274 Complicated Sibling Relationships (1/2)
[A few days ago]
”HMM” Aku wondered to himself while looking at the map of the continent laid neatly on the long table. He was in his private library because something bothered him again. ”They keep showing up but according to the people that I stationed in every part of the continent, they didn't feel or notice anything strange. The only people who reported that a new presence entered the territory were the ones stationed here in the Royal Capital.”
Even though Elis Ripperton was silently having tea in front of him, the Blue Dragon simply ignored him.
”Hey, I'm actually asking for your opinion,” he complained to the Beast God. ”You've known the Red Phoenix since a long time ago. Don't you have any idea as to where the Fire Mages could have been hiding all this time?”
”The Rosenbergs and the Fire Mages have always been elusive since time immemorial,” Elis Ripperton said, then he put his teacup down on the table. ”Tilly is the only Rosenberg and Fire Mage that I care about so I never bothered to search where her clan hid.”
”You should have bothered.”
”I know I wouldn't be able to meet her anyway after the Sky God put the Beast Gods to sleep,” he said. ”And I know for a fact that Soleil wouldn't be reborn in the Fire Mage clan anyway, so what's the use of finding their hide-out?”
”How do you know that Lady Nystrom wouldn't get reborn in the Fire Mage clan?”
”Because she was punished by the Spirit of the Great Fire Tree,” the Blue Dragon said. ”Anyway, why are you suddenly interested in their hide-out?”
”At first, I honestly believed that the Fire Mages were wiped out when Soleil Rosenberg died,” he said. ”I know that a few of them got reincarnated and Nia got rid of them behind my back. I didn't mind because the only Fire Mage I needed is the Supreme. My plan was to let Nia find her, then take the Supreme away and kill her before my beloved rips her heart out. I was hoping to take advantage of the fact that the Supreme hasn't retrieved her memories yet. But things got complicated.” He let out a deep sigh while shaking his head. ”The fact that House Denver is a family of Fire Mages was already a huge shock to me. Then, Lady Nystrom's Keepers and other allies kept appearing one by one. I understand how the Denvers were able to keep their identities hidden for so long. But I don't understand how the Fire Mages and the Keepers were able to hide from me all this time.”
”Where did you find Winchell's body?”
”They're not there,” he said. ”At least, not during your spirit guardian's last report. Speaking of which, it seems like they have locked up your spirit guardian. Aren't you worried?”
”Drake is still alive, I can feel it,” the Beast God said casually. ”I'll tell him to escape once I need him.”
”Aren't you being a little too complacent, Lord Ripperton?” he complained. ”Don't you feel frustrated that Lady Nystrom is still with Kiho?”
”I've waited for Tilly for centuries,” Elis Ripperton said. ”Waiting for a few more weeks or months isn't that hard.”
He raised a brow at that.
To be honest, he knew that Elis Ripperton was moving behind his back. But he already expected that. As long as the Blue Dragon was still useful to him, he would turn a blind eye to whatever he was scheming with the Moon God.
”What?” Elis Ripperton complained when he caught him looking at him. ”Are you that desperate to find the Fire Mages even though Tilly is already right in front of you? You just need to rip Winchell's heart out of her and crush it to make sure that your bond with Nia Moonchester will never get broken.”
That was true.
The only thing that could burn his bond with Nia Moonchester was the flame of the Red Phoenix.
He knew that Nia Moonchester could always make a deal with Lady Nystrom or Wixx himself. If that happened, she would get her freedom and he might never find her again in their next lifetime. That was why he was still determined to crush Wixx's heart inside Lady Nystrom.
After all, once Wixx's heart was crushed, he would lose his flame.
”I know that I should focus on Lord Wixx but I feel bothered that more Fire Mages are appearing one by one,” he said. ”It's as if the heavens drop them” He trailed-off when he realized something. ”Oh.”
”What?”
”Lord Ripperton, do you remember what the Red Phoenix's other nickname was?”
”Sky Beast,” the Blue Dragon said. ”He got that name because that idiot kept flying around while burning down anything and everything that annoyed him back then.”
He laughed softly because he also remembered those days. ”Yes, that's true. I also remember that Soleil Rosenberg used to fly with her brother.”
”Does it have anything to do with the hide-out that you're searching for desperately?”
”Of course,” he said, then he looked up at the map in front of him. ”If I can't find them in the continent, then maybe they're hiding up in the sky. Since Lord Wixx and Lady Nystrom both rule the sky, it wouldn't be impossible if they somehow created a little kingdom up there.”
