Barrett looked at Aurora as if she were a stranger.
The person before him was nothing like the woman he had loved. She was cruel and cold, like a demon. He had sacrificed all his military achievements for her, betraying Carissa in the process.
He was the biggest fool in the world.
Yet, he remembered Aurora’s words‘ about loyalty and righteousness–how women shouldn’t be confined to the house, but should bear the responsibility of defending their homeland.
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that time, Aurora’s eyes had been filled with fervent brilliance.
Barrett collapsed to the ground, his face a mask of tears and laughter. Suddenly, he erupted into maniacal laughter–a crazed, frenzied laugh that filled the room.
Aurora was terrified by his outburst. Struggling against her pain, she propped herself up and looked at him in shock.
“Barrett, w–what’s wrong? Don’t scare me.”
Barrett laughed until tears streamed down his face. He covered his face with his hands, his shoulders shaking as tears leaked through his fingers.
Suddenly, he dropped his hands from his face and glared ferociously at Aurora.
“It was you who caused Carissa’s entire family to perish! Her family was annihilated because you abused the prisoner and slaughtered the civilians!” he roared. 1
Aurora was frightened by his gaze, and instinctively shook her head. “No! It was the Westhaven spies who did it! It had nothing to do with me!”
Barrett’s eyes were filled with pain. “How could you be such a wicked person? How could you be so cruel? Those were defenseless civilians! How could you bring yourself to commit such ev…..
Despite his words, Aurora still didn’t see herself as at fault
“They were hiding the Westhaven general!” she argued. “I ordered the civilians slaughtered just to force out that young general! I don’t understand why you think I’m cruel. Yes, I destroyed villages, but they were Westhaven people. Even if they were civilians, they still belong to Westhaven!”
“Two kingdoms at war must not harm civilians or kill prisoners of war!” Barrett’s eyes were red with fury, his teeth clenched in pain. “This was the agreement between our kingdom and Westhaven. I told you this many times before the Victory Pass battle, and you said you remembered.”
His voice exploded into an enraged roar, “Now, tell me what did you remember? You didn’t just abuse a prisoner of war! You also slaughtered civilians, and destroyed several villages! Are you even human? Are you?!”
Aurora was terrified by his hideous expression. Tears immediately streamed down her face.
“But didn’t I already sign the peace treaty and establish the border? The king was very pleased with
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+15 BONUS
the outcome, and all the officials were happy too! We won’t have to go to war anymore. Is killing a thousand or so Westhaven civilians really that grave a sin?”
She wiped away her tears. Feeling that her reasoning was justified, her voice grew louder.
“Go ask at Victory Pass–ask our civilians if they’d be willing to sacrifice their lives to ensure that our kingdom maintains its borders and has no more wars! I’m sure many would agree!”
When Barrett heard her words, he laughed. He swept his messy hair back, revealing a bruised face that looked particularly wild and disheveled.
His voice was soft yet venomous as he said, “And what about you? Would you be willing to trade your life for peace? If you would, then why all the curses earlier? Isn’t that what you should be enduring? They are all dead, but you’re unwilling to die? Why don’t you die too?!”
“…”
Aurora was at a loss for words.
“Have you ever asked the civilians you slaughtered? Have you asked the people of Victory Pass? Did they all agree? Did they?!” Barrett continued to press.
He leaned on the edge of the bed, looking as if his world was on the brink of collapse.
Aurora began to cry. “Barrett, what are you doing? You’re scaring me! I’ve endured so much suffering, but you’re not comforting me at all. You keep cursing me. Even if I am at fault, I’ve also achieved great things!”
Barrett watched her tears mix with the burn mark on her face, which dripped down her face along with her blood.
It was a pitiful and tragic sight.
Yet, he showed no pity or concern.
“Do you know that all of your soldiers, except those who got captured, are dead? The ones who survived have been castrated, and you…
He didn’t finish the sentence, but his expression was a mixture of deep shame and a complex range of emotions.
Aurora stopped crying, suddenly realizing the implication behind his words.
“Do you think they… Nothing happened! Barrett, they didn’t touch me!” she said urgently.
