Chapter 234: Ross

It was the slip of his tongue. His life on the edge made him speak which shouldn't be spoken.

"Aaah…" He started dwindling, flustered by his own mistake. 

"Tell me, what do you know about him?"

Umm…

Seeing that he was hesitating, Vladis pushed hard on his wound making him flinch. "Either you speak or you die. You better start speaking because I am not a very patient man"

Parson Norman saw the extremely similar ruthlessness radiating from his eyes, similar to Vladella. There was no doubt, he was her son. He didn't inherit her features but her attitude was deeply absorbed in his bones. He was well aware, his silence will cost him his life.

If it was before, he wouldn't have minded remaining silent for his undying love, but now, he has a reason to live. No matter how twisted it was, he finally felt like living, and he knew that he couldn't let it go.

Cough…

"Stay away from me. I will tell you everything that I know. I promise"

"Good" 

"Your father, his name was Ross. He was a farmer in Rivershire, so was I. We both were childhood friends and everything was good in our life until she came" 

"Who?"

Norman gritted his teeth. "Who else, your mother"

"Promise me you won't kill me, and I vow to tell you the absolute truth?"

"I do" Vladis agreed but Norman was doubtful.

"No, vow on your sword. I know you never lie on your sword" he stared at him.

"Do you think you have a choice?" He scoffed.

Norman knew he didn't have a choice, but he had to do everything to save his life. Nothing matters, if he ends up dead.

Vladis sat across from him.

"Run your mouth like you are running for your life" He threatened him with a smile on his face.

"Alright"

"Your mother, I bet she didn't tell you about her history to you?"

Vladis scoffed. "Well, she actually did. So, if you try to bluff, just back away"

"You believe her"

"I do"

TSK TSK

"Your mother's family came from Soyle when she was small. Her family consist of her grandfather and her twin sister"

"Twin…"

"Are you sure?"

"I am"

"Go ahead"

"You might already be aware why immigrants fled from Soyle to Reinstle, so spare me that story. She was a small girl who was cute and chirpy. A bit shy though, not the type who attracts everyone but the one, who attracts the best ones."

"Your father Ross and I were childhood friends. She was 8 when she came here, and Ross was immediately smitten by her. I thought it was nothing but a crush, but I underestimated her influence on Ross."

"Later, the ex-king Elric Evans who was a crown prince then visited our land. Vladella was around 13-year-old at that time, a born actress. She met him by chance, and it all started from there"

"What happened?"

"She knew him, she knew how he was, his nature. She knew it from the beginning, it wouldn't be any farfetched to say she was, she planned it all ahead. She met him by chance and faked a story of her being an orphan, gaining his sympathy. I don't know how he did it, but…" he started applauding in front of him.

"But how? She was just 13 at that time. How did she fake it? I am sure King Elric must have done a background check on her before taking her in?"

"It's practically impossible"

HAHAHAH

"That's where you are wrong. Her grandfather used to be ill all the time, but it wasn't terminal, however, the same day she met him, the same day her grandfather died. I don't think I need to explain anymore"

Vladis was shocked.

Is it really possible?

Someone at such a tender age of 13 can be capable of such vicious planning. Just how twisted was his mother?

"Are you saying she killed her grandfather? Even if it is true, what about her twin sister? Did she kill her too?"

Norman nodded his head.

"She is a born murderer, who doesn't hesitate to kill anyone who comes in her path. She doesn't spare even her blood relatives, her kins, let alone sparing nobody like Ross''

"The only sin he ever did was to love her, love her to no end"

"Ehh…I am not interested in knowing the sob story of my father to be honest"

"Hmmm…but it is necessary"

Vladis didn't saw how it was necessary but fine—

He will just bear it for now.

"She killed her kins and became an orphan and then made her way in Late king, Elric's life. She was happy, so should I say blissful but someone else wasn't. Ross was heartbroken when he found out she was moving to the capital, but there was nothing he could do. From the beginning, Vladella had Ross strings. She used to pull and push it, from time to time but this time she cut those all strings"

"At least that's what I thought but I was wrong. She promised your father that after she graduates, she will come back and marry him and Ross being naïve even believed it"

"His entire life he waited for her, seeking for a love that wasn't even there and forsaking the one, which was present just before his eyes"

"Vladella soon became chancellor, but her plans foiled when Lady Gwen came into the picture, the love of late King Elric. Her earnest carved future plans went down the drain just because of one woman. She was furious but there was nothing she could do"

"She was late, as her moment was gone. She knew that even if she killed Lady Gwen, Elric wouldn't lay his eyes on any other woman. The jealousy was driving her insane, until one fine day she decided to visit her homeland, Rievershire."

"She came back, but not for Ross, but because she knew who Ross was, and what he could actually do," he said with a fleeting nostalgia.