Chapter 10: Encounter

Ett descended the hidden stairs, her grip tight on the banisters, as she heard her footsteps echoing in the stairwell. 

"Hoo." 

The more Ett descended the stairs, the more she felt that something was squeezing her heart more than ever. There was truly something wrong. She stopped and looked at the darkened stairs, which had not been lit up. 

Why did the maids didn't use this at this time? If only she was taller, she can reach out for the other lamps to light it up, then she wouldn't feel this kind of foreboding experience. The more she goes deeper, the darker it gets. For a second, she wished to go back, but as a moth attracted to a flame wanting to know why the Ett in the story stopped watching the ball from afar, Ett wants to know it too. 

Tak. Tak. Tak. 

Ett can hear her heels crisp and clear from the silent stairway. Not good, no matter how she tries to tiptoe, there are still some sounds that could be heard. She stopped and used her hands to feel the wall with the darkness looming over her. She feels like a blind man searching for nothing in this eternal darkness. Feeling finicky, Ett took off her shoes lest her paranoia will get the best of her. 

"Haa." 

Cold, and damp… well, she should be thankful that it's not slippery. 

The musical tune from the banquet hall seems to fade as she continues to move down. Wait, shouldn't it turn louder? Why is it like she was straying from that path? She was still feeling a prickling sensation on her back. There is a possibility that this stairway may lead to a different destination. 

'Let's move forth. I can do it.' 

She motivated herself. 

Tap. 

Tak. Tak. 

Ett didn't dare to move. 

There were soft steps just now. It was fairly close to her. 

Thud. 

Thud. 

Thud. 

"Are there any others left?" 

A male voice. 

"Not that I know of." 

"Then you go first. I'll just clean these rubbishes." 

"Alright." 

Ett didn't move a muscle even though she felt that something reached the soles of her shoes. That small ray of light as a red liquid slowly spread where she's at. Blood. Those thudding sounds were three dead bodies and the murderer has an accomplice. Who knows if they only killed three bodies? 

Suddenly, a light flickered in her direction, startling her moving backward. Before Ett could avoid being caught, she slipped down right in front of the blood. 

"!!!"

It hurts high time! Afghhhhh. My butt, oh my poor hand! Ett gritted her teeth as she is now completely exposed.

There weren't three bodies, they were about six, and she just look like she bathed in their blood, splattering on her dress and a bit on her face. 

'Keep calm.' Ett told herself. 

'You've watched too many brutal and gruesome movies and documentaries before. Bvtch, keep calm.' 

Ett told her trembling self as she witnessed for the first time something real and not in the face of television. She could feel the viscosity and smell the blood drifting on her nose. It was so sharp as it struck her nostrils even if she does not directly sniff it.

 It's great that she already has the contour of a face paralysis person dull with nothing to show, or else the killer would have to see how flustered she was at the moment.

"Viridian hair." 

An emotionless voice of a young teen. 

Ett tried her best to appear unflustered. Closing her eyes, exhaling deeply before opening them back again. Indifferent and cold, Ett straightly looked at the assailant. 

She silently looked at the masked man. The adolescent, no more than sixteen, stared back at her with his unveiled eyes, the sword in his hands hidden beneath the grey cloak. 

"Are you going to kill me?" 

Ett asked, passive and bland. Thankfully, she feels calmer after being shocked. 

"I didn't know the Emperor had a sister. It's such an honor to see one of the children of Adiand royal line up close." 

"For one, you're disrespectful." 

Ett casually looked at the dead bodies, trying hard to imagine them to a more horrible extent, and whenever she pictures them in her mind, she imagined their whole body mangled than it was. Hm, some of which she recognize thanks to the portrait that Akan had realistically drawn. 

"I see you're with the Noble Faction." 

The dead people were those collateral families from the Aristocratic Faction. 

"And what makes the Princess think I'm not an assassin?" 

Ett chuckled, her doll eyes the color of viridian as if a glowing gem from the northern hinterland touching the first bloom watched him as if he was nothing, even if he could kill her right now. 

Of course, a vague snippet in the story.

