Saintess? Not Anymore! I'd Rather be a Destroyer-Chapter 41 - 28: Petty Revenge

"Hey Eva, I’m heading out," Aurianna declared as she gracefully descended from her bed, her tone brimming with a sense of purpose.

"For what reason, exactly? It’s not like you have any pressing matters to attend to in your father’s extravagant mansion. Besides, you’ve barely spent an hour in your room," inquired Eva, her curiosity piqued by the mischievous grin that had adorned Aurianna’s face mere moments ago.

"Well, there’s someone I need to settle the score with," Aurianna responded, a twisted expression creeping across her features.

Aurianna tapped on the door, which swung open to reveal a female knight adorned in resplendent golden armor. Politeness radiated from her as she inquired, "Is there anything you require, Princess Aurianna?"

"Could I possibly be allowed to leave my chambers?" Aurianna asked, her voice adopting an endearing and almost childlike quality. For reasons unknown, the knight felt an overwhelming compulsion to grant Aurianna’s request, obligingly opening the door.

Stepping out into the hallway, Aurianna noticed the knight attempting to trail behind her. Fixing them with an authoritative gaze, she warned, "I’m leaving, so please don’t follow me." Her threatening stare caused the four knights to tremble in fear, readily nodding in agreement.

Skipping merrily through the grand corridors, Aurianna’s joyous demeanor shifted as her eyes landed on a familiar face.

"Well, well, if it isn’t my dear sister who arrived all by themselves. Funny enough, I was actually planning on paying your chambers a visit," Ralph sneered, a displeased yet cocky expression etched upon his face as he addressed Aurianna in a condescending manner.

"So, you insolent little brat, how dare you humiliate me in front of our father?" Ralph seethed with anger, striding purposefully towards Aurianna and lifting her by her dress. Despite his five-year advantage in age, he was only slightly taller than her.

"I wouldn’t do that if I were you," Aurianna warned with a menacing glare, causing Ralph to release his grip and take several steps back. He stared at his trembling hands, a mixture of confusion and frustration crossing his face.

"Why... Why am I trembling?" Ralph questioned internally, his gaze fixed upon Aurianna. The realization that his own fear had overtaken him unsettled him.

"Know your place!" Ralph exclaimed, raising his hand with the intent to strike Aurianna. However, before his blow could land, a sudden surge of searing warmth coursed through his arm, accompanied by a sharp, agonizing pain. In shock, he watched as his left arm was brutally severed, falling to the ground with a sickening thud.

"Arrrghh!!" Ralph crumpled to the floor, tears mingling with his cries of anguish as he stared at his dismembered limb lying before him. Overwhelmed by pain and despair, he cursed Aurianna, his voice trembling with rage. "You wretched creature! Father will surely punish you when he sees this!"

Aurianna’s gaze remained cold as ice, unyielding in the face of Ralph’s accusations. "I always knew there was a devil lurking beneath that seemingly innocent smile of yours! It seems all the girls in this palace are alike."

A smirk played on Aurianna’s lips as she towered over Ralph, her voice dripping with disdain. "Listen here, dimwit. Do you honestly think I give a damn?" Her threatening tone reverberated in the air.

"And if every girl were to wear the same ugly expression you do, then indeed, we would be no different. But this is just the beginning," Aurianna retorted, her annoyance palpable. She took a step closer, her gaze cold as she continued, "Do you find it amusing to bully me in front of our father? Is it some sort of twisted entertainment?"

Aurianna’s frustration escalated, her annoyance transforming into a burning anger. She raised her foot and pressed it firmly against Ralph’s head. "How dare you, you insufferable imbecile, attempt to strike me? You pathetic excuse for a brat!" With a swift and forceful kick to his gut, Ralph was sent sprawling, unable to control his fit of coughs.

"You have a nerve, provoking me like this," Aurianna sneered, grabbing a handful of Ralph’s hair and delivering a resounding slap across his face. The impact sent him crashing into the wall, yet astonishingly, no dent was left behind.

As tears streamed down Ralph’s face, Aurianna approached him, lowering herself to a crouching position. Ralph’s voice cracked as he yelled, "Do you want to die?!" He raised his left hand, expecting his magical powers to respond, but to his astonishment, nothing happened. Confusion clouded his expression as he muttered, "Why can’t I use my magic?"

