paola, said)

"That neckless has infinity divinity to it even if you can't feel it I'm sure you would be able to tell especially if it's luxurious" (Fake Empress Paola, said)

She said with greedy eyes.

"But ease my waring...don't get any funny ideas " (Fake Empress Paola, said)

Her eyes turned cold with a warning.

If Adelina dared to covert that neckless there will be fútil consequences to her actions.

"I will do so then" (Adelina, said)

Adelina complied with her request without complaint.

She knew that she must comply even if that sounded tempting to her.

The fact that this time she would be getting help from the empress to get Aurora's blood was a plus to her so that was already ruining on thin luck.

And if that neckless was easy to define there would be no problem.

Adelina said her goodbyes and left to make her way to the temple.

She walked further and further away from her as Adelina's silhouette finally disappeared.

"That creation is utterly pathetic" (Maraham, said)

A cold deep voice was heard from the fake empress blue ring glowing with a voice.

'Lift'

She lifted her dark blue glowing ring and looked at the reflection of it.

A black thick two-horned demon man with long straight purple plum.

He had point ears and large long wings.

A purple plum on the very top fading down to a black.

His eyes glowed black alongside the purple-plum scripture letter tattoo starting from the corner of his ear down stopping at his left jaw.

He had placed his long black fingernails near his purple-plum tattoo.

This demon had black thick seal chains on his wrist a complement to his black horns, black eyes, and black nails to his lavender-purple skin color.

From what she could see he was sitting down placing his muscular biceps purple-plum tattoo arms in half display as his bare muscular chest seductively showed.

"..." (Fake Empress Paola)

"Haah but perfect worth of a sacrifice" (Maraham, said)

He titled his face with an attractive smirk showing his fangs.

"She has begun to lose the power" (Fake Empress Paola, said)

Finally, her lips opened again.

With no sense of guilt or pity for a sacrifice for her.

"..." (Maraham)

Maraham remained silent as he placed his index finger touching his fang with his long sharp nail.

"Has she not killed my love?" (Maraham, asked)

He looked at the fake empress with beast eyes.

If she said anything wrong she'd had to prey for any mercy.

"No, master only extracted her blood" (Fake Empress Paola, said)

She tried to answer calmly.

'Screetch'

His long black sharp nail slid against his first fang down to his teeth stopping at the end of his other fang.

"That shadow demon better know her dam place" (Maraham, said)

He said with a playful voice but it was definitely a warning.

"If they kill her you know what happens to you and all?" (Maraham, said)

Purple-plum aura began to surround him.

"Yes, master I understand" (Fake Empress Paola, said)

A sweat dropped from her cheek.

"Mmmm...she hasn't realized yet" (Maraham, mumbled)

His black eye looked away mumbling to himself.

'Turn'

His black eyes looked again at the fake empress.

"What about your second son?" (Maraham, asked)

"How is he doing?" (Maraham, asked)

'Flinch'

The fake empress flinched at his provocative question.

"Don't tell me you have forgotten he is the other?" (Maraham, asked)

"I have not forgotten...he is all yours" (Fake Empress Paola, said)

She said with no remorse.

'Smile'

"Don't worry I'll be generous, his death will be quick with his spread blood" (Maraham, said)

"His sacrifice will definitely kill Adalricus" (Maraham, said)

'This disgusting filth is just like his old self, each time he slaughters them mercifully...just like back then' (Maraham's inner thoughts)

'Well it's good to keep him entertained till the time comes' (Maraham's inner thoughts)

"Ahaha I can't wait to see the face of the bastard when I darg  Althea my precious Thea with me" (Maraham, said)

He laughed like an attractive maniac as his cheek painted a red color.

.......

-Chessuraus Temple-

'Click, Clack, Click, Clack'

Heeled walking.

"Well I heard they are excited about it" (Holy knights, chatting)

"Hey but aren't you excited as well? According to the rumors the emperor permitted more area to hunt this year" (Holy knights, chatting)

'Click, Clack, Click, Clack'

Heeled walking.

"This time I'll definitely catch something big" (Holy knight, chatting)

"Huh? Isn't that the Saintes?" (Holy Knight, chatting)

"It is the saintess!" (Holy knight, chatting)

The excited holy knights with their all-white uniforms chatted excitedly amongst one another walking around the temple when they noticed Adelina walking in the same outdoor temple hall.

'Click, Clack, Click, Clack'

Heeled walking.

'Halt'

Stop walking.

Both Adelina and the three holy knights stopped in front of one another.

"Ah, Saintess are you here to see Sir. His Highness Lisandro?" (Holy knight, asked)

An ash brown-haired holy knight asked as he saw her without the uniform.

Maybe she had stopped to talk to Lisandro who lived in the Chessuraus temple.

"Do you need us to call him?" (Holy knight, asked)

A dark brown-haired holy knight added on.

"Oh that won't be necessary I'm not here to see his Highness Lisandro I came to see Archibishop Ernest" (Adelina, said)

Her lips finally parted acting innocent and kind as always.

'Blush'

The holy knights blushed at her warm smile.

