V2 Chapter 68

Upon returning to the Winter Palace, after wrapping things up on the other end, Cian, Ruka, and Sibylla had made a beeline to the Second Prince personal quarter to confirm Ezra’s situation.

The room of the Second Prince was now a bit different from the usual, as the bed and chair were pushed towards the corners of the wall, creating a large empty space in the center. Engraved in the center was a large magic circle with intricate design and worm-like writings, and from it, large plant-like monsters—some look like Rafflesia , some look like monster changed venus fly trap, all wriggled as if they were alive, surrounding a single figure floating within an orb of green light—Ezra Redhawk.

It was the power of Sibylla.

A magic ritual that drew upon the power of magic recovery using nature’s power.

Although Sibylla wanted to help and heal Cian instead since the latter understands himself and his body well, that his injuries, although some of his internal organs are damaged, it was not that fatal, and instead, Ezra’s injuries were far more severe.

The stubborn lass was just relying on her insistence and spirit to hold on as long as she can. Although her body slowly recovered using her own powers, still that was only superficial, and it was not enough. Her internal organs are much more damage than one could imagine, that is also the reason why she could not even move while Cian was fighting. Every movement she would make, caused her to feel as if her entire body will crumble and be torn apart.

After paying a visit to Ezra, Cian who was lying on the sofa in the lounge asked Sibylla with disbelief in his voice:

“I heard that little lass injury will just require two or three days to be completely mended. Is this where they would say ‘as expected of the Fantasy World where Magic and Lore resides?”

Sibylla smiled wryly, “I really don’t understand what you are saying about but, Nature Magic in terms of Healing Power is only second to the Holy Arts of Humankind and other races. Especially the nobles of Nature—though, not as strong as the Elves, dubbed as Children of Nature, we Driads are still more adept in recovery magic rather than offensive abilities."

"This is also why, even though our kind are small in number and has a very low fertility and can only use this kind of magic, we are still able to retain our position as one of the Great Nobles of the Demon Empire—due to the Holy Arts being poison to Demons, we, who use Nature Arts are the ones who can use recovery magic…! I can say, the Demon Empire treasured our clan greatly because of this,” Sibylla proudly declared.

Cian chuckled after seeing Sibylla’s proud expression and with a ‘Kyaa!’ coming from the latter, Cian grasped her hand and pulled her to his bosom, now sitting at his lap.

“Hmm, that’s reassuring, thank you,” he placed a light kiss at her lips.

Sibylla’s eyes turned crescent, her face beet red but she didn’t resist, instead leaned her back on Cian’s chest.

“As long as it’s for you,”

…I will do everything.

But she didn’t continue the last words as she deemed them unnecessary.

“However, I was curious…” suddenly, she remembered something she was doubtful before. Her eyes narrowed dangerously as she glared at the still smiling indifferently Cian, “…why did you save this human? You can just leave her in her fate, after all, you have already given her enough help. And yet why did you risk yourself just to save this human girl? Don’t tell me…” Her voice dropped by several degrees, already below zero.

But Cian was still unperturbed.

“…I have my reasons, but it surely is not like what you are thinking!” he smiled wryly. He circled his arms around Sibylla’s waist and pulled her even closer, seemingly wanting to absorb her within him. He then propped his chin on her shoulder and smiled, “She is a ‘key’…a very important ‘key’…”

“A key… for what…?” Sibylla tilted her head and asked.

Cian smiled, his handsome expression beaming, “A ‘key’ to reach the human world…”

“…??” Sibylla didn’t understand what Cian was saying, the latter just smiled. “Well, at least for now, she was an important factor for me to extend my hand towards the human world…”

If not, I would never invest this much time for someone like her, even if she was the most beautiful girl in the world.

Cian grinned.

“…but even if that’s the case, she was a knight from the human world. I don’t think she will help you,” Sibylla’s brows furrowed. She understands how deeply the human world loathed them, the Demons. Much less, her beloved fiancée was the very Prince of that race…!

It was already a miracle that this human knight didn’t loathe him to death…

“Well, isn’t that the reason I spent so much time being out of character…?” Cian smiled bitterly. And it really took him all of his effort to act like someone else, all to change his impression on her little by little. Although he cannot change it entirely but twisting it a little is not all that hard.

Just like how alcohol has some burning sensation on them that doesn’t accommodate all people, but adding a few things on it can create cocktails that satisfy many. He knows that he would never be able to erase the ill reputation he had, but just adding a few things on it can make things even more confusing…and eventually, birth curiosity…

—And that would be the starting point of all things…!

The Second Demon Prince regarded as trash and incompetent wicked being by many people within the Empire, and she knows of it. And that surely clouded her impression on him, adding from the fact that she holds great prejudice towards his kind. And he was a prince of this detestable race at that.

This narrative has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. If you see it on Amazon, please report it.

However, with that in consideration, Cian had purposely shown her the positive side of him—something that was completely different from what she had known, birthing an ‘inevitable’ called Curiosity, that would stir her direction unknowingly out from her already decided-course of thoughts.

Using the fact that she doesn’t know the real him, Cian made use of another completely opposite persona.

... The rest, she will be the one doing it herself, even if she doesn’t realize it.

Unknowingly to her, her imagination would tie the two extreme pieces together, and in the process slowly change the Second Prince Image within her mind, and this image within her become many times greater.

And although it might not be enough to overpower her sense of responsibility—

“Out of character…? I don’t think so…” Sibylla shook her head in denial. “I haven’t seen any differences with the way you acted ever since I had met you—or are you saying, are you also just pretending in front of me as well?”

