Chapter 381 - 146 – Heavenly Empress Ivy

Rupid bolted to his feet when he saw the markings and his eyes threatened to jump out of their sockets.

"Why, Why would she be involving herself in this?!" he asked with his back drenched in a cold sweat, those markings, "And why would you people even be in Proge?" he asked, the slight overbearingness in Rupid's voice had all vanished, instead he had to now speak to these whores, as equals.

No, in fact, their status even superseded his own in many ways.

"Now, now you have to play by the rules, we answered your question, it's time you answered mine don't you think?" Lavender asked with her smile growing even more smug.

Rupid didn't even dare to complain and merely nodded in acceptance like an obedient child.

"We want to know who the real master mind is behind the unification of the region?"

"Is it Lady Sicilia Mantis, your backer?" she asked with a strange smile.

Rupid opened his mouth to answer, but Lavender put a finger against her lips to quieten him down, she wasn't done speaking.

"Is it Unity that has gotten your ambitions so lit up?" she asked with a smile that sent shivers down Rupid's spine.

"Or is it both of the above, a collaboration between a high noble family, Unity and a little noble with far too much ambition to reach beyond his station?" she posed the final question with a fierceness that made Rupid want to squeal.

'Damn it, how do they know, how could they possibly know?' he cursed internally.

"Now then, Lord Rupid it is imperative that you answer me honestly, this goes far beyond the continued existence of your House, if Unity has had dealings with high nobles this is something that will affect all of Mithland and the entirety of the human race?" she said in a most severe tone, and even the everlasting smile that she always seemed able to wear left her face.

"This was just between myself and Lady Sicilia, the current head of House Mantis intends to step down and focus on becoming a Crusader, Lady Sicilia and her brother are currently at odds for the seat,"

"She intended to use me to Unify the region, then once I rose to become a high noble I was to join House Mantis using my house as a supporting banner, the achievement of Unify the region and bringing a new high noble house under House Mantis's banner, would have earned her all the merit she required to become the new head of the family," Rupid hurriedly explained.

Every word he said was true, that was one of her main reasons for supporting him, it just so happened that Unity's plan's coincided with theirs, and they offered to fund a lot of the plan, the ballistae for instance were funded by Unity, and like that they were both brought into the fold.

At least Rupid believed that both of them were brought in at the same time.

Lavender frowned slightly at his response, most of what she knew came from her master, and she had never doubted her master's words.

The smile resurfaced on her face as she had an idea, "You know that your House is in danger of being exterminated don't you, but imagine what would happen if people were to learn that you were under the protection of Heavenly Empress Ivy,"

"I beat that no one would dare to lay a finger on your house, not even the other races would dare to take you lightly, let alone some silver haired nobody, all your ambitions would be achieved and so much more," she offered and it was the most enticing of offers.

She noted the wavering eyes of Rupid, and she finally had her complete confirmation, she knew that her master's assumptions on the situation were correct.

Rupid found himself wavering, it was the most enticing of offers, one that every high noble family and most great families would die to have, let alone a noble family like his.

Yet at the same time he knew that accepting such an offer would mean betraying Unity, and not even the title of a Heavenly Empress was enough to dissuade Unity, and he doubted that Heavenly Empress Ivy herself would show up to protect a simple noble like him she wasn't even likely to send one of her Crusaders.

And he knew that the first person to come after him after such a betrayal would be none other than a Crusader and master of the shadows at that.

Rupid shut his eyes and shook his head, his best bet to get out of this was to rely on his father, his father seemed confident in his ability to become a true knight, that would have to be enough.

"I already told you everything I know, now answer me, why is a Heavenly Empress taking an interest in this part of the world?" he asked.

Lavender was surprised, by his rejection of her offer, but she hid it well as did Jasmine and Lily.

But he had already lied to them twice now, pushing was going to get them nowhere, besides she had already made him the best offer she could, if that wasn't enough, nothing was going to cut it.

"The reason is simple, the desolation will open soon,"

"Most of the major cities have already rallied their main attack forces and they are slowly beginning to set out for the north,"

"It will be the ideal time for trouble makers like Unity to undermine and seize control of the regions, but the only way for them to legitimise their new lands is through ambitious nobles like you, who are willing to sell out your people for the sake of fortune and opportunities,"

"Your movements over the past century have caught the attention of more than just our master, all the great cities and even the royal city has been paying attention to you,"

"It's just that until now there was no urgency in dealing with the mess you've caused in this placed, but now that the desolation is opening we have to ensure that we know who our allies are and who we need to get rid of," Lavender explained.

"Now then our business here is done, you are to provide us with a proper escort to Blindwatch," Lavender demanded.

"Lady Lavender, you see the state of my house, I cannot afford to put together an escort worthy of you, all my strongest people are necessary to support…" Rupid started to excuse himself from fulfilling this request.

"Humph," Lavender snorted lightly, "Even with your house's entire force working together you were unable to defeat one man, if he returns to attack you what difference will it make,"

"Quite frankly if you send people to escort us, you'll have a better chance of having a few members of your family survive,"

"You can send your brother, after all he's the only one who'll be useful in acting as a guard, and he can bring that daughter of his along,"

"I hear that he is searching for a way to heal her, he can't, but if there is anyone that can heal her it's our master," she said quickly turning on her heel with her dress fluttering.

Rupid clenched his fist, those women didn't need him to provide an escort for their safety, he knew she was just doing it to get back at him for not giving her what she wanted, and he didn't dare to refuse.