The Grand Duelist

"Stop it! Both of you! What the hell is going on?" Joseph quickly interjected.

His Rapier fizzled with the brilliant light of his divinity before slashing between the two.

Swoosh!

Both Lily and Alice leaped backwards at the same time. Their shock could be seen on their faces for they really didn't expect that Joseph would send an attack at the two of them at this moment.

"Joseph, what are you doing? She's the one who almost killed me back in Reinhardt!" 

Joseph turned to look at Lily.

Lily felt a sense of trepidation in her heart. But she wasn't willing to back down. She was already at this point with Joseph! No matter what happens, she must be with Joseph! 

Lily gnashed her teeth and revealed a heartbroken look, "It's all a misunderstanding! Indeed, I tried to kill her back then, but all of it is because I didn't know that you're with her, Joseph!"

Joseph's eyes dangerously narrowed. 

"But you still tried to kill her, Lily..."

"In fact, why did you even try to kill her? Is it because of money?" Joseph asked.

He wouldn't blame Lily if she indeed tried to kill Alice for the sake of money since he would probably do the same if he was in her shoes. But that didn't mean that Joseph would just go and forget everything to forgive her.

Joseph could still remember the wretched appearance of Alice when he found her lying in a dark alleyway.

Back then, he swore that he would definitely take his revenge against the bastard that did that to her. But right now, it turned out that the person who severely injured Alice back then was someone that he knew!

It was actually Lily!

Joseph was willing to listen to her explanation, but it didn't mean that he'd forgive her so easily.

Lily could feel the coldness within Joseph's eyes and she inwardly cursed. Biting her lips, she made herself look as miserable as possible as she cried out, "Please listen to me! I only tried to kill her because I was forced to do it!"

"The Guild Leader of Crimson, Vladimir forced me to do it! I owe him a lot of money and if I didn't do what he wants me to do... He will... He will personally visit me in the real world and ask for compensation there!" Lily's expression was pale as a sheet of paper as she said these words.

She knew that if she tried to explain herself in a conventional way.

Joseph would definitely not believe her. 

This was why she needed to use another strategy...

And that was to use a common enemy as her scapegoat.

If she transferred all the blame to Vladimir who was an enemy of Joseph.

She was sure that Joseph would definitely not blame her for her actions back then anymore.

Joseph furrowed his eyebrows.

"Vladimir...?"

As expected, when Joseph heard Vladimir's name. His anger was then swiftly redirected from Lily to Vladimir. In his eyes, Lily was another victim. However, even though she may be a victim. That didn't invalidate the fact that she indeed tried to kill Alice back then.

She still sinned.

And she must pay for it.

Alice stared right at Lily. She didn't bother hiding her killing intent. Her sword, a random Sealed Artifact that she took from the treasury of the Abandoned Kingdom of Nether shone in a faint light.

Ezreal also took his stance.

Kayn slightly bent his knees and was ready to react at any moment.

His brothers, Roger, Alpha, Oscar, Charlie, Bravo, Foxtrot slowly moved to surround Lily.

With their expertise and advantage in numbers, they believed that they could easily defeat Lily as long as Joseph gave the order.

Yes, as long as Joseph gave the order.

"Sigh..."

Joseph let out a sigh and said.

"Alice... Lily is my friend. Can you just let bygones be bygones?" He turned to look at Alice and said.

"No!" Alice firmly replied, "What are you saying, Joseph? I almost died from her hands? Are you just going to let her go? If you are, then fine! But not me! I won't let her go until she paid for what she had done to me!"

Joseph then turned to look at Lily and said, "That's what she said... It seems like I can't do anything about it, Lily. Can you just tell her your sorry and apologize?"

Lily's eyebrows scrunched when she heard what Joseph had said. Her eyes shone in an investigative light, yet she couldn't sense any trace of deceit from Joseph. From what she could see, he was completely sincere. He really wanted her to reconcile with Alice.

But...

Even though Lily knew that everything was her fault.

She also has her own pride.

To actually apologize towards another woman who seemed to be particularly close to Joseph was something that he couldn't possibly do!

That was the same as stooping to Alice's level!

"No, I won't... As I said, it wasn't my fault." Lily's expression went cold. It was obvious that she would definitely not apologize to Alice no matter what happened. Taking a glance at Joseph, she then inwardly sneered at Alice. It was because she believed that Joseph would definitely take her side.