Aurianna, wearing an evil grin, taunted Ralph with a provocative question. "Why can’t you unleash your electricity and corruption magic, hmm?" Her words struck a nerve, provoking Ralph further.

"It’s impossible! Are you also a dual wielder?" Ralph retorted, his anger mounting.

"That’s none of your concern," Aurianna responded dismissively before swiftly dashing towards Ralph, delivering a powerful kick to his crotch.

Ralph wheezed uncontrollably, pain coursing through his body, while Aurianna remained unfazed, her gaze cold and detached.

"This is just the first punishment for daring to provoke me when I entered the hall," Aurianna declared with a steely resolve. She clenched her fist and delivered a forceful punch to Ralph’s gut, causing him to cough uncontrollably, his teeth clenched in agony.

"And this one is for the audacity of swapping the spoon of Royalty with a mere plastic one," Aurianna continued, her voice dripping with disdain.

Aurianna’s grip tightened as she seized Ralph by the neck, a malicious glint in her eyes. Ralph’s terrified gaze met hers as he struggled desperately to free himself.

Just then, Queen Amber’s voice echoed through the air, interrupting the escalating confrontation. Ralph’s face twisted with relief as he screamed, "Mother, help! Aurianna is attempting to kill me!"

Reacting to her son’s panicked cries, Queen Amber swiftly rushed to the scene, followed closely by her retinue of ten knights. As she arrived, the sight of Ralph and Aurianna in their tense standoff greeted her eyes.

"Mum, Aurianna severed my arm and brutally assaulted me!" Ralph sobbed, crawling towards Queen Amber, seeking solace in his mother’s presence.

Amber’s expression turned stern as she fixed her gaze on Ralph. "Why in the world are you lying? Your hand is perfectly fine," she remarked, her voice laced with disbelief.

Ralph hastily examined his previously severed arm, now restored to its original state. The bloodstains that had once marked his skin had mysteriously vanished, leaving no trace of injury behind.

"Mama, Ralph told me we were going to play a game, but then he hit me!" Aurianna sobbed, revealing a red mark on her cheek as she continued to cry.

For some inexplicable reason, Queen Amber found herself drawn to Aurianna’s charm and swiftly approached her, enveloping her in a comforting embrace before lifting her up.

"How could you dare to strike your sister, Ralph? Have you lost your mind? Don’t you realize how delicate she is?" Queen Amber scolded Ralph, her voice filled with a mix of anger and disappointment, as she lovingly patted Aurianna’s back. Aurianna clung to her mother’s neck, her sniffles audible to everyone present.

"Mum, I swear I’m telling the truth!" Ralph asserted, his voice filled with frustration and confusion.

His mind raced, trying to make sense of the impossible situation. He vividly remembered the excruciating pain he had experienced, but now it seemed as if it had never occurred. How could this be?

But Queen Amber wasn’t willing to entertain any further explanations from Ralph. With a raised palm, she silenced him.

"For you to stoop so low as to strike your own sister! What kind of son have I raised?" Queen Amber’s voice thundered with anger, causing Ralph to shrink back in remorse.

Ralph glanced at his mother, utterly perplexed. ’But... doesn’t Mother usually take my side? Why is she siding with Aurianna? That witch!’ His mind churned with confusion and frustration, unable to comprehend the sudden shift in his mother’s stance.

"But I’m not lying!!" Ralph yelled, his frustration reaching its peak as he rose to his feet, pointing an accusing finger at Aurianna. His voice trembled with anger and desperation.

"I didn’t hurt her! She must have done it to herself, using some kind of witchcraft," Ralph accused, his tone laced with resentment.

Queen Amber’s face contorted with a mix of anger and disbelief. Veins popped up on her beautiful face as she shot back, "How dare you even suggest that I, your own mother, am a witch?!"

Ralph quickly shook his head, denying the implication. "No, Mom, that’s not what I meant. It’s just..."

Queen Amber’s frustration reached its peak, her voice laced with irritation. "Where do you think kids get their magical abilities from? The damn sky? They inherit it from their goddamn mothers, for crying out loud!"

Ralph stood before his mother, trembling and at a loss for words. The gravity of the situation weighed heavily on him, as he realized the implications of his accusations.

Queen Amber continued, her voice firm and resolute. "Aurianna underwent magical testing as a child, and we discovered that she possesses a single elemental affinity—ice magic. Are you suggesting that she has suddenly become a dual wielder? Can’t you see the absurdity of your claims? Instead of fixating on your petty disputes with your younger sister, who had the courage to stand up against your bullying, perhaps you should redirect your attention to the real issues at hand. The brats Helto, Vatium, Wein, Freed, and Blade possess four elemental affinities each!"

