Serena propped her chin up with interest, observing the unfolding drama.

She knew that no one could stop Isidoro here. In the book, he was depicted exactly like this—drawing his sword to kill Benito, and then doing just that, leaving Jenaro completely helpless.

As for Corina, Serena felt that at this moment, even Jenaro probably wanted to tear her apart. But the main male and female leads weren't so easily killed.

Corina fell in front of Isidoro's table, her skirt overturned, revealing her fair, slender calves, too preoccupied to cover them.

Seeing that the assassination attempt was futile, Corina became desperate and turned to Jenaro, shouting, "Isidoro is heartless, killing innocents recklessly! Jenaro, are you still human?! With such a demon in front of you, can you still sit and dine with him as if nothing's wrong?! If you were a man, you would kill him today! Avenge the deaths of those wronged souls!"

Jenaro was momentarily stunned, his lips moving slightly. Serena felt like he was saying, "Are you out of your mind?"

With one foot already on the table, Isidoro chuckled softly at Corina's words, slowly raising his large black blade.

At this critical moment, a shadow-like figure suddenly darted out from behind Isidoro, kneeling in front of Corina, and exclaimed, "My lord, spare her life!"

Serena arched an eyebrow, watching this unexpected turn of events.

This person knew that Isidoro wouldn't have time to listen to a detailed explanation, so he immediately rolled up his pant leg, revealing his hairy calf to Isidoro.

Isidoro's eyes flickered distinctly at the sight.

The man suppressed his excitement, saying, "My lord, she... she is the sister I lost while escaping pursuit years ago!"

Serena focused her gaze and saw a distinctive purplish-red crescent-shaped birthmark three inches above the man's ankle, resembling a flaming crescent moon. In the same position, Corina also had a similar mark.

So, if Benito wasn't around, and Corina stumbled, revealing the birthmark on her calf, was it Plan B for her to be recognized by her own brother?!

How melodramatic, and absurdly so!

Without a doubt, this 'brother' was surely someone important by Isidoro's side. No matter how twisted Isidoro was, he would still show him some consideration.

Isidoro narrowed his long eyes, retracting his foot from the table and sheathing his sword impatiently.

The man bowed deeply to Isidoro, then turned to Corina with a warm smile, "Sister, have you forgotten about your brother? It's okay, forgetting is not a bad thing!"

Corina stared blankly at him, her face full of confusion and disbelief, murmuring unconsciously, "No, you executioners, I have nothing to do with you!"

A vague smile appeared on the man's face, "Live well! Keep the bloodline going."

Serena sensed something off in the man's tone, but before she could ponder further, she saw him draw his knife and commit suicide, blood splattering five feet away.

Serena couldn't help but feel stunned. She had thought they would act out a sappy and melodramatic scene, with tearful reunions and appeals to Isidoro for mercy. But this man just chose death without hesitation.

"Serena," Isidoro smiled kindly, explaining to her, "This is how things work here. An eye for an eye. Simple and fair, isn't it? Do you like it?"

The palace attendants had already dragged Corina away, and Isidoro's men swiftly cleared the corpse—Belleria's side didn't dare touch Isidoro's people, even if they were dead.

The oppressive atmosphere returned to the hall.

Jenaro took a deep breath, his deep voice echoing in the hall, "Acesia King, Serena is my lawful wife. Please mind your words."

Isidoro's body trembled with laughter.

After a moment, he leaned forward with his hands on the table, half jokingly and half seriously saying, "The innocent suffer while the guilty go free. Belleria King, remember, there's only one life."

The narrative has been taken without permission. Report any sightings.

As he spoke, his eyes seemed to ignite with a green fire, his tone sinister, a clear threat.

Jenaro clenched his fists, but he knew he couldn't confront Isidoro at this moment.

After a moment of silence, Jenaro forced a smile, "You're right, life is precious. Acesia King, you've come from afar to help me eliminate the demonic threat in Belleria. Please take care of yourself. If any misfortune befalls you in the western borders, I won't be able to justify it to the Emperor."

Isidoro looked even more pleased, "The underworld? Just a trifling matter."

He lifted the jug from the table and drank heartily, seemingly forgetting about Ivana, his own sister.

Jenaro gradually sensed something amiss.

No matter how scared Ivana was of Isidoro, she wouldn't miss such an occasion. He needed Ivana to appear and perform the reunion scene with Isidoro, standing side by side to send a clear political signal to the outside world.

But it had been so long since the banquet started, why hadn't Ivana shown up?! Could something have happened?

With a shocking thought crossing his mind, Jenaro's pupils shrank, and he turned to Serena.

