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Chapter 10.1: The Noble Brothers
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" You may not be aware of my household anymore, young lady, but I am the eldest son of a Marquess! Our family name is Valmont, and we once governed the Town of Ashenfell by the west of the Kingdom's border—or the Empire, as it is called now, for whatever that’s worth." The scarred man’s eyes gleamed, as though eager to elicit a reaction from Adira.
Adira, however, remained unfazed. The name "Ashenfell" stirred no memory; she could not recall such a town existing in the present day. With a polite nod, she replied, "I see. That is... impressive."
The scarred man pressed on, his voice brimming with elation, "Before—when the benevolent King still ruled—we were prosperous! None dared to look down on us! But then that wretched son of a bitch!" He clenched his teeth, the sound harsh and grating.
"That accursed Augustus dared to depose his own father! Filial piety? Ha! He never exhibited even a semblance of it toward the King—reserving all his loyalty for his lowborn mother, a common harlot! And then, he had the audacity to strip us, the pureblooded nobles, of our titles and positions simply for standing by the rightful King! We, whose noble lineages are etched into the annals of history, our family names bearing the weight of legacies far greater than his! He wields authority with reckless abandon, yet remains woefully inept. That so-called Emperor is ignorant of governance and unworthy of the crown—a disgrace to the throne, a contemptible abomination!" he spat with disdain.
The scarred man fixed his gaze on Adira, his eyes wild and animalistic. Combined with his grotesque features, he resembled nothing short of a living monster. "This is what happens when a bastard born out of wedlock ascends the throne!" he roared. "When they cannot manage crises, they resort to burning, killing, and burning again!" His fist hammered the blanket with relentless fury, each blow a violent echo of his rage.
His brother, draped in ragged clothes, intervened, placing a hand over the spot where he struck. Worry clouded his expression. "Brother... Please, calm yourself. If you keep this up, you’ll trigger another spasm."
Adira narrowed her gaze. "If you came from the Empire, then why are you so far from your former territory? Why here in the South?"
"Milady, you truly know nothing, do you?" The scarred man sneered, his smirk twisting into something far more mocking. "Is it the same with the rest of the so-called Empire’s citizens? Blind, clueless, oblivious? Is that it? No one knows what truly happened, and that’s why Augustus still sits so smugly on the sacred throne?"
Adira’s patience wore thin. "Enough! Cease your rambling and continue your tale. I do not care a sliver for your feelings toward the Emperor; I want to know what made you like this. If I catch even a single fabrication, not only will I refuse to help you, but I shall report you to the authorities."
Panic flashed across his face as he grovelled on the bed. "P-please, Milady! I’ll continue, I swear!"
The ragged man, his voice trembling with near tears, pleaded, "Brother, don’t do this... They’ll kill us if they find out!"
The scarred man snapped, his tone harsh and cutting, "Shut your mouth, you fool! Your lack of spine is why we’re still rotting in this godforsaken village!"
Adira slammed her hand onto the bed, the sudden motion startling them both into silence. Her eyes blazed with clear irritation, veins throbbing on her forehead as a sharp pain pulsed through her skull.
"W-we were relocated!" the ragged man stammered. "Augustus sent us South, saying Jin Qiu would ‘look after’ us. But after that, he sent his hound after us!"
Adira furrowed her brow, her irritation growing as he continued to beat around the bush. "What do you mean?"
The scarred man spoke up, his voice thick with contempt. "We were placed in Jin Qiu’s town, all of us exiled nobles. Those wretches, garbed in the blood of their own disgrace, dared to call us refugees. Refugees!" He sneered, his gaze cutting through the air. "Do I look like a common refugee to you?"
The scarred man took a deep, shuddering breath. "We stayed there for what felt like an eternity. Then, one day, Jin Qiu declared that we were now citizens of the South—us, whose blood runs deep in the history of what you youngsters call the Empire—were now mere citizens of the South. Naturally, we were enraged. Who wouldn’t be? But some nobles, stripped of their dignity, prostrated themselves before him, praising his ‘kindness’ and licking his boots!"
