Chapter 138: Chapter 35. On the Last Journey

At that moment, Raymond Cassius felt as if he had been hit on the head with something heavy. So much so that he hadn't expected what had happened a second ago.

It wasn't even the pain of a knife blade in his back. It was… Something else.

The duke slowly turned around as blood still oozed from his wound. But the man paid no attention to it at all.

A mute question remained in his eyes.

— Why…?

Henry Ashford's hands were stained with blood. His blood. And looking at the Duke's bewildered face, he smiled. He didn't seem to be shaking with fear a few minutes ago.

— I'm going to kill a red-eyed bastard like you,» he remarked lightly.

These cruel words came out of the mouth of a man the man didn't expect it from at all. He still didn't understand what was going on.

In a way, he wanted to believe that it was all just a dream. A nightmare that would soon be over.

But no. The pain in his body indicated quite the opposite: that this was a brutal reality.

And while Duke Cassius froze in shock, Ashford in the meantime casually wiped his hands with his handkerchief and inquired of the crown prince:

— Your Highness, you have done well. I won't need your help anymore.

— Ha!

Philip snorted as if it was a matter of course.

— There's a rather interesting show coming up right now,» Henry continued, «You're welcome to stay and watch if you like.

The crown prince thought for a while.

— I'll only stay because I'll still have to wait for you! — the boy declared grudgingly.

Henry Ashford smiled at him.

— As you wish, Your Highness.

Watching the conversation between these two — Duke Cassius was even more amazed. The false house of cards seemed to be crumbling right before his eyes. And it sent a chill running down his spine.

As it turned out, he was the only one who had believed in their good relationship with the Archduke all this time. Raymond had long been used to people hating him. But in no way had he expected this from the father of his daughter-in-law.

The identity of the mysterious aristocrat pursuing the Marquis of Windsor — revealed itself. When all the puzzles came together: a terrible picture appeared before his eyes. The truth that the Duke did not know and to the last did not want to believe.

He could not understand. Why? Why had it all turned out this way?

Henry stood opposite and watched him with interest. And he was not the least bit worried. As if he could easily kill him at any moment.

— Why? — The duke asked dumbfoundedly, «Why are you doing this…?

— I think it's obvious.

Raymond looked at the archduke and various shared memories came to mind. He could not realize that this particular man had stabbed him in the back. Moreover, it seemed that lately they had begun to treat each other as family… And as a result the thoughts in his head became even more confused.

He simply saw no reason for such an act.

But Henry Ashford seemed to have a different opinion.

— I've waited so long for this moment,» he said eloquently, «You wouldn't believe it, I've dreamed of killing you with my own hands.

Duke Cassius involuntarily recoiled.

— Why do you want me dead so much…?

— Because I hate you.

This answer confused the man. Why? Had he managed to do him any harm? Even Lerian had always treated him with special care. So why was this happening now?!

But…

In any case — now he had no time to ponder the reasons for such an action.

Previously Henry Ashford had seemed to him timid and awkward. He often got himself into awkward situations, and when he tried to look serious it still didn't look believable. In other words: chubby and kind as a teddy bear.

But… All that charm was gone in an instant. Ashford was very deft with his knife, and his gaze became cruel and mocking. Bloodthirsty, even.

Duke Cassius still couldn't believe he had to say those words:

— This knife… You can't kill me with it that easily.

— Hmm?

— The regeneration of our family members is much higher than that of ordinary humans… My wound will heal before you can strike again.

— Hmm…» the Archduke looked thoughtful, «So that's it. Well, that's not a problem.

— Wha…?

— I only hit you because I've wanted to experience that sensation for a long time,» Ashford explained with a smile, «Of course, I'm going to finish you off another way.

Duke Cassius couldn't understand what he meant, but he warned him in advance:

— Don't force me to fight you. You must know that you are going to lose anyway.

The Archduke did not argue with him.

— Of course, normally I would never have acted so foolishly,» he said, «but now my weapon is not a knife at all.

— What?

— …It's my dear little sister.

Henry grinned, while the man was dumbfounded by these words.

— Adelina Ashford,» the man said, and he said the name softly, «You knew she was my sister, didn't you?

Raymond stared at him dumbfoundedly. And it was clear from his reaction that this was the first time he'd heard of such a thing.

— Eh… That idiot died too soon and didn't even get to do what I sent her to do,» the Archduke grumbled disappointedly.

