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Chapter 86 Part 11 – Things that never change. And a promise. In order to protect the lives of the mother and the baby, Countess Rosenthal will put everything on the line to fight against Alisa.

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No one could see through the truth of what was happening in the ballroom.

The small fishes swimming in the water could only recognize the blue glow of the kingfisher’s abdomen as a sparkle on the surface of the river as it flew above them. They could not notice its very existence.

To that extent, the strength of the little girl who was the attacker was of a different dimension.

「…… Ahaha, I never thought that not only Cornelia, but even that woman, could dance so well. The unexpected surprise will add to the excitement. This is your reward for having a good time. I’ll be a little more serious, too.」

Wearing a blue high-waisted dress that matched her blue eyes and with her shining blond hair fluttering in the air, Alisa chuckled in a good mood.

The large ribbon around her waist fluttered like a fairy’s wings as she crossed over the suspended crowd of people.

She was truly a little empress.

The ‘Dark Illusion’ of the Ruby of the True Emperor did not bother her at all. The reason is because a lower level of ‘Dark Illusion’ will not work against a user of a higher level of ‘Dark Illusion’. Of course, that wouldn’t make any difference if it’s against someone who can’t use ‘Dark Illusion’.

Contrary to her lovely appearance, Alisa has thoroughly mastered the ‘Dark Illusion’. In other words, no matter how strong you are, if you don’t have a ‘Dark Illusion’ equal to or greater than Alisa’s, you won’t be able to perceive her shadow or figure. Even the Crimson Duke and the Ruby’s successor, Scarlet, are no exception.

「…… Fufu, the exception is Seraphy’s wind reading and prediction of the future. Scarlet. You did pretty good to notice that. But I’m different from Addis.」

Seraphy’s perception is able to read future changes in the wind and predict the course of the enemy from there. It’s like a super-powered simulation ability that can calculate the ship’s size, shape, speed, and next move from the waves made by the bow of the ship. With this, even if he can’t see the enemy’s main body, he can capture the enemy’s movements, and in fact, he had succeeded in rescuing Scarlet and the others from Addis’ invisible onslaught.

However, Alisa can use ‘Scythe Fangs’ to deceive ‘Mother’s’ perception barrier. Wind, air, sound, and light all served Alisa and refused to divulge any information related to her.

Alisa paused for a moment in the midst of the suspended〈red nobles〉and tilted her head.

「I wonder if the stage would look better if I turned everyone here into blood splatters.」

The tone she used was as if she was considering redecorating the tablecloth.

She looked at several people, including Lady York, and then started walking again.

「Fufu, I won’t do that. It seems that there are still some people who would be more interesting to keep alive. Besides, it would be inelegant to add unnecessary decorations to a beautiful ending. That will only make the blood of Cornelia and the baby inside her belly become less noticeable.」

The corners of Alisa’s lips lifted up to make a terrifying crescent-moon-shaped sneer.

「Cornelia. If you die now, you will forever be engraved in Scarlet’s heart as the best mother. I wonder if that child will burn with hatred? Or will she freeze in grief? It’s just a bit of a shame that no one will be there to witness the look of despair on Cornelia’s face the moment she is pierced.」

Alisa straightened her fingers and put them side-by-side to make a spear hand. As she walked toward Cornelia, her figure changed from a little girl to an adult. Her blue dress fluttered and her cold blue eyes burned with even more icy hellish blue.

But her movements that couldn’t be stopped by anyone came to a halt. Alisa gave an icy glance to Countess Rosenthal. She realized that her frightened gaze was clearly fixed on her.

「…… To think that someone like you could perceive me. Damn that Solomon. He must’ve done something to the ‘evil eye’. What a useless thing to do. …… Oh my, could it be that you’re trying to protect Cornelia and the baby inside her belly?」

「I don’t know who you are, but Cornelia-san is a dear friend of mine. Not to mention, she is carrying Wendell-sama’s child inside her womb. I will not let you lay a hand on her even if it costs me my life.」

Even though her face turned pale, Countess Rosenthal glared at Alisa. Then Alisa’s blond hair suddenly stood on end. In response to the bloodlust Alisa emitted, the flames of the candles on the candlesticks shot up to the ceiling one after another.

