Chapter 148: Seeds of Rebellion
"Because I suspect something!" Tribal Princess Sylvia declared, her gaze unwavering.
"Suspicious? About me? Why? We haven’t even met," Duchess replied, her attention fully on Sylvia.
"I know we haven’t, but the woman in the dark room and this Duchess are as different as night and day." Sylvia’s voice held a trace of accusation.
"My way of speaking may have changed, as have my circumstances. How can you be sure I’m not trustworthy?" The Duchess countered, her tone firm but not hostile.
"Princess, I’m not asking you to believe anything. You hail from another empire, and my actions hold no relevance to you.We have no conflict, nor do I intend to create one. It’s entirely your choice whether you trust me or not." The Duchess spoke with a measured calmness, leaving the decision firmly in Sylvia’s hands.
"Very well, what troubles you?" Sylvia inquired, her curiosity piqued.
"For now, my concern is the Emperor," the Duchess revealed, a steely glint in her eyes.
"Emperor?" Sylvia echoed, surprised.
"Yes, the Emperor within the prison walls. I understand you harbor your own grievances against him. Perhaps we could find a way to achieve mutual goals?" The Duchess spoke with a veiled sense of purpose.
"You seek to help me? How? What is your true aim? Do you intend... harm?" Sylvia’s voice trembled with a flicker of fear.
"No, I seek something greater than merely ending his life," Duchess stated coldly, her eyes holding a flicker of something unsettling.
"I want him to suffer a fate worse than any he inflicted upon me, to endure a constant torment far exceeding death itself." Her voice grew low and dangerous, but Sylvia’s unwavering gaze cut through the darkness, drawing Duchess back from the brink.