Chapter 249: Chapter 249 Clapping for Your Thick Skin_1
Afternoon, Rose Iron Prison.
"... That’s how it is," Aiden said, seated in the visitation room, to the dumbfounded Ophelia before him, while in the background stood a humanoid mercury amalgam golem, arms crossed, acting as a bodyguard.
As per the agreement with Kael, Aiden recounted to Ophelia the past events Kael had mentioned, upon his return to the prison.
"You’re lying to me!" Ophelia glared into Aiden’s eyes, but her expression already showed signs of wavering.
"If I were fabricating stories, how could I precisely recount your past?" Aiden retorted, leaving Ophelia at a loss for words, and promptly added the explanation Kael had asked him to convey, "After he told me, he made me promise not to tell you."
"Then why are you telling me?" Ophelia eyed Aiden suspiciously.
"Of course, it’s to mock you, need you ask?" Aiden displayed that smile that had always made Ophelia grit her teeth, "You’ve always been a source of my joy, Ophelia."
Ophelia’s face darkened immeasurably, but she couldn’t utter a single word in retort.
"I’ve always wondered, how could someone as mentally immature as you become a vampire Prince," Aiden finally broke the silence, "Now I understand. How blissful it must be, Ophelia, truly befitting a lady who has been pampered in honey since childhood, with others shouldering everything for you... It’s just unfortunate that no one can serve your prison sentence in your place, isn’t it?"
In the core area of this prison, the air was filled with the curses of female demons.
Aiden felt that after five years of working here, his ability to be thick-skinned and sarcastic had greatly improved compared to his past life.
His words struck a solid blow to Ophelia’s pride, and she glared at Aiden in anger, "I never asked him to do that!"
"Had he not done so, you would have long been a corpse in the wilderness," Aiden replied emotionlessly, "Can’t you think a bit more? This world is never short of fools eager for eternal life, grasping at the chance to become a vampire Prince. If given the opportunity, they would probably fight on the spot... Why would an ancestor who sustains himself on human blood bother to turn both of you into his kin? Set you free after two years of work? The vampire ancestor who feeds on blood seems so kindly and approachable, even I have to bind prisoners with a demon’s contract to have them work for me."
"I..." Ophelia opened her mouth.
"You never considered it, because you’ve always lived like this, self-centered and willful. You must have been quite pampered from a young age. I’ve seen plenty of prisoners like you; although you keep claiming the title of Prince, to me, you’re nothing but a sheltered lady who knows nothing of the world. How impressive, the title of Prince you flaunt before me every day is a token your brother earned by being a lapdog to others." Aiden suddenly laughed, clapping his hands, "I feel like giving your shamelessness a round of applause."
He was utterly denigrating Ophelia’s highly regarded title of Prince, intending to make her realize its worthlessness, banking on the fact she still had a considerable degree of pride. After knowing the truth, she should feel ashamed of her title instead.
"Enough!" Ophelia, furious and ashamed, slammed the table, reacting exactly as Aiden had anticipated.
"No matter how much you don’t want to hear it, the truth is right here," Aiden said unflinchingly, "In about a month, when your observation period is over, he will probably apply to see you. What are you planning to do then?"
"I... I don’t want to see him," Ophelia looked away.
"You’re scared, aren’t you?" Aiden mocked her mercilessly. "You have the guts to partake in a rebellion but don’t dare to see your own family?"
"Enough, I will think about it myself, stop talking!" Ophelia didn’t look Aiden in the eyes.
"Whether you see them or not, it’s none of my business," Aiden said calmly. "I’m just advising you not to cause any more trouble. Your sentence has already been increased quite a bit, escape again, and even if I wanted to help you, you couldn’t avoid death. You might want to consider for a moment, what your family will feel like when they receive your bones."
Ophelia looked down, falling into silence without uttering a word.
"However, whether he’ll be alive to see you in a month, that’s another matter," Aiden suddenly threw in.
Upon hearing this, Ophelia jerked her head up as if electrified and stared at Aiden’s eyes quietly: "What did you say!?"
"Hm? Didn’t you say yesterday that you didn’t care about his life or death?" Aiden asked back, feigning surprise.
"Cut the crap! Hurry up and tell me!" Ophelia demanded, pounding the table.
Aiden chuckled, then leisurely began to explain the plan he and Kael had prepared to expose the Blood Moon Cult’s Acolyte of Death. However, he did some "artistic editing" to achieve the desired effect—he deliberately omitted the detail that Kael "possessed an undying body endowed by the Progenitor" and their plan to have the "Witch at the Pinnacle," Abigail, take care of the enemy.
"A bloodline second only to the Duke, and protected by the Grim Reaper!? Has he lost his mind to provoke such an opponent?" Ophelia stood up excitedly before he could finish. "Why not just leave this to the Heretic Inquisitors?"
"Because he can’t defy the Progenitor’s command, and the Blood Moon Cult also plans to abduct you from prison, which, to an extent, is thanks to you," Aiden pointed at Ophelia. "Frankly, I don’t care how they deal with a problematic prisoner like you once you’re abducted, but unfortunately, my duty is to manage this prison. Since a royal vampire has offered his help spontaneously, I have no reason to refuse."
"Let me see him!" Ophelia demanded, staring into Aiden’s eyes.
"No, you’re still in the observation period," Aiden replied leisurely, snapping his fingers. "Also, sit down. When the warden is asking questions, prisoners should avoid any superfluous movements!"
The mercury amalgam automaton standing behind Aiden lowered its crossed arms from its chest, looking ready to intervene at any moment.
Ophelia then sat down resentfully.
"All you can do now is to stay quietly in the prison and wait. At least try to behave like someone decent while others risk their lives outside," Aiden said slowly, staring at Ophelia.
He figured that after this barrage of words, she would have grasped the severity of the situation to some extent.
Yet, to Aiden’s slight surprise, after a long silence, Ophelia made a new request: "Look, since you’re so keen on getting help, why don’t you let me out to give you a hand?"
