Saintess? Not Anymore! I'd Rather be a Destroyer-Chapter 282 - 269: Hitoria’s cries
"Hmph, when are we even going to the World Summit?" Aurianna asked, tilting her head with curiosity.
"In five days," Peter replied matter-of-factly.
"F-Five days?!" Aurianna gasped, nearly choking on her words.
"Yes," Peter said with a slight nod.
"Damn it. So soon and I don’t even look my best," Aurianna sighed, glancing at her reflection in a nearby polished shield.
"I wouldn’t worry too much," Peter said with a shrug. "We’ll be seated all the way in the back. No one’s going to notice."
"Hmph, fine," Aurianna muttered, crossing her arms. "I just wonder about where the world summit would even take place at. I never heard about a thing called world summit till that old man spoke of it."
"I heard it takes place in the skies," Peter stated.
"That’s so cool," Aurianna stated with sparkling eyes.
---
In a grand, opulent castle, the sound of shattering glass echoed through the halls as Hitoria hurled a vase against the wallx shattering it. Her chest heaved with ragged breaths, and tears streamed down her flushed cheeks.
"What do you mean my Mother is dead?!" she screamed, her voice cracking with anguish. "How can my mother be dead? She’s one of the strongest Grand Humans to ever serve the Flonkong Organization! How could she die?! How?"
Hitoria clutched her face, her blue pupils trembling as despair consumed her. "It shouldn’t be possible!" Her knees buckled, and she crumpled to the ground, her sobs shaking her slender body.
Standing nearby, Lersit watched with a stoic but pained expression. "Hitoria... calm down," he said softly.
"Calm down?" Hitoria’s head snapped up, her tear-streaked face twisting in fury. "Are you seriously telling me to calm down, Lersit? Our mother just—just died!" She shot to her feet, her hands trembling as she jabbed a finger toward him.
"Do you even care?!" she shouted, her voice echoing through the room. Her fiery gaze bore into Lersit’s unflinching brown eyes.
Lersit sighed, running a hand through his hair. "Of course I care," he said, his tone steady but heavy with grief. "But screaming won’t bring her back."
"What was the name of the woman who attacked my mother?" Hitoria demanded, storming over to the butler who stood silently in the corner. Grabbing his collar, she snarled, "Tell me her name, now!"
The butler, unflinching, calmly brushed her hand away. His eyes were cold as ice as he replied, "The assailant has a current bounty of 200 million gold coins issued by the Flonkong Organization. For two years, she was presumed dead... but it seems she’s returned for revenge." He paused, before continuing. "Her name... is Aurianna. All other information about her has been erased. Seems like some higher ups did that."
Hitoria froze, her mind racing as the name echoed in her head. "Aurianna?" she whispered, her voice trembling with rage. Her hands balled into fists, and she stomped the ground with her heels in fury. "Shit, shit, shit, shit!"
The cracks in her composure gave way to an explosive scream. "That bitch will pay! I’ll kill her! How dare she go against the Halru family!"
Hitoria turned abruptly to the butler, desperation etched on her face. "Did you at least retrieve Mother’s body?" she asked, her voice shaking. "If you did, we can send her to the church to be revived!"
The butler and the guards exchanged uneasy glances, their expressions grim. Their silence hit Hitoria like a dagger to the heart.
"No..." she whispered, stumbling back. Her voice grew hoarse, choked with fresh tears. "No, no, no! How could you not retrieve her body?! What were you all doing?!"
Her accusations fell on the bowed heads of her attendants, and her knees gave out as she collapsed once more to the floor, the weight of grief threatening to crush her entirely.
"Why are you so hesitant to tell me?" Hitoria demanded, her voice trembling with frustration.
The butler hesitated, his hands clenching into tight fists. "Your mother’s body couldn’t be found," he admitted grimly. "Witnesses claimed it was taken—likely by bounty hunters who were with Aurianna, hoping to claim the price on her head. Any remaining traces of her have... disappeared."
Hitoria’s breath hitched. But Lersit raised his sister from the ground, and supported her trembling body with his.
"No," she whispered, her face growing pale. "No!" The word escaped her lips again, more forceful this time, as though sheer denial could undo the truth.
"Mother..." she cried, clutching at Lersit’s chest as her tears fell freely. "Lersit... I refuse to believe it! Mother wouldn’t die so easily! She can’t!"
Lersit wrapped his arms around his sister, his voice soft and steady. "You can cry on me, sister," he said, and she clung to him, sobbing into his shoulder.
