Ethan Askary never thought he would see such a horrific sight. 𝗳𝚛𝗲𝕖𝕨𝕖𝗯𝚗𝚘𝕧𝕖𝗹.𝗰𝗼𝕞

His blood was boiling and the anger was starting to overwhelm him. At first, he only listened to explanations from his little sister, Penelope Askary, at Gerwyn’s mansion. It wasn’t that he didn’t believe what his little sister had said. It’s just, he still couldn’t believe that his lovely little sister was being targeted by an evil dark Goddess, who wanted her suffering. Especially when the Goddess wants the divine power that is in Penelope’s body and intends to make Penelope destroy the empire and kill her children.

Then, when Jellal was going to go watch Lysander’s mansion because Penelope said that Isabella Lysander was suffering like Goddess Oizys said, Ethan decided to go with Jellal. He also brought Ren, Edmund’s other shadow knight, who for a year has always accompanied him and protected him because Philleo Aaron is still on the loose and a fugitive.

How shocked Ethan was when he saw Isabella Lysander being tortured by her own Father. All this time, Ethan always suspected that something was wrong with the relationship between Father and daughter. Isabella was always scared around Marquess Lysander. But, Ethan didn’t expect that the man would hit and kick Isabella like this.

"I’ll make a commotion elsewhere so Prince Ethan can save Lady Isabella," Ren said in a firm tone. "Jellal, you go and help Prince Ethan."

That’s the reason why Marquess Lysander finally left the room and Ethan immediately entered through Jellal’s magic. Ethan ran to the helpless Isabella and her whole body was covered in wounds. The woman’s tears kept flowing down her pretty face.

"Hey, Isabel! Can you hear me? Are you okay?" asked Ethan in a panicked and worried tone. He lifted Isabella’s weak body onto his lap and wiped the tears off Isabella’s face. Seeing the wounds and blood on several parts of Isabella’s face, Ethan clenched his jaw. "Isabella Lysander, answer me. Are you okay?"

However, Isabella only closed her eyes. The woman passed out in Ethan’s warm, safe arms. Seeing that, Ethan’s heart skipped a beat. He was afraid that something bad happened to Isabella. He didn’t want to lose Isabella. He wanted to keep seeing Isabella’s smile as well as her embarrassed expression. He liked seeing Isabella’s face blushing from his teasing. And, there’s so much more that he likes about Isabella Lysander.

"I didn’t allow you to get hurt and leave me, Isabella Lysander," Ethan said firmly. His eyes stared sharply and coldly at the wall in front of him. "I will repay all that Marquess Lysander did to you. He will suffer much greater suffering and pain than this. I swear to you, Isabella." Ethan kissed Isabella on the forehead and whispered, "So open your eyes for me. I love you."

"Prince Ethan, I will send you straight to Gerwyn’s mansion using teleportation magic," Jellal said as he opened his palm. "I and Ren will catch up when we manage to find information regarding Marquess Lysander."

The magic circle appeared under Ethan’s body, making Ethan immediately hug Isabella’s tiny body tightly.

"Jellal, find out even the smallest detail. I want that son of a bitch to get the most severe punishment for all his crimes."

"Yes, Prince Ethan."

Ethan closed his eyes. And, when he opened his eyes, he was already in the hallway of Gerwyn’s mansion. The man turned his head around when he heard the sound of approaching footsteps and stared at a maid, who was carrying some of Penelope’s favorite food. The maid widened her eyes and covered her mouth with both hands. Surprised by the appearance of Ethan Askary and Isabella Lysander, who were seriously injured. Ethan stood up holding Isabella in his arms.

"Please, tell the Duke and Duchess that I am using one of the rooms in this mansion. And, please ask them to meet me in the room. I will use the room that is beside the Duke’s study."

After saying so, Ethan ran to the room he mentioned just now. He laid Isabella’s body carefully on the bed, then took his handkerchief. He wiped the blood off some of Isabella’s face. Seeing the wounds and blood, Ethan couldn’t help but bite his own lip until it bled. Then, he turned his head when he heard the door open and the maid, who had met him in the hallway, came into the room carrying a basin filled with water.

"I brought warm water to clean Lady Isabella’s wounds, Prince Ethan," she said politely.

Shortly after the maid entered, Penelope appeared while running. Her face and eyes looked panicked and worried. Behind Penelope, Edmund walked at a brisk pace. The man also reprimanded Penelope and told her not to run so as not to fall and get hurt.

"Isabel!" Penelope exclaimed. The woman sat beside Isabella and held her cold hand tightly. "My God, what happened to her, Brother? How could Isabel be so seriously injured like this?"

"This woman was abused by Marquess Lysander," Ethan growled. His hands clenched so tightly at his sides that his knuckles turned white. "That damn old man kept on hitting and kicking Isabel, even though Isabel was screaming for mercy and crying from the pain. I really want to torture him and kill him right now!"

"Ethan, calm down," said Edmund in a firm tone. "We have to have a lot of evidence if we want to bring this matter to the imperial court. His Highness the Emperor won’t act without evidence, Ethan."

