Evolution of the Ruined Heir - Chapter 351: Audience

Chapter 351: Audience

Khana clutched her face fast, almost regretting it as an intense pain ran through her. However, the fact that her face was whole made her feel relieved.

Her beauty was everything to her. Without it, she wouldn’t be in her current superior position, a pulse’s wife.

Then Varnel wouldn’t feel the need to keep her.

Khana pushed through the pain and sat upright.

“Nial!” she screamed. Seconds later, a man entered the room.

The moment Khana saw her guard, she couldn’t hide the shock on her face. To think her once proud synergy stage guard had been reduced to such a state.

His expression was pained, and his attire was splattered with crimson blood. But it was the stump where his right hand should have been that stood out most. His right hand had been severed.

In their world, regrowing a lost limb was near impossible. Only reattachment was possible, and even that came with a time crunch. Its success rates were higher with blooms.

Considering the time and the guard’s rank, it was clear he’d lost his right arm forever.

Khana swallowed. “What happened?” Though she already knew, she still wanted to hear it from him.

“The ninth vein punched you, Lady Khana. And you blacked out. I just finished administering you aid.” Khana could feel the pain in his voice.

’He hates me,’ she realized. After all, she had caused this permanent loss. But she didn’t care. Instead, her eyes flared with anger.

’That bastard punched me? Me!?’

She threw her legs over the side of the bed, already rising when the guard spoke.

“The third pulse demands an audience, my lady.”

Khana’s eyes almost popped. She snapped toward the kneeling guard.

“Y-you told him?” She didn’t miss the sharp glint in his eyes.

’He’s happy,’ Khana thought in dread. His next words deepened it.

“Yes, my lady.”

“Why!? Why!?”

Khana grabbed him by the collar, eyes blazing.

“You’re mine! How dare you report your master to another!”

The guard glared back at her. “I was instructed to protect you, my lady.” Though he maintained a respectable demeanor, his eyes were like steel.

“I am required to report every event to the third pulse.”

“No…” Khana trembled, releasing him, unable to stop her body from shaking.

“W-what did you tell him?”

“Everything that occurred, my lady.”

Khana sucked in a cold breath. She sat back on the chair, mind spinning. She bit down on her nails nervously.

“He wants to talk to you now, my lady.”

A shudder ran through her at those words.

“N-now?”

“Yes, my lady. The third pulse doesn’t want to be kept waiting.”

Khana felt as though she’d been doused with icy water. Her body turned cold.

’Calm down, he’s not here.’

There was no way Varnel could make it back so fast. It was a call.

Still trembling, Khana nodded stiffly to the guard and gestured for him to lead the way.

Her room was located on the second floor of the mansion, just a hall away from Varnel’s.

She was only allowed in his room when he needed her. She always stayed away when he was enjoying other women or wasn’t around.

The guard led her into his room, then into another.

’His study,’ Khana thought, but her focus was soon pulled.

“You’ve been obedient these past few weeks, Khana. What happened?”

Khana froze. No aura or palpable weight accompanied the words, yet somehow, she felt unable to move a single step.

A man stared down at her through a large screen at the end of the study.

Instinctively, she lowered her head, shaking.

“I-it’s g-good to s-see y-you, V-V-Varnel.”

A silence followed, heavy, intensifying the fear in her heart.

’He’s not here!’ Khana tried to reassure herself. ’He can’t harm me!’

But somehow, her trembling did not stop.

“Khana.”

She gulped. “Y-yes.”

“Since when do you ignore my questions?”

Khana felt her world spin. She tried to speak, but only stutters came out.

“Oh n-never! I-I would never do that, V-Varnel! Never!”

The third pulse’s eyes narrowed. His voice was cold. “So I lie?”

Her knees almost gave out. “N-no! N-never, y-you would never l-lie! I would n-never—”

A suffocating silence pressed down on her. Khana trembled so violently her body shivered, teeth clicking against each other.

She clutched her fan tighter, peeling her fingers back with her other hand just to keep from dropping it. Her nails dug into her skin.

She chewed her lips until blood pooled at the corner of her mouth, copper warmth dripping down her chin.

Anything, anything to keep herself conscious, to stop herself from collapsing beneath the weight of his unseen presence.

On the screen, Varnel only shook his head. The small motion carried more condemnation than a thousand screams.

“Useless.”

He turned toward the guard, Nial. The man had long since fallen to his knees.

“Are you certain of what you just told me?”

“Yes, third pulse.” He nodded, clenching his one hand. “My lost arm is proof enough.”

Varnel frowned.

“That should be impossible,” he said. “How did he get so strong, so fast?”

He had watched Malakai’s battle with Aurelia. Though insane, he had still struggled to win their fight. That same person had severed the hand of a synergy stage evolved without him realizing?

Something was wrong, seriously wrong.

“The events of Sylvastein are still being kept under a tight lid. I am not sure what occurred. But something happened there, and I am certain it’s related to his sudden power up.” Varnel’s gaze shifted toward Nial. “This is valuable information. Good job.”

“M-me? What about me?” Khana stuttered.

Varnel’s eyes snapped to her. Cold. The weight of his silence crushed her far more than any shouted reprimand.

“Be lucky I am not coming down there myself to punish you. You’ll escape severe punishment only because your stupidity brought us valuable information.”

Khana’s head dipped instantly. Her fan rattled in her trembling grip.

“Y-yes.”

The silence lingered, heavy. Then Varnel’s expression hardened further.

“Still, he’s grown too powerful. I cannot afford to let him grow any stronger.” His eyes narrowed on Khana. “Get ready. I’m sending someone.”

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by novlove.com