Rebirth System: Blood and Ash

Chapter 101 The Fall of a House

The air seemed to thicken even more, pressing down on Aric's chest as though daring him to speak, to answer the guard's demand.

But Aric's mind was clear, his eyes narrowing as he studied the guard's stance, the tension in his body, the way his fingers hovered near his blade.

Behind the guard, Lady Lisellie watched him, her expression smug, triumphant, as though she had already won. In her eyes, Aric saw a gleam of satisfaction, a belief that she had outplayed him, that her shattered crystal had sealed his fate.

But she didn't understand, couldn't understand. This was only a step in a much larger game, a moment he had anticipated, even hoped for.

The Imperial Guard's boot struck the floor, heavy and unyielding, inching toward Aric like the last steps before a drop-off, promising death with any flicker of resistance. His hand wrapped tighter around the hilt of his sword, a quiet but potent threat.

The guard's silence filled the room with more menace than words ever could. Aric could feel the air growing tense, thick with the scent of iron from the broken crystal. The guard's face remained a stoic mask, yet his intention was clear in the piercing stillness: one wrong move, and his blade would slice through flesh without hesitation.

Aric held his ground, his heartbeat calm, unfazed. If it came to a battle, Aric knew he held the upper hand—he wasn't alone. Serina and Borag, his companions, would ensure the guard's defeat if it came to that.

But Aric needed no drawn blades. This wasn't the time for a fight. Not yet.

One word, one truth was all he needed. He could say who he was, that he was Prince Aric Valerian, and the guard's duty would shift in an instant. As by law, loyalty to the imperial family came first, even above the life of any other noble.

With that single word, the guard would be bound to stand by and watch without intervention, even if Aric decided to kill Liselle. He could torture and harm her through the night, and the guard would simply bear witness, duty holding his tongue and action in silence.

However to simply reveal himself to the guard would be far more problems than its worth, the guard could not harm Aric, but he could report his identity to Sylas which would be quite problematic.

Aric turned to the guard, his voice cold and sharp.

"Inform the second prince of what has happened here. And no one is to enter this room until he arrives." The command was clear.

The guard's response was immediate. He nodded, his figure blurring in a swift movement as he disappeared, carrying Aric's orders like the whisper of a ghost.

Aric turned and left the room without another glance at Liselle, her broken form slumped against the wall, blood staining her hands and wrists as her breathing grew shallow. Outside, Serina and Borag awaited him, their expressions steady but laced with grim satisfaction.

Aric paused, taking in their presence.

"Is it done?" he asked, his tone low, but the words cut through the night air like the edge of a blade.

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Borag nodded, his voice gruff.

"All in the main estate of House Brielle... have been slaughtered."

A hint of satisfaction flickered in Aric's eyes. He gave a short, approving nod. "Good job," he replied, his words simple yet heavy with meaning.

They slipped into the darkness, their steps soundless, leaving the Brielle estate cloaked in the stillness of death.