Transmigrated as Baron, Married with my Lovely Maid-Chapter 25

"Baroness Cecile...! How dare you...?!"

The tall, muscular old man at the front of the incoming assassins removed his hood and the black scarf covering his mouth.

Comparing with other assassins, I can feel this old man have a strong murderous intention and significant pressuring aura.

His sharp gaze fixed on Cecile.

"General Hadari...you finally show yourself. Good. I won’t have to waste time and energy searching for you," Cecile replied calmly, slowly placing her right palm on the hilt of one of the swords sheathed behind her waist.

"What declaration did you just say to the people of Thronvale...?! You have violated our loyal loyalty to Thornvale! We have been in the shadows, awaiting the return of Baron Chev and you to reclaim Thornvale’s glory, but what have you done?! You joined Vermillion...!" Hadari exclaimed, almost out of breath with rage.

Well, I could already imagine the disappointment of those loyalists who had nearly killed my soldiers and me so many times, then they facing the ugly truth of power shifting.

But I’m sure Cecile had a way to deal with it.

"Thornvale is finished, and Vermillion has helped us all so we don’t become a pile of corpses in this city. Don’t be shy, Hadari...! You and your troops are also safe thanks to Vermillion’s help...! Now you’re asking me to fight them back...?! You’re crazy...!" Cecile exclaimed firmly.

Ah, what a great way to counter that, Cecile.

I smiled when I saw Hadari grit his teeth in annoyance, unable to immediately respond to Cecile’s apt argument.

Since Cecile agreed to become my mistress, I’ve been keeping her updated on the latest conditions in Thornvale City; such as the number of people who have been cured, the number of deaths due to failed cures, and also the attacks by Cecile’s loyalists that have been constantly harassing my troops.

Cecilia had certainly anticipated her loyalists’ movements, and certainly their disappointment when she chose to join me.

"Baroness Cecile...! This isn’t about reciprocation...it’s about our dignity...! Thornvale’s dignity...! How easily can you throw Thornvale away, declaring that we’re part of Vermillion just because of that favor...?! Shameful...! Please return to Thornvale, Baroness Cecile...!" Hadari shouted angrily.

"Thornvale is over in my hands, Hadari...! All of you loyalists, join me in rebuilding Vermillion...! I’m sure Vermillion is willing to protect us all...!" Cecile retorted.

"Everyone! Don’t listen to Baroness Cecile, who has a corrupted heart and mind! Anyone who still wants to revive Thornvale’s glory, stay within my ranks!"

The situation was getting increasingly heated and tense.

Even from afar, I could hear whispers from the assassins, who seemed conflicted about choosing between Hadari and Cecile.

"Baroness Cecile has changed...! We should remain within General Hadari’s ranks...!"

"It seems Baroness Cecile was right. Vermillion saved my life and my family’s from that damn poison. I should probably choose Baroness Cecile...!"

Slowly, several loyalists began to make their way toward the stage.

I roughly counted them, around ten, then twenty, then forty-five.

Many loyalists still supported Hadari, but I could sense conflicted hearts in most of them.

Cecilia and Hadari waited, until finally, the number of assassins who voted for Cecile was almost 50:50.

"Tch...! Bunch of losers...! You should all be ashamed of your ancestors for degrading the Thornvale that is in your blood...!" Hadari exclaimed, annoyed and disappointed, to each assassin who chose Cecile.

"No matter how many there are, I only want loyalists who support my decision for the glory of Vermillion. Hadari! This is Vermillion’s territory!" Now you and your loyalist must leave!" Cecile shouted.

"Don’t think you can banish us, Baroness Cecile! Our soul and blood are still Thornvale! I will prove that Thornvale needs a new leader to fight Vermillion’s manipulation!"

Hadari suddenly drew his twin swords, identical to Cecile’s.

"I am the new leader of Thornvale, and I, Hadari, challenge Cecile to a duel...!" he exclaimed loudly.

"Ohh...!"

Everyone who heard the duel challenge was immediately stunned.

It seemed that a duel challenge in Thornvale was a cultural act that should be taken seriously.

No wonder they have a special arena for dueling.

"Cecile. Do I need to step forward?" I asked.

Cecile looked at me, then bowed respectfully, "No need, Baron Atreus... leave this matter to me. This is a matter between me and my loyalists, and I will resolve it through dueling, as is Thornvale’s custom." he said confidently.

