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Chapter 43 Part 11 – We will once again challenge the nightmare ball that has driven mother to the brink of abandonment. Without realizing that Solomon is present there in the dark.

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Aquilegia

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「Shut up!! Shut up!! You don’t know anything about me!! Die!!」

Countess Rosenthal shouted.
She had an expression of an angry demoness and her eyes flashed with a terrible light.
Solomon calmly met her gaze and lifted his glasses to his nose.

「Who do you think gave you the evil eye? The evil eye won’t work on me.」

He laughed at the breathless Countess Rosenthal glaring at him.

「Don’t be so angry. Even if I act like this, I have bought your life. The Crimson Duke didn’t even consider you as his opponent. You, who had chased after his back all your life, could not even play a supporting role in his life. That’s why you were complicit in the vicious torment of the Crimson Duke’s beloved wife, Cornelia. By common sense, your actions are nothing more than selfish garbage, but I understand your desire to make your happy rival taste a little of your misery.」

「Shut up! Shut up! Shut up!」

Countess Rosenthal slammed the table top violently with her feather folding fan.
The jug flew off and shattered on the floor with a high-pitched clang.

「…… You call that a vicious torment? Misery? Hah, don’t make me laugh!! At that time, I was so jealous of that woman that it felt like I was about to die!! Wendell was crying while hugging that woman!! He was about to cut down all the nobles who were present for the sake of that woman!! All he could see was that woman!! If I could put myself in her place, I would have gladly replaced her even if I had to have both my hands and feet cut off. I would even become a saint if Wendell loved me!! That woman has no idea how fortunate she is!!」

A dark passion burned in the eyes of the enraged Countess Rosenthal.
She stared squarely into the eyes of Solomon.

「She was doused in pig’s blood and mocked for hours by the nobles, but so what? She was snubbed by her idiotic parents-in-law, but so what!? …… I was made to receive guests by my own parents when I was very young. At that time, I was much younger than that maid. I cried and said that I didn’t want to, but they threatened to sell my younger brothers instead if I refused. The perverts played with me all night. My brothers tried to stop them, but they were beaten till they passed out. No matter how much I vomited, cried, shouted, and bled, no one would help me. It wasn’t just one night. Those people kept on coming night after night, pressing me down to the cold straw ……! They messed me up and my body was broken. Even though I looked uninjured on the outside, I could no longer bear children …… though I didn’t tell that to the late king.」

Countess Rosenthal sighed deeply as she stated her thoughts.

「On the snowy bridge where I was planning to die with my brothers, I met Wendell when he was a boy. He put his jacket on my shoulders, as he knew I would be cold. He gave me all the allowance he had and even offered to take me back to my house. He wiped away my tears when I cried because my body has become so defiled, he told me that I had beautiful eyes. He looked like a prince from a fairy tale. He was the benefactor of my siblings and me. Those days were hellish, but I survived because of the memory of that encounter. Wendell seems to have forgotten what I look like though. I guess that’s a given. I was just a filthy, poor little brat.」

Countess Rosenthal laughed and ridiculed herself.

「I’m just a wicked woman. A tragic heroine does not suit me. Then I will thoroughly play the role of villainess. I’ll even go so far as to devour Cornelia, the heroine. If Wendell doesn’t love me, I’ll make him hate me as an antagonist who torments his beloved wife. If Wendell kills me, that’ll be my long-cherished wish.」

Countess Rosenthal picked up the feather folding fan, turned her back on Solomon, and turned to leave the room to go to the ballroom. Solomon called out to her as she turned away.

「…… You are a helpless villainess, but deep down inside you is an innocent sad maiden. I am on the side of the maiden in love. Bless your heart. But Cornelia is not the only heroine tonight. Be careful, or you will lose your footing.」

Countess Rosenthal paused at Solomon’s words, turned her head and pondered, but had no idea what to expect, so she turned away again.

「…… Thank you for the advice, I’ll keep it in mind. And also for giving me this power. Tonight’s guests are all nobles, so please go back without being noticed. That should be a piece of cake for you.」

The door slammed shut and the Countess disappeared.
Solomon, who had seen her off, chuckled.

「…… I like that. The Countess’s distorted love. If I can’t be loved, at least I want to be hated. What a sad and interesting thing love is. …… Don’t you think so? Alisa.」

Before Solomon could finish his sentence, the door connecting to the inner bedroom slammed open.
A gust of wind blew in, and Solomon held up his hand and squinted.