"Of course, we had to act. Augustus thinks himself invincible simply because the Pope anointed him Emperor! So, we formed an organization, pooled our resources, and re-established connections. Sure, there were... complications, but we dealt with them. Dumped the bodies where no one would find them. Ha! Cough! Cough!" The scarred man paused to catch his breath, his chest heaving with exertion.
"We called ourselves the Resisters of Reform—a coalition of rightful nobles with the inherent right to govern the lands our ancestors built! It wasn’t just about reclaiming power; it was about survival. We are nobles, for goodness' sake! To be reduced to such a state is intolerable! You understand how I feel, don’t you?" The scarred man grabbed Adira’s cloak, his eyes wide with expectation.
Adira could only grimace at the sight, but she maintained her posture. Half-heartedly, she replied, "...Yes. Continue."
"Everything was going well, but then that dog arrived! The damned mutt everyone’s calling a duke now!" The scarred man spat, his voice seething with fury. "He kept talking about plague this, plague that—what plague? From rats? I never saw a single rat in Falcrest! Then his men announced in the plaza that they would relocate every noble ‘for their safety.’ My father knew—everyone knew—what that really meant. Just as Augustus purged his own kin, they intended to do the same to us!"
“We had no choice but to save ourselves! We had to escape, but none of us could! There was a point system in place, one most of us lacked, and we were forced into menial community service—don’t make me laugh! It was nothing but absurd! So, we decided to use the chaos of the crowd to our advantage. We spread word to the citizens of Falcrest that the plague had broken out and that everyone was infected. They panicked—but who could have predicted they would fight their way out? Everything unraveled! Our escape plans were ruined! The damned gates were sealed, clogged by a mob of hysterical fools. But do you know what happened next? Oh, dear lord... People call us cruel, but what of that damned dog?! This was his direct command! They began pouring oil over our heads! Just one spark—one single spark from that very wall—and everything went to ruin! That dog, he burned us all to the ground!”
As Adira listened to his words, she remained motionless, her face impassive and inscrutable, her eyes devoid of expression.
The scarred man was momentarily confused by her lack of reaction, but he chose to continue. "My lady, never trust that dog! He may hold the title of duke now, but he is utterly incompetent. He will slaughter everyone, just as he did to us! Jin Qiu, spiteful though he may be, tried to redeem us, but that dog! His sole intention was to destroy us all!"
Yet, as the scarred man spoke, Adira felt a weight descend upon her, her heart sinking as though into an abyss. Deep inside her facade, each revelation drained her strength, making her momentarily shut her eyes, struggling to regain composure.
Her breath came in trembling gasps. Slowly, she drew deep, steadying breaths, attempting to quell the heat rising in her head. She repeated the motion, but no matter how hard she tried, it seemed impossible to calm her mind.
Cain grabbed her arm as she staggered in place. Adira glanced back at him, her breath trembling, before exhaling a shaky sigh and inhaling deeply, letting the cool air steady her thoughts.
Adira repeated the process several times, her thoughts slowly quieting as she focused entirely on counting backward in her mind, her attention fixed solely on the numbers. Gradually, her thoughts quieted.
“Huh? What’s happening to her?” the scarred man asked, eyeing her with confusion.
Jessie, having unwittingly—and undesirably—listened to the man’s tale, was beyond description. His emotions and thoughts swirled in turmoil. Staring at Adira became more difficult than it should have been. It took a lot of effort to maintain his composure, and even he could feel his blood run cold.
Jessie knew this revelation was too much for him to bear; delving deeper into this matter was far too dangerous. Yet, as though rooted to the spot, he couldn’t find the right moment to leave. So, he stood there, quietly breathing, hoping no one would notice him.
Adira, who had scarcely managed to calm herself, suddenly sensed something was amiss. "Where was Jin Qiu at that time?"
"Where?" The scarred man scoffed. "Who knows where that bastard was. His soldiers weren’t even in the vicinity. Only that damn dog and his men were present. I was spared when the fire tore through the wall, but my hair had already been singed to the scalp! And do you know what happened next?"