Ralph’s heart sank as the weight of his actions and misplaced anger settled upon him. He found himself lost for words, his gaze shifting uncomfortably under his mother’s stern scrutiny.

With a stern expression, Queen Amber issued her judgment, her voice resolute. "Lock him up in his mansion for the next twenty days. He shall engage in intensive study and be deprived of any form of entertainment. Remove all his toys, and he shall bear the responsibility of washing his own clothes. This shall be his punishment." Queen Amber’s gaze shifted towards two knights, signaling them to enforce her command.

"Yes, my Queen!" The knights responded in unison, their grip on Ralph tightening as they forcibly dragged him away. Ralph’s protests echoed through the corridor, but they fell on deaf ears.

"Mum, this is not fair!" Ralph yelled, his voice filled with desperation, but Queen Amber didn’t turn back. She continued walking away, Aurianna perched securely on her back.

"Touch your sister again, and you’ll regret it even more!" Queen Amber’s voice carried a warning as she disappeared from Ralph’s sight.

As Ralph was dragged further away, he couldn’t help but steal a glance at Aurianna. To his surprise, she met his gaze, her eyes gleaming with an eerie satisfaction. A wicked smile crept across her face, causing a shiver to run down Ralph’s spine.

Ding

[ Illusory Reality has increased to level 2 ]

’This skill is proving to be quite useful,’ Aurianna thought to herself, her smirk widening.

Meanwhile, Queen Amber offered words of comfort to Aurianna, patting her on the back. "Don’t worry, my dear. With Mama by your side, no one will ever hurt you."

Aurianna responded with a beaming smile, swiftly wiping away her fake tears. "Thank you, Mama," she said, her voice dripping with sweetness.

’You old hag. I haven’t forgotten your blatant favoritism towards Ralph in my past life. The way you turned a blind eye when he bullied me. But what else can I expect? After all, I’m not your real daughter,’ Aurianna thought, her mind seething with resentment. ’It’s ironic how an increase in charm can be so advantageous.’

"Fetch some desserts for me and my daughter. We’re going to enjoy some quality mother-daughter time," Queen Amber commanded a passing maid, who promptly bowed before hurrying off to fulfill the order.

’Ugh, I need to find a way out of this situation,’ Aurianna thought to herself as she was carried by Queen Amber.

"Mama, won’t Daddy be mad? Everyone else is probably studying or training, and here I am just playing," Aurianna asked innocently, trying to plant the seed of guilt in her mother’s mind.

Queen Amber looked at Aurianna with surprise, but then a smile formed on her lips. "Don’t worry, my dear. Your father won’t mind. After all, you’re his favorite daughter."

’What a ridiculous excuse. This is exactly how they kept me ignorant in my past life. But not this time,’ Aurianna vowed silently.

"Mama, I really want to start studying! I want to, I want to, I want to!" Aurianna began throwing a tantrum, yelling and screaming to make her point.

"But Aurianna, there’s no need to..."

"If I don’t study, I’ll be useless to Papa. I want to study!" Aurianna interrupted passionately.

"But you’re a princess, my dear. You don’t need to worry about such things," Queen Amber replied nervously.

Aurianna stared at Queen Amber, and she could see the nervousness in everyone’s eyes. Aurianna’s outburst grew even louder. "Mama won’t let me study!! Waaaah!"

"I’m going to complain to Aunt Momo. She’ll let me study since you won’t!" Aurianna glared at Queen Amber.

"Why would you turn to that person?" Queen Amber asked, her aura pulsating as the surroundings began to tremble.

"Why do you call her names? Aunt Momo provides education to all of Daddy’s children. And she’s incredibly kind," Aurianna replied innocently.

Queen Amber’s aura gradually subsided as she gazed at Aurianna in defeat. "Fine, you can start studying. I’ll arrange for tutors, so be prepared."

"Thank you, Mama!" Aurianna’s victory was evident in her relieved expression.

"Now, let’s spend some quality time together, okay?" 𝒇𝒓𝙚𝒆𝔀𝓮𝓫𝒏𝓸𝙫𝓮𝓵.𝓬𝙤𝙢

Aurianna screamed internally as she was carried away by Queen Amber. ’Nooo!’