Kissing Hellfire: Marry Me, Evil Lord
Chapter 219: Out in the Town

Chapter 219: Out in the Town

The dimly lit chamber felt heavy with tension as Lauren’s mind raced with the haunting possibilities of what could have transpired moments ago. Her fingers trembled, and her heart pounded loudly in her chest, drowning out all other sounds. She could still vividly picture the maid’s shocked expression as she had stumbled upon the truth.

"I could have killed her right there, Alec..." The words slipped from her lips in a whisper filled with the weight of the world. She turned the scenario over in her mind, imagining the consequences if she had allowed her anger to engulf her. "I could have even gone out of the room, exposing what I truly am, and perhaps killed Matthias and Julian."

Alec, his face a mix of understanding and concern, approached her with a gentleness that seemed to soothe the tempest within her. He reached out and cupped her face with his palm, the warmth of his touch a stark contrast to the icy grip of fear that had taken hold of her. "Lauren," he murmured, his voice a calming balm. "Yes, you could have killed her, but you did not, and that is the important thing here."

Lauren’s gaze locked onto Alec’s, her eyes searching his for reassurance. "But next time I might do something worse," she confessed, her voice quivering with the weight of her own doubts.

"Even if you would, you should not let your guilt consume you," Alec replied, his thumb brushing gently against her cheek. "It’s something you have no control over, not intentional. We are working on breaking your curse, aren’t we?" His touch was comforting, a reminder that she wasn’t alone in this struggle. "Fretting won’t help you. Calm down and let’s address the situation with the maid."

"You won’t kill her." Her words weren’t a question; they were a demand. The thought of more bloodshed was unbearable.

Alec’s lips twitched subtly, a hint of a wry smile touching his features. "As you wish."

And so, Alec set about doing what Lauren wanted. With a touch of his power, he manipulated the maid’s memories, weaving a false narrative that she had been assisting the queen in her chambers. As the maid left the room, the tension in Lauren’s shoulders eased, and she turned to Alec, her thoughts now shifting to the larger crisis at hand.

"I only sent half of the royal army to the town," Alec began, his voice a mixture of concern and frustration. "This might be the rebels’ ploy to distract us and launch a sudden attack on the palace."

Her heart sank. "They haven’t been subdued?"

The passage of hours felt like an eternity. If the soldiers were struggling against the onslaught of black mages and deranged humans, it meant that this rebellion was far more formidable than they had anticipated.

"Colton will send word once the situation is under control," Alec assured her, his eyes unwavering. "But for now, I’ve received no such word."

A restless energy took over Lauren. She crossed the room and poured herself a glass of water, her fingers gripping the delicate glass tightly. The chaos in the town was agonizingly out of her control, and the frustration gnawed at her.

"I received a missive from Anthony," Alec’s voice drew her attention, and she turned to face him.

The mention of Anthony’s name brought a spark of hope amidst the turmoil. "What did he say?"

Alec closed the distance between them, his expression serious. "He said he’ll be at the church in Islandale. It’s too dangerous for him to journey to the palace, but he knows I have my portal. He’s asking us to come."

Lauren’s mind raced with possibilities. "Are we leaving, then? Is it safe for you to go? What about the palace?"

"Vincent will remain behind. He’s capable," Alec reassured, his gaze never leaving hers.

Vincent had proven his loyalty and capabilities, but Lauren couldn’t shake off her worry for the people. "I know, but..."

Alec’s hand on her shoulder grounded her. "I understand your concern, but right now, uncovering the identity of our enemy is crucial. Doubting that woman’s true nature will only cloud your judgment. Let’s focus on this first, Lauren."

Determination surged within her. She nodded, her resolve firm. The mystery of the woman with her mother’s face, and the enigma of Simon Lancelot’s involvement, needed to be unraveled. Only then could they make informed decisions to protect their land.

With a steadying breath, Lauren embraced the path ahead, ready to face the truth, no matter how unsettling it might be.

* * *

In the heart of the chaotic town, the air was thick with tension and the acrid scent of magic. The clash of steel against steel, the hiss of spells being cast, and the cries of battle echoed through the narrow streets.

Amidst this turmoil, Edith galloped on her horse, her eyes scanning the turmoil for any signs of danger. Her senses honed by her vampiric nature, she spotted a harrowing scene unfolding near the entrance of a dimly lit alleyway.

Her heart raced as her gaze locked onto two young ladies, their faces etched with fear, huddled together at the alley’s mouth. The girls were trapped by the malicious advance of two deranged humans closing in on them. Edith’s mind raced, and she knew she had to act swiftly.

With her crossbow held firmly, Edith’s eyes honed in on the deranged humans menacing the two young ladies. Her finger tightened on the trigger, and a single bolt lanced through the air with lethal accuracy, terminating the threat of one assailant in a swift, deadly strike.

However, her triumph was short-lived, as an unexpected assailant materialized from the shadows. The black mage’s speed and aggressiveness disarmed Edith with calculated precision, causing her crossbow to slip from her grasp and tumble to the ground.

The force of the surprise attack knocked Edith off balance, her body meeting the cobblestone street with an unceremonious thud. Above her, the female black mage hovered, a malevolent smirk playing on her lips.