Chapter 221: Aldrich's Scheme
Amalia's shock not only came from the existence of this compass but also from the way the needle didn't move away from Aldrich.
Only by hiding the falseness under the guise of truth could Aldrich make sure that his plan would work out. Caught completely off guard by this sudden scene, Amalia absentmindedly took the compass out of Aldrich's hands and asked.
"Why is the needle pointing at you?"
'Finally…'
Aldrich inwardly smiled. He had been waiting for Amalia to ask this question for quite a while. On the surface, with the same face as before, Aldrich answered.
"There is this lady. She does something to me every night in my dreams."
Amalia narrowed her eyes and Aldrich could see a hint of cruelty and murder on her face.
"What… lady?"
Her tone was the same as that of a child upon finding out that someone had taken away her favorite doll.
"I know little about her. But she always comes in my dreams and touches the middle of my forehead."
As Aldrich made up the story, he held Amalia's hand and put it on his forehead. Using his authority of the Spawn of Darkness, and the Boss of a Dungeon, he let the trace of Dark Sapling seep out of his forehead. The moonlight vanished around them, and all and everything became dark. Hundreds and thousands of Creatures of Darkness howled, and their voices brought unimaginable fear to Amalia's heart.
Amalia snatched her hand away and stumbled back, but Aldrich kept continuing his story.
"Every time after touching my forehead, she says that I will be ready soon. Soon IT will come out, and all my troubles will end. During my last dream, she said that today will be our last meeting."
Amalia's chest heaved up and down in sheer anger. Her hair slithered as if they were a dense mass of countless snakes. Her appearance kept changing from Amalia to another girl, whom Aldrich thought to be Maya. And not caring about Aldrich's reaction, she blurted out.
"How dare she? Who is this bitch?"
Amalia snapped her head towards Aldrich and put her hand over his face. As she felt the coldness of his mask, she added.
"Don't worry, love. No one can snatch someone, whom I have claimed for myself. Let her come. Humph! You just remain by my side in the spaceship."
Aldrich nodded and was about to put more fuel in the fire when a loud noise came from behind.
BOOM!
Both Aldrich and Amalia turned around and stared at the smoke rising out of the Manor like a chimney. Before he could say something, Amalia grabbed Aldrich by the back of his neck.
Shuuu!
The world distorted around him, and Aldrich felt like he was running through immensely dense water. By the time he realized what had happened, they were already only a few meters away from the manor.
'This…'
This wasn't the first time for Aldrich that he had heard that strange sound. In just last week, he had seen this kind of speed over one time. The first time was his own, but uncontrolled and chaotic. The second time came from memories of Sha. In them, he could see Boss El Cid using that speed many times. And the purple-haired Devil had called out a name for it.
'… This is One Step Shunpo!'
"Just act like yourself."
Amalia gave Aldrich a gentle glance. But he could feel the emotions of deep possession coming out of the layer of Black Mist over his heart. Seeing these emotional upheavals of Amalia, represented by the Black Mist, Aldrich had theorized what this Black Mist was now by then.
It was almost like his Black Veil. After his resurrection, Aldrich had come to know he and the Black Veil were the same. But unlike him, Amalia could plant a part of this Black Mist into others like a parasite. That's why, even though Aldrich could hardly sense any emotion directly from Amalia, he knew exactly what she was feeling. The thing that should have assisted Amalia in controlling Aldrich was now working as a double spy, giving Aldrich all the information.
Aldrich nodded and led Amalia towards the main door of the Hall. But before they could approach it, Earl Frida came barging out of it. There was an enormous blue heavy sword in her hand which she kept slamming here and there on walls.
Bang! Bang!! Bang!!!
Following her were the three girls, including Tyra. An expressionless Enok also walked out as if whatever was happening had nothing to do with him anymore.
Frida had a ruthless expression on her face as the flood dragon tattoo on her chest flashed with a menacing blue and red. As she slammed the sword again on a pillar, bursting it with one slash, Marquess Harold and others too walked out.
"FRIDA! Behave yourself. Do these actions suit the Head of an ancient House?"
Harold shouted, but didn't stop her from going away. Beside him, Amalia had a cunning smile on her face.
Aldrich neared her and asked.
"What is happening?!"
"Hehe! Love, a small gift for you. I made Harold give a part of Earl Frida's territory to your House too. Now Earl Drago won't have to move the entire planet and can rule over the Counts who had planned to overtake the House Venomous Rose."
'Is she crazy? Planting such hate over nothing but as a gift.'
Aldrich thought to himself, but on the surface, he had already shown a grateful expression.
"No gift could be finer."
As Aldrich spoke, holding Amaia's hand, from the corner of his eyes he noticed Tyra narrowing her eyes at them secretly. By now, Marquess Harold too had noticed Aldrich and Amalia and came towards them.
Amalia skippingly lunged at her father of a 10-year-old boy's appearance, and playfully shouted for everyone to hear.
"Father, I am missing home."
Harold tapped Amalia's head, but soon a wry smile came upon his face.
"Ah! I think we are experiencing some issues related to Jump Drive on the spaceship. Let's stay on the planet for the time being. It will take at least 6 hours for them to repair it."
Amalia went silent suddenly, but before she could call her doubts, Earl Drago came running and added.
"Haha! Miss Amalia, you will soon be a part of this Manor. It won't hurt to spend some time."
"Right, right!" Harold nodded.
"Hehe! Okay, I will do as father says."
Amalia, not finding anything wrong with the situation, held Aldrich's hand and walked into the Manor. As they walked side by side, Aldrich turned his head to look at his shadow and smiled.
'Good work, Sha.'
"Daddy... kicking… that… thing… was fun."