Chapter 37. Her face stained with blood
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Late at night, the sound of a door opening came muffled.
A premonitory energy shook Ihedia awake.
She had heard a similar sound when Monica had disappeared the day before.
An unnerving premonition made it impossible for her to go back to sleep.
3 glanced around before leaving the room.
She wanted to make sure her coworkers were still sleeping.
Ihedia didn't stir, but paid attention to her every move.
After 3 (Isabel) left the room, Ihedia carefully rose to her feet.
Her footsteps were muffled, and she cautiously followed behind her.
The blizzard that was swirling around them made it hard to see.
When she finally managed to open her eyes after the wind had passed, she saw 3 walking in the distance toward the main house.
Ihedia quickly ran after her to close the gap.
Perhaps it was the heat of the day, but she didn't seem to feel any signs of being followed.
Just in case, 3 glanced back as Ihedia ducked into a nearby tree.
It was a close call.
When she was sure no one was there, 3 moved forward again.
The number of people guarding the mansion had dwindled considerably, but the outbuildings were still tightly controlled to prevent anyone from crossing into the main house.
If she continued in that direction, she would almost certainly run into the guards at the entrance.
'3 can't be unaware of that either...................'
As expected, when 3 appeared at the entrance to the main building, a group of burly men blocked her way.
"Who are you?"
One of the men shoved 3's shoulder, giving her a rough look.
"Ugh!"
It was only a matter of seconds before 3 drew a dagger from her holster and stabbed the man in the neck.
As the man next to her tried to react and strike back, the sharp knife plunged into the center of his heart.
Blood spurted from the wound, splattering across the snow.
The guards, caught off guard, never expecting a woman to swing a knife at a man, fell to the ground before he could mount a proper counterattack.
Ihedia clamped her hand over her mouth, barely holding back the scream that threatened to erupt.
She was trying to escape.
But 3's steps were not toward the doorway that led outside, but toward the interior of the main building.
Blood dripped from the knife in her hand.
'If escape is not your intention, perhaps..............'
Ihedia had an ominous suspicion that 3 was planning to harm someone in the Bayate family.
Two of Bayate’s bodyguards had already been killed.
3 was doing this dangerous work for the sake of death.
Inevitably, it would be those who remained who would pay the price.
With more than half of the outbuilding's population languishing with a terrible illness, one of them murdered an Anut.
Who 3 was, and why she did it, would come later.
Ihedia's pace quickened, fearing that not everyone in the outbuilding would be safe.
A trail of blood led to the entrance of the building.
Ihedia stood in the doorway and watched 3's behavior through the open doorway.
3 stood there for a moment, looking around.
Perhaps she wasn't sure where the person she was looking for was.
Just then, a servant passing through the concourse saw her and started to scream in surprise, but she quickly held the knife to his throat.
"Where is Netira Bayate?"
The servant yelped at the sharp object against his throat and stopped breathing.
Just then, another servant saw the scene from the opposite direction.
"You, who are you?"
Then 3 flung another dagger from her holster and stuck it into the man's forehead.
"Hmph."
Watching, Ihedia ran at full speed toward the building's other entrance.
When she opened Netira's bedroom door, she found her in a deep sleep, unaware of anything.
Ihedia quickly shook her awake.
"Netira."
"Mmm, what's wrong."
"Netira, wake up quickly."
Netira, startled awake by the sudden commotion, shot back irritably.
"Are you crazy?"
"You need to get out of here."
"What do you mean all of a sudden?"
"Now..................."
Ihedia's words were interrupted by 3, who appeared with a knife stained red with the blood of several people.
Both Netira and Ihedia's tongues were instantly tied at the sight of the ghostly, eerie woman.
Terrified, Netira threw up her hands and hid behind Ihedia.
Ihedia spoke to 3 in a calm voice.
"3, I don't know what's going on with you, but this is not a good idea."
3 slowly closed the gap.