”Interesting,” Elis Ripperton said. ”Since Tilly and Winchell are both powerful and crazy, it's something that they might have actually done. But how will you prove if your theory is correct?”
”I think it's time for me to move,” Aku said with a smile. ”I'm going to the North and spend a few days with my ”family.””
***
AKU opened his eyes after he had a vague dream about his last conversation with Elis Ripperton before he left the Royal Capital.
Where am I again?
He got up and realized that he was in an unfamiliar place. Then, he remembered that he went to the North to ”hang out” with his brother and his family. Unfortunately, the hosts of the house decided to give him a separate room from Nia.
Their visit was unexpected so he had the feeling that the one who decided to separate him from his beloved was the witch called Luna. If he wasn't mistaken, she was related to Stella.
Does Miss Luna know that her sister is alive?
He once had tea with Stella when he lured her to his palace for Kyro and Yumi. When he asked her to properly introduce herself to him, she told him that she was a witch from the Colorless Coven, and that she had an estranged sister.
If Luna was the one who created the medicine to fix Nia's body, then it's possible that Stella was the one who made the infertility medicine.
Damned sisters.
His thoughts were cut-off when he felt Lucina Morganna's aura.
That blasted woman came out without Nia's permission again.
He stood up and went out of his room. That was when he realized he was being watched. He couldn't see his ”guards,” but he could feel them following his every step closely.
Cute.
He arrived at Nia's designated room, and found the witch with pink eyes guarding by the door. She was leaning against the door frame with her arms crossed over her chest.
”You don't look alike, but I can see the resemblance,” Aku told the witch with a smile. ”Although I have to say that you lack the finesse that Miss Stella possess, Miss Luna.”
”Do you think I care about your opinion?” Luna asked with a raised brow. ”And if your plan is to surprise me, I'm sorry but you failed. I already know that Stella is alive. I'm also aware that she's the new candidate to be your empress.” She let out an exaggerated gasp, then she clasped her hands together. ”Ah, should I practice calling you ”brother-in-law” now, Your Majesty?”
Of course, that got him riled up.
She's really Lady Nystrom's friend.
And since the witch was as sassy as the duchess, he knew how to deal with her with words.
”I'll never make your sister an empress. That spot only belongs to Nia,” he said with a smile. ”Especially since her infertility will be cured vert soon. She'd be capable of giving me an heir, so technically don't need Miss Stella. But” He stepped closer to her, then he leaned down to reach her eye level. ”Miss Stella seems to smitten by me. Since Nia will be gone for long, I don't mind being accompanied by your sister. I like timid ladies like her. And most of all” He leaned down to her ear. ”Your sister's body looks great. She'd be a good replacement for Nia. I have a feeling that Miss Stella can satisfy my needs as a man.” He stood straight and looked down at Luna. He enjoyed the look of anger on the witch's face. ”I'm looking forward to thoroughly enjoy your sister's body until she gives birth to a baby that I don't need.”
”I'll kill you,” the witch snarled, then she grabbed him by neck. ”If you use my sister that way”
”Your sister wants me,” he said confidently, then he grabbed her arm. ”Although I'm not interested to have a child with another woman, I'm interested to know what kind of child will a Moonchester like me and a witch like Miss Stella will produce.”
”Don't talk as if a child is only an experiment to you,” she warned him. ”And quit speaking nonsense. I know that you wouldn't want a child with another woman because once it happens, people will realize that there are ways for a Moonchester male to have a child will a woman outside the royal family. It will decrease the value of female Moonchesters if that happens.”
”I know that,” he said bluntly. ”But who said I'd keep the baby alive for long? I can discard it once I'm done examining it, can't I?”
”You monster,” she hissed, then she seriously tried to strangle him as if she had completely forgotten about Nia and Lady Nystrom's binding vow.
She's a lunatic.
”Luna, stop.”
Aku was surprised when he found Wixx standing in front of him while holding Luna's arm. Thanks to the Red Phoenix, the witch had finally let go of his neck. I didn't even hear or feel Lord Wixx approach us
”Hey, Aku Moonchester,” Wixx said. Then, much to his surprise, he suddenly gave him a hard slap using the back of his hand. ”Don't bother Luna.”
He tasted his blood and his cheek stings from Wixx's slap. If he didn't have a Divine Protection, the slap would have broken his face already. It was that strong. ”Did you really have to hit me, Lord Wixx?”
”If it wasn't for Tilly's binding vow with your sister, I would have killed you, Aku Moonchester,” the Red Phoenix warned him seriously. ”But the binding vow won't take effect even if I break all your bones so be careful.”
He suddenly missed the bracelet that could make the Beast Gods kneel in one command.