"What makes you think you're an assassin?" 

Ett retorted. The gears in her head turned at high speed. 

TVeralis was silent for a moment before he snorted. 

"I see. It seemed that I still lack tact." 

"Then," 

Ett spread her arms open to any killing moves from the enemy. The Noble Faction had always disagreed with the Imperial Faction and the Duke of Ostenia himself was part of the Noble Faction. 

"You're free to kill me or let's make a bet." 

"Is this the way of an Adiand royalty to survive? You have all my admiration." 

Ett smiled, a demeaning smile. 

"No, instead it's something that you won't have a say." 

"Do tell." 

"It's what the Imperialists and nobles would have a hard time finding out." 

Veralis became silent, observing the little girls move.

Seeing so, Ett put down her shaking arm, feeling tired even though it lasted for only a minute or two.

"You must be from the three Great Knights household, judging by the inconspicuous jewel that only lightly glows on the hilt of your sword it is given by those who are recognized by the duke. Years wherein you went to the battlefield, but assassination?" 

Ett pretending to be confident, walked forward and squat down on one of the nobles they just killed, "I appreciate how hard you try to hide your origin. However, it's useless. Your manner of speaking can only be found in the Northern Territory, people belonging to Radin. Isn't that right, Son of Garth?" 

Ett wanted to say more about her observation, but that's enough. The way she walked on thin ice just judging from his gesture, vague words to bait him, the emotion in his voice, and the way he portrays himself feels like she was back on earth doing those crazy shvts. It's good in its own way, but… 

Regarding the accent. Heh, what accent? Manner of speaking? That's just her way of words! She hasn't been here for long to differentiate each region's articulation and inflection. 

Ett continued to stare at the young teen seeing how silent he is, "Or should I also say how beautiful your eyes are and your skill is understandable as you've just become a young man worthy to be the heir?" 

"My eyes are common." 

He quibbled. 

"And you believe so?" 

Good thing this novel also has distinction and one of those were the eyes of royalty and nobles even though most eyes are common, like hazel. 

Theirs still this silver lining for a person who has a knack for detail or a keen eye. She was certain he hadn't concealed the color of his eyes. To let her enemy believe her, she should be careful, yet confident, with her statement. 

"For this lowly one to be recognized, it seems I have taken your interest." 

The young man stepped forward, raising his sword, "No one will know that I killed you. " 

"Hmmm." Ett just had a feeling it was nice to act villainous, silently scheming rather than being frightened in front of him. 

"Then no one will know how to save Elsea Meralia Garth." 

"!!!" 

And another jackpot that he won't dare refuse. 

An expression different from when she told him his identity, an expression of surprise and wariness he tries to conceal. Yes, this is the gamble, and she hit his inverse scale. That expression, the woman she mentioned, is this person's real weakness. Like a wind, his sword struck a centimeter away in between Ett's eyes. 

"I dare you." 

Since she had experienced death, dying a second time is possible. In front of this guy's eyes, although she felt her heart skipped a beat, the feeling of fear was not as much as strong as the emptiness of her heart. 

"Your family is neutral, yet you admit you're a Noble Faction." 

"I did not!" 

"You are even bold to do so in His Majesty's abode, at the first grand opening at that. An act of treason, this deserves a commendation, no?" 

"..." 

The sword in the young man's hand faltered. Now, let's go for the bomb.

"You dare to kill me and your last hope will be gone." 

He gritted his teeth, wanting to curse this confident and arrogant princess whose no taller than an eight-year old in front of him. 

It seems what he heard was right. Nothing pass the royal family's sights. They already knew what has been bothering the duchy. They even have the information that he himself is trying to search!

He took a deep breath calming his raging heart. 

Hah. There's no use in playing games with the likes of this cunning brat. 

The young man withdraws his sword, slumping down on his knees, and faced her, ripping the mask on his face. 

A glint passed through Ett's eyes indeed, she just caught the unknown pebble stone that made a slight ripple from long ago. 

Nice one.

