Chapter 110: I Need Your Promise
“Mr. Belator?”
Givia, although not screaming in terror like a typical damsel, clutched the edges of her blanket tightly, her eyes fixed on Abyss, her heart pounding.
Abyss felt a surge of awkwardness. He quickly withdrew his hand, raising it in a gesture of peace. However, the Shadowlings that had been standing by her bed had been dragged away and devoured by the wraiths he had summoned. He had no evidence to support his claims.
“Would you believe me if I said there were Shadowlings attacking you?” he asked, looking at her with sincerity, hoping to gain her trust.
Givia was unsure how to respond. She did have a favorable impression of Abyss, but it wasn’t to the extent of allowing him to lift her blankets.
“Well… Mr. Belator… I was having a nightmare, but it suddenly stopped as if something disrupted it, and I woke up,” she said, trying to explain. “Does this have anything to do with you?”
“I had a dream too. I met the Lord of Nightmares, the one tormenting you,” Abyss said, chuckling wryly. “I know it sounds absurd, but I’m not lying. And I didn’t come to your room specifically to lift your blankets…”
Givia was initially skeptical, but Abyss’s sincerity and his generally non-lecherous behavior during their interactions convinced her.
Despite his youthful appearance, he seemed to harbor no romantic interest in women, behaving like a scholar devoted solely to knowledge, as if he had transcended earthly desires.
Of course, Abyss hadn’t revealed his true identity as a powerful necromancer—he had dissected more female corpses than most people had met living women. And he always sought the deceased’s consent before dissecting them, engaging in conversations with them throughout the process.
His fondness for Leona and Flora wasn’t driven by lust or ulterior motives, but simply because he enjoyed the company of trustworthy women.
Givia decided to trust him. She sat up in bed. Since they were traveling, she hadn’t brought any nightclothes. Her sleep was always troubled, so she had only removed her outer garments and a light breastplate, still wearing her shirt and trousers, a presentable attire.
“I believe you, Mr. Belator. What did you discuss with the Lord of Nightmares?” she asked, nodding.
Abyss glanced at Givia, clad only in her shirt, understanding why Leona seemed envious. Givia did have a remarkable figure, but he wasn’t interested at the moment. He recounted his encounter with the Lord of Nightmares, sharing only the details he deemed appropriate.
“That’s all I can tell you. The rest involves some of my secrets. Please forgive me,” he said, standing beside her bed.
Givia, after hearing Abyss’s account, felt a pang of disappointment. She had gained little useful information. All she knew was that the Lord of Nightmares intended to drive her mad, and she felt powerless against such a formidable foe.
“Your Highness, if you trust me, I can try to help you,” Abyss said, smiling reassuringly at her.
Givia looked at him. “What would you want in return? I’m willing to offer a generous reward.”
Abyss didn’t need material possessions. At his level of power, he could acquire anything he desired. And besides the occasional expenses for his followers and his basic needs for food and water, he required no resources. Spellcasting materials? He had an abundance stored within the belly of his magical catfish.
His current priorities were to awaken his third follower, adding her strength to his team, and to find a way to steal the Creator God’s power. His secondary goal was to acquire the power of the Lord of Nightmares, who was far more cunning and dangerous than the simple-minded Lord of Submergence.
He shook his head, smiling. “I don’t need any material possessions. All I ask for is your promise.”
“What promise?” Givia asked, curious. She knew he didn’t value fame or wealth.
“I need your promise that you will not succumb to fear, not until I uncover the Lord of Nightmares’ weakness, his secrets,” Abyss said, looking at her intently with his emerald eyes. “If you give up, everything I do for you will be meaningless.”
“…I promise,” Givia said after a moment of silence, gritting her teeth. “I will fight with all my might, I will not bow to fear.”
Abyss knew it wouldn’t be easy. The Lord of Nightmares’ nightmares were personalized, targeting the victim’s deepest fears. The monster in Givia’s dreams was likely an abstract representation of her greatest terror. The fact that she hadn’t succumbed to madness after enduring such torment for so long, and could still communicate rationally, was a testament to her mental fortitude.
“Thank you for agreeing to my request. I have another question. Could you tell me about your brother, Kevin? The Lord of Nightmares told me not to overestimate him, but I don’t quite understand what he meant.”
“Kevin?” Givia said, taken aback. “He’s ruthless and incredibly proud, his ego bordering on pathological. But he’s also cunning and opportunistic. That’s how he usurped the throne and became the new King of Ossi.”
“That’s his personality. Do you have any stories about him? He’s your brother. You must know a lot about him.”
“Stories about Kevin? No… I didn’t grow up with him, so I don’t know much. I only know that he treated his servants poorly as a child, whipping maids when he was in a bad mood, and punishing those who made mistakes… I’m not sure about anything else. Perhaps we could find someone who served him back then. They might know more…”
“I see… You and Kevin didn’t grow up together. That’s unusual. I believe in most countries, royal families live together in the palace.”
“We might be a special case. My father perhaps had a different approach to raising his children… But it seems his methods weren’t entirely successful with Kevin,” Givia said, noticing Abyss’s thoughtful expression. “Do you have any theories?”
“Oh, no, nothing concrete, just a hunch,” Abyss said, shaking his head, keeping his thoughts to himself, a mysterious glint in his eyes.
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