"It's my brother's fault thinking people will be grateful." A sad smile formed on Primula's face as she recalled him hugging her under the gray sky and crying like a little child.
The young Primula might not have understood anything but she knew how heartbroken Varian was from the death of Kyle and Maya.
After his mother's death which threw him into a disarray, this was the worst loss he experienced. While it was thousands of years for them, Varian only had a two year period before losing them.
He must've regretted not spending time with them a lot. But even if he didn't want to go outside, what could he do? Staying inside safely was not an option when someone like Immortal was preparing to hunt him down.
Now, his life remained at risk due to his kindness.
"He doesn't want to sacrifice those ungrateful bastards even when doing that would've secured his life without any worry."
"Kuh! Ungrateful? A devil like him trapping us in this hell like beasts and calling us ungrateful, kuh! Ahahahaha!" Eveline cackled, blood spilling out of her lips and eyes brimming with mania.
Primula pursed her lips and said in a calm voice. "I'll talk with my brother. If they're not all killed when this ends, I'll ask him to let go of everyone who wants to leave Hortus. It'd be preferable if everyone left. It's sickening how ungrateful people can be.
These people don't deserve the world my brother made by pouring his blood and sweat.
My grandma shouldn't have suffered for you ungrateful lot. Even dogs know to be loyal but you! You are the worst of the worst!
To even think you have the blood of elves and nymphs flowing in you. Your ancestors lived in real prisons until my brother freed them all!"
"Lies! Absolute lies!" Eveline screamed, her body quivering with rage. "He did something to my ancestors! The nymphs are almost extinct now! He's the reason! The devil charmed them and took away their souls! The damned devil! He's the worst scum to ever exist!"
"Heh," Primula chuckled at the round of insults and patted the cheek of the woman. In a soft voice that didn't seem appropriate for the bloody visage, she said. "Do you know why I kept you alive so far?"
Eveline's body shuddered and her face turned pale. A creepy feeling filled her from the bottom of her feet to the top of her head, the primitive fear of the unknown enveloped her body and soul.
"You made three sins, each bigger than the last.
First, you're the only one alive from that day.
Second, you were so proud to make that scar on my grandmother's face.
Third, and the worst of them all, you used such words to describe us siblings.
Guess what? I have a lot of torture techniques I haven't used on anyone since they're too horrible even for death row prisoners.
I'll give you the honor, you'll soon the taste the wrath of Primula Konstant."
"N-No, No! Alison is just a pawn o—mfff!"
Eveline's head jerked back violently and blood exploded out of her mouth like some balloon burst.
Primula rubbed the blood off her glove and nodded in satisfaction "No wonder he always brags about punching people in the face when they're talking. The satisfaction is something else, alright."
With a flick of her wrist, Primula threw Eveline into a forest.
The empress of the world, the supreme leader of one of the three empires, landed at the feet of Alison.
Looking up at the face of the woman who taught her the skills of administration many, many years ago, Eveline shivered but the voice came out on its own. "M-Master."
Primula flew down, her clothes now as clean as new and said with an urgent expression. "Grandma, I sealed her powers. Do whatever you want with her. But keep her alive, I'll need her later. Oh and please take care of the mess after their deaths."
"Wait, where are you going?" Alison yelled. "It's too much work for me!"
"Imperial Secretary Alison!" Primula's voice sounded from the sky even as she disappeared. "You are hereby tasked with the duties of royal administration by Empress Primula while she visits her brother."
"You siblings?! Are you kidding me? Come back, hey!" Alison yelled at the sky and after nothing happened for minutes, she lowered her head and sighed.
The scar…stung more today.
And the person who gave the scar…
"Eveline,"
"Y-Yes!"
"We need to talk. About everything."
The lady on the ground shivered like a bucket of cold water was poured onto her.
Eveline's intuition told her to kill herself right away. Not because of the potential pain that Primula threatened with but because of the calm gaze given by Alison.
It didn't promise torture. It only assured her of some words that would be told.
She would soon learn the 'truth'. A truth that would shatter her soul.
For a revolutionary who staked everything and covered every misdeed of hers under the narrative of 'Freedom', nothing could be more cruel than learning that her entire cause had been wrong from the start.
"N-No, please kill me! Kill me!"
"…"
On the other hand, Primula who overused her powers was facing a harsh backlash and was at risk of turning back into her original age at any moment.
In a few seconds, she reached Isadora and Aurora who were still laying the formations. Jumping down from the sky, she sealed her powers and clenched her fists. "Send me in! Send me in! I'm going to turn into a child soon!"
"…But why do you want to go in?" Isadora looked at the girl with a hint of suspicion. "You'll have to seal all your powers and spent a lot of time in there. You're better off practicing and trying to hit pseudo divine."
"All of that comes later! Brother must be very lonely there! It's been years for him! I have to accompany him!"
Isadora narrowed her eyes as she glanced at Primula with a sharp gaze before shaking her head and turning to Miss Calamity. "Aurora."
"Ah, yes, yes!" That cold voice caused Miss Calamity to nearly jump on the spot.
After looking at Isadora's face and understanding her opinion, Aurora gestured to Primula. "Come with me. I'll seal your powers once again for safety and send you in."
"Un!" Primula nodded and before she took a few steps, she began to transform.
"Oh no." Aurora sighed and covered her ears.
"Huh?" Primula looked down at her hands and the memory of bloodshed flashed in her mind. Tears swirled in her eyes uncontrollably and she began to wail. "No….."
"Send her, send her away soon!" Isadora waved her hand with an expression of annoyance.
Aurora sighed and picked up the crying little girl. Before Primula could get the irritated Isadora to spank her for disturbing the work, she jumped away in silent steps, towards her brother-in-law.
"Go in, but come back after a while, okay? Don't disturb him at any cost."
"I know! I know! I'm not a child!" Primula pouted and walked into the thin white barrier with an eager expression.