Chapter 33: She is branded ?
Badum!
Badum!
Yen felt her heart pounding rapidly as she found herself trapped beneath the Duke’s calm gaze.
Her entire body felt cold, as though she had fallen into icy water.
But that wasn’t all.
The Elders were also looking at her, their attention completely focused on her.
Seeing how tense the room had become, Ronan mentally whistled as he quietly took a step away from Yen.
Me? Her? We don’t know each other... as you can see.
Ronan tried to make himself as inconspicuous as possible.
These people were all King Realm experts.
That was practically two major realms above him.
No, thank you.
Meanwhile, Ronan’s small movement didn’t escape Yen’s notice.
Her eyes widened.
Wait... what was that for? Why did you move away from me?
You’re my owner, you know! Shouldn’t you be standing with your slave?
Unfortunately, Bama began speaking, making Yen’s situation even worse.
"Father... she was the one who assassinated me in that city."
For a split second, everyone present seemed to see the same terrifying scene.
An entire kingdom was reduced to ruins.
Blood rained from the sky as flesh and organs were scattered across the battlefield.
They didn’t know whether it was an illusion caused by the Duke’s killing intent, but they could almost feel the entire Duke’s Mansion tremble beneath his anger.
Perhaps even the Destal Kingdom itself had trembled beneath the Duke’s fury.
"Son, tell me more."
The Duke’s voice was far calmer than before.
But somehow, the calmer his voice became, the more terrifying it felt.
And two people were the most frightened.
One was obviously Yen.
After all, she had tried to assassinate Bama.
The other was Ronan.
If I had slipped up...
If the System had allowed me to scan the Duke and I had been exposed as an undead...
What would have happened to me?
This was a Supreme Realm expert.
Just a glimpse of his power could potentially bring kingdoms to their knees.
And this woman had actually dared to assassinate his son?
Ronan quietly took another two steps away from Yen.
You... you’re bad luck.
Yen almost seemed to feel his gaze.
But before she could react, Bama began explaining what had happened.
By the time he finished, Yen already felt as though she were dead.
Sweat covered her back, soaking through her clothes and causing them to cling to her body.
The Duke simply raised his palm.
Ronan’s eyes widened in shock.
Yen’s body suddenly lifted into the air as though an invisible hand had grabbed her.
She floated toward the Duke, stopping only a few inches from him.
An invisible force constricted her throat.
She began choking.
Her arms and legs flailed helplessly in the air, but it was useless.
Yen finally realized something.
Death was calling for her.
But she didn’t want to die.
She still wanted to live.
More importantly...
She still wanted to kill Bama.
Her sister’s death and the trauma she had endured couldn’t have been for nothing.
Yet as all hope disappeared, Ronan silently began reciting the sutra in his mind, preparing to send Yen on her way.
Then Bama suddenly spoke.
"Father... you can’t kill her."
Silence filled the room.
Even Yen stopped struggling for a moment.
Huh? What is this kid saying?
The Elders couldn’t help but look at Bama in confusion.
Even the Duke was surprised.
This was the woman who had tried to kill his son.
What did he mean by he couldn’t kill her?
An Elder suddenly spoke.
"Ah... what a wise decision. You want us to soul-search her first, don’t you? That way, we can discover who she works for and where she came from."
The Duke’s eyes widened slightly.
For a moment, he had completely forgotten about that possibility.
’This boy...’
’Perhaps he isn’t as foolish as we thought.’
Bama had actually thought things through.
This was good.
Very good.
Of course, if Ronan heard that, he would probably disagree.
Bama doesn’t look particularly bright to him.
"Not exactly, Father," Bama suddenly said.
"She’s the slave of the Maiden."
His words immediately caught everyone off guard.
But one particular word caught their attention.
Maiden?
Who?
Bama suddenly turned toward Ronan and excitedly introduced him.
"She came from a foreign kingdom outside our continent. She’s humble, never speaks, and is incredibly kind."
"Even on the night of the incident, I was... was..."
Bama lowered his head shyly.
"I was stalking her, yet she still came forward to save me when this assassin attacked."
Everyone’s attention immediately shifted toward Ronan.
He had previously been enjoying the spectacle from the sidelines while desperately distancing himself from Yen.
The moment he heard Bama’s words, his face twitched.
What... what is wrong with you?
No, seriously. Did I offend you in my past life?
Bama... oh, Bama.
You fucking idiot.
Ronan cursed Bama’s entire eighteenth generation in his mind.
"He is right. The Maiden was the one who rescued him."
Selak spoke from the side, confirming Bama’s words.
Ronan’s eyes widened.
You too?!
He suddenly felt betrayed.
This world is too cruel.
All he wanted was to remain invisible.
But apparently, Bama was determined to drag him into the spotlight.
What do I have to do with Yen?!
You people should just kill her! I’d even be happy about it!
Why did you have to mention me?!
Every eye in the room was now fixed on Ronan.
He felt extremely uncomfortable.
Ronan did his best to act naturally.
But there was one massive problem.
A Supreme Realm expert was staring directly at him.
And, by the way...
Yen was still floating in the air, being choked by an invisible force.
while Ronan was annoyed by the situation, the Elders and even the Duke were stunned.
What... what was this?
Those crimson eyes.
Those soft eyebrows.
Those particularly ordinary clothes that somehow looked unique on her.
Despite wearing the simplest attire, she radiated an indescribable noble aura.
She was dressed in the most ordinary clothes, yet somehow, she seemed to shine even brighter than the most beautiful maidens dressed in luxurious garments.
Seeing that even his father had been momentarily captivated by Ronan’s "beauty," Bama couldn’t help but feel proud.
Yes, Father. This is her.
Even you, a Supreme Realm expert, are stunned by her beauty.
Bama’s pride grew, and he began exaggerating Ronan’s accomplishments.
He claimed that even before Ronan entered the city, she had been followed by countless men from various towns and villages, and even by people from a distant kingdom.
The more Ronan listened, the more his body trembled.
You bastard... what the hell are you talking about?!
But when Ronan glanced at the Duke and the Elders, all hope left him.
They were actually nodding along as they listened.
They seemed to believe every word Bama was saying.
I’m fucked.
"So, I branded the slave to the Maiden," Bama suddenly continued. "She now controls the life and death of the assassin."
The Duke and the Elders finally snapped out of their trance.
Their expressions changed instantly.
They turned toward Yen.
And sure enough, a slave collar was clearly visible around her neck.
"Bama..."
The Duke stared at his son.
"You branded her to the Maiden?"
For a moment, he wondered if he had heard incorrectly.
Bama simply nodded.
The Duke and the Elders exchanged glances before simultaneously sucking in a cold breath.
They were genuinely shocked.