The Price of the Throne

When the battle began on Jiu Hui’s side, Lisa’s chamber was far from peaceful.

Inside the room, Her Majesty the Queen sat regally on the main seat, her exquisite face devoid of any expression.

Surrounding Her Majesty, eight figures stood, each emanating a sharp, chilling aura.

Lisa observed the figures around her and spoke calmly, “I merely suspected, but I never imagined your target this time would truly be me. Did my recent plan provoke you? Did it make you so impatient that you couldn’t resist acting?”

The figures remained silent, gazing at Lisa. To them, this was simply another mission. While the target was somewhat unusual compared to their usual assignments, it would only result in success or failure.

They cared nothing for the mission’s underlying purpose or its aftermath.

‘Mere puppets,’ Lisa thought.

Lisa shook her head, deciding against further words. She had encountered countless individuals like them. During her early reign, assassins of this kind had tried to kill her almost daily.

She understood their purpose clearly: to ensure the true master remained hidden if the mission failed.

The true significance of such operatives was only revealed in the event of their failure—a truly ironic fate.

Slowly, Lisa rose to her feet and drew the long blade from her grasp. Under the moon’s glow behind her, the sword’s edge shimmered with a beautiful, cold light.

“Come,” she challenged, “allow me to end your dark, meaningless lives.”

“To die by my hand is an honor, for you challenge a King and fall beneath the throne!”

Hearing this, a fervent gleam flickered in the eyes of the surrounding figures. If they succeeded, they would have slain a King—one of only five in the entire world!

With that thought, the eight figures tightened their grips on their long blades and charged directly at Lisa. Eight swords converged, sealing off every possible avenue of escape.

Lisa watched the rapidly approaching blades, her eyes utterly devoid of fear.

“Five, do not intervene.”

Lisa spoke calmly, then gripped her sword with both hands. A faint, bloody hue emanated from her jewel-red eyes, and veins bulged visibly on her slender, pale hands.

“First Bloom!”

With a low roar, Lisa’s eyes snapped open wide. Streaks of white sword energy blossomed in the air, forming a beautiful white flower. Gradually, this white flower became stained with blood, transforming into a crimson bloom, its original sanctity replaced by an ominous, demonic aura.

She flicked the blade lightly, scattering the blood onto the ground, then sheathed her sword. The veins on her hands receded, and her expression regained its usual calm.

****

Suddenly, Lisa lifted her head. At the same moment, a series of knocks echoed from the door.

“Enter!”

Lisa commanded.

The door opened, and three figures entered. One of them was being carried by another.

Lisa observed the scene and spoke with a hint of confusion.

“Why was one left alive?”

The woman looked at Lisa, bowing deeply. “My apologies, Your Majesty the Queen. This was a decision I made on my own. However, among the assassins who attacked Lady Jiu Hui just now, I encountered remnants of a race previously annihilated by our Human Race. And it appears they are the leader of those individuals.”

Hearing this, Lisa’s eyes sharpened, her expression shifting slightly. “Are you certain?”

“Absolutely!”

Lisa’s eyes narrowed as she looked at the person on the ground.

“It seems this matter won’t end so simply after all. I had originally intended to merely issue a warning at a time like this, but it appears today is destined for a sea of blood.”

“Leave this person to you two. Interrogate them for who is behind this.”

“Yes, Your Majesty!”

The two acknowledged her, then carried the person out once more.

Lisa settled back onto the main seat, traces of blood still clinging to her. Her gaze fell briefly upon the eight corpses on the ground.

She had ascended this throne of kingship by treading upon bones and blood. Yet, even now, the throne continued to be watered with blood and piled high with bones, rising ever higher.

Along the corridor, Jiu Hui walked slowly. The hallway, which usually felt long, now seemed incredibly short to her. Before long, she could already see the door to that very familiar room in the distance.

Just yesterday—no, even this morning—seeing that door would unconsciously lift the corners of her lips into a happy smile. But now, gazing at it, her feet felt heavy, and a sense of dread accompanied the thought of meeting the person inside.

‘The maid was merely bait; this was a trap to draw us out.’

These words, which she had heard upon waking, had been swirling like a curse in her mind ever since.

‘I am bait?’

‘My entire purpose here is to be bait, to lure out the person Lisa wished to catch.’

If that were the case, everything finally made sense: why someone who appeared so suddenly would become the Queen’s personal maid; why Lisa would reveal one of her own cards just to make her a legitimate attendant; why she had been targeted by assassins; why, even during severe warfare, Lisa would leave two experts to protect her; and why she had slept soundly from morning until night today!

Standing not far from the entrance, Jiu Hui stared at the door, her gaze seemingly piercing through it to land on Lisa within.

After a long moment, Jiu Hui ultimately did not step forward to push open the door. Instead, she turned and walked away.

‘What happens to bait once it has fulfilled its purpose and caught the fish?’

‘It gets discarded.’

‘After all, bait isn’t the fishing rod; it’s not that important.’

‘Ha, if you treated me as bait, why let the bait know it was bait? If you were deceiving me, why let me realize your deception?’

As she passed by Xiao Lan, Jiu Hui spoke softly.

“I’m leaving. Don’t stop me. You are my maid, aren’t you? This is my first command to you, and my last.”

‘Tell Lisa tomorrow.’

‘Heh, what am I still hoping for now? She won’t come looking for me anyway.’

With a self-deprecating laugh, Jiu Hui walked past Xiao Lan and headed towards the end of the corridor.

Xiao Lan watched Jiu Hui’s retreating back, her mouth opening slightly before she ultimately offered no obstruction. She didn’t know how to stop her.

After all, everything Jiu Hui had just learned, Xiao Lan herself had only discovered today. Seeing Jiu Hui’s eyes filled with such profound sorrow, she simply didn’t know how to console her.