Chapter 58
Chapter 58: Playing Along with the Plan
***
This voice, I would never forget it even if turned to ashes. Although strictly speaking, this was my first time seeing him.
“Edward…”
It felt like countless little stars were flying past my eyes, and my head was experiencing a slight pain. I couldn’t help but raise my hand to gently press against my forehead, suppressing my body’s discomfort as I looked in the direction of the voice.
Two figures wearing black robes walked out from the house opposite. The man in front had black hair and black eyes, with a face like fine jade. Compared to that detestable face in my memories, although he appeared somewhat more mature, there was no doubt — he was Edward.
Half a step behind him was a special masked person. Like other masked people, their entire body was shrouded in a loose black robe, making it impossible to determine their age or gender without them speaking. What made them special was that they were the only one wearing a golden mask.
The two stopped about 10 meters away from me.
“Ha! You could have come out even later, let this little bitch stab a few more holes in me!”
Valarr pressed against his shoulder wound, his tone sarcastic, directing his barbs at the smiling Edward.
The latter seemed to not have heard his words at all, turning his head to smile at Golden Mask: “Mr. Longman, your dog doesn’t seem very obedient.”
Valarr immediately flew into a rage.
“Kid, who are you calling a dog?!” He pointed at me, “You’ve seen this girl’s power too, she’s no longer that weak and fragile thing from 3 years ago. If I hadn’t risked my life to tell you the news, and you’d gone with that brainless plan of yours, would you still be standing here talking nonsense!?”
These words were quite impolite, and Edward’s expression darkened.
“How I do things is not for you to dictate.”
“Me, dictate? Listen here, brat, get this straight, I’m the one who provided you with intelligence. Then I got thrown in the cellar, held out for 2 months without saying a single word! Where were you then to rescue me?”
“You think you’re my only source of intelligence?”
“Then where are your other spies? Go ahead, call them out! Do you know what’s happening in Shanter Castle right now? Do you know what old dog Scalliger is planning to do? Failed to kill the target, and you’re hiding outside not caring about anything, I almost died in that cellar!”
“Who told you to kill anyone? Who ordered you to assassinate Peipei?!”
“If I didn’t kill her, should I have just watched her tell Scalliger the truth, and then we all die together?”
I silently watched this scene before me, roughly understanding what they were arguing about, feeling quite speechless inside.
I originally thought Valarr had received orders from someone to assassinate me. Now it seems he just saw me return and, fearing his own exposure, made the decision on his own?
And the real mastermind Edward actually seemed rather displeased about it…
Actually… I don’t even remember Valarr being in the team 3 years ago… Even if it came out, it probably wouldn’t have much to do with him… Of course, whether the Duke knew he was a spy or not, I wouldn’t know.
Suddenly found it somewhat amusing.
“Pfft——”
Oops, accidentally laughed out loud, I quickly covered my mouth.
Then my heart skipped a beat in surprise.
Eh, that feeling of weakness from earlier seems to be gone?
Carefully sensing my body, I found the discomfort was gradually fading away, and my vision had cleared. I quietly flexed my wrists, and at this moment heard the masked person speak.
“Acting on your own, moving without authorization, exposing all our intelligence in the Central Workshop. Valarr, you still have the face to speak here?”
It was quite a steady male voice, and Valarr immediately lost his previous arrogant air, hurriedly explaining: “I- I just, feared she would return and reveal the truth about 3 years ago, and in my anxiety I…”
“Shut up and wait.”
“……”
The relationship between them could hardly be called harmonious, maybe I should take advantage and strike while… but Lafayette’s whereabouts were still unknown.
I quietly raised my hand, wanting to test if I could use Order Power normally. Just then, Edward suddenly turned his face towards me.
He caught my little movement, his face showing a mocking expression.
“Peipei, don’t struggle anymore. You’ve inhaled a lot of anesthetic powder made from Datura flower seeds, its effects are very strong.”
…Anesthetic powder? When did I get hit with anesthetic powder… Didn’t Valarr’s black ball miss me? When exactly…
Right, it was the house. Those particles in the house weren’t dust… This was a trap they set to deal with me.
As if to verify my guess, Edward spoke again.
“Are you wondering when you fell for it? Don’t torture your little brain, let me tell you. The moment you opened that door, you had already fallen into our trap.” At this point, he suddenly became sentimental, “How wonderful. You haven’t changed from before, still so naive, so pure, so beautiful. I really… love it so much.”
Hmm…
“How is it? Starting to feel numbness in your limbs, having trouble standing?”
Eh?
Is… is that so?
“Your Frost Order won’t work anymore, right? Before long, you’ll become completely rigid, your body unable to move at all.”
Hmm… Hmm?
“You’ll fall down, and experience the taste of being fully conscious yet unable to do anything.”
Eh, so that’s what will happen to me?
But why do I feel like I’m getting better and better?
“Then you’ll watch helplessly as I kill your big brother, hahaha! How about it, isn’t this play perfectly arranged?”
Hmm, you finally got to the point.
So I stumbled on my feet, pretending to be weak yet maintaining a defiant look, trying hard to keep my eyes wide open, glaring at him fiercely.
“Lafa… Where’s Lafayette?! Where is he?”
My acting must have been passable, judging from his increasingly happy expression.
“Don’t rush, my little treasure, your brother isn’t here. However, I’ve always been good to you, if you beg me, I’ll take you to see him.”
“He’s… in your hands…”
“Hmm… You’ll know when you see him. But shouldn’t you be more worried about yourself right now? Don’t you feel your body getting heavier?”
Hmm… what should I do?
I rolled my eyes around, forming an idea in my mind.
“Ow——”
I slowly crouched down, both hands clutching the edge of the ice pillar, clumsily crawled down, and collapsed as soon as my feet touched the ground.
Then furrowed my brows.
“I… feel so awful…”
After falling down I realized the ground was extremely dirty, my nose filled with an earthy smell and some unknown stench. These smells would definitely get on my body, so these words weren’t actually acting.
That was genuine discomfort, and I somewhat regretted it.
Probably seeing that I had no strength left to move, Valarr boldly walked forward.
“Ha! Little bitch, you’re finally going down, you hit me so hard earlier! We need to settle this score properly.”
My heart tightened, but suddenly heard Edward shout angrily: “Valarr! Stand down!”
Valarr’s footsteps faltered as he turned back to look at Edward. The black holes in his mask held a sinister quality.
“You, what right do you have to order me?”
“Because I am the Crown Prince of the Valen Empire! First in line to inherit the imperial throne, you dare disobey my orders!?”
Valarr snorted in derision at these words.
“Tch. Without your emperor father, you’re nothing. Just a little brat.”
“You…”
Edward’s expression changed drastically, his face looking like he wanted to tear Valarr apart alive. Seeing the situation turning dangerous, Golden Mask spoke again, his tone ice-cold.
“Valarr.”
He said nothing else, merely called Valarr’s name, yet Valarr trembled all over, standing stock still, not daring to make any more moves.
Edward became cheerful again.
“Hmph. A dog should know its place as a dog. Dogs that bite their masters will eventually be slaughtered for meat… Mr. Longman, looking at her condition now, has the drug taken full effect?”
Golden Mask nodded: “That’s right.”
“Then let’s proceed.”
Edward finally dared to step forward.
I pretended to angrily curse: “Despicable. Underhanded.”
“Haha! Peipei, do you know you look cute even when cursing… This is wonderful. 3 years have passed, I thought you were gone, I was so heartbroken then. But it’s alright, it’s alright, fate has finally returned you to me.”