Kingdom Building Game: Starting Out With A Million Upgrade Points!-Chapter 149: A Dagger for Love

The grand manor of Cedric Raine burned like a beacon in the night, its walls crumbling beneath the relentless assault of flames.

Ivan and Abaddon had decimated the little force Cedric had in the blink of an eye, proceeding to reduce his home to ash.

Smoke curled into the sky, carrying the scent of charred wood and bodies.

The only sounds left were the crackling embers and the ragged breathing of Grand Vizier Cedric Raine, who now dangled helplessly in Abaddon's grip in the second floor's dining hall.

The fallen angel held him by the throat, lifting him effortlessly off the ground, his black and white eyes gleaming with amusement.

"You know," Abaddon said, tilting his head, "I was expecting a bit more fight from you. But look at you—trembling, sniveling like a cornered rat." His grip tightened slightly, just enough to make Cedric's gasps more frantic. "Pathetic."

On the floor, Lady Raine knelt, watching the scene unfold with wide, horrified eyes. Tears streamed down her face as she clutched at her chest, her face contorted in anguish.

"P-please," Cedric wheezed, his fingers clawing at Abaddon's wrist. "I'll give you anything—gold, land, secrets… Just spare me."

Abaddon snorted. "Oh, spare you? Now, that's interesting." He flashed a sharp grin. "You know, I was just thinking… it's rather surprising, really— a man of your status, the wealth, the power... and yet, no children."

His gaze darkened as he chuckled darkly. "Don't tell me… you're impotent?"

A flicker of something crossed Cedric's face—shame, fury, denial. Abaddon caught it instantly and burst into laughter.

"Oh, how hilarious!"

He turned to Lady Raine, his smirk widening. "Tell me, dear wife, how disappointing was it? To marry such a man, only to find out he couldn't have children with you?" He sighed theatrically, shaking his head. "And I'm sure he didn't last long to satisfy either. A bastardly combo, truly. If I were him, I'd have joined the clergy. At least then, I wouldn't have to live with the shame of being a man."

"You—" Cedric's face twisted with humiliation and rage, but he could barely choke out a word.

Ivan, who had been leaning against a toppled pillar, finally spoke. With a touch of impatience. "That's enough, Abaddon. We're taking him back alive."

Abaddon sighed in disappointment before loosening his grip. Cedric collapsed to the floor, coughing violently, his body shaking from the sheer terror still gripping him.

"Ah, yes," Abaddon said. "To be executed by our liege, the emperor." He crouched beside Cedric, peering into his sweat-drenched face. "What a pity. It seems you'll live… for now."

Ivan turned to leave, "Grab him and kill the wife, we are leaving." he said.

But then Abaddon held up a hand. "Wait," he said, his grin creeping back. "I'm not done having fun yet."

Ivan narrowed his eyes. "Abaddon—"

"Hear me out," Abaddon interrupted, waving a dismissive hand before turning his gaze back to Cedric. "How about this? You help me kill your wife, and I'll put in a good word for you with the emperor. I'm certain he would be willing to give a man of your talents a second chance."

Lady Raine let out a strangled gasp. "W-what?!"

Cedric, still on his hands and knees, managed a breathless whisper. "I… I would never. I may be a traitor, but I love my wife."

Abaddon hummed thoughtfully before leaning closer, his voice dropping to a whisper.

"The same wife who had an affair with your knight behind your back?"

Cedric's body froze. "What…?" His bloodshot eyes darted to his wife, desperate for reassurance. "W-what is he talking about?"

Lady Raine stiffened, her expression flickering between fear and outrage. "Lies," she spat. "Lies from a fallen angel! You mustn't believe him!"

Cedric clung to that false hope. "I won't be deceived so easily," he muttered, shaking his head, trying to convince himself.

Abaddon merely chuckled. "Oh, what a helpless fool you are. You may not know it, but I have a very distinct sense of smell when it comes to sin, and a very good eyesight for it too. And what I see practically radiating off your wife is betrayal and desire... An affair."

Then he snapped his fingers. "Alright, let's make this simple. If your wife is as loyal as you believe, all she has to do is take a soul oath."

He gestured lazily. "she justs has to place her hand over her chest and swear she never had an affair. If she's telling the truth, she won't be dieing today, instead she will get to die with you in the capital, both of you executed by the emperor, how romantic. If not… well." His smirk widened.

"You kill her. And then, of course, I'll put in the word for you like I mentioned earlier."

Cedric's throat bobbed as he swallowed hard. "And why should I believe a fallen will keep his word?" he rasped.

Abaddon feigned hurt. "Oh, you wound me. But really, do you have a choice?" He leaned in slightly. "Besides… aren't you even a little curious?" His voice dropped to a whisper. "If she cheated on you… because you weren't enough?"

Silence stretched between them, thick and suffocating.

Then, slowly, Cedric turned to his wife. His voice was unsteady, desperate. "All you have to do… is make the oath."

Lady Raine hesitated.

His expression twisted in desperation. "Why are you wasting time?! Just say it and we will get to be together for a while longer! Swear you never—"

But she couldn't. Her lips parted, but no sound came out.

