Dark Moon Third Arc (Fallen Heart) - 234. Resurrection VII (Patreon)

Third Arc (Fallen Heart) - 234. Resurrection VII

With a steady breath, King Gervis raised the whip. Its presence seemed to command the air itself, the atmosphere growing taut with anticipation. Ilex's back was bared to the room, a canvas awaiting the strokes of a painter's brush, only this brush wielded agony rather than pigment.

And then the first lash fell.

*Slash*

The sound, a sharp crack that echoed through the hall, was immediately followed by the guttural sound of pain. Ilex's body convulsed, his muscles tensing as if to brace against the onslaught. The whip's bite left behind a searing mark, a testament to the agony it was named after.

Ilex's form convulsed with every lash, his body wracked with agony that seemed to radiate through the very air. His groans, once a mark of his haughty arrogance, had been reduced to a symphony of suffering. The echoes of his torment reverberated off the walls, like a haunting melody playing to an audience of shocked and morbidly curious nobles.

Amidst this tableau of punishment, Angel sat aloof, his countenance betraying a peculiar mixture of detachment and amusement. A champagne glass was cradled in his hand, the effervescent liquid within reflecting the flickering light as he sipped at it languidly. His eyes, however, remained fixed on Ilex's contorted figure, relishing each groan of pain as if it was a sweet melody in its own right.

In the midst of this tableau, Rose brought her face close to Angel's ear. Her words were soft, but they carried a weight that resonated deeply within him. "He tried to kill you so many times, but you still forgive him. You are too kind," she murmured.

Angel's lips curled into a wry smile, his gaze never wavering from the scene before him. "Sadly, I never intended to forgive him. I only do it to keep my hands clean," he responded,his voice a mere breath carried away by the echoes of suffering.

Rose's gaze locked onto Angel's, a glimmer of curiosity dancing within her eyes. The atmosphere around them was one of both respite and lingering intrigue, a moment of reprieve amidst the turmoil that had come before.

"So, you will do something after this?" she inquired, her voice laced with genuine curiosity.

Angel's lips curled into a faint smile, his gaze steady and thoughtful. His response was measured. "Accidents could happen at any time, Rose. Especially to a desperate person," he replied, his words carrying a layer of insight that resonated far beyond their immediate conversation.

Rose's smirk was a testament to her understanding of Angel's approach to life, a dance of strategy and calculated risks. "Cunning as usual," she quipped.

"Thank you," Angel said, his gaze softening as he regarded Rose.

A heavy sigh escaped Rose's lips as she averted her gaze from Angel, her eyes settling on the center of the hall where the events were unfolding.

"Still…" she began, her voice carrying a hint of contemplation, "I think you are too kind." Her words were soft yet resonated deeply, revealing the complexity of her thoughts.

Her brows furrowed slightly as she continued, her words carrying a sense of genuine inquiry. "I don’t understand why you didn’t take over Asteria when you won the war." The statement hung in the air, an unspoken question that probed at the very essence of Angel's character.

"Even though you are now a Moonfall," Rose mused, her voice taking on a reflective tone, " Reinheart's blood flows in your veins." It was a fact that could not be denied, a lineage that carried with it a legacy of power, authority, and history.

Her gaze shifted back to Angel, studying him closely as if searching for the answers to her unspoken questions within his eyes. "As long as you are alive, Reinheart's lineage will not break off..." Her words trailed off, carrying a weight of implication that resonated with the grand narrative that had brought them to this point.

Angel's response held a depth that mirrored the complexity of the situation. His gaze was steady, his expression contemplative as he weighed the words that had been spoken. "I have attacked Asteria," he began, his voice carrying a mixture of resignation and understanding, "I no longer deserve to be a Reinheart."

The weight of those words hung in the air, a reflection of the internal struggles that had shaped Angel's decisions. And then, he added, "I will continue my life as a Moonfall because Angelus Raizel Reinheart... is dead…"