Last Born Of The Desdemona

Chapter 168: Chapter 168: Time for a change

Chapter 168 – Time for a change

Isolde began to think deeply about the whole situation.

It would not be easy to reveal her father’s secret affair to her mother in a way that earned her the most benefit.

To begin with, there was no use in simply running to tell her. Her mother would not believe it easily, and she would start questioning how Isolde knew.

That was exactly the kind of situation she wanted to avoid.

’In other words, my mother needs to witness it herself. She needs to see it with her own eyes, for she does not believe what she has not seen.’

For now, Isolde set Veronica aside.

The question at hand was what kind of relationship her father and the Kanam Matriarch actually shared.

There was no point in asking Veronica directly. With how long she had been with her father, and the peculiar nature of their relationship, she would almost certainly say nothing.

Because speaking meant exposing her father, and exposing her father would, without question, expose Veronica sooner or later.

The maid was no fool.

So Isolde needed another way. She began to twist her mind in every direction, searching for anything useful.

She started pacing around the room, and then, unexpectedly, a strange question surfaced inside her mind.

’How would Cass have handled this if it were his situation?’ Isolde thought, and stopped dead in her tracks.

Her eyes widened as a flash of understanding lit up her mind.

’Cass would create a situation where his goal became inevitable.’

That was who he was. His plans were always constructed in a way you never saw coming; and even if you did see them, like Anesthesia had, you found yourself unable to do anything about it. You could only swallow the anger and take the full weight of what he had set in motion.

’That is what I must do.’ Isolde narrowed her eyes, ignoring Aissatou’s gaze. ’An assassin who works and leaves traces behind is not a true assassin. An assassin must be able to deliver the soul of her target to the next life even when her own hands are occupied taking care of her husband.’

Constantine — that insufferable bastard — had told her the same thing after she failed her mission back at the Academy.

’Just because you can erase sound and your presence is nearly undetectable does not mean, you fucking fool, that you must always attack directly and by yourself.’ Constantine had said. ’Are you a fool? Don’t answer, of course you are, you fool. There were a hundred ways to poison that teacher without moving an inch. Next time I will let you die. Do you hear me? Damned fool. Why did I even recruit you?’

She remembered those words clearly, and remembered dismissing them just as clearly, because she had always believed that as long as she refined her presence and her silence, no one would ever sense her.

She would be the best assassin.

That was not entirely wrong. But that path alone would never allow her to surpass Constantine, who knew everything about her and could react to her presence with ease.

She had to change her approach.

’And this is the opportunity to learn to kill by the hands of others.’

Her mind settled, Isolde looked back at Aissatou.

”We need to understand the relationship between my father and the Kanam Matriarch first.” She said. ”Only then can we use Veronica in a meaningful way before you get what you want. Her death.”

Aissatou smiled thinly, her green eyes so cold they were beginning to turn dark. ”How do we proceed?”

”First, for any of this to work, both my father and the Kanam Matriarch need to be in the same place.” Isolde said, pacing again. ”But not just any place. It needs to be somewhere they would be willing to speak openly and act on whatever their relationship allows.”

Aissatou said nothing, only listening as her Lady laid out the shape of the plan.

”And I believe I have the perfect place.” Isolde laughed. ”Today is Sunday. Next Saturday is the first Auction of the newly founded company Devil’s Advocate. Do not breathe a word of this to anyone, old sweetheart, but the item being auctioned is something even the daughter of Willow Wealth herself found precious and rare.”

Aissatou’s eyes began to brighten.

”And I should also mention that the CEO of the auction company is Meadow Wealth herself. The one said to be the wealthiest person under thirty in the entire Kingdom, and perhaps beyond. So wealthy that she donates millions in SN every month. The stability of the Kingdom’s economy exists largely because of the Wealth family.”

Now that she thought about it, Isolde was struck by just how much power the Wealth held. If they ever decided to pull their money back and shut down their businesses...

