As the commotion among the nobles spirals out of control, Dmitri stands up and approaches the Viscount, who is conversing with Edgar and Elias.
"By now, Oliver must have died," Dmitri whispers for only them to hear. "Josephine won't take this well; we need to end this show already."
"Not yet," the Viscount speaks in an authoritative and calm tone. "There's still the boy and his mother... they're quite mysterious; we can't take any risks."
"What risks?" Elias quickly asks. "No matter who they are, you are the Viscount Whittlee. If that bastard doesn't want to face me, just declare our victory. Everyone anticipates that anyway."
"It's not that simple," Edgar slaps Elias on the head, and he doesn't react negatively. "Don't you see that father wants that woman?"
"He and everyone, don't they? Hehehe..." Elias laughs lasciviously. "But would she really accept that if we kill her son?"
"That's why we're not going to kill him," Edgar explains.
The Viscount smiles expectantly. "But it would still be good for Elias to enter the arena with the boy. Imagine the situation where her beloved son is dying, and I'm the only one who can save him..."
"Ah, I see!" Elias laughs. "After Your Grace saves his life, you'll have her at your feet, doing anything you command like a bitc-
"You fool!" Edgar slaps Elias's head again, but without any real intention to hurt him. "Contain your lust! Father will certainly make her his new wife."
"Oh?" Elias looks at the Viscount, and his eyes glow greedily. "Makes sense... a woman like her certainly suits a man like our honorable Viscount!"
Emilio shakes his head. "What do you want, Elias? Just spill the beans."
Elias casts a pleading glance at Edgar before focusing back on the Viscount. "If you're taking his mother, may I have his wife?"
*Pah*
This time, it's Dmitri who hits his son with a force different from Edgar's. "We're already taking the Drummonds' most precious asset; why are you so greedy?"
"Let the boys have their fun, Dmitri," Emilio speaks in a calm tone, but his expression is cruel. "Elias can share the peasant with Edgar as the good brothers they are, right, my son?"
Edgar nods and places his hand on Elias's shoulder. "Yeah, we can certainly show that peasant what a real man is..." He pauses and pulls Elias's ear. "But, little brother, when the little princess grows up, she will be mine alone, hehehe..."
"Who the hell is this little princess?" Dmitri asks.
"The boy's sister," Elias quickly responds. "Everyone can see she'll be as beautiful as the mother one day..." He casts an envious glance at Edgar. "The father will have the mother, and the son the daughter... makes sense, doesn't it?"
Dmitri shakes his head with a concerned expression. "This shouldn't be about finding new wives... Emilio, you said you would help me!"
"And am I not helping you?!" The Viscount speaks in an even more authoritative tone, making Dmitri back down. "Now, you're not the only one gaining something here, so just stay in your damned place and obey me as your son does."
Oliver smiles as Arthur leaves the secret room for the corridor. Aria, Josephine, and Margaret, who is always nearby with Eve, taking care of the little girl so she isn't too affected by everything happening but at the same time preparing her for the cruel world they live in, follow him.
In the corridor, the group moves quickly; Josephine puts on a fake sad expression, and Arthur an angry one. As soon as the Viscount sees them, his eyes are immediately drawn to Aria, making Arthur want to grab his sword and cut the man's head off right there.
But he restrains himself and saves his anger for another moment. Aria pats his head while casting a cold glance at the Viscount. "Go ahead, we'll catch up with you."
"Ok," Arthur proceeds with Margaret and Eve to the courtyard, and as he passes by the Viscount, the man can feel a chilling aura that sends a sinister shiver through his body. Meanwhile, Aria and Josephine stay in the corridor with Emilio.
"Lady Drummond-" Emilio starts in his falsely polite manner, but then Josephine quickly interrupts him. "Cut the crap, Emilio! You used such a dirty trick against my son..."
"I have no idea what you're talking about," he comments while casting a dissembling smile at Aria.
However, that proves to be a grave mistake, and she doesn't hesitate before unleashing a part of her aura onto him, instantly freezing the man in shock.
'WHAT IS THIS?!?!' Emilio screams in his mind because the pressure on his body is so heavy and overwhelming that he can't even breathe, let alone speak a single word.
Josephine is also shocked to see the Viscount fall to his knees on the ground, trembling like a defenseless child. 'That is so much power!'
Aria stands before him like a mountain of ice, her eyes gleaming gray. "You should thank Josephine. I haven't wiped out your entire little backwater town from the way your trash bloodline ogled at me. There won't be a second time, insect."
'SHIT! SHIT!! SHIT!!!' Emilio starts cursing in his mind as a protective necklace under his clothing cracks under the power of Aria's aura. 'How can she be so powerful?! A Master? Maybe she's even a Great Mage?!?
What kind of monster is she?!?'
"Oh? Are you regretting it now?" Aria smiles at the despair in Emilio's eyes. "You trash nobles are all the same, thinking you're at the top of the food chain when you're nothing but worms..."
The Viscount is so terrified that he wets himself, and while Josephine enjoys seeing that, she's a bit concerned about the consequences of killing him, after all, he has a strong background while she can't always rely on Aria's protection.
'But if he knows I have such an ally, I bet even his father wouldn't dare attack my family...' The cunning lady ponders.
Aria notices her thoughtful expression as well as Emilio's panicked look. "I won't kill you, but..." She snaps her fingers, and the Viscount's body contorts.
*Craaaaack*
Various bizarre sounds come from his body, most of his bones being fractured by thousands of tiny cracks. His cultivation keeps his body whole and prevents him from dying, but he is severely weakened.
"I couldn't kill you..." Aria comments in a cold and malevolent tone. "Not because I fear your trash background, but because I don't want to deny my son such pleasure..."
"So now, you will do exactly as I command, do you understand?" She makes a gesture with her hand, and his body crashes to the floor.
"ARRRRRRGHHH!!!" He finally manages to scream in pain, but his voice is contained by an invisible sound barrier.