The End of Your Arrogance - Chapter 31.1

“Are you planning to annihilate all Maduse?” Nikolas asked.

“Absolutely,” Ilya replied. He had foreseen the destruction of all Maduses in his vision of the future. “Just like when we were trapped in the canyon, they will be…”

“When we attack Maduse, the royal family will protect them. We owe them too much, so we need to be cautious,” Nikolas warned.

“You’re the wealthiest man in the Empire,” Ilya grumbled, and Nikolas shrugged. His mischievous expression had disappeared as he asked, “But what about the East?”

Ilya raised his glass and stared at the sparkling green liquid for a moment before taking a sip. “They want to change their ruler,” he replied.

Nikolas’s eyes lit up. “Why? Marquis Vashili, that perverted bastard, even I despise him. He’s been managing the Eastern pirates well, hasn’t he?” he said.

The East of the Seis Empire was comprised of numerous pirate strongholds and lawless regions, with countless islands that no one knew the number of.

“You’re right. There’s no reason to attack the East, and we don’t have the capability to do so anyway. Even if we attack, the pirates will prevent us from controlling the area,” Ilya said.

“Then why?” Nikolas asked.

Ilya paused for a moment before speaking. “To remove Marquis Vashili.”

“Uh…did he have four wives or five? Since he killed many old wives, his children must be seeking revenge,” Ilya remembered Stas’s words. The lecherous old man had set his sights on Evelyn, his wife. By now, his desire would have reached a boiling point.

“The next successor wants to help overthrow Marquis Vashili and divide the East fairly,” Nikolas quickly pieced together the puzzle, displaying his quick wit. Ilya smiled, thinking that this conversation would end sooner than he had anticipated.

“Yes, let’s divide the copper mines and ports,” Ilya said.

“It’s not a bad idea, but why? You haven’t told me about this kind of scheme before,” Nikolas said.

Ilya’s expression vanished completely, and he muttered in a low voice. “He covets what’s mine.”

“How does that make any sense? If he’s after a hero’s possession, he deserves to die,” Nikolas cheerfully raised his glass and clinked it against the air. “For the alliance of the North and West.”

And so it began, the start of revenge.

* * *

“Madam, we can enter now,” Arthas whispered as he looked around. The two of them stepped into the entrance of the Tower of Penance. As they entered the small box-shaped room, which was the same as the one he had entered before with Ilya, the box started moving on its own. After a while, the door opened, revealing a narrow room.

“You said this was the Twin Towers, but the structure seems similar to the real mage tower,” Arthas commented as he looked around.

“Do you think Rene designed this too?” Evelyn asked.

“I don’t think so. I heard that the Tower of Penance has been in the Grand Siege for a very long time,” Arthas replied.

As they entered what looked like a reception room, Arthas brushed off the dust piled up on the sofa and gestured for Evelyn to sit down. They sat facing each other with a tea table in between. Arthas twiddled his fingers before deciding to speak.

“Madam, Your Highness was originally quite clumsy,” he began, bringing up Ilya.

Evelyn’s eyes widened in surprise. “What does that mean?”

“My father was your Highness and Captain Nazz’s swordsmanship teacher when they were young,” Arthas explained.

“I see,” Evelyn said, perking up her ears to listen.

Arthas continued, “Nazz, I mean Captain, used to openly admire me. But the Highness always sat there with a face that looked like she was about to beat someone to death.” He imitated Ilya’s expression, causing Evelyn to laugh so hard she bent over.

“It’s not the same at all!” Arthas complained about his imitation.

Evelyn listened intently, intrigued by the new information about her husband’s childhood.

“We went to the valley with three people to catch a marmot. I almost drowned and nearly died… Nazz-hyung just kept stomping his feet, but His Highness jumped into the water and saved me. We drank a lot of water because we were both big,” Arthas recounted.

“Evidently, Your Highness cares deeply about you,” Evelyn commented.

As Arthas reminisced, he smiled but then suddenly his expression turned angry. “Why did they bully me so much? And yet, when I caught a cold, they came to my room at night and left me medicine!”

Could anyone dislike such a cheerful boy like sunshine?

“The same goes for Madam. His Highness cares deeply for her, but he’s reserved on the outside because he’s embarrassed,” Arthas explained.

“That’s impossible…” Evelyn shook her head in disbelief, and Arthas sighed heavily and thumped his chest in frustration. “Believe me, I’ve known Your Highness for over ten years!”

“I do believe you. Thank you,” Evelyn replied.

Arthas smiled gently, trying to comfort her, when suddenly the young boy with black hair walked into the room. It was the same boy with gray eyes that Evelyn had seen before.

“Arthas, did you see him?” Evelyn asked.

“What? Who?” Arthas responded.

“A boy who looks just like Liv. He ran through the room and went to the wardrobe just now,” Evelyn explained.

Arthas looked puzzled. “A young boy who looks like a lord in the wardrobe?” Arthas stood up and approached the wardrobe. He quickly pulled aside the curtain, but no one was there.

“Did I see it wrong?” Evelyn tilted her head, and then a small head appeared through the thin cloth again. When the child met Evelyn’s eyes, their lips trembled.

‘I hate getting blood drawn; it hurts too much. Father won’t find me here,’ the child whispered, sniffing and covering their ears with their hands. Their appearance reminded Evelyn of Liv, and she couldn’t look away.