「Oh dear, my princess seems to be very upset.」

There was a huge canopy bed in the bedroom.
The wind blew from there.
The luxurious curtains at the four corners of the bed were billowing up.
A young girl was sitting on the bed.
Her shiny blonde curly hair fluttered in the air.
She had a well-featured face like a bisque doll.
Her skin was as white as snow. Her blue eyes were a horrifying color reminiscent of a demonic sapphire.
Her lovely cherry-pink lips hang in a crescent shape and she smiled terrifyingly.

「…… Fufufu, how dare you move as you please without telling me? Solomon. What are you planning by giving power to that woman? …… Do you like Countess Rosenthal that much? Should I consider this as treason?」

「By no means! My loyalty to you is unwavering. As proof of that, I have not concealed my heart from you. Of course, I am aware of the feud between the Queen Dowager and the Countess. But this Solomon is a supporter of a maiden’s heart …… I only lent her a little help ……」

Solomon put his hands on his chest, bent down, and laughed evilly.
Alisa’s eyes become as sharp as the glint of an ice wall.

「You think you can fool me with an excuse like that? You truly underestimate me a lot.」

Alisa’s high-waisted blue dress with a cape swayed slightly.
Her blonde hair fluttered in the wind.
As her killing intent grew, Solomon suddenly raised his face.
All the candlesticks in the room simultaneously went out. The temperature seemed to drop all at once.
Alisa’s temperament changed.

「…… The betrayal of one’s subject is also amusing. But those contemptuous eyes and mouth of yours are unacceptable …… I’m not generous enough to overlook your contempt. I’ll listen to your excuses after I’ve gouged them out.」

Like a time-lapse, Alisa’s sneering face suddenly appeared before Solomon’s eyes.
The large ribbon on her back flowed like the wings of an angel of death.
Alisa’s small dagger flashed.
As she had declared, she came to crush his eyes and mouth in one swift movement.
An unusual wind noise exploded.

「…… Tch!! You’re going to suddenly do this without asking any questions!!」

Solomon raised his arm and guarded his eyes in the nick of time.
Solomon’s fluttering black robe collided with Alisa, sending sparks flying.
The sleeve of his black robe was torn wide open in an instant. Solomon’s eyes widened.
The air exploded between the two.
Even after Solomon had crossed his hands in front of his face, it wasn’t able to reduce the momentum at all, he jumped back as if he had been repelled.

「…… Ahahaha! So inelegant!! You acted so cool and then ran away. It’s a shame to do that when I invited you to dance with me. Tonight is a ball, so let us enjoy it. Don’t act so pretentious while wearing such glasses.」

Alisa did not try to chase after him, but landed softly and gracefully.
Under the moonlight streaming in through the window, she looked as if a fairy had alighted.
Shadows crept crookedly across the walls and floor of the azure-tinted room.
Alisa happily stepped on the pince-nez glasses that had slipped off Solomon’s nose as he fled.

「…… My academic gown is woven with a special fiber that is impervious to blades. To think that you can tear it up like scraps of paper. …… Though I am a little annoyed that you trampled on my pince-nez glasses, my charm point ……」

Solomon’s gray eyes that have multiple circles on the pupils are distorted with irritation.

「…… I am not Alisa’s retainer, but an ally. I hope you will give me at least a minimum of respect. Fortunately, tonight is not a full moon, but a crescent moon that’s about to break. It might not be a bad idea to train you to stop being so cocky and greet me with, 「I love you, Onii-chan」.」

Alisa laughed at Solomon’s provocation.

「…… Ahaha! Try to do it, if you can. But if you want to win against me, don’t hide your true nature. Put aside your secrecy and reveal all your power. If you can make me feel truly amused, I’ll let you off the hook for this betrayal, and I’ll give you a kiss and a hug, and even more.」

Solomon’s mouth hang in a crescent shape at the sound of Alisa’s hushed whisper.

「…… I like that!! It is always a reward from a loved one that brings out a man’s strength. I’m suddenly motivated!! Let’s get started. …… First off, the physical enhancement technique, 「Blood Atonement」.」

Solomon’s eyes glowed crimson and a mist of blood rose from him.
Illuminated by the cold moonlight, the two monsters laughed at each other.

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