“That’s not what I meant, silly.” Cian pinched her nose with full of affection. “I have always been me ever since we have met in that moon-filled night. Just that, the man she knows was completely different from what she had seen these past few days…”

“But will that really work…?” Sibylla asked, doubtful.

“… …” Cian smiled meaningfully in response. “Do you know what the most powerful thing in the world…is?”

“Magic? Martial Arts? I don’t know…” Sibylla answered but then again shook her head.

“You should know it…”

“…??”

Sibylla cast a doubtful look but Cian didn’t answer her anymore and just burrowed his face on her neck, calming herself down from her scent. He really loved her nature-like scent and fragrance. It was extremely comforting and makes his heart, always at peace.

Cian smiled mischievously as he greedily absorbed her wonderful scent.

—if all things are unreliable, then, he can make use of one thing that would surely tie Ezra to him!

That is the last factor that ensures this plan to work… it’s not magic or destructive power—

It’s just a simple emotion.

An emotion called Love…!

Because of this, Cian can topple the thing called Sense of Responsibility, or Knight’s Duty, or whatever it is she had!

He even resorted to shameless things such as tampering her mind using his [Eye], though not significantly and can even be said to be just a tiny, very minuscule change in her mind. Not brainwashing her, of course, that would be quite noticeable, and if she managed to notice something even if it’s just a tiny bit, his entire plan would crumble to pieces before it could even start.

Furthermore, cooperation under a false bond is like walking on thin ice, fragile and dangerous. That is something he cannot allow if he wanted to rule over her. Thus, instead of completely brainwashing her when she was deep asleep the first time she met her, weakened after their first encounter causing her to be vulnerable against his mind manipulations, he devised this long, arduous plan.

Using his [Eye], he slowly tempered her mind bit by bit, every passing day, in order to guide her thoughts into angles and directions he wanted her to go. And his two contrasting personas in her mind made it extremely easier for Cian to do it, all while avoiding hurting or damaging her mind, or even leaving irreparable effects that may cause problems in the future.

What he wanted is not a mindless doll… but a thorough, obedient human that can do his will, independently…!

And the only thing that could achieve such an effect is through; Love!

Cian planned for her to fall in love with him…!

Love, so intense that she would weigh which was heavier; him or her duty…!

To do that, he even went on her way to advertise that Demons and Humans are not actually that completely different, and all are just the same, in thinking and behavior—save for appearances and culture, to make her repulsion towards him lessen.

... And his plan indeed bore fruit.

But the last step was, all in all, an unexpected and very dangerous, even for him…!

Who would have known that his sister; Oriel would use the celebration as a decoy to catch Ezra. Though, he should have noticed something when he had heard of the celebration in the castle being announced and spread like fire in a sea of oil, towards every corner of the Northern Border.

What a terrible oversight.

Is this another version of ‘to capture, one must let loose’ strategy…?

Indeed, his sister is truly terrifyingly intelligent!

Fortunately, she didn’t use that intelligence on him.

Or else, it would a grave problem for him…!

Even still, although he had made a risky gamble, he was still able to make use of his sister’s plan to his own advantage and was able to successfully completed the ‘Inflict injury on oneself to win the enemy's trust’ strategy.

Now, Cian was certain that he was able to break through her confusion regarding her emotions.

Feeling Cian’s wild emotions, Sibylla heaves a sigh. Although Cian didn’t tell her anything about it and didn’t answer her question directly, she was still able to, at most, infer what he was planning.

Shameless and manipulatively cruel—but she didn’t care.

In any case, Ezra was nothing to her.

To Sibylla, it would already be Ezra’s honor to be of use to her husband.

Cian could care even less.

To him, this world is already an enemy. And he was already in a war—!

…why would he try to consider things or play with moral…?

The battle had already begun!

What is important is to how to make things follow the script he drafted.

Why would he still hold on some naïve notions…? Morality…? As much as possible, he would hold on to it as a modern man. But it should not interfere with his decision, or else, he would be the one crying and losing something…valuable in the end!

Furthermore, just like from Sun Tzu’s Art of War; all warfare is based on deception.

Hence, when he is able to attack, he must seem unable.

When making his actions, he must appear inactive and when moving, he must make the enemy believe he was still standing still.

All Is Fair in Love and War!

Thinking about this, Cian propped his chin on his fiancee’ shoulder, smelling the scent he had started to like. Calm, comforting, like a scent of nature. "With this, the first step for the large scale plan has officially begun!"

“But…” Sibylla said, still doubtful. She turned her head to face Cian and she looked suspiciously at him. “That’s all…?”

“You’re thinking too much, silly,” Cian put a hand on his fiancée's cheek and his free thumb gently caressed her lips. Sibylla inched closer to him. She lifted her head and she looked like a little kitten who was bullied. His thumb continued to gently caress her lips. “I would never lie to you, or have I?”

Sibylla smiled and shook her head. She then laid her head on Cian’s chest. Her ears focused on his heart beats and she felt safe. Suddenly she felt Cian nudged her chin, raising her face up and then before she could react, she felt soft lips gently kissed her lips like a bee playing with a flower’s pollen. Sibylla’s eyes widened and her face turned beet red in an instant. However, she didn’t say anything. She only felt her lips a little itchy but Cian’s gentle kiss seemed to have numbed the feeling on her lips.

“You!!”

When Cian was once again trying to keep his claws on her, Sibylla was alarmed and wanted to avoid his lips in embarrassment but his hand reacted faster. He pressed his hand behind her neck and he gently nibbled on her lips.

Unlike in the past, he didn’t kiss her roughly and consumed her senses straight away. He kissed her gently and he slowly lit her flame of desire.

This bad guy!