FLOWER OF HELL | TWTPTFLOB

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A LOST DIAMOND JEWEL
Chapter III.

"Lady Yïen, the troops are ready. We await your command to start the search party," General Mercel informed, he has been serving the Defran household as the Commander of the Military for more than twenty years.

But like any other officials who has a place in the rankings, the noble house of Mercel is backing a candidate they see fit to take over after the current master could no longer handle the responsibility.

Unfortunately— for him, his family is supporting the first-born child of Ciel, Yïen's eldest paternal half-brother.

Yïen has to keep her guard up around him, since his loyalty does not belong to her. It wouldn't be shocking if he was asked to assassinate her, but the chances are very low. He might not be on her side, but he isn't stupid enough to go against her.

Everyone knows that Yïen Defran can rival the swordsmanship proficiency of  'The Masked Knight', the supposedly strongest swordsman in the nation. But Yïen fought him/her and won.

"We will start the exploration immediately. Prepare yourselves, there are a lot of hostile magical creatures that we will encounter once we reached the outside of Defran's territory. We will no longer be protected by the barrier shielding us right now."

Thus, the exploration begins, their journey that leads to them finding Cassis Pedelian's corpse, decapitated somewhere in the northern borders, the magical beasts residing in the area was feeding on his remains— of course that wouldn't be the case this time. . .

"Don't spit," Rowen Agriche uttered, he just shoved a fucking pill on Cassis' mouth forcefully because the older man is resisting. Though if you added Rowen's age from his previous life. . . he would be an old man.

"I gave you an antidote." Cassis grunted as he coughed, trying to spit out the pill that Rowen was making him swallow, for all he know it could be lethal poison or a substance that melt organs.

. . . now that Rowen Agriche has appeared in the picture, the outcome of different events in the story would most likely change, it has to— for his survival.

"Listen, I would've used an easier method if I wanted to kill you." Those words did not reassure Cassis, not at all.

The eldest child of the Pedelian household continued to struggle and gargle his throat to try to expel the pill from his body. . . it was not a very pleasant sight, for Rowen at least.

The action was understandable, anyone would do the same had they been kidnapped and imprisoned by a psychotic family— and nearly beaten to death. Unless. . . they have a pain kink or something. . .

And now, one of the young masters of the house is trying to save him? That's not suspicious at all. It does not make sense to Cassis.

Regardless of how he felt, Rowen still needed him to take the medicine. The pill would have to digest in his stomach completely to remove any slow-acting poison he may have been given.

"Sorry in advance," Rowen said casually. He push his palm straight up against Cassis' chin and pressed his fingers on his neck using his other hand, making Cassis involuntarily swallow the pill.

"Wh—what are you. . .!" Cassis gasped. Rowen looked at him apologetically.

"Sorry, try to swallow one more time," he uttered. He removed his hand from his throat and punched him in the stomach. Rowen could almost hear the pill drop to his gut.

Due to the impact of Rowen's punch, Cassis fainted— as his body took too much abuse already by his assailants sent by Lant Agriche.

"I needed him to trust me to get him out of here safely. Should I have chosen a better method?" Rowen asked himself.

'It's too late now,' he left the dungeon, leaving Cassis unconscious on the floor.

Rowen was aware of the coming future, in three weeks. . . Yïen's search party would reach the Agriche's territory in search for the very man he left unconscious. Many of his family members would try to kill her, but Yïen was unaffected and let all of these attempts slide. 

Two months after raiding the Agriche residence, during their expedition to the north. . . they will find Cassis— dead. And all hell would break loose.

After finding Cassis' corpse, the succession competition of House Defran would commence. And once Yïen rise to power, the Agriche Family would be destroyed. No one would survive— everything engulfed in purple flames.

Rowen isn't sure if he could face one of the lead characters in the novel yet, especially one who is higher in standing than him, and could kill him with just one flick of her fingers.

And while he stood there with his mind clouded with the thoughts of the future he fear, Yïen buried her sword in the head of a giant serpent with three heads. . .

The monster wailed loudly before it dropped dead to the ground. The Military Force was in awe, Yïen took down the monsters coming their way with ease. It was a dangerous trip and yet no one has died yet. 

Yïen wiped her sword with her handkerchief and they proceeded to move towards the Capital.

Once they reached the Capital, they could hear the loud whispers of people conversing amongst themselves.

"Look! It's the Defran Family's insignia!"

"What are they doing here?"

"Who do you think is inside that fancy carriage?"

As though timing was on their side, Yïen got down with her usual neutral expression.

"That's Lady Yïen Defran!"

"It wasn't an exaggeration. . . her beauty could really sink a thousand ships. . . "

"Hey, I heard she's interested in women."

"Really? Do you think I have a chance?"

"Oh, it would be living like royalty once you're married to her. We all know she would be the next ruler of the family— it is something that is set in stone!"

"Don't even get your hopes up, the entire nation is aware that she only got her eyes on the youngest child of House Pedelian."

"Hmph! I'm more prettier than her!"

The attention of everyone was grabbed by Yïen, when she stepped on a stage and spoke.

"A pleasant afternoon to all the citizens present today, I apologize for coming without notice. But I, along with the first faction of Defran Military is here in search of a lost. . . jewel," Yïen lied.

Although the rumors about Cassis' disappearance has already spread, the head of Pedelian wanted to keep it a secret— since there's no proof that he really is missing, the public does not have to know. Not only will it taint their reputation but a family without a successor is prone to get attacked by other families.

"It is a blue diamond containing mana, it is something that held much importance to me. And if anyone found it before we do. . . I'd give them a reward."

Of course no one would be able to find it, as it is non-existent. But the public does not know that, and so everyone was busy looking for the diamond while the troop and Yïen was engaged in finding Cassis.