Chapter 2
"Whose orders?" I demanded.
The personal guards behind me finally made a move.
They didn't take action, just stepped forward once.
But that single step was all it took.
Half a year in Aridwyn, and I couldn't even remember how many bodies we left behind. Three thousand? Five thousand? Hell, maybe more.
My guards followed me from Gryndale Pass all the way to Wolfsbane Ridge, licking blood off their blades just to survive.
The bloodlust they carried was so thick, you could practically taste it in the air.
The two gate guards finally caught on that things weren't right.
"Y-You guys..." one of them stammered.
"Let me ask you again," I said, my voice cold and sharp. "Whose orders?"
The tall, skinny guy's legs were shaking, but he tried to hold it together. "C-Celia Nielsen, she..."
"Who is she in this household?" I demanded.
"S-She's..." he stammered.
"Is she a princess?" I pressed.
"N-No..." he stammered.
"Is she the king?" I asked.
"No..." he whispered.
"Is she the master of this house?" I demanded.
He went quiet.
I locked eyes with him, enunciating every word. "Who is the master of this house?"
His mouth opened, but no words came out.
"Speak," I ordered.
"I-It's..." he stammered.
"What is it?" I pressed.
"It's..." he suddenly seemed to remember something, and the fear on his face faded a bit, replaced by a weird sort of righteous bravado. "It's Lord Lucian! Lord Lucian runs this place.
"Miss Nielsen is his honored guest. Lucian said whatever Celia says goes, and everyone here has to listen to her!"
Whatever Celia said, it was as good as Lucian saying it himself.
Everyone here takes orders from Celia.
I smirked.
The tall, skinny guy was stunned when he saw me smirk.
"W-What are you laughing at?" he stammered.
I didn't bother answering him. I just turned and shot a look at the guards by my side.
"Cayden," I called out.
"Here," Cayden answered.
"Did you hear what he just said?" I asked.
"Loud and clear," Cayden replied.
"He just stood in my way and told me to piss off," I said.
Cayden paused for a moment, then asked, "Do you want his arm or his leg taken off?"
"Don't bother with all that," I said, lifting my hand and pointing at the tall, skinny guy and the short, fat one who was already crumpled in terror. "Take their heads and bring them in."
"Yes," Cayden replied.
Cayden's blade flashed down, swift and merciless.
The two heads tumbled across the ground, spinning a few times before coming to rest at the stone steps out front.
Blood splattered across my battle boots, blending with the dust and wind of Aridwyn.
Cayden jumped off his horse, picked up the two severed heads, and followed behind me, holding them in his hands.
The main gate stood wide open, revealing the courtyard, the place I once called home for eight years.
But now, it was almost unrecognizable to me.
Pink and purple everywhere—silks and satins draped all over the place, like someone had looted a whole fabric shop, or maybe a drunk had spilled every dye vat in town.
The colors were so intense that they made my eyes ache.
There were people coming and going all over the courtyard, but not a single face was familiar to me.
When they saw me, they all froze for a second.
But the moment they caught sight of the heads Cayden was carrying, some started screaming, some scattered in panic, and a few yelled, "Guards! Someone's broken into the estate!"
Some people tried to rush me, blocking my path.
But seeing Cayden holding those two bloody, dripping heads, they kept their distance, shrinking back into the corners, just watching as I made my way toward the rear courtyard.
At the entrance to the rear courtyard, a lady dressed in pink stood there.
She was dressed to the nines.
Her outfit was pure luxury—brocade for the top, silk for the skirt. She had a gold hairpin with gems stuck in her hair, and a creamy white bracelet on her wrist.
This whole getup had to be worth more than a thousand silver coins.
She wasn't what you'd call stunning, but there was a spirited sass in her eyes, her chin held high, and her posture straight, standing tall like she was right at home.
I stopped in my tracks.
Her eyes landed on me, and her expression turned furious.
"Stop right there!" she snapped, striding over and blocking my path. "Who are you? How dare you storm into the Princess Manor and even kill someone right here?"
I didn't answer her. I just looked at her in silence.
"I'm talking to you!" she barked, her brows arched in fury. "On your knees, now!"
Cayden stirred behind me, alert.
I lifted my hand, holding Cayden back.
"Who are you?" I asked.
She let out a cold laugh. "Who am I? I'm the VIP of the Princess Manor! And you? Who the hell do you think you are, asking for my name?"
The most honored guest of the Princess Manor? That was the name those gate guards kept mentioning.
"Are you Celia Nielsen?" I asked.