"Ah, no that...well Archibishop Ernest is currently in a meeting" (Holy Knight, said)

The ash brown-haired holy knight responded still shy by her smile.

'A meeting...' (Adelina's inner thoughts)

"Is this a higher-up meeting?" (Adelina, asked)

She asked trying to hide her nervous tone.

"Not that I know, apparently, it's just a meeting with the low priest about the temple's hospital maintenance" (Holy Knight, said)

A black-haired knight added on to the conversation.

'For a second I thought this dam old man had reunited the higher-ups...including that man' (Adelinas' inner thoughts)

"I see" (Adelina, said)

She said with a warm smile.

"He must be very busy" (Adelina, said)

"Then can you please tell him that I was looking for him whenever he is available?" (Adelina, asked)

She looked at them as she asked them the favor with frail eyes.

"Of course Saintess we will let him know whenever his available" (Holy Knight, said)

The dark brown-haired holy knight said nicely while the others nodded in agreement.

"Thank you, all of you are so kind" (Adelelina, said)

She thanked them with her sincere fake face.

'Blush'

They blushed again.

"It's only our honor Saintess" (Holy Knight, said)

The dark brown-haired knight said with an obedient dedicated holy knight.

"My, the Chessuraurs temple has very kind-hearted holy knights" (Adelina, said)

"That is why I appreciate the Chessurarous temple due to its good people" (Adelina, said)

She said to them with a grateful face as if praising them who had continued blushing.

"Oh right before I leave, has the higher priest not been around?" It's been long I haven't seen him" (Adelina, asked)

She asked with a worrisome face.

Well, in fact, it did worry her because this woman had another man she was crushing on.

"If you're asking for higher priest Raftian Bohron he's been pretty busy blessing the sections for the hunting grounds" (Holy Knight, said)

The dark-haired holy knight responded to her question.

"It must be a lot he has to bless I could imagine how time-consuming it must be" (Adelina, said)

"Higher priest Raftian is truly admirable" (Adelina, said)

She said with a little blush in her face as the holy knights agreed with her.

"Yes higher priest is a being precious to the temple he's highly admired. I look up to him" (Holy knights, chatting)

"Not only does he come from a good noble family but he's the nephew of the Pope" (Holy Knight, chatting)

And so Adelina stayed a little longer chatting amongst the nights talking about her second crush.

.......

-Two days, masquerade night auction outdoor building-

Finally, the day had arrived.

The day for filthy rich nobles to throw and waste their money on any special item they so liked.

A clear night sky full of white glowing starts.

A large round white glowing moon.

A good fresh air neither cold of hot.

Perfect for tonight's outing for the persons that gotten off their luxurious carriage.

A carriage without a family crest sparked chatter amongst the nobles, rich commoners, temple servers, or merchants waiting in line on the right side for the all-black uniform auction men checking the tickets.

"Who might this be, they don't have a family crest on their carriage?" (Chatter)

"I don't know but their carriage is luxurious they must be loaded" (Chatter)

"Oh look someone's getting off!" (Chatter, said)

'Creak'

Step.

A very tall man who whore an all-white cape with silver, dark grey fabric outlines, and golden embroidery over it had stepped down the luxurious carriage.

He was covered up with his hood cape following the same pattern that was covering most of the tall man's hair.

However little golden blonde hair tips fell down the white mask with golden markings.

His face was not visible but his red eyes and his thick long blonde eyelashes added on to the man's color.

His mouth and jaw were visible enough to know this man was handsome enough.

Including the cape that had still defined his muscular body.

'Turn'

'Extend'

He turned his head slightly extending his white-gloved hand towards a smaller figure.

"Are you ready Lady?" (Dorion, asked)

Dorion, the caped man asked with a side smirk as he looked up.

'Place'

A smaller pale bare hand with fushia pink fingertips matching her all-fushia pink cape with pink and plum purple fabric outlines and golden embroidery over it.

She too was covered up with her hood cape following the same pattern as some fushia pink untucked hair strands that had matched up with her fox mask.

A full face-covered fox mask.

An all-white fox masked with fushia pink tip earlobes.

Fushia's pink eye outline bringing out her dark blue eyes and her long thick feather-like fushia pink eyelashes more color.

'Nod'

Aurora, the fushia caped woman nodded as she grabbed Dorion's gloved hand.

'Step, Step, Step'

Walking.

She took his hand as she stepped down the carriage steps walking towards the entrance not the right-sided long line of masked and caped people watching with different emotions.

Shock, envy, flusturness, admiration, and suspicion.

"Look at the way they walk, they have to be a higher-up family" (Chatter)

"Their capes...the fabric looks very well made I've never seen anything like it" (Chatter)

"They're not even standing in line" (Chatter)

"I wonder who they are" (Chatter)

'Extend'

Dorion's left gloved hand extended out to the auction knight showing him the two tickets.

"!" (Auction Knight)

The auction knight's dark green eyes widen.

'Bow'

He immediately bowed and signaled his hand to go in.

"See I told you!" (Chatter)

"They had to be a higher-up to react like that" (Chatter)

'Glance'

Dorion's red eyes and Aurora's dark blue eyes glanced toward one another and back to the font after they decided to take a step forward.