Cedric's breath hitched. "No," he whispered. "No, no, please, don't—"

Then, in a sudden outburst, she screamed. "It's not my fault!" Her voice was shrill, wild with rage and self-justification. "You were too short! And Gondol was a lot longer!"

Cedric's face drained of all color.

"I am a noble lady!" she shrieked. "You can't blame me for this! It's your fault for being… inadequate! It's your fault for failing as a man! And it's your fault for bringing our house to ruin! None of this is my fault!"

A stunned silence followed.

Then—

Abaddon let out a loud, boisterous laugh.

"Oh, that was perfect! Absolutely perfect!!" He wiped at an imaginary tear of amusement. Then, with a dramatic flourish, he pulled a jagged dagger from the Abyss, the blade gleaming with dark energy.

He tossed it to Cedric.

"You know what to do. At least now you will have a future."

Cedric caught the dagger with trembling hands.

It felt unnaturally cold, as though it sapped the warmth from his very soul.

His eyes darted from the blade to his wife, who now stood rigid, chest heaving, her face twisted with anger rather than regret.

The woman he had sworn to love and protect, the woman for whom he had betrayed his emperor, had just spat in his face.

His knuckles turned white as he gripped the hilt, gritting his teeth.

Abaddon watched with amusement, stepping back to admire the scene like an artist appraising his masterpiece.

"Ah, the agony of betrayal," he mused, stretching his arms behind his head. "It's truly something, isn't it? That sting, that hollow feeling inside, like your very soul has been scraped clean."

Ivan, still standing at the side, let out an impatient sigh. "Enough of this. The emperor wants him alive for his execution. If he keeps inhaling all this smoke he will die."

Abaddon barely glanced at him. "Yes, yes, I remember. But surely you don't mind indulging me just a little longer? This is the best entertainment I've had in centuries."

Cedric's breaths came out ragged as he lifted the dagger. His wife's eyes widened, and for the first time that night, she looked truly afraid.

"Cedric," she said, her voice wavering. "You wouldn't… You couldn't."

Her words rang hollow. She had mocked him. She had ridiculed him. And worst of all, she had never once loved him. The thought crashed over him like a tidal wave, drowning every lingering hesitation.

Abaddon grinned. "Oh, she's afraid now, isn't she? Now that the tables have turned." He leaned in slightly. "Do it, Cedric. Show her what a 'useless' man is capable of."

The flames roared around them, casting wild shadows across the ruined dining hall. Cedric's wife took a step back, but there was nowhere to run.

"Cedric!" she screamed. "Think about what you're doing! If you kill me, what will you gain?!"

He stared at her, empty and hollow, before whispering, "Satisfaction."

Then he drove the dagger into her stomach.

Her eyes widened in shock as the blade sank in, tearing through silk and flesh alike. Blood spilled from her lips as she let out a choked gasp, her hands clutching at the dagger that now protruded from her gut.

She staggered, reaching for him, perhaps to plead, perhaps to curse him one last time—

But Cedric wrenched the dagger free and drove it into her again. And again. And again.

By the time he stopped, her once-beautiful gown was soaked through with crimson, and her lifeless body crumpled to the floor.

The flames crackled around them, as though applauding his work.

Abaddon let out a loud sinister laugh. "Oh, now that was something. I must say, I'm impressed."

He clapped his hands together. "I didn't think you had it in you."

Cedric's breath came in shallow gasps. He dropped the dagger, his hands trembling violently. The weight of what he had done crashed down on him like an avalanche. He turned to Abaddon, his eyes hollow and broken.

"I did what you asked," he rasped. "Now… spare me."

Abaddon tilted his head, considering. "Ah, yes, I did say I'd put in a good word for you." He smirked. "But here's the thing, Cedric—whether you lived or died was never in my hands. You were always meant to die."

Cedric's face twisted in horror. "No… No, you gave your word—"

Abaddon cut him off with a burst of laughter. "Oh, you naïve fool. A man who betrays his emperor, a man who lets his house burn, a man who slaughters his own wife? That is not a man worth saving."

Ivan sighed, stepping forward. "We need to move. This building will be crashing down any moment now."

Abaddon shrugged. "Fine, fine." He turned to Cedric, who had collapsed to his knees beside his wife's corpse.

"Don't look so glum. After all, you've accomplished something truly spectacular."

He crouched beside him, whispering into his ear, "You didn't just lose your honor, Cedric."

"You threw it away."

Then he stood, dusting off his armor. "Come on, Ivan. Let's get him chained up before he tries to kill himself and ruins the excitement of his execution."

Cedric didn't fight back as they dragged him from the burning manor. He didn't weep, didn't scream. He had nothing left.

As they stepped outside, the night air was thick with smoke and the distant wails of the remaining household staff. Abaddon stretched, inhaling deeply.

"Ah, what a delightful night." He glanced at Ivan, his grin sharp as a blade. "Don't you think?"

Ivan merely shook his head. "Let's just go."

The flames continued to consume what was left of House Raine, turning everything Cedric had once known to ash.