"We don’t need to duel in the arena, Baroness Cecile. We’ll conduct this duel as a challenge. If I can penetrate your defenses and successfully cut Atreus Vermillion’s neck, then I will win...!" Hadari challenged.

The Thornvale residents were immediately shocked by Hadari’s dangerous challenge.

However, they couldn’t intervene directly because when two parties are engaged in a duel, they are not allowed to intervene, regardless of the rules or the outcome.

Alex and Leysha, hearing this, immediately looked at me with worried expressions.

"Baron Atreus...this seems like a bad idea. I’m afraid we’ll be caught in the enemy’s game. Your life is at stake, Baron..." Alex said, concerned.

"Alex is right, Baron Atreus. They must be using an anti-magic sword that can penetrate my magical defenses! We can’t let ourselves careless!" Leysha warned.

I paused for a moment.

As for defense, I still have Rhaevor’s Spirit to protect me later.

However, I felt this duel wasn’t just about right or wrong, but about the transfer of power from Thornvale to Vermillion.

As the supreme leader, it seemed I had to bet too.

I took three steps forward and declared my opinion.

"I trust Cecile will succeed in protecting me. As a bet, I won’t use Rhaevor’s Spirit to protect me."

"What...?!"

Alex seemed to disagree.

Leysha looked worried, but she always trusted my decisions, no matter what, so she swallowed her anxiety and lowered her head in shame.

Cecile stared at me, as if she couldn’t believe what I said.

"Baron Atreus...don’t, or else—"

"Hahahahaha! What’s wrong, Cecile?! You’re not confident in your defenses?! How embarrassing!" Hadari laughed, belittling Cecile.

Cecile was stunned, then pensive.

The look in her eyes, which had previously been worried, now filled with confidence.

"Okay. I accept your challenge. If you lose, then you and your loyalists must leave Thornvale," Cecile said firmly.

"Deal, Baroness Cecile."

Cecile and Hadari stared at each other intently, readying their twin swords.

Suddenly, everyone fell silent, staring at Cecile and Hadari’s seriousness.

Cecile and Hadari’s murderous intent grew murkier, making the air around me feel increasingly suffocating!

Five seconds passed in silence, amidst the gentle breeze blowing through the city park.

Then Cecile and Hadari disappeared.

CLANG! CLANG! CLANG! CLANG!

I couldn’t see Cecile and Hadari’s movements at all, but I saw the flash of two swords slashing, so loud that it sent sparks flying.

I briefly heard the sound of footsteps on my left, approaching me.

Then, a second later, Cecile appeared and executed a swift slash toward the source of the sound, which was approaching me.

CLANG!

Cecile and Hadari clashed swords exactly half a meter beside me.

"Heh...! "You’re much faster than before, Cecile..." Hadari exclaimed, dismissively.

I saw Cecile struggling, but she still tried her best to keep fighting.

The two of them held their swords against each other, until they finally disappeared again, followed by the sound of swords clashing from all sides.

CLANG! CLANG! CLANG! CLANG!

SLASH!

One slash managed to graze my left cheek.

The sparks from each slash grew closer and closer, until I could feel the heat briefly.

"Baron Atreus...!" Alex shouted loudly.

He and Leysha wanted to come over to protect me, but I signaled to hold them back.

I still had faith in Cecile.

A few minutes passed, then Hadari and Cecile reappeared in the center of the stage.

Both were sweating profusely with serious expressions, but only Cecile was kneeling, catching her ragged breath.

Hadari chuckled at the sight of Cecile’s exhaustion.

"Hah...! Is this all your strength as an assassin, Cecile...?! Blame your foolish decision for abandoning Thornvale...! You should realize the consequences of abandoning our ancestor, the Great Wyvern!"

I paused for a moment when I heard The Great Wyvern come out of Hadari’s mouth.

Was the Great Wyvern one of the dragons Lord Vermillion had spoken of?

What did it have to do with assassins?

Could it be... The Great Wyvern had something to do with the assassins’ poisons, including the mass poison gas Cecile had used with her seal crystal ball?

I stopped daydreaming before my thoughts lost focus.

I saw Cecile still catching her breath, preparing to Shadow Step to engage Hadari again.

But suddenly, I felt a magical sensation emanating from Cecile’s figure in front of me.

