CHAPTER 138: EDITH’S CHOICE

"What do you say, Edith?"

The question stirred many emotions inside her. She didn’t know what to say or how to say it, but then she found Vivian’s hand holding hers softly and without any malice.

"Only the truth can set you free."

The truth? Like how you lied to me? Like how you manipulated everything and everyone? Edith wanted to say that, but why would she blame Vivian now? Every living thing must struggle in order to achieve its goals; Vivian is just another one.

"All my life, I was taught one thing, and when I opened my eyes to the world, everyone was doing the opposite—my brother, my father, the nobles, the royals, and even my friend," Edith said with a bitter tone. "I’ve always believed in justice and loyalty. They are the only things they taught me. Was I naive to believe in that?"

"No," Vivian said and shrugged. "I don’t know, Edith. What you are is a noble person, not in status, but in your heart. If you can live all your life for justice and loyalty, you’d be the most noble of us all."

"What about you, Vivian?"

"My desire?" Vivian thought for a while before arriving at an answer that satisfied her: "Survive."

"So you want to live forever?" Edith asked.

"I want to live with myself forever," Vivian shrugged.

"And the innocents that die in your crazed crusade?"

"Innocents?"

"The son of Baron Hewes, for starters."

"Do sane people bring children to war, Edith? You don’t step into its fray and expect you’re going to live through it. That would be what’s truly crazy."

"And you’re willing to die in that war?"

"Maybe I’ll die—most likely, even. But until I die, I will survive."

"And the royal guards you killed? The constables? The Blackguards?"

"I never killed any constable. The Royal Guards were mostly the Prince’s henchmen who moved his illegal convoy, so I count them as enemy soldiers. As for the Blackguards, are you seriously asking me why I kill those sons of bitches?"

"They are people with families."

"They are thugs who attacked my workers, terrorists who raid innocents for slavery, and they are the ones who are cooking and distributing Bliss all over the city."

"And you can provide evidence for all of that?"

Without even replying, Vivian walked to her drawer, got out her storage bag, extended her arm inside it, and took out a leather journal. Casually, Vivian tossed the journal to Edith and then spoke:

"Everything I have—all the names, locations, money launderers, recruiters, informants, bribed officials and constables, involved nobles, and even ships that belong to that organization."

The inquisitive eyes of Edith looked at Vivian intently and then at the journal, flipping its pages one by one, each containing a surprise greater than the one before it. Edith wasn’t a fool to believe everything right away, but she was familiar with this type of criminal report, and Vivian’s work was immaculate, supported with dates, locations, witnesses, suspects, forensic analysis, and financial trails; just confirming one of those trails would cause a chain reaction and prove any of the crimes if they were handed to the authorities.

But wait!

Authorities?

Even her father, the Head of the Black Hand, the Anti-espionage force of the Empire, wouldn’t disturb some of these waters that this journal charts.

Disappointed, Edith lowered the journal as she realized the extent of the rot infesting this city. Carefully, she closed the journal and put it aside.

"Any comments?" Vivian asked.

Usually, Edith would have something to say. Now, she just shook her head.

"Well, I am not one to appreciate a silent guest. You are here, so lay it out. What is it you want from me?"

"Just... I wanted to... I don’t know... complain," Edith said and let out a single dry laugh of self-mockery. "I saw what you did when you stopped Prince Liam from taking over the garden of Moon Lilies for Princess Charlotte."

"You wished that I could stop that madness regarding Beatrix?" Vivian asked.

"I don’t know anyone else who would do it," Edith replied.

"Well, you see the state I am in; I want to go, but I can’t," Vivian said. "Tell me more about the situation; maybe I can think of something."

"What do you want to know?"

"Locations, people, countermeasures."

Edith let out a long breath and told Vivian everything. Right after the chase, the group met at Valentine’s galleria, but after Valentine protested the curse, they moved Beatrix to Matilda’s house outside the city. The guards are only those who belong to Matilda, and Edmond is stationed there along with Richard Marshall, Ian Grayson, Robert Moore, and Ronald Morgan.

Five of the charming princes were gathered in one place, taking turns watching Beatrix as Matilda would heal her after every torture connection she put Vivian under. Their goal was not simply torture, but to weaken Vivian enough in order to flush her out or find a way to divine her location with magic.

It seemed that House Moore’s decision to hide Vivian’s condition under the guise of a vacation was very lucky. The Prince is probably sending his spies to inquire about females who are suffering from frequent, extreme pain episodes from the physicians across the city. It would be what Vivian would do if she were in his situation.

Thinking of that, Vivian had no choice but to gather those whom she could consult at the moment.

"Alright, you can come in."

As she said so, the door to her dressing room was opened, and Esmeralda walked in, carrying a large rifle in her hands. Also, the door to the room opened, and Isabella walked in.

"You two, you are onto this with her?"

Edith was surprised to see the maid and the De Clare daughter appearing like that.

"What do I say?" Isabella shrugged with a wink. "Long live the Bloody Swan."

"Just please, stop doing those dangerous hobbies, my Lady." Unlike Isabella, Esmeralda was totally disheartened.

"Alright, alright," Vivian nodded to the two and then turned to Edith. "This is a very sensitive operation, and from what I know, you are more than qualified to join the Bloody Swan support group."

"Support group?" Edith was taken aback by the soft name.

"We support each other, and unless those two get a criminal title like mine, we are still calling it the Bloody Swan support group."

"Whatever. I’ll have to judge before I make a decision," Edith shrugged and seemed rather okay with how things were turning out.

"So, what would you have us do, Bloody Swan?" With a theatrical voice, Isabella asked.

Vivian had only one thing she needed right now, and it was to rid herself of the curse. If it can be done, she can only rely on Isabella and Edith to do that for her.