CHAPTER 5.3: The Seventh Commander
As I had enough of listening to her, I was about to walk away. However, I sensed something that was going straight in my direction in a fast-paced. With my quick reflexes, I avoided whatever was going to hit me quickly. That thing hit the tree behind me, I stared at it, and I could feel the black magic on it. It is a very unusual dagger, but I can sense that it is powerful enough to kill anyone with just a scratch.
"Oh my goodness! I suspected you could dodge it, but I didn't imagine you would dodge it that fast. I am quite proud, my darling! It seems like you won't be a disappointment to our beloved King, after all." I turned my head to where that voice came from and saw this beautiful woman. Her beauty matched how dangerous she could be.
I noticed that Astrella was on her guard towards this woman. I could sense that she would use her magic at any moment if this mysterious woman made any sudden movements.
"Who are you?" I asked, and like Astrella, my guard was up. Each minute that we are in the same place as this woman, the more I feel how dangerous she is. The magic in her is incredible. Facing her in a battle would be a difficult task to overcome.
"Who am I? Good question, my darling!" She smiled at us, and it gave me the creeps. "I am the Seventh Commander of the Deviant King's Army, Acedia."
"The commanders already know who you are. This is a problem. I thought we had so much time left." I Astrella muttered, but it was enough for me to hear it. Is this what she meant earlier? About we don't much time left?
"Why would the Deviant King's Army Commander come for me? It's not like I owe you anything or to your King." Striking a conversation with her right now is the only way I could think of to distract her while I am looking for a way for me and Astrella to escape this place without engaging in a fight with her. It's not the right time and place for this.
"My darling, I don't want anything from you, but my King does, and as his faithful followers, I would do anything to please him. Also, don't act as if you don't know anything. I'm sure Astrella, the Blessed Saint, already told you everything because that's how she is." At this point, I am not even surprised that they know each other, seeing how hostile Astrella is towards Acedia.
"I see. Ultimately, all this would lead to me being the Child of Prophecy again. Unfortunately for you, I have no intention of serving your stupid King if that is what you came here for." I may be hesitant to accept whatever destiny Astrella is talking about, but I know better than to follow the Deviant King. The lives of everyone else are much more important than what I want.
"Stupid King? Andrea, please don't say that. After all, he is still your father in a way. His blood is in you, you are his only heir and successor. Don't you think that by following your father could get you everything that you want? You will have everyone bowing to their knees for you! How can you not want that?" It seems that Acedia is much more excited about that than me. Never in my life have I ever thought of anyone bowing to their knees for me or even the thought of ruling the world. More importantly, never in my life have I thought of that guy as my father. He may have his blood in me, but he is not my father, and I did not ask him to infuse his blood in me.
"Andrea will never be your King's successor or anything of some sort. She will not be controlled by anyone. She will choose her own destiny. Not the Goddess Aster or the Deviant King will ever have control of my daughter!" To my surprise, the last person I did not want to see at the moment was here. Anyone can tell that she is furious with just one look at her.
Without any warning, my mother attacked Acedia. Surprisingly, Acedia did not have the chance to avoid that attack. My mother is faster than I had initially thought.
"Sister!"
Astrella called my mother, and my mother did not even acknowledge her. She is only focusing on Acedia. "It is not too late to give up now, Deviant, and I think it would be a better choice for you not to make any move that would make me angrier than I am now."
This is the second time I have seen my mother this angry in my life, but it is still a surprise to me. She is angry, for my sake. I have known for all my life that all she has done is protect me from anything dangerous things in this world. At some point, it worries me that one day she will have to choose between me and the safety of the Land of Deimos. I do not want her to go through that.
"Ahhh, Celeste Astnhrea. The famous woman in the Land of Deimos, you're the one who raised my King's daughter. It is no wonder her highness Andrea is so stubborn to come with me." It disgusts me every time Acedia says I am that king's daughter. I have never once accepted that I am related to him!
"Stop saying that! Andrea is not in any way related to your King. She is not his daughter." Clear as day, my mother is now fuming in rage. At this point, my mother would lose control of herself because of her wrath. She needs to calm down now.
"Come on, Celeste. We both know the truth. I mean, all four of us that are here know the truth about what happened twenty years ago. How can you say that her highness Andrea is not related to my beloved King?" It seems Acedia is enjoying the rage my mother is showing, but she should know better than to make my mother angrier now. She did not even have the chance to avoid my mother's attack. Is she that confident about escaping this place alive?
"Yes. I know what happened, and I would have loved to bury the truth in my grave, but someone has to reveal it to my daughter." My mother glanced at Astrella. "He may have his blood infused within Andrea, but that does not mean they are related. He only wants to use Andrea for his own accord, and I shall not let that happen."