Nieve had noticed her as well. “That’s the woman who broke off my brother’s engagement! And now my brother is gone…”
The underlying meaning was clear—to have her killed!
At Nieve’s cry, a ruthless gleam flashed through Inan’s eyes. Since he had chosen to side with Will, he would completely sever ties with the Baruch family!
Inan charged at the forefront, leading the noble soldiers right up to Isabella.
He raised his longsword high and brought it down, ready to kill this woman with a single stroke.
“Don’t…” Isabella squeezed her eyes shut in despair, tears streaming down her cheeks.
She could feel the presence of death rushing toward her, her heart filled with a desperate longing for life and deep reluctance to leave her unborn child.
“Clang!” With a loud crash, Inan’s longsword was knocked aside by a spear.
Rohen, riding his horse, had hurled his spear straight at Inan. He had originally aimed for Inan’s life, but he dared not take the risk.
“Don’t you dare harm my sister!” All the soldiers Rohen had brought were left behind to hold off Loring and his group, covering his return to save his sister.
“Stop him!” Inan hadn’t expected Rohen to break through the siege of the Violet Watch Legion.
Noble soldiers surged toward Rohen like a tidal wave, trying to block his path.
Rohen showed no fear. He drew his sword, its blade gleaming coldly under the moonlight.
He charged into the group of noble soldiers like an enraged lion, roaring in fury.
“If you don’t stop, I’ll kill your sister.” Inan had already retrieved his sword and pressed it to Isabella’s throat.
Rohen froze in an instant, as if struck by lightning. His eyes reddened, locked fiercely on Inan, while the sword in his grip trembled from the force of his anger.
“You despicable coward, come at me if you dare! Let go of my sister!” Rohen’s voice was squeezed out between gritted teeth, full of rage and helplessness.
Isabella kept her eyes tightly closed, tears continuously streaming down her cheeks. Her body trembled, but she forced herself to endure the terror. “Brother… go, don’t worry about me!”
Rohen’s heart felt as if it were being torn apart. How could he abandon his sister and escape alone…
“Isabella, don’t be afraid. We agreed, your brother will protect you for a lifetime!”
“What an enviable pair of siblings…” Inan sneered, a trace of mockery in his eyes. “Since you’re so desperate to protect your sister, why don’t you kneel down for me?”
Hatred surged in Rohen’s heart, his eyes almost spitting fire as he glared at Inan. Every word was squeezed through clenched teeth: “Bastard! Don’t go too far! Do you really think I, Rohen, will kneel to a despicable scoundrel like you?”
Inan snorted coldly, pressing his sword harder against Isabella’s throat. A thin line of blood trickled down.
“Kneel down now!”
Rohen clenched his fists so tightly that veins bulged on the back of his hand. He was struggling painfully within.
Suddenly, he noticed the masked, white-haired noblewoman nearby…
It was the woman who had been with Inan, showing him affection throughout these days of war…
In a flash, he leapt before Ailinshe, pressing his sword against her throat.
“Let my sister go!” Rohen roared, “Or I’ll kill her!”
For a moment, everyone was stunned by this sudden turn of events. The atmosphere grew tense…
“Hahaha…” Inan threw his head back in laughter, as if he’d heard a hilarious joke. “No one has ever been able to threaten me! It’s just a woman—if she dies, she dies…”
Rohen’s heart sank. He hadn’t expected Inan to be so ruthless, caring nothing for Ailinshe’s life.
Ailinshe’s eyes turned desolate. In front of this man, she realized she had always been nothing more than a pawn to be discarded at any moment…
Sorrow welled up in her heart, but she quickly regained her composure. She could not die yet!
“You see? In my master’s eyes, I am nothing.” Ailinshe looked at Rohen, her voice calm yet tinged with exhaustion. “Even if you kill me, it won’t help—only put you and your sister in greater danger.”
She glanced at Inan, her eyes flashing with complex emotions…
“Ailinshe, who allowed you to speak?” Inan gripped Isabella’s chin, a mocking smile on his face. “Even if someone points a sword at you, your fate is still in my hands. Remember that!”
Ailinshe bit her lip, a look of humiliation flashing in her eyes, but she quickly suppressed it and said no more…
“You despicable coward!” Rohen was furious, gripping his sword tighter, wishing he could tear Inan to pieces right then and there…
“Heh… you’re really starting to annoy me!” Inan picked up his longsword and, with a single stroke, chopped off Isabella’s hand. “Taking my woman hostage only infuriates me. I won’t hesitate—I just want my goal met. Kneel down!”
Isabella let out a shrill scream, blood gushing forth and splattering across Inan’s face, making him look all the more merciless…
At this moment, Rohen dared not gamble any further. That man didn’t care about Ailinshe’s life at all—he only wanted submission!
“Clang…”
Rohen released his sword, slowly kneeling down… He glared at Inan with wide, grief-stricken eyes, his heart twisting in agony.
“I’m kneeling. Let my sister go. This is between you and me—don’t drag the innocent into it.” Rohen’s voice was low and hoarse, full of pain and helplessness.
“Fine…” Inan pressed his sword against Isabella as he slowly approached Rohen. “I’ll give your sister back to you…”
With that, he shoved Isabella to the ground before Rohen.
Rohen quickly reached out to catch his sister, seeing her deathly pale face. Hatred for Inan filled his heart.
Yet—
“Pu!”
Inan stabbed his sword forward, piercing through both siblings…
Everyone was shocked by this scene! Even Ailinshe and Nieve couldn’t believe it!
Damn it! Was that bastard a demon!?
Rohen’s eyes widened, full of disbelief and rage as he felt the agony of the blade piercing his body…
Isabella coughed up blood, raising her only remaining hand to caress Rohen’s face. “Brother…”
“Isabella… is brother’s burden… sorry… child…”
Listening to his sister’s weak and guilty words, Rohen’s tears flowed uncontrollably, mixing with the blood splattered on his face, making him look utterly mournful.
He wanted to say something more… but his sister was already collapsing…
He remained kneeling on the ground, not yet falling, but blood continued to flow from his chest,
“Heh…” Black tears of blood suddenly streamed from Rohen’s eyes. “Hahahahahahaha…”
His maniacal laughter echoed through the silence, filled with endless hatred and despair.
Dense black energy began to gather around him. He raised his head, locking eyes with Inan, his gaze twisted and filled with hatred as he roared, “Do you know… do you know how much we’ve sacrificed just to stay together!?”
“Oh?” Inan looked at him coldly. “I didn’t expect you to have tasted the legendary Forbidden Fruit…”