"I've heard of you—the current ace of the Empire's assassination corps, Kurome."
Eblana's opening remark caught Kurome off guard: "Where did you learn that?"
This wasn't the kind of information one could just dig up casually.
The identities within the Empire's assassination corps were strictly confidential—it was precisely because they left no traces that they could inspire the greatest fear.
Even when she had left the assassination corps and joined Esdeath's command, she had done so under the guise of a civilian Teigu user.
Was this woman truly just some backwater noble who'd never even been to the capital? How could she possibly know such things? Where was she getting her information?
"Don't underestimate my intelligence network."
Eblana didn't answer her directly, but Kurome already had a guess.
"Was it my sister... It was my sister, wasn't it!?"
Eblana had no connections in the capital, so her only source of information had to be through the Revolutionary Army.
The thought that this woman before her had been in contact with her sister—or might even have a way to reach her—made Kurome's emotions surge uncontrollably.
"Do not be disrespectful before Her Highness the Princess!"
Liver, standing behind Kurome, rebuked sharply.
Of course, his consciousness was actually still locked away in a dark corner; these words were spoken under Eblana's control.
"Her Highness... the Princess...?"
Kurome was utterly bewildered by those words.
Princess? Who? This dragon woman?
"Before you sits the Empire's former Emperor's firstborn daughter!"
"What...?"
Firstborn daughter?
The title stunned Kurome for a moment, but she quickly sensed something off.
'If you're the firstborn princess, why are you at the Empire's borders?'
She didn't get to voice the question because, before she could speak, Eblana cut the topic short: "Liver, that identity holds no meaning for me."
Beneath her platinum bangs, green eyes shadowed yet seemingly glinting with an eerie light, making the cold disdain within them perfectly clear:
"My identity was never defined by being someone's daughter."
That disdain, coupled with strength that even surpassed Esdeath's, made Kurome swallow her doubts.
Right. A powerhouse of this caliber, unmatched in the world, wouldn't need some hollow title. Driven by such pride in her rebellion, she'd surely despise being reminded of any 'princess' status.
What she wanted was to become a 'founder-queen,' not 'the Empire's Xth usurper-emperor.'
Understanding this, Kurome's suspicions faded entirely. But... with those doubts gone, her focus returned to what truly mattered: "You know my sister?"
"Ah, you mean Akame."
Eblana replied casually: "Yes, I do know her. In fact, she's one of my valued subordinates."
Though she'd only become her subordinate a few days ago, and technically wasn't directly under her but rather under her own subordinate's command—Eblana had no doubt that if her opinion clashed with Najenda's, Akame would unhesitatingly side with Najenda.
But that didn't matter. Eblana was quite accustomed to spinning tales.
"Your subordinate...?"
Kurome was puzzled and began questioning her earlier assumption: "Are you a Revolutionary Army officer?"
That had seemed impossible moments ago, but if Akame was with the Revolutionaries and Eblana claimed Akame was her subordinate, then Eblana must be part of the Revolutionary Army too.
"What if I told you Akame isn't actually with the Revolutionary Army?"
Eblana suggested.
"...?"
"It seems you really didn't know."
Eblana rose from her seat, her expression tinged with a hint of pity: "I thought her story was meant to protect you, but it seems she truly made an unimaginably difficult decision."
"What do you mean? Protect me how?"
Kurome grew more confused with each word.
She felt this woman was spinning lies, yet... she couldn't just dismiss it as nonsense. Instead, she wanted to hear more.
"Do you think I'd keep you here without reason? Do you think I'd untie you for no purpose? Do I strike you as someone who'd waste time chatting with a prisoner out of boredom?"
Kurome didn't think so, which was why she'd asked from the start—what was the meaning of all this.
"Let me tell you something first. Akame's departure from the Empire was under my orders."
Eblana ignored the sudden surge of killing intent from Kurome and continued:
"Her mission was to infiltrate the Revolutionary Army, gather intelligence for me, and secretly protect those loyal souls who could help the Empire endure."
"..."
Kurome furrowed her brows.
So... her sister hadn't actually joined the Revolutionary Army?
This news left her adrift in confusion.
The Revolutionary Army was the Empire's enemy.
Ever since she began carrying out missions, Kurome had been fighting them. Her comrades, mentors, seniors, and juniors had all fallen one by one in battles against the Revolutionaries.
When she learned Akame had defected and joined them, Kurome simply couldn't comprehend it.
That was the organization responsible for so many of their comrades' deaths. How could her sister join the very group that had killed their friends?
It made no sense, was unforgivable—yet she still loved her sister deeply. Even if Akame had betrayed everyone, even if she'd betrayed Kurome herself, that love remained.
That was why she wanted to kill her sister, then turn her into an eternal companion—so they could be together forever, with everyone else.
But... what if joining the Revolutionaries was a lie?
"No... that's not right. She still betrayed the Empire..."
Kurome felt utterly conflicted. She wanted to let go of the hatred, yet she couldn't simply erase years of obsession with just a few words.
"How can one betray a country that's already dead?"
Eblana countered: "Was the nation you protected the Empire as it is now? Or would any place simply called 'Empire' suffice? Kurome, what is it you truly wish to protect?"
Kurome had never considered such questions.
Eblana walked over and gently brushed aside the hair covering the girl's eyes. The motion was so tender that Kurome, lost in thought, didn't even think to react defensively at first.
"Akame's desire to protect isn't some incomprehensible ideal. She wanted to safeguard what her comrades gave their lives to defend. That something wasn't merely a place, but the hope for a better nation. That remained true until not long ago."
"But the country is dead. What she sought to protect no longer exists. Now, both the Empire's upper echelons and the Revolutionary Army are targets of her vengeance."
Listening to the near-corrosive whisper in her ear, Kurome pressed her lips together, silent.
Kurome couldn't verify the truth of the dragon woman's words, yet she dearly wanted to believe them.
Her sister hadn't betrayed them, but was undercover, pretending to betray?
This possibility—one Kurome had never entertained—took root in her heart.
Even though she remembered their last meeting with painful clarity, remembered Akame's expression perfectly, had been utterly certain of her sincerity... but what if she'd remembered wrong?
What if the hypnosis and obsession had distorted her memory of her sister's face?
Surely Eblana wasn't lying to her? After all, if Eblana wanted to, she could just turn Kurome into another servant—far easier than spinning such elaborate tales to win her power.
Could it be... she truly had remembered wrong?
Watching Kurome's struggle—wanting to believe, finding it hard to believe, yet forcing herself toward belief—Eblana felt no rush. After all, immediate acceptance would have been unrealistic.
Still, she'd need to send Najenda a letter soon, so Akame could get her story straight.
--+--
T/N: I have a Patreon! Webnovel will get 3 Chapters Every Day, and advanced chapters will be uploaded on Patreon.
It may not seem worth it now, but maybe in the future. Who knows!
[email protected]/AspenTL
If you guys wanna check it out.