"Am I not proof enough for the crime that the old man committed to his own daughter?!" Ethan exclaimed. "Didn’t you see what happened to Isabella Lysander just now?!"

Edmund took a deep breath and massaged the bridge of his nose. He really understood that Ethan was very worried about Isabella. But, they also couldn’t act rashly. If they acted rashly and made the slightest mistake, Marquess Lysander would definitely use the opportunity to attack them.

"Anne," Penelope called. The maid, who came to help clean Isabella’s wounds, looked at the Duchess. "Get out. Let me take over your job. I will clean and treat Isabel’s wounds."

"Yes, Duchess."

After Anne came out, Penelope immediately closed the curtains in the room and locked the bedroom door. She stood by the bed and looked at Edmund and Ethan.

"Don’t make a fuss and disturb my concentration or I won’t talk to the both of you anymore!" Penelope threatened.

Edmund and Ethan looked at each other, then nodded. Meanwhile, Penelope immediately opened her palms and pointed them at Isabella. The woman closed her eyes and begged Goddess Elleia in her heart so that the Goddess would heal Isabella. Then, the pink light appeared from Penelope’s palm and surrounded Isabella. The wounds on Isabella’s face and body disappeared. When Penelope opened up her eyes, the woman smiled contentedly and swayed backward. The Duchess would have fallen if Edmund didn’t catch her petite body quickly.

"Hey, are you all right, Penny?" asked Edmund in a worried tone. "Your face is a little pale."

"It’s fine. Maybe I just used too much healing power. My stamina isn’t strong enough yet to use the divine power belonging to Goddess Elleia. That’s why I studied magic with Claude." Penelope kissed Edmund on the lips to calm him down. She looked at Isabella. "Brother Ethan, please check Isabel’s condition."

Ethan approached Isabella and was amazed that she looked healthy. Not like someone who had just been tortured. Isabella’s breathing also looks stable and regular. Even Isabella’s dress, which was slightly torn due to Marquess Lysander’s torture, is now back to normal.

"Isabel seems fine," Ethan said. The man smiled. "Nice job, Penny. You are getting more and more adept at using your healing powers. Thank you for saving Isabel."

"I am her friend. It’s supposed to be for me to help her and protect her," Penelope smiled gently. "After all, she is a special woman for you, isn’t she? How could I not help her?"

Ethan blinked and cleared his throat. He turned his face away then scratched his cheek that didn’t itch. "I don’t understand what you mean, Penny. We’re just good friends."

"Brother Ethan, I know you love Isabel," chuckled Penelope. "You don’t need to deny it or hide it. I’m sure Mother and Father will agree if you marry Isabel. Isn’t that right, Ed?"

"I don’t know," shook Edmund. "To be honest, I still—ugh!" Edmund didn’t finish his words when Penelope pinched his waist tightly and glared at him. Penelope knew that Edmund was still annoyed with Isabella because of what she had done in the past. "Yeah, ahem! I think everyone will agree to your and Isabella’s marriage except Marquess Lysander and the Crown Prince."

Suddenly, Jellal and Ren appeared. Penelope, who was caught off guard, was shocked and almost cursed. The woman immediately hid her face in Edmund’s chest because she felt embarrassed and hit the Duke’s chest repeatedly to vent her embarrassment. Edmund just smirked and shook his head, then kissed her head. Then, Edmund and Ethan, who were now standing beside him, stared firmly at Jellal and Ren.

"Tell me," ordered Edmund.

"There’s nothing suspicious in the Lysander mansion, Your Grace," said Ren.

"But, there is a separate room from the mansion that looks very suspicious," Jellal added. "I entered the room and found that there was still a passage leading underground. I checked the underground and there were several prisons. Inside the prison were several human bones."

Penelope, Edmund, and Ethan froze. Penelope even started to feel nauseous and immediately hugged Edmund tightly. Something like this never existed in the original novel!

"Human bones you say?!" growled Edmund.

"Judging from its size, it is a child’s bone, Your Grace."

"What?!" Shouted Edmund and Ethan together.

"Then, there are some magic formulas on the floor in those dungeons. There are also candles and some things that seem to be related to black magic." Jellal looked at Ren and both nodded. "And, when Ren and I were about to return here to report our findings, we overheard Marquess Lysander talking to a black robed man, who looked suspicious."

"What are they talking about?" Ethan asked.

"Tonight, we are going to the commoners’ area," Ren said, repeating Marquess Lysander’s words he had heard. "We’re going to look for the kids with newly awakened magic powers again. They were just detestable commoners, who didn’t deserve magic powers like the nobles. Then, we will sacrifice them to offer to Goddess Oizys so that the Goddess will always help us in anything and will always grant our wishes."

Penelope was wide-eyed.

"Marquess Lysander used black magic and was also doing a human sacrifice?!"

"He’s a cult leader," Edmund hissed. "It can’t be allowed. We must immediately collect the evidence and report it to Emperor De Louis!"