「Are you challenging me? You, who’s about to die at any moment now, dares to challenge me?」

Alisa let out a loud laughter that echoed throughout the entire ballroom and then she glanced at Countess Rosenthal.

「…… You fool. How dare you spoil my mood …… I almost got a slightly better opinion of you after the dance, but as I expected, you’re still an incorrigible woman that does not know her place. I’ll give you a punishment. You better remember your fear of me along with the unsightly death that kissed the back of your head with its heel.」

Alisa’s eyes instantly turned red. The moment Countess Rosenthal looked at those red eyes, a shock that almost drove her insane pierced through her entire body. It was the memory of when she incurred Alisa’s wrath in the previous 「108 times」 and her body was split into two from the torso. Her internal organs and blood spilled out as she writhed on the floor before she finally died.

「…… Hiii ……!!」

The iron, bitter, sour, and bloody smell returned to her mouth and the countess fell off the couch while screaming.

What she thought was just a dream and told Scarlet about was actually a memory of what had actually happened before. And there was a continuation to the memory that had ended at the point when I was sure that I had killed Scarlet and was snickering as I reapplied my makeup.

Reflected in the full-length mirror, I saw Alisa laughing and standing behind me while holding the assassin’s severed head.

『Good evening. Here is a bouquet to commemorate the end of your life. Take it.』

Alisa pressed the severed head against the countess and forced her to kiss it. Then something like a caterpillar rolled out of the severed head’s mouth. Alisa had cut off the fingers of the assassin’s hands and stuffed them in his mouth.

When Countess Rosenthal couldn’t endure it and vomited, she said, 「Ahh, that’s so rude. Looking up from the floor suits you more. Kneel down」. After saying that, Alisa pushed Countess Rosenthal’s face to the vomit. Alisa, whom she used to mock as a brainless girl with nothing but flowers inside her head, was a terrifying monster that easily played with her who was an influential person in the underworld.

『What a boring woman. I’ve lost interest in you. Let’s go back home. Grandmother.』

Alisa’s voice resounded coldly as she lost interest and urged the empress dowager next to her. The terrible sound of spine warping on its own and breaking one after another. The anguish of being unable to breathe.

After losing Wendell-sama, my heart went crazy. I drowned in lust and greed, then finally I ended up trying to kill his daughter. So this is what my ending is like. Where did I go wrong?

『You’re whining now that you’re on the verge of death? How ridiculous. How dare someone as lowly as you look down upon my grandmother whom I respect?』

As if she was looking at a mere insect, Alisa looked down at Countess Rosenthal and left in the middle of her punishment. And the countess died miserably, all alone in the darkness, unable to speak because her throat was blocked by her protruding internal organs.

「…… You seem to have completely recalled that memory. That wasn’t a dream. It all happened in real life. That’s why I told you to know your place.」

Alisa snorted coldly.

「…… In that case …… even more so …… !! …… I can’t go down …… the wrong way this time ……!!」

Countess Rosenthal desperately tried to stand up to go help Cornelia. However, her fingertips only feebly scratched the floor.

「…… Why …… why can’t I stand up ……!!」

No matter how hard she tried, her limbs would not obey her.

「…… Countess Rosenthal!! Could it be that you can see the enemy!! Please tell us!! Where is the enemy!!」

Seraphy called out, but his voice did not reach her. Like an insect stung by a bee, she could not feel any strength in her body. All she could do was twitch and convulse.

‘…… After committing all those wicked deeds ……!! At the crucial moment …… why am I ……!!’

The countess wept as she cursed her own helplessness and inadequacy.