Ihedia’s heart sank as she drew closer with each step.
"If you harm this person, the slaves in the outbuildings will not be safe, and the people of Aselia here will be lumped in with you and tortured to death................."
“What does that have to do with me?"
3 tilted her head sharply and let out a grotesque, crooked laugh.
It was then that Netira, still hiding behind Ihedia's back, barely cleared her throat, still shaking.
"Hey, tell me what you want, I'll listen to anything."
"Whatever I want.................."
Netira thought that 3 was flattered by her offer.
It's what a slave wants, obviously.
Then Netira spoke with a little more courage.
"Yes, I can help you escape from Anut if you want, and I can pay you a lot of money."
Of course, she didn't mean it.
Netira was gnashing her teeth, thinking that if she could only get out of this crisis, she would cut off the hands and feet of the bitch who looked down on her as if she were nothing.
"Well, what I want is to cut off your head and hang it where everyone can see it, but I wonder if you'll allow me to do that."
Netira's eyes widened at the chilling words.
No freedom, no money, no slavery.
There was no room for compromise.
“Ah, why are you doing this to me? It's not my fault that Aselia is ruined!"
Netira understood that 3 wanted to settle the score for the destruction of her homeland.
Why else would she risk her life to barge into her bedroom and do this insane thing?
It wasn't like she had a face like the other slaves.
She hadn't done anything to cause 3 to hold a grudge.
So Netira found the whole situation unfair.
Reading her expression, 3 closed the distance a bit more with a nonchalant gesture.
"Yes, you are innocent."
"..."
"But my innocent daughter was also decapitated by Odant and hung on the ramparts, that small, fragile child."
A woman with a grudge against her ancestors.
3 would not give in to her will, no matter what happened.
It felt like they were trapped on a sinking ship.
3 took a step closer, her eyes had lost their soul.
There was less than a meter between her and Ihedia.
3 tilted her head and peered at Netira behind Ihedia's back.
"Now that I think about it, you look quite a bit like your father."
"...."
"I like it."
3's vacant eyes flashed sharply.
She gripped the knife in her hand with all her might.
"Ackkk."
3 suddenly coughed up a gulp of dark red blood.
The enchantment was wearing off.
Judging from the panicked look on her face, she hadn't expected the effect to be so short-lived.
Just one pill was enough to kill you.
It wouldn't be surprising if she was a corpse right now, having consumed it every day for the rest of her life.
Moreover, 3 had had to expend a lot of energy to deal with all the people she'd encountered before coming here, so even a large amount of magic potion wouldn't have helped.
Ihedia didn't think she would last much longer.
If she could only stall until then...................
As 3 hesitated, Netira shoved Ihedia forward with all her might and ran for the door.
"Kaaaak! Help me!!!!"
3 was about to bring the dagger down on Netira's head.
Ihedia yanked her by the waist with a strong force.
3 flailed, and the dagger grazed Netira's calf instead of her head.
"Ow!"
Netira groaned, falling to the floor in a heap.
As 3 made a furious lunge for Netira, Ihedia grabbed her this time by the waist and held her down.
Losing her cool, 3 grabbed Ihedia by the hair and threw her to the ground.
She then kicked her all over her body without stopping.
The dull pain prevented her from opening her eyes.
Netira took this opportunity to crawl to the door and grab the doorknob.
Meanwhile, 3 had visibly weakened.
Realizing that time was running out, 3's heart sank.
She was about to move when 3 turned her attention back to Netira.
Ihedia grabbed her ankle with the last of her strength.
Then 3 reached for the vase on the nightstand.
She raised it high in the air and was about to smash it down on Ihedia's head.
"Ugh."
A sword suddenly pierced 3's chest and her blood splashed across Ihedia's face.
3 fell to the floor in a heap.
Her eyes, barely open, lost focus.
The wielder of the living, breathing blade that had taken 3's life was Kayan.
His icy gaze fixed on Ihedia's bloodied face in silence.
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