The room grew heavy with sorrow, everyone silently grieving lady Athena Lersit broke the silence, his tone cold. "Explain Aurianna’s motives for killing our mother."
The butler straightened, his face grim. "Lady Athena was targeted because she worked with some people who orchestrated the kidnapping of Aurianna. She and her associates attempted to sell the girl. Aurianna’s attack was an act of vengeance."
Hitoria froze, her head lifting slowly from Lersit’s shoulder. Her tear-streaked face twisted in fury. "So... a mere slave dared to rebel?" she spat, her voice dripping with disdain. "Preposterous! Brother, we must avenge Mother and kill that slave girl!"
"Hitoria!" the butler barked, his sharp tone cutting through her anger. His piercing glare made her flinch. "No slave could have done what that girl did. She’s not a slave. And she’s far stronger than Lady Athena. Do you truly think vengeance against a Grand Human is something we can accomplish? Use your head!"
Hitoria trembled under his cold gaze. After a moment, she whipped her head toward Lersit. "Apostle Gray—Mother’s boss! We must find her at once! She’ll avenge Mother!" 𝒇𝙧𝙚𝓮𝙬𝙚𝓫𝒏𝓸𝓿𝓮𝒍.𝓬𝙤𝓶
The butler shook his head, his expression darkening. "I’m afraid that’s not possible, Miss Hitoria."
"Why not?" Lersit asked with a serious expression.
"Our spies confirmed something..." The butler hesitated. "Aurianna bears a rose mark on her neck and a pink cross within her eyes. These symbols identify her as the next chosen Saintess of the Church of Beauty."
Hitoria’s eyes widened in horror. "No... no, no, no..." Her breaths quickened, her panic spilling over.
"This can’t be real. She’s going to get away with murdering my mother?!" she cried, her voice rising in desperation. "No! No! I won’t let this happen! I’ll kill her! I’ll kill her!"
"Hitoria!" Lersit snapped, gripping her shoulders firmly. His stern gaze bore into hers, pulling her back from the edge of hysteria. "We need a plan. Cool yes my unnecessary tears wouldn’t help us. Do you hear me?"
Hitoria’s breathing slowed, but the fire in her eyes remained. "Fine," she hissed. "But I swear, I will make Aurianna pay. One way or another, she’ll regret ever crossing the Halru family."
_________
Walking through the grand halls of Peter’s castle, Aurianna cradled Zagan in her arms, while Jade strode silently at her side. The towering pillars lining the corridor were masterfully sculpted, their detailed designs illuminated by floating lights that danced across the high ceilings. Ornate chandeliers cast shimmering reflections. The air was crisp and refreshing as well and on the castle windows were wines that bloomed beautiful flowers.
Elvish guards could be seen everywhere they passed as well. Showing how the Diondraff family took their security seriously.
"When are we going to reach the throne room?" Aurianna asked with a frown.
"Soon," Jade replied, his tone measured. "Let’s walk patiently for now."
As they continued, Jade’s golden eyes drifted to Aurianna’s crystal spike-like legs, gleaming faintly with every step she took. His gaze then settled on the black-furred creature perched comfortably in her arms.
"Hmm... Aurianna," Jade began, his curiosity piqued. "Where did you get that cat?"
"Oh, you mean Zagan?" Aurianna asked, raising an eyebrow.
"Yes," Jade confirmed, his expression contemplative.
"Why?" she replied, tilting her head slightly, a playful smirk tugging at her lips.
"He reminds me of something," Jade said, his voice lowering slightly. "Specifically, he resembles some of the monsters I developed in the past."
Aurianna froze mid-step, her brows shooting up in surprise. "Wait... are you the one who wrote Dark Something Playtime?!" she asked, her voice tinged with disbelief.
Jade turned to her. "Yes, I am! Do you have it?"
Aurianna snorted, resuming her stride. "Nah. I left it in some creepy lady’s mansion after I killed her. She was working for my father, so I’m betting he has it now." She shrugged casually and scratched Zagan’s chin, the cat purring contentedly in her arms.
Jade’s enthusiasm dimmed slightly as he nodded thoughtfully. "I see. Well, it’s of no great importance. I’m just surprised a mere human family managed to get their hands on my work. I would’ve assumed the book had been banned or destroyed by now."
Aurianna chuckled, her voice tinged with dry amusement. "Considering the kind of sketchy operations my father runs, it’s not surprising at all. He probably has all sorts of stuff that shouldn’t exist."
