Chapter 32: Betrayal (3)
If it was not because of one of the letters Chester Silas had given me, I would never know about Azrael as being a Directive Special Knight.
'... He might have to die by burning for that reason too.'
According to his letters, alongside asking me to meet him, he also warns me about Azrael.
He was warning me about Azrael as being a part of the Special Directive Knights.
Azrael de Revanche Second Order.
Azrael, as a Directive Special Knight, never stepped foot outside his manor and would never patrol around the kingdom.
With an exception of accepting a mission from Edward Agersia First Order himself.
Chester asked me to take that advantage and use Azrael to escape Lucretia because Chester found something and a way to step outside Lucretia to see the outside world.
'... But, there was a slight problem here.'
At the end of the letter, Chester has also mentioned the chances that Azrael will cooperate with me is very low.
It was estimated to be only 5%.
But unknown to me, I successfully asked him to help me without having much effort into it.
'... Which is why it was quite suspicious.'
From that point on, I think he will also use me for his benefit.
'However...'
That was the part I found that didn't quite add up.
'.. Why did he quickly agree with me in the first place?'
I thought confusedly.
Azrael is a knight who is full of mysteries around him.
His past was unknown by many.
But the look in his eyes never lies.
'... He's pitying me.'
-
[10 April 774/Present Day]
I purposely waited for my escape even though there's a huge chance that I will never escape from this cell.
But I trust that someone out will drag me out from here.
I sighed while gazing into the ceiling.
'.. Azrael, Cristo, Selene. Those are the only ones that will escape with me from this kingdom.'
I clenched my fist slightly but then later relaxed them.
I gaze at the bars with empty eyes, thinking about the plan I have to go through to escape from this cell.
'It will also be a bit difficult with Azrael, but-- I have to carry out my plan perfectly so no one will notice.'
I thought in the silent cell until I heard a sudden sound reaching my ears.
It was once again slow footsteps that were heard throughout the empty hallway.
Gradually, the footsteps become louder and are directed to the prison cell I reside in.
I also realized it was the sound of heels stepping.
'A female?'
My eyes went wide when the person came into my sight,
"Hello, Your Highness~"
Althea greeted me playfully.
I looked at her with narrow eyes with the feeling of vein growing inside my head.
'... Why the hell is she here?'
It pissed me off that she always acted playful around others yet brutal at the same time.
Though she didn't even hesitate to kill Gray, I guess this is normal for her.
With that thought, I raised one of my eyebrows in confusion.
'... Since when did I feel this angry every time I met her?'
Not long after the greeting, Althea slowly unlocks the padlock with her casual gesture.
The act makes me look at her more confusedly as I look at her in a straight distrustful behavior.
"Lady Althea, what are you doing here?"
I asked bluntly.
She grabs the padlock from the chain while opening the cell slowly.
She proceeds to look at me with a satisfied smile.
"Change of news~ Your Highness, your execution is today! Congratulations~!"
My heart fell.
It beat faster than it didn't stop beating and it couldn't stop anytime.
The tension that rises inside me makes me feel sick.
'.. Ah... I'm scared.'
"Off you go now~ Don't worry, I will lead you to your death peacefully--"
Althea exclaimed with her smile growing larger, which makes me feel uneasy.
"Because I'm going to execute you myself! That's why you don't have to worry about having such a painful death~"
Althea hummed at the end with her playful tone still attached to the words.
I gulped.
I could feel the heat growing intense that washed through my body and headache.
In Lucretia, there can be only one execution that exists.
Death by Burning.
"..."
Althea stayed silent afterward and quickly noticed the tension and aura that came from me was different than before.
I was trembling with fear and nervousness.
The knight just ignored the change as she handcuffed me and smiled.
'.. Then... What about the plan!? I've worked hard without anyone noticing it. Not even Azrael has realized it!'
Althea pulled me outside the cell as I was dragged with her force.
I sighed hopelessly and just followed Althea slowly after noticing that I had no more power or any ideas to escape,
"Every nobles and citizen are already at the place where the execution will be held."
Althea exclaimed the situation from outside the cell.
I didn't respond and just followed her from behind hopelessly.
'... I didn't know anything. Why the sudden change? Why did they decide to execute me right now?'
I was shaken by the thoughts.
I was also curious about someone who would suddenly try to execute me.
"... Who changed my charge?"
I asked Althea in which she answers straight.
"Of course it was Sir Edward Agersia First Order."
My eyes slightly opened up by the familiar name.
I know that he controls the Directive Order but at the same time, he didn't.
I have heard his name a lot but I have never met him before in my life.
"That cruel man won't let anyone get in his way."
Althea continued her exclamation while sighing about it.
"Why?"
"Because he doesn't want anyone to destroy Directive Order. He will show no mercy, not even to Azrael who asked to cancel your execution."
She explained it thoroughly.
My eyes widened when I heard his name.
".. Azrael?"
After listening to my response, Althea stopped on her track and turned her head towards me.
She looks down at me with a smirk.
"Azrael almost got executed as well. But he's a special tool for this kingdom. You know, since he is a demon."
I narrowed my eyes at Althea.
The knight chuckled at the reaction she got before appearing a tedious expression with cold eyes glaring at me.
"Though, Edward is the one who wants to get rid of you the most."
The cold voice of hers sends a shiver down my spine.
"I suggest you to give up, Your Highness. From this point on, nothing but despair will fill yourself."
I looked at her in disbelief as I slightly rebel against her.
"... What are you--"
"He's a cruel man."
She exclaimed the first sentence as she smiled sadly at the thought.
"He is crueler than anyone I could have known. He will show them no mercy if someone gets in his way, ."
Her voice sounds strictly serious and painful.
I never meet Edward before.
The only Directive Special Knights I met are Azrael, Althea, and Dean.
With Althea's exclamation, I'm curious now about Edward and the last knight as well, the fifth order.
"... I guess you're right. But I won't acknowledge myself if I die just by that execution."
Althea didn't avert her eyes to me she utter coldly.
"Give up."
I look at her with wide eyes.
She has bluntly, and seriously exclaimed the most unwanted words for anyone to hear.
"Give up, Your Highness."
Even in that painful tone, she sounds too confident but at the same time, she told me to stop being hotheaded.
"A normal person like you can't do anything and can't say anything about this matter. The one who controls Lucretia is the Directive Orders. With no exception, you will die if you violate the Directive Order."
That's what I heard the most.
It is something so nonsensical that I began to hate those words.
'If you violate the Directive Order, you'll die.'
I clench my fists in frustration.
It was not because of Azrael's betrayal, not because of my execution, not because of Edward, and not because of Directive Order.
But it was because of the flaring hope that slowly vanished in thin air and the belief that we can step outside of Lucretia to see the outside world.
"... Lady Althea."
I muttered her name slowly.
Althea looked at me in a confused looked from my sudden calm attitude.
"Yes?"
"Have you ever seen the outside world?"
Althea widened her eyes shortly before looking at me again.
"Of course I do. I live longer than Your Highness."
"... Is the outside world.. beautiful?"
As if she was reminiscing sweet memories that she buried inside her heart, her lips form a small, genuine smile that comes from her heart.
It was the first time that I see Althea smiled like that.
"... It's too messed up to even call it 'beautiful'."
I froze.
"... Your Highness, your childish imagination is..."
She turned back and start to walk.
"--making me sick."
Unlike the sincere smile that she just formed, her words come into a biting edge.
As if the bitter memories also come to hunt her.
"Just die today, Your Highness. From that day on, I will take care of your flower."
"... flower?"
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Gifts
-- Gift
received Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone