Kingdom Bloodline

Chapter 213 The Witch's Curse

In that instant, Thales understood many things.

Outside Dragonsreach, Nikolai had told him that the "King's men" were investigating within the Star Realm and had discovered clues about the Blade of Calamity's assassination attempt on Moral.

Furthermore, Thales' assassination attempt before the fortress was also related to the Sword of Calamity. The two clues converged, thus implicating Grand Duke Pefit.

But Miranda and Cohen have confirmed that the Sword of Calamity was merely a pretext to lure them there.

In other words... the information that the so-called "King's men" uncovered was also a lie, an excuse to draw King Nunn's attention to Pefit.

The problem is, who among “the King’s men”—the entire Exster—is both qualified and capable of acting as King Nunn’s eyes and ears, investigating cases across borders for him, and then sending back fabricated false intelligence?
And now...

Thales looked at the woman in the red robe with a complicated expression, watching her stand calmly and kindly in front of the thick door with her hands clasped together.

Not only that.

Why did Lunba's massive operation go unnoticed in Longxiao City? Why was his army able to sneak into the city undetected? Why was he able to easily find so many connections...?

Thales took a deep breath and brought his attention back to the present moment.

Raphael stood at the front, with Cohen and Miranda on his left and right respectively.

The young man from the secret service no longer had the composure he once had; instead, his face was filled with deep vigilance and solemnity.

“I thought it would be someone coming to relieve us or for inspection, but…” Cohen looked at the Scarlet Witch with a suspicious expression and whispered cautiously:
"This is bad, isn't it—who is that old woman?"

“This is bad,” Miranda replied softly behind Raphael, gripping the hilt of her sword. “I think it’s the Scarlet Witch.”

Cohen stopped talking, and his eyebrows furrowed again.

Thales gripped the little rascal behind him tightly, feeling the slight tremor in her palm.

He took a deep breath and told himself to stay calm.

If the Scarlet Witch is also involved, then that means...

“Ms. Cassan,” Raphael said coldly, looking at the old woman before him, “no wonder I got in so easily.”

"You knew I would come, so you deliberately set a trap?"

Cassan looked at him quietly, then suddenly grinned.

“I’ve been dealing with the secret service since I was eight years old,” the old woman said with a serene expression and without a trace of emotion in her eyes. “I know you all too well.”

Raphael's expression shifted slightly.

Thales raised an eyebrow: Eight years old?

Is child labor common in darkrooms?
He cursed secretly.

"As for you."

“You’re still too young, kid,” the Scarlet Witch said calmly. “If it were Morat, he would probably have sensed something was wrong when he entered the city.”

Raphael remained silent, his red eyes trembling slightly, but the tension on his face did not ease in the slightest.

Having been immersed in the secret department for many years, he knew all too well how terrifying the power was hidden within this seemingly frail old woman.

“Damn it,” Cohen turned his head and his lips twitched slightly, “That’s the Scarlet Witch? She’s ambushing us?”

Rolf shook his head, his face serious—he sensed something in the wind.

“As you can see,” Miranda said, her gaze fixed on the door behind Cassandra, “I can sense that there are quite a few people lying in ambush outside.”

Their greatest advantage—the ability to stealthily advance and break through unexpectedly—has now vanished.

Wyatt gritted his teeth, his face grim. The valet standing protectively in front of Thales whispered, "She's standing very close to us. At this distance, perhaps we can..."

“No.” Miranda answered decisively.

Cohen frowned: "Why?"

“Because she is the Scarlet Witch.” Raphael’s gaze remained unchanged, his lips slightly parted, as he answered for Miranda.

Only a fool would believe that she would intercept them without any preparation.

Don't act rashly.

Upon hearing this, the guard gritted his teeth in reluctance.

I've probably encountered half of the bad luck of my life today.

“Let’s see if there are any other exits,” Miranda whispered. “If all else fails, we can try to break out from her – they’re definitely well-prepared.”

Just then, Ms. Cassan across from them chuckled softly.

The laughter was old, yet warm and peaceful.

As her laughter rang out, everyone on Xingchen's side felt as if they were facing a formidable enemy.

“Raphael Lindbergh, a wandering orphan from the desert, is now the young man most valued by the Black Prophet,” Cassan said with a smile, “and this is how you repay the Aarond family, who raised and nurtured you for twelve years?”

"What, has Duke Aaron been unkind to you? Why did you betray him?"

Raphael remained motionless.

Thales's expression changed.

He glanced at the other two with some concern, but Miranda seemed oblivious, while Cohen looked puzzled.

“But you know this too—look at your eyes,” Cassan sighed, continuing with a hint of regret, “you can never be one of them.”

In Thales' eyes, Raphael's back remained unmoved.

But from his sleeve, which was cut in half, the prince noticed that the tendons in Raphael's wrist twitched slightly.

He was wavering—a voice whispered in Thales's mind.

“And you, Miss Aarond,” the Scarlet Witch turned to look at Miranda, her eyes filled with a mother’s loving gaze toward her daughter, “have you thought about it?”

Miranda was taken aback.

“Why Raphael? Why him?” Cassan asked slowly. “Why would the Black Prophet choose someone as powerless as him, instead of any promising nobleman?”

The female swordsman, whose expression was usually indifferent, couldn't help but frown slightly upon hearing this.

"Don't listen to her!"

Raphael turned to face the Scarlet Witch, his expression one of grave danger: "Not a single word... can be heard!"

“Look at your father… If you still cherish the North and do not wish for this precious land to be taken away by despicable means, Northland girl,” the Scarlet Witch smiled and said, “the Kingdom of Exter will always keep its doors open to you—the Northland belongs only to the Northland people.”

Thales frowned slightly—he felt there was something off about that statement. But Miranda just frowned deeply and remained silent.

I don't know what she was thinking.

The Scarlet Witch turned her head again to look at the tall, blond figure.

Cohen, who was already worried, suddenly felt a chill run down his spine.

“Ah, Guard Officer Cohen Karabyan from the Vora Territory,” this time, Cassan smiled broadly, “you…”

"and many more!"

Cohen's expression changed, and he interrupted her directly: "Stop talking nonsense, old woman!"

Remembering Raphael's warning, Cohen's face hardened, and he gripped the hilt of his sword with a fierce expression.

He shook his head violently, nervously blurting out, "I won't listen to a single word you say!"

Miranda rolled her eyes and exhaled through her nose.

Raphael raised an eyebrow slightly.

This guy... he's so nervous he's talking incoherently.

But the Scarlet Witch, seeing Cohen's impolite manner, simply shook her head and smiled, her expression serene.

It's like watching a naughty little child.

“Oh no, little Cohen,” Cassan shook her head, a wry smile on her face, and said helplessly, “I just wanted to say…”

"You're really handsome."

Cohen's fierce and menacing expression froze.

Not only him, but Thales also raised his eyebrows.

what?
"what?"

Cohen looked bewildered. He blinked and asked in surprise, "You just said..."

"I told you, don't listen to her!"

“The words of the Red Robe are intoxicating, and the curses of the witch are bewitching,” Raphael exhaled sharply, constantly surveying his surroundings. “The Red Witch Cassan is extremely good at lying; you can’t believe a single word she says.”

"She's the only person in the world who can fool the Black Prophet!"

Cassandra sighed, shook her head helplessly, and her eyes seemed to say: Is that so?

Tyre was slightly startled.

Fooling the Black Prophet?
He recalled his confrontation with Morat in the Mindis Hall, Morat's supernatural abilities, and the interrogation he had barely managed to get through with the help of Yodl and Serena.

And the Scarlet Witch... actually managed to fool that old man in black?

Wouldn't that be the nemesis of Morat's ability to detect lies?
Cohen was completely taken aback.

and many more.

"She... she lied?" Cohen blinked, somewhat puzzled, and turned his head to say, "But she just said I'm handsome..."

Miranda and Raphael turned around together, their faces contorted with rage, and shouted at the same time:

"Shut up!"

Cohen had no choice but to close his mouth in frustration.

“God, I have a feeling,” Wyman sighed, “that she can demoralize us by half with just her words.”

Rolf muttered something incomprehensible.

Thales didn't speak; he just stared at the Scarlet Witch with a chill running down his spine.

The other side was clearly only one person, but the second prince felt at that moment that even if everyone on this side were tied together, they would not be as good as one person on the other side.

“There are no other exits.” Miranda turned her gaze away from the corner and shook her head.

"What do we do now?" Cohen sighed, muttering in dissatisfaction, "Just wait and see?"

“I’ll buy you time, you all slowly disperse,” Raphael said with a slight smirk—Thales didn’t know how he had mastered the skill of speaking without moving his lips—“Look for an opportunity to attack together and see if we can capture her.”

“I’ve heard that the Scarlet Witch isn’t very powerful,” Raphael narrowed his eyes, “but be careful, she might be carrying something like an alchemical orb.”

"Okay... wait, what do you mean by 'it is said'?"

"It means exactly what it says: It is said."

However, in the next moment, Thales became the next target of the Scarlet Witch's attack.

“Prince Thales,” the old woman said, her gaze fixed on the prince, her expression complex and filled with pity, “it is my honor to see you again.”

Thales' expression shifted slightly: "Of course, it would be my honor—if I weren't in the cell, and if you weren't on Rumba's side."

“Your Highness,” Raphael shook his head slightly at Thales, his eyes narrowing, “a lie.”

Thales nodded.

The second prince kept repeating Raphael's words about the "witch's curse" in his mind to warn himself to be careful.

Compared to facing the Black Prophet in the Mindis Hall, compared to the feeling Morat gave him, compared to the immense pressure that kept his nerves constantly on edge...

The old woman gave him a vague sense of unease, making him feel uneasy and inexplicably fearful.

In particular—the anxiety and trepidation about what she was about to say.

Cassan sighed, shook her head at him sincerely, and the wrinkles on her face rippled slightly, as if she were very helpless.

"I'm so sorry, but since you've already come to the dragon's kingdom..."

"Given that you will soon be returning to your cell, and may never be free again," the old woman said mournfully.
"Is there anything else you want to say...?"

"Would you like me to bring this to her?"

Thales frowned slightly, a sense of unease creeping into his mind: "Who?"

“Who else could it be?” Cassan sighed, her expression subtle, a smile playing on her lips, as if she were recalling something. “Of course, it’s someone beautiful and intelligent…”

"Ms. Seranjelana".

Upon hearing that name, Telston immediately frowned.

(End of this chapter)