She stood beside Joseph for a year at one of the lowest points in his life. Her value was far higher than a virtual woman that Joseph probably only met a few weeks ago. Compared to her, Alice was merely nothing but an acquaintance. 

But...

"Fine... If you don't want to apologize, then you can go away." 

'What...?'

Lily blanked out in astonishment.

'What was going on?'

'Did I hear it wrong?'

'Did he just say that I should go away?'

Lily turned to look at Joseph and found that there was this cold and distant look on his face.

Joseph then glanced at Alice and sweetly smiled.

The tenderness in his eyes vastly differed from the distant look that he was giving to Lily right now.

"Jo-Joseph... Why are you doing this... why are you doing this to me? Are you going to take her side?" Lily suddenly spoke in a disbelieving voice.

Joseph didn't even spare her a glance as he replied, "I'm not taking anyone's side here, Lily. I'm just merely protecting the interest of who's in the right. You're in the wrong, so I can't possibly support you, right? That is why if you are not willing to apologize, then you should scram."

"You..." Lily's face went pale as a sheet of paper.

"You're telling me to... scram? You ungrateful bastard!"

Lily raised her finger and fiercely pointed at Joseph.

Joseph's pupils constricted.

Ezreal's eyes dangerously narrowed and his power surged, ready to attack at any moment.

Everyone turned vigilant.

Alice stared right at Lily and said, "How dare you accuse my man of being ungrateful? You're the one that's ungrateful here! Joseph gave you the path to heaven, but you chose to take the path of hell instead! If you really want to die that much, then I'll send you off!"

"And who the hell are you even?" Alice drew her sword and readied a stance. It was the familiar stance of the Grand Duelist that looked completely comedic due to the fact that it didn't match Alice's sword. 

But Lily didn't seem to mind all of these, instead...

She was apparently shocked by what she had heard, "What did you say? Joseph is your man? Hahaha... I see now, so that is the reason why Joseph is taking your side." Lily's arrogance suddenly dissipated at the end of her sentence as she let out a bitter sigh.

But unbeknownst to everyone, despite the bitterness and grief that she was displaying. A cunning light was barely imperceptible within her eyes as she kneeled down and said. 

"Fine... I apologize."

"What?"

Alice gasped in shock.

Joseph was also astounded.

'She actually apologized? Shit! I thought that I would be able to get rid of her by asking her to apologize since I know how prideful she is, but damn! To think that she'd do something like this just to stay with me!'

Joseph inwardly lamented.

Alice glanced at Joseph.

The gazes of the two lovers met in mid-air and they instantly understood each other's thoughts.

It turned out that Alice had already noticed that Joseph wasn't so fond of the woman that came along with him. But Alice didn't plan on doing anything at first. However, when she realized that the woman was actually the same woman who severely injured her back then at Reinhardt...

Alice quickly seized the opportunity to take her revenge against her.

From the short fight that she had with Lily, she already realized that Lily was quite a prideful woman. It was clear from her statements laced with disdain back then that she was the type of woman that would rather die than be humiliated, yet what was this?

She's actually willing to apologize?

Alice gnashed her teeth in frustration.

Joseph was also quite frustrated.

But since there was this popular adage that one couldn't punch a smiling face and one must not corner a rat. The two couldn't do anything other than compromise.

Joseph let out a sigh and was about to pardon Lily, but Alice suddenly spoke up.

"Is that so?"

"You're willing to apologize?"

Joseph was astonished by the sudden turn of events.

He surreptitiously glanced at Alice.

Alice also glanced at him and the two instantly made a concession.

'So, she wants me to be a good cop? I see...'

Joseph inwardly praised Alice in his heart.

'As expected of my wife-to-be...'

He lightly chuckled. 

Lily raised her head upon hearing Alice's words.

She was puzzled.

'She mortally wounded Alice back then to the extent that she stood on the brink of death, yet she's actually willing to forgive me? Nice! I didn't expect that everything would be this easy!'

'As long as she forgives me then I think Joseph wouldn't say anything about that incident anymore and would just let bygones be bygones.'

Lily was secretly happy.

But on the outside, she revealed a nervous look before replying, "Y-Yes... I'm willing to apologize..." 

"I see..." Alice nodded her head.

She then removed her shoe and stretched out her barefoot.

"Lick it and shout out loud that you're sorry to me and I'll forgive you." 

"You..." Lily's heart immediately sank.

"Alice, that's going too far!"

Joseph swiftly interjected.