Cassius did not move or make a sound. He could not get over his shock.

— This is a lie…! — After a while he cried out, Adelina never said what she was from…

— Of course she didn't. I asked her to conceal her origins.

Raymond was taken aback.

— That's a lie…! I do not believe you! — declared the man.

Henry sighed.

— Now your trust is worth nothing to me. The most important thing is that you made a contract with her.

— Wh-what…?

— The mark of the Bloody Camellia,» Ashford said aloud. «My sister may have disappointed me, but at least she did what I asked her to do.

Duke Cassius could not believe what he was hearing.

— That mark… You have it, too,» he summed up with a smile, «In that you are not much different from your daughter. They're both such idiots.

Raymond could hardly keep his balance. What was happening was too much of a surprise for him. And he still didn't know what to believe.

Adeline… He refused to admit it.

And at the same time, when the Archduke not only knew but also threatened him with the mark, he decided to parry:

— Even if you know all about it, it won't work… Adelina died a long time ago.

Only a second tag bearer could kill him with this contract. But Adelina was no longer alive, which meant that this advantage could not be taken advantage of.

But the archduke apparently had a different thought.

— I used to think so too,» he said. «Only… There's one little snag in your diabolical contract.

— What… What are you talking about?

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— Death has nothing to do with the mark's ability to work,» he grinned. And as long as you love her, I can still use it.

Raymond couldn't digest this information. Was it possible? Why was this the first time he himself was hearing about it?

And while the man froze trying to realize whether it was true or not, as the Archduke slowly began to «step on» him. And his weapon… Became the plain truth.

— Do you remember where you first met her? — Pacing around the room, the man spoke.

Duke Cassius shuddered.

— I sent her to that ball,» Ashford said with pleasure, «and told her she must seduce you by any means. Otherwise… She might not even come home.

And while the Duke stood still, he continued:

— It was on my orders that she approached you. The end result of my plan would have been your wedding, after which you would have left your mark on her.

— …

— Ha! And all this just to kill you.

At that moment, on a physical level, the Duke began to feel a pain in his heart. And gradually this pain began to spread throughout his body.

He could not realize that this was really happening to him.

— Having a child was not in my plans. Who knew this fool would die so easily and not even finish the job. Sёarch* The novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

— …

— Hmmm… Anyway, it doesn't really matter now. At last I can get some use out of her.

With every word he uttered, the duke felt his lungs clench ever tighter. He never expected that after all these years the Blood Camellia would «bloom» in his body again.

But it was Ashford's confession that hurt him the most. He was willing to give anything for it to turn out to be fiction. Or at least that he'd never have to find out about it.

But the last words had finally finished him off.

— After all, do you really think my sister would mess with a monster like you willingly?

The next second Raymond collapsed involuntarily to the floor and coughed up blood. The black stems of the cursed flower began to encircle his body as if in a cage: consuming all his life force. Everything in front of his eyes was blurring.

— S-so you say it was all a lie? — the Duke asked with the last of his strength.

— Yes,» Henry confirmed with particular pleasure, «My sister never loved you. Even more… Despised you.

When this terrible betrayal that divided his whole life into «before» and «after» was revealed: the petals on the flower began to disappear one by one. Until only one remained. It was an irreversible process that could no longer be reversed.

Raymond Cassius lay on the floor, panting. It was easier to die-than to continue in such pain. Almost all of his body, down to his neck, was covered with the marks of the curse.

Even Philippe Blanche, standing silently on the sidelines, recoiled at the sight. The picture was clearly not for the faint of heart.

But Henry Ashford watched it all quietly, and even squatted beside him, about to bid his former enemy a final farewell.

It was the second time in his life that Raymond had truly wept. The first had been after his wife's death. And now a tear rolled down his cheek again.

Holding back a lump in his throat, he asked only one question:

— Why… Why do you hate me so much?

The Archduke avoided answering the question directly.

— It's none of your business.

— What…?

Thoth sighed.

— Ah… And why should I have to explain anything to a pathetic crowd like you? You're finally going to die, and that's enough for me.

«The masses»? What was he talking about? Raymond didn't understand his odd phrase, but that was beside the point.

Duke Cassius did not have long. And Henry was not even in a hurry to leave: he was going to watch the process to the end.

But at that moment there was a sudden knock at the front door.

— Father!» It was Leriane's voice, «Rachel and I have come to visit you!