Ssssshhhhh!
The sharp hiss of melting ice echoed through the chamber. Mortimer’s eyebrows arched in faint surprise as he noticed the ice beneath Victor’s boots beginning to pool into water, despite the room’s freezing temperatures.
“Looks like fire and ice truly can’t coexist… ah,” Mortimer remarked, a chuckle escaping his lips. There was no hostility in his tone—only amusement as if he were entertained by the sight before him, “Anyway Let’s get to the reason I summoned you.
I’ve heard… unsettling news. It seems you’ve hurt both my son and my grandson.”
Victor stepped forward slowly, his movements measured and deliberate, closing the distance between them.
He stopped just short of the throne, “Yeah, they got in my way. So, I beat the shit out of them.
What’s the problem? Are you here to avenge their bruised egos, or is there something else you’re after?” His tone didn’t show a single fear!
Mortimer tilted his head slightly, his lips curling into a faint grin. “Hahaha… You’re quite bold, Victor. I like that,” he said, his laughter deep and resonant, “But no, I’m not here for revenge. My son and grandson… they deserved what they got. It’s their own fault for being weak. The strong thrive, and the weak must bow before them—that’s just the way of the world.”
Victor raised an eyebrow, slightly surprised by the old man’s calm demeanour, “Then why call me here? What’s this really about?” he asked.
Victor was really hoping for something!
Mortimer leaned back on his throne, “I’ve heard you’re close with Ether. Is that ture?”
“Ether? You mean Aether?”
Mortimer let out a chuckle, his eyes softening with a rare hint of warmth, “Haha… so he still insists on that name, does he? That boy hasn’t changed. Such a lovely child,” he said, his voice tinged with a grandfatherly affection. “I’m aware my family has caused some… problems for him over the years. I imagine you despise us for that—and you’d be right to. But I must ask you something.”
“Ask what?”
Mortimer’s tone softened, almost pleading. “Selene. Please, don’t direct your hatred at her. She’s innocent in all this. A sweet girl, untouched by the mistakes of her family. I’m asking you… no, I’m begging you—don’t hurt her.”
Victor blinked, momentarily caught off guard. Mortimer’s plea sounded almost genuine, if not for Victor knowing about this cunning man… ‘Fuck I would have fallen for his trick’ he thought and replied “I’m not going to hurt her,” with his tone firm. “She’s a lovely girl. I wouldn’t lay a finger ‘ONLY’ on her.”
Mortimer exhaled deeply, relief washing over his face, but then hearing his last few words, he understood…
“So you knew…. ” Victor turned cold, “You knew how Aether was treated, and yet you said nothing. You did nothing. You let it happen.”
Mortimer stiffened as a faint killing intent seeped into the room, the icy walls seeming to tremble under Victor’s presence.
“You seem to care deeply for Ether,” Mortimer said carefully, his tone measured, “Haaa….. I won’t deny I heard some things… but I’ve been confined here for so long. My power to intervene was limited. That poor boy… I know my son made grave mistakes, but things are changing. Slowly, yes—but they’re changing for the better. Please, don’t hold onto this hatred. It will destroy everyone.”
Victor’s lips curled into a sinister smile, “Good. Because if things weren’t changing, I’d have no choice but to eradicate every single male in the Frostblade family.”
Mortimer flinched, his expression hardening, “Do you…. even realize the magnitude of what you just said?”
Victor’s lips curled up.
Mortimer’s eyes narrowed, his voice dropping to a menacing growl. “Victor, you’re treading dangerous ground. Don’t forget who you’re speaking to. I may be old, but I still hold power beyond your comprehension—”
“Power?” Victor interrupted with a mocking laugh. “Haha… You? Don’t make me laugh, Old man… You’re just a… cursed-up freak sitting on a pile of ice, pretending to be a king.”
Mortimer’s composure cracked, no one knew about his curse expect Empress, “H-How do you know about that?” His voice trembled as realization dawned, but there was one more person who saw his log, “Ether told you… didn’t he?”
Victor didn’t answer. Instead, he began to circle the throne, his steps slow and deliberate, like a predator stalking its prey, “The great savior of millions… turns out to be a thief. A thief who stole a child’s future”
Mortimer’s eyes widened, his wrinkled face tightening with shock. “H-How… how could you possibly know that?”
