36 Azrael's View (End)

"I can do as I'd like, as a demon as well."

With Edward remaining silent, I raised tucked my sleeves away from my wrist while showing my zero sign in front of him.

'Zero.'

Edward looked at me with his neutral stare before averting his eyes to my wrist.

The knight sighed tiredly at the sight of the number.

"... Oh, for the past 120 years, your sign hasn't changed."

Edward recounted the situation he once involved himself in.

Slowly, he rises from his seat to a standing position while looking at me straight in his eyes.

"And also, a demon cannot commit sin."

Edward exclaimed with a clear tone that is quite different from the harsh tone he made use of before.

He crossed his arm in front of his armor as he frowns while gazing disapproval at me.

"Because 'demon' is the definition itself of a sinner. Am I right?"

Edward asked me calmly.

I sighed deeply at the question.

But, I felt like there's a need to laugh at his piteous statement that is quite obvious.

I smiled widely as I was finally shaking with laughter.

"Hahaha..! You're right Edward. The truth is, demons live longer than humans and can't be killed by a mere order."

I answered him confidently.

I looked at him straight in the eyes as the joyful smile was quickly replaced with a confident smile.

"With that in mind, I can actually do anything that I want."

My gaze at him was no longer the fearfulness I felt before.

I felt like that I had become superior in authorization as the table had turned between us.

Edward didn't look convinced by my previous statement.

"If that's the case, why are you desperately begging me to cancel Her Highness's execution if you can do anything you want?"

I stayed silent afterward.

I turned my head as I found the ceiling more interesting to avoid eye contact with him.

"... She's my friend. She didn't do anything wrong."

It was Edward's turn to remain silent as he let out a question.

".. A friend?"

Edward's face remained stoic as if he lost his humanity and his feelings.

It was as if he wanted to laugh at me.

"That's a rare word, coming from your mouth."

He took another step as he was leaving his desk and approached me with no knowledge of fear.

"I am Edward Agersia First Order. The first Directive Special Knight of all knights. Whereas you are just a greedy demon taking your 'Second Order' position greedily. I won't take orders from someone like that."

He exclaimed harshly while gazing at me with his eyes slightly narrowed.

When he said that, my eyes widened in realization as unwanted memories came rushing in when he mentioned myself as a 'greedy demon'

The memories that I have already forgotten.

Before I even knew it, it had come rushing back to my head.

It was exactly 120 years ago, before Directive Order appeared, Edward Agersia...

Had desperately bowed in front of me.

He's begging me to help him with something that I don't even remember clearly.

But I know one thing for sure,

It was about that woman.

"... Edward, you're still stuck with your past?"

I asked in which the knight slightly flinched as a response.

Even though it was quite unnoticeable.

I chuckled at my own statement while taking this chance to look down at him.

"Ah, now that I remember clearly, begging you desperately never suits me. I'm just stuck inside this kingdom like you, you're not my boss. What the hell?"

I scratched the back of my head with my lips pressed together as I let out an exasperating sigh.

I was feeling a bit frustrated about this after all.

I soon snapped away those thoughts as I looked at Edward with a fake smile like I was showing some gratitude towards him.

I slightly bowed at him with one of my hands reside in my chest as I jokingly exclaimed.

"Thank you for reminding me that I'm a demon who is greedy and a devil."

Edward just stared at me with slightly widening eyes in disbelief.

"I've become too soft for the past 120 years because I can't escape from this kingdom."

I sigh deeply as a thought suddenly appears in which a cynical smile appears.

"Hey Edward, how about a duel? To death? If you kill me, you're a sinner. If I kill you, nothing will change for me."

I offered him playfully while luring my hand towards him as I smiled satisfyingly.

"Do you remember that I offered you something similar when you're still bowing and begging in front of me 120 years ago?"

I grinned happily at him.

He froze on the spot when he heard my statement as memories fled to his head while I am remembering the similar thing.

---"Hey Edward, how about a duel? To death? If you kill me, then I won't help you because I'm dead. If I kill you, I will help that woman."---

That was my offer when Edward was still young and stupid.

"Oh~ you're still young back then Edward, let me guess... Hmm... Oh! 19 years old?"

I jokingly asked as I snapped my finger when I tried to recall the past.

"..."

He stayed silent as I brought up our tragic but memorable past.

I looked at him bored and later had a distasteful gaze at him.

"... I won't beg you to help Dorothy anymore. I have my own way. Forget what I just said and offered."

Thinking that I still have another way, I won't beg myself to the one who begged me in the past.

It was already humiliating as it is.

My gaze slightly lightens as the playful smile return.

"Wah~ I'm so embarrassed that I begged you. Thank you for reminding me, once again."

I turned around while waving him goodbye.

I still have more days before the execution.

I will help her with everything I've got without anyone's help on that day,

10 April.

Unbeknownst to me, Edward has finally let out his sentence.

"... I'm disappointed that you still have your pride..."

I stopped on my track with my eyes narrowed slightly by his familiar voice.

I chuckled with such thought.

"--Aww, don't be like that-"

I turned my head towards him and smiled gently,

"--brother."

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