Chapter 14: Repaying Good With Evil

Josh Aratat's gaze burned with an intensity that could melt steel as he leveled it on Jerusha. "Is this how you would repay those who saved your life? You are so rotten, Jerusha..." Josh said coldly, gripping the bronze kingly staff tightly in his right hand.

Jerusha tilted her head slightly, a wicked smirk spreading across her face. "Oh, so you know who I am, and yet you chose to save me? How noble… and foolish." Her voice dripped with mockery, her confidence unwavering, not feeling the least bit affected by what Josh had said.

Jerusha stoped and stared at the masked Josh as a thought formed in her mind, "How did you come about to discover my real name, and my identity, you must be very well informed..., or maybe that palace maid/whore beside you told you..." princess Jerusha said as she glanced at Lola.

She had recognized Lola from the very first moment she awoke in the hut, and that is why she attacked her first, because she thought she was still a powerless mortal.

During her recuperation, Lola had had to strip her, after she had carried her inside the hut and placed her on the comfortable make shift bed, in order to dry her blood, wash her skin and treat the injuries on her body.

And Lola had not dressed the unconscious Jerusha back because she still needed to administer one more round of morning, afternoon, and night medicinal ointment and syrup.

As Jerusha stood there, her half nakedness were exposed. Her breasts were hanging loosely as she stood to face Josh, Conrad and Lola. From the top of her smooth shoulders to the edge of her pubic hair, were hanging in the air like a sign board advertisment and she wasn't bothered by that, in fact she wanted to check the reaction of the men in the room.

Conrad Stan had his eyes bulging from what he was seeing. Her skin was so supple, and the bulge of her hanging member lit a fire beneath his legs that he had a hard time controlling.

Jerusha noticed Conrad Stan's struggle and smiled. "Do you like what you see?" She asked, which made Conrad Stan to forcefully look away in embarrassment.

Conrad Stan's reaction betrayed him. His face flushed, and his gaze flickered nervously to the floor, his embarrassment palpable. "I—" he stammered but couldn't finish.

Jerusha smiled, "too easy!" She was proud of her abilities as a vixen, she had brought down under her control, the great Amiel Racta, who because of her beauty, abandoned years of friendship with the first prince Balek to be her personal play thing, she could boast of her ability to toy with anyone.

However, something strange caught her eyes. This stranger in a mask (Josh Aratat), wasn't the least bit affected by her, in fact, she could sense that he was irritated. She frowned slightly and then almost instantly pushed out that thought, and in the process she regained her composure and decided to dress.

Slowly, Jerusha picked up her inner dress, and wore it, then she took her breast covering and gently and seductively placed it over her hanging breasts, then she put on her royal robe, followed by her weapons and head tie.

"You stupid witch, I should have killed you when I had the chance ..." Lola suddenly shouted in anger as she finally recovered from the shock of nearly escaping death.

Jerusha's lips twisted into a cruel smile as her attention shifted to Lola. "So, you've stopped fawning over my half-brother now that he's dead? How convenient. Now you've thrown yourself at this one." Her voice dripped with venom, her words designed to emotionally injure Lola. "Good luck with that."

Lola's fists clenched, her glare murderous. Every fiber of her being screamed for her to attack, but Josh's presence anchored her, keeping her from acting on impulse. She wished she could tell her that Josh was right there in the room, but she would not destroy their ambitions because of a moment of anger.

Jerusha turned toward the door, her tone casual but laced with malice. "Anyway, this has started to bore me. But since you saved my life, let me return the favor with a tip that might save yours. My half brother, Balek, the 1st Prince, has sent his men to Region 32. They'll be here in a day or two."

Before anyone could react, Jerusha moved. With a fluid, almost predatory grace, she dashed out of the mud house and disappeared into the night, leaving behind an air thick with tension and unease.

Conrad Stan exhaled shakily, his composure finally breaking as he slumped to the ground, his face flushed with embarrassment. Lola, on the other hand, turned to Josh, her eyes blazing with fury.

"You cannot let her go!" she snapped, her voice rising with urgency. "If she reaches Jaden, we're finished. And we need to leave now! If Balek has sent someone to conquer this region, it's most likely Amiel Racta—his right-hand man. That monster is ruthless, and he's at the sixth level of the Ocean Opening Realm! Nobody in this entire province can match him!"

Her words carried fear that was quickly spilling into panic, but Josh remained unmoved.

"This is where we make our stand," Josh replied calmly, his voice steady as a rock.

Lola blinked, momentarily stunned by his response. "My prince…" she stammered, her disbelief evident.

Josh didn't waver. "Just because they're more powerful doesn't guarantee their victory," he said, his tone laced with quiet confidence.

"What...?" Both Conrad Stan and Lola exchanged wide-eyed glances, their shock mirroring each other.

Josh's gaze was firm, resolute. "We will lead Region 32 and defeat Balek's men."

Silence filled the room, broken only by the distant howling of the wind. Both Lola and Conrad looked at him as though he'd lost his mind. They couldn't fathom the audacity—or perhaps the madness—of his declaration.

Conrad was the first to speak, his voice heavy with resignation. "I will die with you, my prince. Whatever you need me to do..." He had already accepted his fate, ready to throw himself into what seemed like a hopeless cause.

"Me too," Lola sighed after a long pause. Her face was grim, her spirit braced for the worst.

Josh's expression showed visible shock as he tried to make them understand . "Nobody is dying," he said firmly. Then his expression softened, though his resolve remained unshaken "Just follow my instructions. I have a plan."

His words were reassuring, but to his subordinates, they felt like the calm before a slaughter. Despite Josh's confidence, both Lola and Conrad Stan couldn't shake the feeling that they were lambs walking willingly into the jaws of a wolf.