Chapter 6
"I"m sure you can imagine the rest. I called together everyone who hated that country b.u.mpkin and we did what we could to suppress her."
While this sounded monstrous, she had the kind of gleeful expression on her face that suggested she didn"t feel an ounce of regret.
Yes, she looked so very happy.
The feeling of joy over tearing up that hated woman"s dress.
Seeing the despair on her face when she was pushed down the steps.
Such sweet memories. Such laughter.
In fact, she was starting to wonder why she hadn"t just pulled out a knife and killed her slowly.
Had she done that, she would not be in her current position.
Defeating a wicked woman who seduced men who were promised to others. Was that not justice?
Adelia"s voice was beautiful, just like a princess. And it was with this voice that she talked about her past misdeeds.
While her face was beautiful, she had the heart of a hideous monster.
"I see. However, since you were the one with the upper hand, how is it that you ended up here?"
Kuders asked her suddenly. That was when Adelia"s face flashed with rage.
Ah, it was the face of a witch. The face of someone who had sold their soul to the devil in order to get revenge.
"Someone told the Crown Prince, that"s why. They said I was leading a mob and hurting that country b.u.mpkin. And so, ultimately, the Prince came out and declared that such a cruel woman was not fit to be the future queen."
Everything was blamed on Adelia"s character alone, and her engagement was annulled in front of everyone.
Not only that, but as she had been so filled with anger at this point, Adelia was truly unable to carry herself in a way that was proper for the future queen.
"Father was very ambitious. And so you can imagine how furious he was when the Prince told him of the annulment. The senseless man disowned me and then sold me to the slave merchants. …Well, that is the story that people tell."
This was such a tragic end that Kuders frowned.
Disowning her was one thing. It might have even been within the limits of reason.
But to sell her into slavery instead of sending her to a convent… Was there no love between parent and child?
If this was considered normal, then it was clear that the aristocracy knew nothing of humanity.
"But that is most strange. Surely, approaching an engaged man in such a way is a great crime. If what you say is true, then it is this other woman that should be thrown into prison. Is that not true?"
"And yet, she escaped that fate. That country b.u.mpkin. Yes, those stupid men who fell for her charms could not wait to do things to earn her favor."
Of course, it was all guess-work on her part. But it seemed close enough to the truth.
Indeed, she was now in a position where great crimes could be erased.
"What a dangerous person."
Kuders muttered.
As someone who had lived long in the Demon Empire, he had encountered many similar people. They tended to have a great effect on society.
Sometimes they were called Revolutionaries. They used comforting words to spread their poison.
"Yes, isn"t she? She pretends to be delicate and brave, and yet she has a knack for getting men to side with her. It is her one talent."
"How horrible…"
What would this country turn into with such a person as queen?
It was just as Kuders got that far away look in his eyes.
"No, it is after that that things got horrible."
Adelia smiled self-deprecatingly. Kuders narrowed his eyebrows.
"There is more?"
"That country b.u.mpkin. She claims to have taken pity on me… And so she used her influence to ensure that I am never sold at the auction… So that no strange n.o.ble would buy me. Yes, "don"t sell her." Do you know what that means?"
Adelia said this as if she were testing him. Kuders understood.
"Ahh… It is just too horrible."
It may have seemed like the mercy of an angel, but it was the work of a devil.
It wasn"t so much that she was "not to be put up for auction," but that "no one" was allowed to buy her.
"Yes. All slaves are put up for auction. Like this."
She stood up and courtesied like a pantomime. And then she mimicked the voice of the auction master.
Now, ladies and gentlemen. The moment you have been waiting for.
Gaze on the most infamous and wicked woman in the kingdom.
I"m sure that all of you know this already, but she hurt our future queen and tried to force her way into the Crown Prince"s heart. Yes, it is that horrible woman.
Indeed, here is a person who deserves the life of a slave and to be treated as lower than cattle.
However, have you all heard of the sweet mercy of our beloved future queen?
She could not bear the thought of a highborn lady who knows nothing of work to be treated like livestock.
And so she asks that none of you buy her.
However, that is not good for business.
And so, I will do my best so that she can be sold.
Now, let the bidding begin.
We will start at nothing.
Oh, no one?
If you do not have money, I will accept trinkets as well?
Yes, like that torn up sock you are wearing. How about it?
"…Yes, the crowds explode with laughter. It is only after I have been made a laughing stock for a satisfying amount of time that he ends it like this: "Oh, you are all so kind. I am defeated. Farewell for now. Let us meet again at the next auction, where this unsold villain will make another appearance!""
In other words, she was being showcased.
She was being used to show the angry, unhappy commoners that there was someone below even them.
And the people threw their stones in the name of mercy and laughed and found solace.
It was both impressively smart and incredibly cruel.
As a demon, Kuders had seen many evil acts, and even he became speechless.
As he stayed silent for quite some time, Adelia suddenly opened her mouth as if remembering something.
"Ah, you… Do you really like me?"
There was a sweet poison in her words. Kuders"s heart jumped in his chest.
While Adelia was only eighteen, she had all the enticing beauty one could ever ask for.
And while Kuders was a demon who had lived for four hundred years, he had never been in love before. In other words, he was no match for her.
"Uh…yes. When I am with you… I don"t know… My heart beats faster…"
"In that case…"
Kuders"s voice was hoa.r.s.e and his face turned red as her lips neared his ear. It was as if she was going to kiss him gently, but instead, she whispered.
She had the smile of Herodias"s daughter, Salome.
"I want you to kill the Crown Prince and his country b.u.mpkin. If you can escape the guards and come into my room without getting hurt, it should be easy enough for you. If you do this for me, I may just be willing to accept you?"
Shudder… A terrible chill ran through his body.
Those sweet words were filled with such malice that even the man who served a Demon Emperor was taken aback.
"Are-are you serious?"
"Of course, not. Forget what I said."
Adelia gave a half-smile. But there could be no mistaking it. Her voice had been as real as anything.
However, she smiled coldly as if she would permit no further questioning. Then she looked towards the door; commanding him to leave.
However, Kuders did not move immediately.
"Why do you hate them so much?"
"Why shouldn"t I hate them?"
But Kuders wasn"t satisfied.
Still, Adelia had no other answer.
And so Kuders thought about it for a while before looking at her again.
"Can I ask just one more question?"
"…What?"
"What if…what if this Crown Prince were to truly repent for his sins? What if he threw out this country b.u.mpkin and got to his knees before you and begged for forgiveness. What would you do?"
The words he spoke were so different from what she had been expecting.
"…That"s impossible."
She said. But her voice trembled slightly.
"But if it did happen? If it could happen, what would you do?"
"I…"
Her lips froze. Her tongue would not help her form the words.
"I would never forgive him."
Her hatred was real.
That was for certain.
However, it had taken at least three seconds for those words to come out…that was much too long—what did it mean? Even she could not explain it to herself.
Translator: Hope you enjoy the series so far…
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