Chapter 54
Chapter 54: Raven
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The night was deep.
In the warm room, the faint scent of lilac was intoxicating.
On the soft white bed lay a strange plush toy that looked somewhat like a bear but had rabbit ears, and beside it lay a graceful and delicate young girl.
The girl lay quietly on the bed. Her spread black hair scattered on the pillow, her high-quality nightgown wrinkled slightly from friction with the blanket, the collar slipped down revealing half a fragrant shoulder, her small chest wrapped inside rose and fell gently, a fair little leg rested on the plush toy, as still as another exquisite doll.
Her bright black eyes were wide open, her furrowed brows making her already delicate features look even more sorrowful.
After a while, she slowly raised her hand — and scratched her bottom.
…I can’t sleep anymore.
Because I suddenly felt drowsy yesterday afternoon, I slept heavily until dusk, and only got up in the evening. After having a hearty meal, I went back to my room to read for a while, but found I couldn’t concentrate, so I had to lie down on the bed again, staring idly at the ceiling, not knowing when I fell asleep, thus passing an enjoyable yet idle day.
Actually, I didn’t know how to interact with the Duke and Madam, and was kind of avoiding them… Basically kept myself shut in the room all day, which led to oversleeping, and after getting up to pee in the middle of the night, I just couldn’t fall asleep anymore.
I turned over, finding a more comfortable position before gently closing my eyes.
I don’t know what time it is now. Hmm… it should be dawn soon, right? When dawn breaks, Madam will come to wake me up again… what should I say to her?
Good morning, Madam?
Calling her Madam would probably hurt her feelings… but… something like mother, somehow feels hard to say.
What should I do…
…After I played Moonlight during the day, I vaguely heard what the Duke said. The meaning in those words… was he going to wage war against the direct imperial family for my sake?
To be honest, I’m happy about it.
Although I have no memories, and can only recall some broken memory fragments, those emotions are deeply imprinted in my heart — a girl named Peylo, lying alone immobile on a cliff, waiting for death in loneliness and darkness. Fear and despair gradually devoured her will, pain and numbness corroded her nerves, she kept sinking in the darkness, until her body grew cold, until her tears and blood froze into ice. In that moment, except for the bone-deep hatred for Edward, there was nothing left in her heart.
Such emotions have become an important part of my life experience.
So I think, if Edward dies one day, I would definitely be the happiest one, I even want to kill him myself. Although strictly speaking, I’ve never actually met him.
But I don’t want things to turn out this way… The Duke’s approach, doesn’t that mean… he’s going to usurp power, rebel?
Just thinking about this word makes my heart beat faster.
Because what usually accompanies it is… war, this is no joking matter.
It won’t be like how stories describe it, where everyone fights passionately with all their might, and after several thrilling battles, they can just pull the emperor down from his position, it’s not that simple.
War isn’t a fairy tale, this is something where many, many, many people will die.
What consequences will there be once war breaks out? Towns will be massively destroyed, resources will be rapidly depleted, the economy will collapse. As the flames of war continue to spread, many innocent civilians will be affected, then killing, burning and looting will begin everywhere, men will be massively conscripted and die in large numbers, women might become as cheap as pigs and dogs, many rules that maintain humanity will collapse along with it.
Then it becomes an animal world.
Poverty, famine, plague. More innocent people will die even more painfully, more children like Brother Abel and Elle will become homeless, humans will become worse than livestock, killing several people for a cold meal will become commonplace.
Even if they ultimately succeed, it will take many years for the Valen Empire to recover. And if they fail… the consequences will be unimaginable.
Is this the result I want?
No. Unless you’re a demon, no one hopes for this.
In my previous life, I did know several people who longed for war every day and hoped for the world’s destruction. That world was too peaceful, everyone lived too happily, and they had such thoughts merely because they had never seen hell.
…What should I do?
Duke Scalliger is a steady and wise person, he shouldn’t just start a war like this, right… I feel like people in this world aren’t as rigid and inflexible in their thinking as in the Western Middle Ages. If they really want to do it, there should be many better ways…
And the Church should intervene too, right… Should I talk to Carlos about this… but I’m not talking to him now…
I tossed and turned in bed, thinking more and more until I couldn’t sleep, wishing I could get up right now and have a good talk with the Duke.
…Well, I might as well go out for some fresh air.
I jumped up from the bed, took out a light blue dress and put it on, casually tidied my hair, randomly grabbed a butterfly hairpin from the dressing table, pinned my hair to the right side of my head, then pushed open the door and walked out.
I wandered to the first floor of the inner castle. When I pushed open the main door, four pairs of bright eyes, like stars lighting up in the dark night, swept towards me all at once.
I froze, and goosebumps immediately rose on my arms. Only after realizing they were four hunters did I gently pat my small chest and sigh.
“You scared me.”
Actually, I had startled them quite a bit too.
“Miss Pe-Peipei? Did something happen, why are you up at this hour?”
“…Can’t sleep, came out for a walk.”
“Um… are you going outside?”
“No. Want to go to… the training ground.”
The hunters seemed to breathe a sigh of relief.
“Is there anything we can help you with?”
“No need, thank you.”
I smiled slightly at the hunters and walked away. Again passing through the long corridor, I made my way to the training ground.
The night was quiet.
At this hour, naturally there was no one at the training ground.
I walked to the steps outside the field, sat down hugging my knees, breathing in the clear air, tilting my head up to look at the night sky.
The starry sky was vast. In the hazy clouds, two tranquil crescent moons seemed so close, within reach.
I really like the night scenery of this world, especially in Winter City, it always feels more intimate than other places.
Makes one want to reach out and touch it.
Thinking of this, I looked down at my right hand… so slender, could it grasp the moon?
My fingers danced lightly.
White ice mist scattered out, flying before my eyes, beautiful like scenery.
Crack crack crack——
A deep blue short scythe condensed in my hand, floating in the air constantly changing shape, then I grabbed it and swung it lightly twice, frowning.
During the previous battles with the Duke, I found that when making those small ice blades before, there was always a kind of light and powerless feeling, the handling was extremely poor, the more I used them the more awkward it felt.
So I planned to adjust and create a short scythe that suited me best, then remember its shape, so I wouldn’t have to consider this issue in future battles. Just like the Duke’s great sword, it comes naturally, make a new one when broken, always in the most comfortable state.
Crack crack crack——
Created another one.
This time the scythe handle was slightly longer, I held it in my hand, swung it twice… still not right.
Casually threw it away, condensed another one, kept trying like this repeatedly. Slowly, a faint white light appeared in the east.
Not knowing how much Order Power had been consumed, I felt somewhat tired, wiped the fine beads of sweat on my forehead, feeling as if I could hear ravens calling in the sky.
The Duke and Madam should be waking up soon too, right? I want to go back for breakfast.
Turned to walk back. Before taking a few steps, the sound of bird wings flapping came from above.
The next moment, an eerie call rang out.
“Peipei—— Peipei——”
That voice sounded like an old witch from movies, hoarse and terrifying. I immediately shuddered, shoulders hunching, eyes widening.
“Who who who… who!”
Almost jumped up.
Whoosh——
A gust of wind above my head. I looked up to see a pure black raven circling twice in the air along my line of sight, then landing on my shoulder, tilting its head to stare at me blankly.
I also stared at it blankly.
Person and bird just gazed at each other for a moment, suddenly, it opened its beak and made a strange cry.
“Peipei—— Peipei——”
This time, all my hair stood on end.