Joseph, Go Die!
Empress Eliana’s phantom returned to her body, looking extremely weak.
The puppet’s body sizzled and popped, its internal circuits neatly severed, appearing beyond repair.
Henry’s previous strike had been a sword intent condensed from Cataclysm.
He never imagined this sword strike would be so domineering. The moment he unleashed it, he felt he could ignore all obstacles and cleave through everything in the world!
However, after using it, Henry also felt a wave of weakness, followed by soreness and pain.
It seemed his body couldn’t handle using such an overbearing sword intent continuously.
Otherwise, he might not die from being drained by Lilith, but from the side effects.
Henry looked towards Jessica not far away.
Jessica was mustering all her strength to walk towards her mother.
Tears continuously dripped from her cheeks onto the ground.
“Mother, you’re still alive…”
She knelt before Eliana, her trembling hand gently caressing her mother’s cold face.
The sensation was completely different from what she remembered, yet the gentle smile was unmistakably her mother’s.
“Jessica, my child, I’m so happy to see you again.”
The puppet’s body couldn’t move, but Eliana still tried to reach out and touch Jessica’s cheek.
“I’ve missed you, always missed you…”
Jessica took Eliana’s hand and pressed it against her own cheek.
Although the touch was cold, Jessica could feel her mother’s warmth.
“Don’t cry, child. Let me look at you properly.”
Eliana gazed intently at her grown-up child. She had transformed from a little girl into a graceful young woman, bearing the demeanor of a royal princess, which filled Eliana with immense relief.
Simultaneously, she felt profound sorrow, for she had missed all those years of Jessica’s growth.
The hardships along the way were perhaps known only to Jessica herself.
“I have so much I want to say to you. I want to know if you’ve been eating well, sleeping well, if you’re happy, and if there’s someone you love.”
Eliana showed a gentle smile.
Jessica nodded repeatedly, making soft, muffled sobbing sounds.
“My, our Jessica has grown up. It was my fault to leave you midway, my child. It’s just a pity that I cannot make it up to you.” Eliana’s voice carried a note of regret.
But when her gaze fell upon the ring on Jessica’s finger, her eyes suddenly lit up.
“This is… the ring I made?!”
Jessica raised her hand, showing the ring that belonged to Eliana.
“Yes, Mother. This is your ring.”
“What a coincidence, truly a remarkable coincidence. Because this ring was originally meant to be a gift for you.”
Upon hearing this, Jessica was stunned.
“This ring contains magical power that replenishes over time. When you’re in danger, it erupts with powerful astral magic to protect you.”
“So, it was you, Mother, who protected me just now.”
Jessica truly felt this was all arranged by fate.
She instinctively glanced at Henry. If Henry hadn’t retrieved the ring from that woman, she might have died here today and never seen her mother again.
Henry rubbed his shoulder. Noticing Jessica looking at him, he gave a faint smile.
Jessica’s face flushed slightly, and she quickly turned back.
Eliana observed this scene.
It was this man who had severed the puppet’s control. They could sit here and talk now entirely thanks to him.
But come to think of it, this man looked somewhat familiar, as if she had seen him somewhere before.
“Jessica, by the way, who is that man?”
Just as Jessica was about to introduce him, Henry proactively stepped forward.
“Auntie, hello. My name is Henry. I’m a classmate of Princess Jessica.”
“So polite, and quite handsome too. No wonder Jessica likes you.”
“Mother!”
Jessica’s ears turned red, her shame almost leaping out of her throat! Some words she simply couldn’t bring herself to say, yet her mother spoke them without hesitation.
“He… he’s the son of the Rumelter family head, but he’s been cast out now and lives at Saint Nad Magic Academy.”
“Rumelter… You mean he’s Lore’s son?” Eliana’s eyes widened, seemingly incredible.
She scrutinized Henry, searching her memory for Lore’s image.
“Similar… indeed quite similar. But he actually passed the Saint Nad Academy entrance test?” Eliana muttered to herself, but quickly regained her composure.
“I’m very sorry for what I did to you earlier. I couldn’t control my magic from attacking you, I nearly caused your deaths.”
Eliana smiled wryly.
She knew her own strength best.
Ordinary people were no match for her, let alone two students still learning.
“Mother, it’s not your fault. This is all Joseph’s scheme. He poisoned you, colluded with cultists to transform you into this state. He is the root of all evil!”
As soon as she finished speaking, Joseph, whom Henry had grabbed from the ground, was tossed unceremoniously before them.
He had tried to escape during this emotional reunion.
Unfortunately, Henry had been watching him the whole time.
Now, Joseph was covered in dust and dirt, devoid of any dignity befitting a ruler of a nation.
He looked at Eliana in terror, his voice trembling.
“You… you’re still not dead!”
“Yes, I’m not dead. I’ve returned from hell to find you.”
“You lingering, venomous woman, why must you always obstruct me! My greatest regret in life was marrying you!”
Before he could finish, Jessica’s blade fell, cutting out his tongue!
Blood gushed from his mouth. Joseph clutched his mouth, glaring at them in agony.
“Do not insult my mother with your filthy mouth! You are not worthy of mentioning her!”
Eliana looked at the man before her.
This man had acted for decades before her eyes, and she hadn’t noticed at all. He had nearly caused her daughter’s death.
The thought filled her with sorrow.
“You’re right. My greatest regret in life was also marrying you, but my greatest joy was giving birth to Jessica. You wanted power and had me killed, I accept that. But why did you collude with those vermin to harm the nation? The people are innocent. They shouldn’t pay with their lives for your selfish desires.”
Joseph shook his head frantically, seemingly trying to deny Eliana’s words.
Tears streamed from the corners of Eliana’s eyes.
Henry stood by, watching this scene.
He thought that Empress Eliana must have truly loved Joseph once.
It was a pity she encountered a man who loved power more than anything.
He looked up, unwilling to disturb the moment.
Meanwhile, the once crimson sky gradually turned blue, and the oppressive sense of death vanished without a trace.
It seemed Lady Reina had broken the sacrificial magic.
“Joseph, take your sins and die.”
Jessica gripped her sword, the tear stains on her face dry, and swung the blade at Joseph!
Joseph fearfully reached out, trying to block the strike.
But soon, his vision showed him his own headless body.
The sword, forged by the royal family, was now stained with the blood of the empire’s most noble person.