His fist clenched, his face contorting with fury. "HIS MEN WERE STATIONED OUTSIDE! They were poised to kill anyone who dared to flee! I still had oil on my clothes when those bastards on horseback pursued me, throwing torches at every turn!"
The scarred man cast a seething glance at his brother, who cowered in the corner, sobbing. His lips twitched, as though attempting a sneer, but it only exposed his gums. "I saved this useless brother of mine, and what did I get in return? Burned! Not once did he glance back while I was consumed by flames! How fortunate I was! I didn’t even realize I’d fallen into a river until I regained consciousness. And do you know what the first thing I saw was? His face!" He pointed sharply at his brother.
"Since then, we’ve been hiding here. And do you know what I’ve heard from those outside? They say the soldiers of the Empire are hunting ghouls! Ghouls!? They were slaughtering anyone who survived! The ironic part is that dog drove Jin Qiu to his own death! I’m sure of it! One thing I knew about Jin Qiu is that he had a soft heart—he would cry for the street children of Falcrest! I believe Augustus and that dog conspired together to have him killed, for he was the only one with the heart to care for the pureblooded nobles!"
Adira gritted her teeth, her head throbbing with pain. "Stop lying... Stop lying, you bastard!" She seized his collar, gripping it tightly. "I told you I wouldn’t help you if you lied! Why the hell are you lying now?"
"Are you mad!?" The scarred man stared at Adira in disbelief. "How could I lie in this situation!? What would be the point!? Think about it—I’m the one who needs help here! You seek information, but I seek a title! Weigh that in your mind!"
Adira’s grip was released as Cain forcefully yanked her back by her arm. Yet her eyes remained fierce, and she was ready to draw upon her mana to open her dimensional pocket, fully aware that the weapon she had been ignoring was within reach. Her gaze locked onto the man’s throat, her mind calculating a swift strike.
But before Adira could make a move, Cain tackled her to the ground. He twisted her arm behind her back, pinning it to the floor with his weight, his knee pressing down to hold her in place. His brow furrowed and his teeth gritted. Though his eyes seemed shaken, his voice rang out with authority. "Adira! Cease this at once!"
Fury surged within Adira, the flames of her anger only growing as she struggled against his hold. His strength was overwhelming—far greater than hers in that moment—and the more she struggled, the hotter her rage burned. "CAIN!!!" she bellowed, her voice raw with fury.
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The scarred man shifted irritably, adjusting his clothes, though the flicker of nervousness in his eyes was evident. "I've already told you what you wanted to know," he said, his voice strained with unease. "Now give me what I want!"
A moment of tense silence hung in the air, but Adira’s gaze never wavered from the scarred man’s face, sending a shiver crawling down his spine.
Adira huffed softly, then she turned to Cain, her lips curling into a soft smile. " Sorry, I lost my cool. I won’t do it again. That was improper of me."
Cain seemed unconvinced, his grip on her unyielding.
Adira’s smile faltered as her eyes regained their usual cool intensity. "Can you please let go of me, General? My arm is hurting."
Cain hesitated for a moment, but gradually, his grip loosened. He adjusted Adira’s clothes before guiding her back to her feet.
However, unbeknownst to everyone in the room, Adira could no longer see anything but red.
Her vision blurred, consumed by a searing heat and fury. In that instant, everything seemed to slow as her emotions surged.
With a swift motion, Adira seized the collar of the scarred man. Her right arm rose, the tips of her fingers glowing ominously, sharp threads of energy gathering, forming into a blade primed for a strike.
The scarred man before her shrieked, his eyes clenching shut in terror but failed to fully close miserably. His brother reacted in a panic, yanking him back and shielding him with his own body, but Adira’s grip remained unyielding.
Cain acted swiftly, seizing Adira’s raised arm with a firm grip. His voice, charged with urgency, rang out. "Nothing will come of killing this man!"