This magical sensation was very familiar to me, reminding me of when I first summoned and controlled Rhaevor’s Spirit.

Leysha’s body.

The difference was, the spirit sensation came from Cecile.

Strange.

Was Cecile a spirit?

No, its not like that.

The spirit I was connected to was within Cecile, and I could assist her with my magical abilities.

I regulated my breathing and sharpened my focus as I concentrated.

Slowly, I channeled my magical power into this magical sensation.

And it worked.

I could hear Cecile’s breathing immediately stabilize, and her eyes regained their sharpness and freshness.

Cecile seemed surprised by her recovered energy, even increasing in strength!

She looked at me, sensing that the burst of energy was a form of energy booster from me.

"Baron Atreus... thank you."

I could hear Cecile’s words, even though she didn’t verbalize them.

Cecile even looked calm, even though Hadari had already disappeared with his shadow steps.

In the next second, Cecile was in front of me, then spun around to deliver a swift slash to counter Hadari’s attack that was about to rip my neck apart.

CLANG! CLANG!

CRASH!

Cecilia’s swift and powerful slash successfully deflected Hadari’s attack.

Hadari lost his balance when Cecile’s kick struck his stomach, causing him to roll and fall.

"Damn it! Why is she so fast all of a sudden!?!" Hadari exclaimed, coughing to suppress the pain in his stomach.

Hadari advanced again to aim for my neck, but Cecile was still much faster.

Oh, everyone watching was stunned to see Cecile successfully parry all of Hadari’s attacks with just one sword.

Cecilia even parried them effortlessly, as if she were playing with Hadari!

Absolutely insane!

At the end of the attack, Cecile kicked Hadari again, sending him flying backward.

"COUGH! COUGH!"

Hadari coughed violently, spitting out blood.

His face, flushed with anger, was clearly visible.

"Bastard...! Cecile...! I won’t lose...! I’ll do anything for the glory of Thornvale...!"

This time, he wasn’t targeting me anymore, but Cecile, since he feeling humiliated in front of the Assassins.

"Cecile...! Be careful...!" I shouted, warning her, as Hadari’s murderous aura was so strong.

Cecile advanced with shadow steps, and then another loud sword slash resounded in the center of the stage.

CLANG! CLANG!

SLASH!

Blood gushed out in the center of the stage, as did the shattered twin swords.

I didn’t know whose twin swords belonged to whom, but I saw Cecile and Hadari standing back to back.

My heart skipped a beat when I saw Cecile’s broken twin swords.

Is she lose the duel?

Hadari smiled maniacally.

He slowly looked back, then smiled sarcastically.

"...fighting the Great Wyvern and King Victor Dragomir will be a dark future, Cecile."

Hadari collapsed, the slash wounds he had sustained on every side of his face and body clearly visible, as well as the gushing blood.

Cecilia had won, and the citizens of Thornvale chanted her victory.

I saw Hadari’s loyalists waver, then start walking back to serve Cecile.

"Mistress Cecile for the greatness of Vermillion...!"

"Long live Baron Atreus Vermillion...! Long live Mistress Cecile...!"

Well, thank goodness.

I was confident Cecile could win.

Amidst the chants, Cecile approached me and bowed respectfully again.

"Thank you for your trust and support, Baron Atreus," she said gratefully.

"I should be the one thanking you, Cecile. Well done," I said, patting her on the shoulder.

In fact, I could be considered cheating in this duel because I secretly gave Cecile buffs and energy boosts that neither the Assassins nor Hadari could possibly know about.

Regardless of that, win is a win.

"BASTARD...!"

Suddenly, Hadari’s loud shout immediately drew the attention of everyone in the city park.

He slowly stood up, though his body was frail and covered in blood.

"...IF THIS ENTIRE CITY REJECTS THORNVALE...THEN I WILL SUMMON THE ANCESTORS TO CURSE YOU ALL...!"

Oh my, I saw Hadari raise a purple seal crystal ball with his right hand.

The purple seal crystal ball should have been in my hand, but for some reason, it was now in his.

This bastard Hadari had apparently stolen it from me when he tried to attack me.

And he had done what I suspected was extremely dangerous and could destroy this city a second time.

"Baron Atreus...! T-that crystal ball...!" Leysha immediately approached and held my hand.

"Yes, Leysha. Your guess is correct. This isn’t the poison gas it was before. It’s far more dangerous than that."