Could she have taken revenge on Ivana secretly?!

Shocked, Jenaro's scalp tingled, unable to conceal his expression.

Serena caught his gaze and smiled calmly at him.

For a moment, Jenaro couldn't decipher the meaning behind her smile—was it a sign of innocence? Confidence? Or did she simply not notice the scrutiny in his eyes?

He took a deep breath, feeling the tangled mess in his chest grow even more chaotic. Lately, he had been feeling restless and anxious, and now, worry flooded his mind, and he seemed to hear Corina's incessant chatter in his ears.

Yes, that's right. A sudden realization struck him.

Ever since he favored Corina, he had occasionally felt shortness of breath and chest tightness. Occasionally, he even experienced hallucinations and tinnitus, which was abnormal for someone of his cultivation level. But with so much happening recently, he had neglected these minor ailments.

Before he could figure it out, the noise in his ears grew louder.

With a slight tremble of his hand hidden in his wide sleeve, he felt the tangled mess in his chest disentangle and transform into waves of sinister fire, surging downward without hesitation.

It felt like being poisoned by some strange substance!

A thunderous roar echoed in Jenaro's mind.

Isidoro, sitting across from him,

seemed to sense his thoughts and raised his cup, smiling slyly, "Belleria King, I have no taboos, as you know. The one who just died was actually a survivor of the Sacrificing race. If she truly was his sister, it's a pity she didn't harm anyone else."

His eyes gleamed with schadenfreude.

Jenaro drew in a cold breath.

The Cloud Realm had three major alien races, despised by all. Over a thousand years ago, the authorities listed all three races for extermination, branding them as the Three Evils. After being purged for over a millennium, they were almost mythical now.

The Sacrificing race was one of the Three Evils.

Once someone mingled with a member of the Sacrificing race, they would be poisoned beyond remedy, with only that person as the antidote.

To indulge in pleasure for a moment was to be bound for a lifetime. This was Corina's greatest trump card.

Serena naturally knew that Corina was a survivor of the Sacrificing race. From the beginning, she knew that Jenaro could never shake off Corina. These two were destined to be entangled until death.

That's why she had jokingly threatened to return to Achillea if she found Jenaro still entangled with Corina—to make him feel increasingly guilty, so she wouldn't be too passive.

But she hadn't expected this matter to be exposed so directly.

She had wanted to wait and see the drama unfold—how Jenaro would conceal his continued involvement with Corina, secretly meeting her.

It was a pity.

Serena continued to observe calmly. Since the matter was now out in the open, let Jenaro worry about how to persuade her to accept his continued favoring of Corina, an utterly distasteful affair.

Luckily, she had no feelings for this man at all. First, she would use this incident to keep him at bay, then she would watch how things unfolded, taking it one step at a time.

She glanced casually at Jenaro.

For a moment, Jenaro was too preoccupied to notice Serena.

His chest heaved, his fists clenched until they turned white, and his eyes showed suppressed horror—how could he not be horrified? Just now, Corina had almost died. If she had died, when he succumbed to the poison, there would be no antidote left for him.

He would have to accompany her in death!

After the shock subsided, anger surged through him like a tidal wave. At the same time, he thought of another matter.

He quickly calmed down.

He moved his index finger slightly.

A shadow-like figure immediately knelt behind him, asking softly, "My lord, what are your orders?"

"Bring that Corina here," Jenaro's voice betrayed no emotion, "cut off her nose, tongue, and limbs, administer the marrow-cleansing liquid, and bind her to the bed in the Cooling Hall. Remember, do not take her life. I want her to live a long life."

The Cooling Hall was where Jenaro had previously hidden his lovers.

His tone was plain, neither loud nor soft, just enough for Serena sitting beside him to hear.

Serena felt her scalp tingle.

So, this was a king!

"Sere, come here," Jenaro called out.

There was a hint of bloodthirstiness in his voice.

Serena took a deep breath and calmly rose, sitting beside him.

"This way, you won't blame me for breaking my oath, right?" He gazed gently at her, "Sere, trust me. I have no feelings for such a creature, just occasionally using her to neutralize poison."

Her voice was dry and hoarse, like being poisoned by wood toxin, "It's too cruel."

A cold smile crept onto his lips, "If she dares to scheme against me with her body, she must pay the price. Sere, there's no need to plead for that creature. No one's pleas will work."

Serena suddenly realized that she had underestimated Jenaro.

"Sere," Jenaro's voice was heavy, "will you accompany me tonight?"

It was phrased as a question, but there was no room for refusal.

He continued, "Your body hasn't fully recovered yet, so I won't force you."

His eyes clearly conveyed his intentions.