Adira’s eyes blazed with fury, her every muscle trembling with restraint. "Let me go, Cain!" she snapped, her voice low and dangerous. "I need to make this man speak the truth—nothing but the truth."
Cain’s hold tightened, resolute and unwavering. "You’ve already heard the truth."
"This is not the truth!" Adira's voice cracked, the words punctuated by raw emotion.
"It is the truth, and you're only refusing to see it." Cain declared firmly.
At a loss for words, Adira gritted her teeth, her body trembling as a surge of heat ignited deep within her, anger consuming her entirely. She turned to Cain, her fury now fully directed at him. "You... You know nothing about me, yet you’re always in my way. Every single goddamn time!"
Cain’s voice remained steady, though concern lingered in his tone. "This is not the right path."
Adira’s fury flared even more as she snapped back, "There is no right path, only the one that will save my family!"
Silence stretched between them, broken only by Adira’s heavy breathing. Her eyes glinted ominously in the dim light, sharp and unwavering.
Suddenly, the scarred man scoffed loudly, pointing at Adira with a mocking smirk. "A disgrace of a noble! Look at you—getting angry and acting like a tomboy! There’s not a trace of elegance—"
"Brother!" The ragged man quickly covered his mouth, eyes wide with terror. He spoke in a low, almost whispering tone, "She's... she's from that family."
The scarred man's gaze wavered as a sharp realization dawned on him. He studied the lady before him more intently now, and it was only then that he saw the resemblance between her and the man he'd so disdainfully called a "dog." Fear quickly gripped him.
Adira felt her strength slipping away. The tension in her muscles drained, her posture faltering as her head and shoulders slumped. The light in her eyes began to fade.
Realization struck her with the weight of inevitability—no matter what, the truth that had been revealed just now would escape from any person. It was like trying to hold water with a strainer, impossible to contain.
Despite Adira’s reluctance to believe, the truth kept returning in her mind, each time a harsh reminder. She knew that this time, she could no longer act as though she were ignorant.
From here on, Adira had no choice but to move forward. The question was… how?
Adira felt cornered, as though there was no path ahead—only a dead end. A path where her family would bear the consequences of her father's grave mistake forever.
Adira’s eyes gleamed as she spoke almost in a whisper, “I didn’t know it was this deep…”
"..."
"..."
Jessie, who had remained silent until now, broke the stillness. “Lady Adira, perhaps we should step outside for a moment? Just to... cool down. Hm?”
Adira’s gaze flickered to him, her expression heavy with guilt and shame. She wiped her face with a weary hand, standing slowly, her movements sluggish. “Yeah... I’m... I’m sorry.”
Jessie forced a light chuckle, though his eyes betrayed a flicker of unease. “It’s quite alright, Milady.”
Even though Jessie appeared shaken and almost terrified, he did his best to compose himself.
Gently, Jessie took hold of Adira’s arm, guiding her with a subtle firmness. “Let’s go, Milady.” His glance shifted briefly to Cain, his demeanor wavering only for a moment before he continued, determined to be the calm presence amidst the tension.
Cain, powerless to do anything but follow, accompanied them as the three of them stepped out into the open air.
The suffocating atmosphere of the house lifted, and as they stepped outside, Adira’s clouded mind began to clear. The first sensation that hit her was a crushing sense of helplessness. She had always known that her father had killed, but killing in war was one thing—this, however, was a massacre for personal gain.
If the resentments stemmed from those Adira had killed, she could understand—she would even be willing to repent despite her own resentment towards them, given this second chance at life. But if the resentments were tied to her father’s actions, she would need to understand the cause behind them—and find a way to address it.
That’s how she arrived at the plan to go to Falcrest—it was the only lead she had. At some point, she even expected to find nothing.
But after hearing what had really happened in Falcrest, and reflecting on the Emperor’s actions before Adira’s death—allowing his best friend and sworn brother to be executed before the masses—it only became clear. The Duke was truly guilty.
All this time, Adira had been making excuses, continually denying the whispers in her heart—that her father was a murderer, responsible for the deaths of countless innocent lives. She had tried to convince herself otherwise, searching for any shred of information to refute the truth.
