The Revenge Kidnapping Drama's Transmigrated Female Lead - Chapter 66
A blood-curdling scream shook heaven and earth. He desperately clutched Ruon’s head, crawling on the ground and wailing. Serdin and Terche’s faces contorted. Only Helios, who had been standing with arms crossed throughout, remained expressionless. Just as Helios seemed to smile briefly, unsuited to the grave situation, Serdin lunged at Zephyros like a spring.
“You, crazy fucker!”
“Whoa, careful.”
Just before Serdin’s fist could reach Zephyros’s cheek, Zephyros turned his head and thrust a crystal ball before his eyes.
“Ruon’s right here.”
The crystal ball showed someone sleeping soundly in bed. It was Ruon, who they thought had died. Zephyros burst into laughter, apparently amused by Serdin’s figure frozen unnaturally, unable to take his eyes off the crystal ball.
“Pfft-hahaha, it was just a joke, why are your expressions like that? How dull are you people?”
Haa, haa. Rezus, breathing heavily, alternated looking between Ruon’s face in his arms and Ruon in the crystal ball. At that moment, Ruon’s body vanished like dust.
“……”
After Rezus’s gaze sank coldly for a moment. He wiped his face and snickered. It seems he used some illusion ability to pull this stunt.
Though he knew this meeting wasn’t for exchanging hostages but to provoke them, he never imagined they would put this much effort into the provocation. It truly exceeded his expectations.
“F**k…”
A curse from Serdin pierced through the taut silence. Rezus first brought back Serdin, who was standing awkwardly in the middle with just his brow furrowed. Zephyros, who looked them up and down thoroughly, spoke in a kind tone.
“I’ve said it time and time again. For us Mathes, it’s utterly disgraceful to be of the same class as you.”
The smile gradually faded from his sculpture-like face. What emerged in its place was a vicious expression.
“Do you honestly think it makes sense… that the likes of you stand in the same position as us, receive the same treatment, and live similar lives?”
It wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say that the history of the Great Empire Sicardo began with Mathes.
When Sicardo’s first Emperor, Epicteus I, conquered the seven kingdoms, they pledged their loyalty without hesitation, even at the cost of sacrificing themselves.
Epicteus I, moved by their loyalty, revealed to them ‘the secret of power.’ Every Sicardian is born with a special power, namely ability. Though the magnitude of power varies by individual, the reason they are particularly strong is because they are chosen ones.
‘You who have been chosen by me, the chosen one, shall receive power far greater than what you possess now.’
Saying this, Epicteus I handed them a ‘potion’ made by concentrating his power. To those who drank the potion without a moment’s hesitation, the Emperor promised.
‘I have made numerous potions, not knowing what to do with my overflowing power. Though it was meant for future generations of emperors, I specially bestow this upon my loyal subjects. You shall enjoy eternal power second only to the Imperial Family for generations to come.’
Following that, Epicteus I bestowed the title of First Class upon them all. These became the first First Class houses, the Mathes.
In contrast, Arje is a relatively young house with only three centuries of history.
About 300 years ago, Emperor Odrnan III, unlike previous emperors, did not keep Mathes close. He mainly associated with the Third Class, where knight houses were prevalent. Among them, he particularly favored four houses that held progressive ideas and opposed Mathes: Anocton, Fontos, Hwi, and Zen.
After conquering two adjacent kingdoms and five small nations using these four houses, he granted them potions and First Class titles. This marked the first time since Mathes that new First Class houses emerged in the Sicardo Empire.
Odrnan III worked in various ways to empower Arje, the rising force. Arje grew politically and economically beyond the Emperor’s expectations, and subsequent emperors strove to maintain a balanced coexistence between Arje and Mathes through mutual checks.
Naturally, Arje was a thorn in Mathes’s side. That opposing houses, mere Third Class ones at that, would suddenly rise to First Class and become their equals. Mathes tormented Arje using every method possible, not hesitating to kill them. Even now, 300 years later.
“You’ve enjoyed the same privileges as us for all of 300 years. How dare you, the likes of you without proper roots…”
Zephyros’s voice carried rage. For a moment, as if suppressing surging emotions, he took a deep breath and exhaled.
“Step down quietly from your position. Then we promise we won’t touch you anymore.”
He added in a gentle tone, as if speaking to a child.