The Kingdom would likely not survive a single day.

Her smile widened at that, her confidence in the plan growing.

”Now tell me,” she continued, ”do you think two Tier Three families would refuse an invitation from someone like that to the opening of her company?”

’Good thing we never revealed that the company belongs to Cass and me.’ Isolde added inwardly.

”They would almost certainly not.” Aissatou said, smiling. ”After all, it is an opportunity to build a connection with the Wealth family, and perhaps even invest in the new company. There are only benefits. But would this not mean Lady Sophia would also attend?”

”As it happens, next Saturday...my lovely mother-in-law will be arranging a meeting with my mother.” Isolde said with a knowing smile. ”Which means my father will be going alone. And there, the Kanam Matriarch will be present, hungry for support for her dying family, most likely.”

Aissatou mirrored her smile. ”That could work.” She admitted. ”But a decision about this whole situation will probably be reached within a week. Would that not be cutting it too close?”

”That is exactly why I need to speak with my mother soon.” She said. ”I have a deal she will not dare refuse. And also...”

She grinned and took out her phone.

”...I am calling my husband, you old lustful woman who preys on younger men.”

Aissatou’s lips twitched sharply. ”This is called bullying, my Lady.”

Isolde sneered.

She dialled Cassius’s number, pressed call and brought the phone to her right ear.

She was not foolish enough to handle all of this without informing her husband, who was just as much a party to it as she was.

She exhaled, steadying her heart.

The phone rang exactly three times before Cassius picked up, his voice unhurried.

”....miss me already, darling?”

”I obviously do. But that is not why I called.”

”Then why?”

”First, are you in the middle of something right now? Are you busy?”

”Never too busy for you.”

”Hm. Now I must know: will you ever be?”

”I doubt it.” Cassius chuckled softly, his breathing slightly uneven. ”So?”

”Well, Cass, I need you to trust me on this one and let me handle it. Alright?”

”Just say it.”

”Alright. In short, the Kanam Family proposed a deal to my family to kill your siblings.” Isolde said flatly. ”My mother refused. My father accepted. And on top of that, I have just found out my father is cheating. So guess what, husband? I am going to make his life a living hell. I will use the Auction as the stage for all of it.”

Cassius didn’t answer for a couple of breaths, then laughed curtly and humorlessly.

”This is truly not the time to be threatening my family. I am quite on edge right now.” Isolde had never heard Cassius’s voice that cold. ”And honestly, who do they think they are, trying to kill my siblings? Do they take us for weaklings?”

”I would like to know that myself.”

”This is getting ridiculous.” He sighed, deeply irritated. ”But you said to trust you...”

Isolde nodded. ”Yes.”

”Alright. I will.” Cassius said at last.

”You sound angry though.” She narrowed her eyes. ”What happened? Is it something that can be said over the phone?”

”Annoying shit.” Cassius replied. ”And no, definitely not over the phone.”

”Then I will come to you so you can tell me in person.” Isolde decided immediately, giving him no room to object. ”And I am not hearing a no. I am coming either way.”

Cassius’s smile was almost audible.

”Then I must thank you, darling.” He said, and then, as though some weight had been briefly lifted from him, burst into laughter. ”And seriously your father actually cheated on your mother? Queen’s skirt, that is something absolutely crazy yet not at the same time. With who?”

Isolde’s left eye twitched hard. She looked at Aissatou standing in front of her...

”With a fucking maid.”

”What? No way! Hahahahah! That is so goddamned cliché!” Cassius erupted into laughter so insufferable it was the kind that could make someone cough blood.

Angry veins surfaced on Isolde’s forehead.

Under normal circumstances, she would have killed anyone who dared laugh at her in this moment.

But when it was her husband...

”You know, the Royal family is still worse than mine.”

Cassius’s laughter died immediately.

A couple of seconds of bewildered silence followed.

”...that was pretty low, darling.”

Isolde grinned.

”I know.”

—End of Chapter 168—