But now, the victims themselves are before her. Even if they were dislikable, it didn’t change the fact that they could represent the innocent lives that had been brutally taken by her father’s orders.
Recalling what her father had told her in the carriage—if he had truly come to Falcrest with the sole purpose of visiting a friend, while secretly orchestrating the massacre—then the one responsible for burning the people was not the Emperor, but the Duke alone. Why else would the Emperor have executed him, if he hadn’t been complicit in it?
Jin Qiu was also considered their sworn brother. The three of them had worked together, supporting the Emperor from the very beginning.
Adira doesn’t know how the Emperor would react if he learned that his sworn brother, Jin Qiu, had died because of her father. She could only assume, based on what had happened in her first life.
Adira wiped her face with her hands. The back of her head was once again throbbing.
The root had burrowed too deep; there was no way out of this. The fact that the entire town had been cruelly burned to the ground, with no intention of saving its people, yet some had survived—it was all leaking.
Who knew how many had made it out and were holding this information, waiting for the right moment to strike... like Lucien...
As Adira got lost in her thoughts, Jessie had been staring at her, concern etched on his face. He didn’t press her, instead choosing to remain quiet and allowing Adira the space to cool down.
After a while, Adira began to regain her rationality. She remembered how she had acted earlier and once again felt a pang of guilt and shame. "Jessie, I'm so sorry about my behavior earlier..." she said softly.
"It’s not me you should apologize to." Jessie smiled faintly at her and patted her shoulder. "Tell them later." He nodded toward the house.
Adira, though reluctant, could only nod in agreement.
"…”
"…”
The silence settled between them, the weight of it pressing down on Adira. Anxiety tightened her chest, compelling her to break it. “Jessie, what do you think?” she asked, her voice quieter than she intended.
Jessie blinked, as though startled out of his thoughts, and then feigned a lighthearted innocence. “About what, Milady?”
Adira turned her gaze away, unwilling to meet his eyes. “About everything you’ve heard.”
The air between them grew heavier, marked only by the absence of words.
After a moment, Jessie sighed. “I don’t think my thoughts matter, Lady Adira.” He glanced into the distance, his expression unreadable. “What’s the point of finding out this information, Milady?”
Adira remained silent, the question lingering like a stone in her chest.
“What changes when you uncover the truth?” Jessie pressed gently.
Adira’s lips parted as if to answer, but no words came. Even she didn’t know how to respond—her own thoughts were a tangled, aimless mess.
Jessie’s expression remained unreadable, though his eyes held a flicker of something—perhaps curiosity, perhaps doubt. “Will you run away?” he asked.
“ I’m not sure…” Adira forced a strained laugh, scratching the back of her head in an almost nervous gesture. “Maybe?” she replied, her tone caught between jest and uncertainty.
Jessie’s gaze didn’t waver, his face impassive but his eyes cutting through her defenses. “Are you going to kill them?”
Adira’s demeanor shifted, her laughter fading as she shook her head solemnly. “I won’t,” she said, guilt clouding her voice. “I won’t harm them. I was just angry earlier… I didn’t… I’m sorry. I promise I won’t hurt them. I don’t want to be that kind of person.”
Her heart weighed heavily as she whispered to herself, "I only wanted to protect my family..."
“I see.” Jessie replied with a sigh, his tone carrying a mix of resignation and understanding. “Milady, I won’t be going to the Misty Mountain anymore.”
The weight of his words sank into the air between them. Adira’s gaze fell to the ground. “…I see,” she murmured, her voice barely audible.
Jessie tilted his head slightly, his tone lightening as if to ease the tension. “Aren’t you going to ask me why?” he teased gently.
“…” Adira’s gut tightened. Hesitation welled up within her; she already had a vague sense of the answer but felt compelled to ask. “…Why?”
