Azrael's View (1)

-Azrael de Revanche POV-

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When we first met each other, I admit, I only helped because I pity her for living in this world.

[14 February 774/Backstory]

"I am Azrael de Revanche, Archduke of the Revanche Dukedom. Welcome to my household."

I introduced myself briefly with my hand on my chest as I walked towards Dorothy's way and took a seat in front of her.

She looked at me with a fully attentive look like she was observing my appearance.

Her curious look disappeared as it continued to turn into a serious with a blend of worried gaze.

"Your Grace, I apologize for the disturbance but I actually came here to discuss something important."

She explained her reason.

'This must be beyond more than formal greetings.'

I shrugged playfully at the thought while studying her expression.

"I think I got that part. Then, what is it that you want to discuss?"

I asked, interested while comfortably pouring the tea inside the teacup on the table that the maid previously served.

I continue to drink it to my heart's content before gazing at her.

'... Dorothy Lucretia O'bell.. huh?'

I recite her name in my thoughts.

"Do you know Chester Silas?"

She asked, straight to the point with an interrogated look.

I raised my brow at her with one hand touching my chin.

I snapped my finger as I remembered that particular event when she mentioned his last name.

"Oh, I heard of him. He is the heir of Silas Countdom, right? The one that was sentenced to death by burning, two days ago?"

She nodded at my statement.

She still gazes at me, which prompted me to continue my exclamation.

I subconsciously smiled at her attitude.

"I don't know him that much. I just knew the fact that he's a noble."

I exclaimed briefly while putting back the cup on the table.

"Chester Silas sent me a bunch of letters that are full of secret codes that I managed to solve. He mentioned something about finding someone from a 'household that stands the second to the royal family' Your household comes to mind."

My eyes slightly react when she mentioned him sending prohibited information which should have been seizure by those knights.

After that, she said that she wanted to know the truth.

I slightly twitch but still tried to mask them with a smile and a playful gesture.

'Oh... Chester that bastard. He must send some important letters to her with secret codes.'

I thought, resentment formed towards the noble as I tried to gaze at her back with an interesting look.

"You know something, right, Your Grace?"

She asked with a determined expression.

I smirked in which I replied to that question.

"I do know."

After that, I ended up telling her a bunch of truth.

Not all of them are the whole truth.

I ended up telling a bunch of lies as well.

After I agreed to help her, she doubted me.

"Why do you want to help me and immediately agree?"

'... I don't understand her.'

I sigh once again because of her reaction while scratching the back of my head.

"Geez, what's with you?"

"Please answer my question, Your Grace."

She was always hotheaded and wanted a full explanation for every question she asked.

'... It was quite troublesome.'

My lips curved into a sinister smile as I looked at her.

"Just because."

When she asked me why I joined her as an ally, it was not because I was using her to complete a goal.

It was more like the guilt I had felt for a long time.

There's something that made me pity her.

The guilt that shouldered me from 120 years ago when Directive Order appeared.

'... Well, maybe this way, I can easily kill Gray Oswald. Maybe I should use my energy to affect her carriage so I can hear everything she said. In fact, this is also one of the works of a Directive Special Knight, right?'

I thought menacingly of a way to kill my one and only head butler in which his presence would be deemed a violation of the Directive Order.

'Since Gray also hides a child who possesses mana... What was his name? Ah...'

I smiled when I finally remembered his name.

'His name is Cristo.'

In my eyes, this is two birds with one stone.

Although Gray has been working here longer than anyone else, I knew he had a secret basement from his household that could possibly have Cristo there.

'First of all, I have to execute Gray and Dorothy because they will violate the order. But I can't just execute Dorothy... Then, I should only execute Gray. That's the best decision.'

After a long day, we ended up going to the basement with the help of Gray who didn't notice anything.

"We must have taken the wrong path."

I exclaimed while putting a hand on my chin as I looked around at the spacious basement.

Dorothy turned her head towards me and lightly smiled.

"No. I'm pretty sure we're lost."

She stated indifferently with no sentimental words.

My eyes went wide and chuckled a little at her exclamation.

"... Let's try another path."

I immediately dodge her previous statement.

She lightly chuckled, but then suddenly felt a bit alert.

"Wait-"

She stopped me for a moment when she saw something moving and took a step closer.

Her eyes widen when she saw a male figure sleeping on a bed.

It was when we just realize that we had entered a bedroom that has no windows and was not even a worthy place to sleep on.

I glance at her reaction before looking at the room.

"There's someone in here-"

I muttered in surprise when I saw the boy.

