Chapter 132 - 110: Maker of the Nightmare (Part 2)

Chapter 132: Chapter 110: Maker of the Nightmare (Part 2)

He didn’t even know if there were any survivors from his Knight Order.

Now, in Blue Moon Territory, he was truly all alone and without support.

"Uncle Chris, you don’t look so well. Why don’t you let my friend take a look at you?"

Lian shifted slightly to the side, revealing Dora—ravishingly beautiful with her red hair and white gown—who appeared before Khrish.

She had been standing beside Lian the entire time, but his tall frame had hidden her from view.

The moment Khrish saw Dora, the fear nearly overflowed from his eyes. He fumbled around for his sword, but all he managed to grab was a pillow, which he clutched to his chest. The scene was incredibly awkward.

"You... you, you, you."

"Oh, this is Miss Magic Box. She is Witch Dora’s twin sister, and also a Witch. She traveled a great distance to come here after learning her sister died in Blue Moon Territory. She blames herself for her sister’s transgressions and, to atone for her sister’s sins, has sworn fealty to Catherine and me. She has offered her friendship to Blue Moon Territory and will do everything in her power to help, no matter what is needed."

Lian explained.

"She’s not Dora?"

Khrish didn’t believe a single word Lian said, but he also didn’t dare *not* to believe.

’To think they could even salvage a damn out-of-control Witch... Could this really be the guidance of a Celestial God? Is this truly destiny?’

Khrish grew even more terrified of Lian.

Compared to that terrifying possibility, he was much more willing to believe that this was truly Witch Dora’s twin sister, Miss Magic Box.

Dora lifted the hem of her gown and gave a graceful curtsy, smiling as she spoke.

"Lord Khrish, is there anything I can help you with? You are a guest of Blue Moon Territory, which makes you my guest as well."

"Miss Magic Box, I... I don’t need any help."

Khrish stammered.

He still remembered the agony of the infection from yesterday.

’It seems this Nightmare is far from over.’

"Are you sure you don’t need help? Does your family need help?"

Dora asked.

Khrish frowned. "Miss Magic Box, what do you mean by that?"

"Uncle Chris, since we’re all one family now, there are some things you should tell me. I can help you."

Lian decided to dangle a carrot in front of Khrish, to make him willingly choose to betray Mary.

After all, Khrish had already signed a Blood Covenant with Catherine, making it impossible for him to betray her. Yet, he didn’t want to lose his family because of it. But you can’t have it both ways in this world.

"Uncle Chris, I hear you’ve had two wives."

Lian mentioned abruptly.

Khrish nodded slightly. "Yes. My first wife was Catherine’s aunt, Adelle. She was a kind and gentle woman, but an illness stole her vibrant life away. After she was gone, I kept vigil at her grave for half a year, hoping she would return to me."

’Oh, you sound so devoted,’ Lian thought, ’if I didn’t know you also had a second wife and three mistresses.’

Lian scoffed internally, then reached out and patted Khrish’s shoulder.

Knowing the men were about to discuss life’s philosophies, Dora intentionally stepped aside, her ears perked with curiosity.

"Uncle Chris, I’m sure that was an incredibly difficult time, but you got through it, didn’t you? You remarried and had new children."

"Yes, Britney is a beautiful woman. She healed the pain deep in my heart."

Khrish wasn’t sure how the topic had gone so far astray, but if making small talk could improve their rapport and convince Lian to let him return to Yusofa, he wasn’t opposed to having a "heart-to-heart" with him.

Since both men had their own ulterior motives, the conversation flowed without a hitch.

"Uncle Chris, all wounds can be healed. If we lose family, we can find a new one. But if we lose our life, we lose everything. A certain philosopher once said, ’Love is precious, liberty is of a higher price, but for the sake of life, both can be cast aside.’"

Lian said slowly.

Khrish was taken aback and repeated Lian’s words,

"’Love is precious, liberty is of a higher price, but for the sake of life, both can be cast aside.’"

For some reason, those words struck a chord deep within Khrish’s indecisive heart.