Jessie chuckled softly, his voice tinged with a bittersweet edge. “Milady, books are powerful, but even more so are people—and that doesn’t exclude you. I admire that strength of yours, Milady. Truly, I do. You’re different from any noble I’ve met or heard of. But…” He paused, his gaze shifting slightly, as though searching for the right words. “…I’ve come to understand that there are far more dangerous things in this world than beasts.”
Adira’s breath caught in her throat, her chest tightening with a sudden, inexplicable ache.
Jessie’s expression softened, and he offered a faint smile. “There are some things in this world better left untouched. But knowing you… I’d wager you’re the type who won’t stop until you find the answer that fits what you’re looking for.”
The weight of Jessie’s words lingered in the air, both a recognition of her strength and a gentle warning of its potential to consume her. Though their time together had been brief, he had seen the fierce determination within Adira—a fire that could propel her forward but might just as easily burn her from within. But he couldn’t help but find it hard to believe that such a young lady could act with such profound resolve, far beyond her years.
Jessie’s gaze carried an unspoken conflict: admiration for her resilience and deep concern for the cost of her unwavering resolve. He took a step back, his expression steady but pensive, as though distancing himself physically could somehow soften the impact of his words.
“The way you look right now…” Jessie began, his voice quiet but piercing, “You seem as if you’re being driven by someone else’s will. Milady, if that’s the case, then I suggest you stop.” His tone was laced with a rare vulnerability, cutting through his usual calm demeanor. “I know I have no place to say this, but I can’t keep silent. I heard what you said earlier. This is for your family, isn’t it? But if you… the one trying to fix this… can’t bear the weight of the truth, how do you expect to carry the even heavier responsibility that comes with it?”
He paused, letting his words settle before continuing, his voice growing softer yet more earnest. “If you keep pushing yourself like this—chasing answers, exhausting yourself, losing sight of who you are—it won’t fix anything. It will only unravel everything further. Not only will it hurt those around you, but the worst pain will fall squarely on your shoulders.”
Adira remained silent, her gaze lowered as she absorbed his words. Finally, she nodded. “…I’ll keep that in mind.”
The quiet that followed was heavy, filled with unspoken understanding. Watching Jessie’s back as he prepared to leave, Adira felt an ache in her chest—a weight she couldn’t ignore.
Jessie paused, his head tilted slightly as though listening to something distant. “I pray you don’t lose an important part of yourself on this path,” he said, his tone almost a whisper, yet it carried a gravity that echoed in the space between them. Then, after a moment of hesitation, he added, “I did not hear or see what transpired in this village, nor have I met a pair of brothers or overheard their conversation—or a lady and her friend. I am nothing but a passing wanderer. My travels are complete, and I will take my leave as an ignorant man.”
With that, Jessie walked away, his steps deliberate but unhurried, leaving Adira to grapple with the storm of emotions his words had stirred within her.
Adira clenched her fists tightly, her resolve hardening. With her decision firmly made, she approached the door of the house and silently placed one of her coin purses on the doorstep.
The gesture was simple, but it carried the weight of her lingering guilt. She stood there a moment longer than necessary, her thoughts swirling as she silently acknowledged the burden she carried.
Without a backward glance, Adira turned and walked away. The sound of her footsteps was subdued, the cold earth beneath her boots muffling the echoes of her departure.
Inside the house, her quiet act did not go unnoticed.
"You bitch!" a voice bellowed from within, dripping with venom and fury. "You lied to me! Give me what I want this instant! How dare you lie to a noble, you fucking bitch!"
"Brother, please, calm down!" another voice pleaded, fraught with desperation. "We can't stay here any longer! How could you let yourself be fooled so easily?"
"FUCK YOU!" the first man roared back, his anger boiling over into incoherence. "ARE YOU SAYING MY EYES ARE BAD? I CAN TELL FROM FAR AWAY WHO THEY ARE! YOU FUCKING BAD LUCK!"
The shouts chased after her as she walked away, but Adira didn’t stop or turn around. Her face remained stoic, though her fists clenched tighter with each step. Their voices faded into the distance, drowned out by the steady rhythm of her footsteps and the weight of her thoughts.