Veralis gritted his teeth, all possible scenarios ran in his head before he kneeled. "Then please, Princess I beseech you, stay your anger, and punish me to your heart's satisfaction." 

Ett was silent for a moment, taking her time to test his patience.

The young man in front of her... 

Was this in the novel too? But it's just too vague! 

In the latter event, it was revealed that there was an assassin that invaded the castle and was put to death by the Emperor and no one knows who they were except for the Emperor and his trusted confidant. 

"Do you think your one life can amount to such forgiveness and saving whom you cherish can rectify it all?" 

"You…I, No." 

Ett backed away as if preparing to leave him. 

"The Adiand family will express to Garth's duchy about your good deed." 

"Wait, Your Highness! Please, the Garth family has nothing to do with this. My actions are based on my own foolish thoughts!" 

"Shouldn't you kill me now?" 

Ett questioned uncaring of his reason. A manic smile appeared on her face. 

Sheesh, maybe I should stop being a bvtch here. 

"I.." 

Ett moved backward, leaning on the wall, calm and void of any smile she had a while ago subtly leaning at the wall as she felt her knees beginning to tremble.

"If you had just made a deal with me, then I won't take it into account, yet you dare to raise your sword at me." 

Indeed, this child has less experience with negotiation as well as hiding his expresion. Just as she merely thought of someone's name in the novel, this young man showed her his Achilles heel. He's still young in heart. If someone threatened Ett with the life of Guren, she would have paused but for a certain reason. 

He is the Emperor. 

Surely, Guren will do the same. After all, they never treated each other as someone important in their life, but just some instruments that just have life and are only deemed to be useful to die early. 

Nevertheless, Guren would not hesitate to kill her. After all, he can do as much she can. It's just too bothersome if she dies earlier on.

"Then what do you want me to…to do?" 

Even his tone had raised a higher octave, lowering it down like torrential waves, restraining his ire and helplessness as he asked as normally as he could. 

"Be my eyes of the Noble Faction, your hands will be the swords that slay whoever I say you should kill, even if it's part of your family." 

"What, what do you mean?" 

Now he really can't control but to raise his voice. This is different from what he imagined.

"Oh? You don't care about your sister at all?" 

"It's not that Princess!"

"Hm?"

Make it quick already! She needs to return in haste!

"I…" 

"I guess this deal will be void." 

"No, I'll take it! I said I'll take it." 

Good job. I can leave now. 

"Then starting from now, you're now my dog." 

"..fine." 

Veralis felt humiliated but so what?

He must endure. For the sake of his sister, he mustn't kill this ruthless person in front of him! But that doesn't mean he can't betray her when it's common for subjects and lords to do so. 

"I will remain true to my word, provided you never think of betraying me. We shall draw up a contract." 

Ah? "Contract?"

Ett snorted, "Why? Do you really think I'll give the medicine in one go? You're too presumptuous." 

Who knows if this guy will stab her in the back after his sister is healed? Ett can't afford that kind of loss. She'll be a deadbeat idiot gal of the 21st century if this kind of thing is ignored. 

"Clean this mess and leave. Someone will come to your household after this." 

"Yes." 

What else could he do? Something he had desperately searched, the Garth is trying to search, is unexpectedly known by this person. There's no choice but to do it. A sliver of hope hidden in thorns and knives is better than nothing.

Surely…his father would understand. He turned back ready to clean up.

"Wait." 

"???" 

"You're name?" 

Ett doesn't know his name it wasn't also in the novel. 

"…" 

"…Ralis." 

Ett nodded, etching it in her brain as she forgot the name of a person so easily. "Ok." 

Well, there's nothing more to say and her assistant Akan knows how to settle matters when she tells her the situation. There would be another hand to feed and take care of whilst scheming behind. Nevertheless, the work now should not be as hectic as before as they gained another assistant. 

"By the way, where is the exit going back at the top?" 

She was lost alright. 

"That way." 

Ralis answered blankly as Ett took the light from his hand. 

"Good, I'll leave it to you." 

He watched in a daze as the sparks of light slowly began to disappear along with the person's figure. 

Just now, he had just experienced different emotions.