It felt as though he had touched upon some fundamental truth.

"My father, Moria, had thirty-three wives and countless children. If you were to ask him who he loved the most, he would tell you, ’The next one.’"

Lian spoke with casual confidence.

A look of contempt had already appeared on Dora’s face.

Khrish paused. He had heard a thing or two about the Moria Clan’s... reputation.

He could tell Lian wasn’t lying; Old Moria truly was that kind of philanderer.

"Some even say that all the noble widows in Green Shade Territory were my father’s mistresses. He’s just that kind of straightforward and open person, living freely and as he pleased."

To keep dangling the carrot in front of Khrish, Lian had no choice but to slander Moria.

Then again, it didn’t really seem like slander.

"He single-handedly founded Green Shade Territory and was its true hero, but he wouldn’t let himself be shackled by the title of ’hero.’ The moment he found out Green Shade Territory was drowning in debt, he unhesitatingly dumped it on me. He then left Green Shade Territory with his Knight Order, taking all the money from the treasury with him."

Lian maintained his smile as he spoke.

Khrish’s expression, however, had already shifted to one of surprise and curiosity.

"Moria really did that?"

"Yes. Not only did he take the money, but he also took his wives and his Knight Order. He left to pursue his freedom."

"Oh, I’m sorry, Lian. You must have been devastated."

Khrish began to envy Moria’s wild and unrestrained nature. To be that irresponsible was almost astonishing.

That envy was exactly what Lian wanted.

He knew Khrish didn’t need a lecture on heroism right now. He was already bound by the Blood Covenant and couldn’t betray Catherine. Yet, he was constrained by his sense of duty, afraid to betray Mary and his family.

What Khrish needed now was a cautionary tale, a role model of the worst kind, to show him that the world is full of irresponsible men. And these men don’t just fade into obscurity; they either achieve greatness or live lives of ease.

Khrish just needed a little push to make him forget his familial duties.

As for why Lian didn’t promise to help rescue his family, it was because it was almost certainly impossible.

Lian was in Blue Moon Territory, while Khrish’s family was most likely in Rose Territory. It was beyond Lian’s reach, and he wouldn’t dare send his people rashly into the Southern Dominator’s domain.

Risking his own people for Khrish’s family was not an equal exchange in Lian’s eyes.

Besides, even if he did send people, they would likely return empty-handed.

Giving Khrish hope only to crush it later would be worse than simply severing that line of thought entirely and pointing him toward a new path.

’Look at my father, Moria, the poster child for irresponsibility. See how well he’s living now.’

It’s like how forming a good habit takes a long time, while a bad one can be picked up in minutes.

That’s just human nature.

"No, I’m not devastated. I envy my father. He lives more freely than anyone. I’m also grateful to him for giving me this opportunity. Otherwise, as an Illegitimate Child, I would have never become a Lord, I wouldn’t be engaged to Catherine now, and Green Shade Territory would never have had a chance at rebirth."

Lian looked into Khrish’s eyes and said earnestly,

"Aside from giving us life, our parents aren’t actually that important. Everyone’s destiny has already been arranged by the God of Tiger. Don’t think too highly of yourself, but don’t think too little of yourself either. It’s enough for us to just live our own lives well. As for other relatives, all we can do is our best. Don’t place such a heavy burden on yourself."

In that moment, Khrish thought he could hear the sound of the Shackles around his heart shattering.

He was enlightened.

Even Dora found a strange logic in Lian’s words and began to ponder them herself.

It was a side effect of his [Player of Fate] title: his twisted logic was always strangely convincing.

Moreover, he mixed kernels of truth within his sophistry, and a measure of reality within his lies.

"Uncle Chris, help Catherine with all your heart and soul. As long as we’re alive, anything is possible."

Lian concluded.

Khrish gave a heavy nod. "I will pledge my full loyalty to Catherine. From this day forward, Yusofa will forever be a vassal territory of Blue Moon Territory."

"Uncle Chris, are you still in a hurry to return?"

"No. I want to attend Catherine’s succession ceremony."