I gazed at him while investigating his appearance and slightly smile to myself.

'So this is Cristo? I have something to take care of first. So maybe later...'

I turned my head toward Dorothy while putting my hand on her shoulder.

She realized the sudden touch as she looked in my direction.

"We should go. We'll investigate him later."

I looked at her like I do not have much interest or care much about him in which reality I actually am.

I continue to pretend that we have to hurry so she could just abandon him later and take him in.

'It will be a waste to abandoned him like this.'

After all, Cristo is a valuable asset that has been hidden away by Gray for more than 50 years.

When Dorothy left, I turned my head towards Cristo.

I observe him for a while and waited.

Later on, I climb upstairs and suddenly hear the familiar female voice.

"Answer or die?"

Her playful attitude disappeared in an instant as the personality was replaced by a cold tone.

'... Althea Genetta!?'

"What are you doing Miss Althea?"

I exclaimed with a casual smile from Dorothy's back as Dorothy turned her head towards me.

'What is Althea doing here?'

"A-Azrael ..."

"Please lower your blade. I hope you understand that the person that you pointed your blade on is the only heir to the throne of this great Kingdom and my best friend."

I exclaimed politely to Althea, hoping that she will get what I meant.

I realised that she just killed Gray.

'.. That saved me a lot of time. But--Dorothy is not your target.'

After a long, heavy pause, Althea finally lowered her blade.

"Since when did Your Grace became friends with Her Highness?" 

I put on a playful smile before I walk towards Dorothy and clings my arm around her shoulder casually.

"Truth be told. It was when Her Highness decided to investigate me. She was really suspicious of me for something that I don't even know of. It was to the point she requests to meet in my household! However, it was all a misunderstanding on her part. After a lot of talking and discovering that we both love the same genre of books, we immediately get along perfectly like best friends!"

I tried to reason Althea as much as I can, replacing the sentence for 'Dorothy's not your target.'

But she doesn't seem to buy it.

"Ho? If your story is true, why are the three of you are inside Sir Oswald's house?"

She asked as she was still suspicious of me.

"It's because of books~!"

I laugh it off before explaining,

"I know Oswald for quite a long time and I've been borrowing his books."

Althea raised her brow in confusion by my sentence.

"Do you mean, all three of you, like the same genre?"

I glance at Gray's lifeless body.

'Well, I don't care either about him...'

"No, of course not! My head butler collected many genres of books. That's why we came here since we love to see his collections."

"If you already planned this, then, please explain why did he refuse to let me inspect the household."

"I don't know about that."

Althea stayed silent as if she's observing us and she finally sighed as her lips curved into the same playful smile she always wears.

"Sir Oswald's case was indeed unfortunate. This is it for today! I deeply apologize for taking Your Highness and Your Grace's time."

She slightly bows and turned around, passing Gray's lifeless body just like that.

"Also, Sir Oswald's body is going to be burned. Don't move the corpse elsewhere or touch it. He's a sinner and must remain there. I will inform the Directive Knights about this sinner."

I just continue to smile.

'... that problematic woman.'

After saying that without turning back, she exited the mansion without a single apology.

I was not, at the slightest, impressed by her attitude.

Dorothy glance at me with a heavy expression.

"... Azra-"

"His life was indeed unfortunate."

I exclaimed nonchalantly with her eyes widened at me.

"How could you say such a thing?"

I glance at her and responded with a fake smile.

'... because unfairness works well inside this Kingdom, Dorothy.'

-

[16 February 774/Backstory]

Edward Agersia First Order.

The one who almost send me into the depths of hell is standing proudly right in front of me.

"... Oh, so you will attend your butler's execution today?"

He stares at me harshly as he was waiting for my answer.

I slightly gulped and muttered my answer.

"... Yes."

"Aside from that, what do you need?"

The tone and atmosphere he gave off send a shiver down to my spine.

'This guy...'

I was a bit scared and hesitated about my own decision, especially when I have to face him of all people.

I have never calculated every situation or making a difficult plan to protect others before.

--It was always just for myself.

However, this time was different.

I looked straight at him with my hand in my chest as I slightly bowed down in respect.

"... I, Azrael de Revanche Second Order, ask Edward Agersia First Order to not execute Dorothy Lucretia O'bell under any circumstances."

I asked truthfully while carefully finding the right words to not offend him.

'... Please.. at least Dorothy.. please not her...'

He looked at me with his cold expression as he sighed harshly.

"... Fine, then."

That was his clear answer in which I heard and buried inside my head along with the execution.

But little did I know he would betray my expectations.

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