But Victor wasn’t done. His voice grew colder,
“Once upon a time, an old, cunning man dressed in noble robes tricked a child into accepting a deal that would ruin his life…. not taking his future! The boy, naïve and trusting, believed the lies he was fed. He thought he was making a wise choice. He had no idea his entire future was being stolen right out from under him.”
Mortimer’s face turned ashen, his body trembling as Victor’s words echoed through the room.
All the while, Victor continued circling him,
“Tricked by that old man, the child lost everything… his body, his dignity, and eventually, even his soul,” Victor tone turned slightly sad, “He gave up everything—his potential, his future!! Then, to make it worse, he was sold like livestock to others. And while that poor child endured torment, the old man grinned from ear to ear, gifting the boy’s stolen future to his own descendants.” Explore more adventures at My Virtual Library Empire
Victor chuckled darkly, pausing briefly and continued, “Hahaha… that child wasn’t just abused and tortured. Oh no, he was treated like property, like a slave. Oh, wait… that’s right! He was a slave. Hahaha… how could I forget?”
Victor stopped behind Mortimer’s throne, leaning forward just enough that the old man felt his breath on the back of his neck. Mortimer turned his head hesitantly, his shoulders stiffening as he met Victor’s wicked grin.
“A slave should be treated like a slave, right?” Victor’s voice dripped with venom, his expression twisted in cruel amusement.
Mortimer swallowed hard, his throat dry. The icy chamber felt even colder than before, the chill biting into his bones, “W-Who told you that?” he stammered, his voice cracking slightly. “D-Didn’t Ether have amnesia?”
Victor ignored the question entirely, resuming his slow circling around the throne.
His footsteps echoed ominously as he continued,
“And then, after treating the boy like a slave for months, the old man suddenly decides to take him back? Out of pity? Hahaha… what a joke!” Victor laughed mockingly, the sound reverberating through the frozen room, “No, no, a cunning old fox like him wouldn’t act out of pity.
He just couldn’t bear to lose his golden goose, could he? Who knows what more that slave could bring him? So he dragged the child back and put on a show for the world—a hero rescuing a helpless child. But in the end, all he wanted was to squeeze more golden eggs out of the goose~”
Victor’s laughter grew louder, almost maniacal, “Hahaha! A saviour of millions… a saviour! A Hero!! Can you believe it? The world praises him, but they have no idea he’s nothing more than a greedy leech sucking the life out of a boy he destroyed!”
Mortimer’s face paled, his trembling hands clenching into fists. His magic crackled faintly at his fingertips, every nerve in his body screaming at him to act… But he hesitated.
“I wonder,” Victor mused as he resumed his slow pacing. “What would happen if the world knew the truth?
If they found out their precious ‘Hero’ was the one who abused and enslaved the child?
Would they still call him a hero?
Or would they tear him apart?” His laughter rang out again, a cruel, hollow sound that sent shivers down Mortimer’s spine.
Mortimer gritted his teeth, trying to steady himself. The mere thought of the truth reaching someone like Marisandra was enough to send his mind spiralling. She was already waiting for a single misstep to annihilate him completely—a consequence of the disrespect he’d shown her and her late mother.
‘Tsk… The only reason she hasn’t acted yet is because of my reputation as a hero. But now…’ Mortimer’s eyes darted to Victor, who continued to circle him like a predator savouring its prey.
“How do you know?” Mortimer demanded, his voice shaking with barely contained fury. “How the hell do you know any of this? Ether shouldn’t remember! If he knew, he wouldn’t have acted so normal around me. He’d fear me—or try to kill me! But he hasn’t! There’s nothing in him!”
Victor’s lips curled into an amused smirk, ‘Of course, a clone doesn’t show emotions unless its master allows it, you bastard.’
Mortimer, growing increasingly desperate, leaned forward on the throne. “What do you want?” he spat. “Is it money? Take it! Name your price, and it’s yours!” His eyes lit up with a sinister realization. “Ah… or perhaps it’s Selene you’re after? Take her! Hell, take Delphine too, if you wish. I don’t care—just don’t touch Kai!”
Victor stopped abruptly, his eyes narrowing as he stepped behind the throne once more. He knelt, placing one hand on the icy surface, “Oh? An interesting offer…”
Mortimer’s lips twitched into a confident smirk. He didn’t need to see Victor’s face to know what was going through his mind. He was confident dragons couldn’t resist beautiful women.
Dragons love beautiful women (Leon always did that)… more like they tend to collect them like a treasure.
Dragons greedy for women and money!
“Yeah…. My daughters are exquisite,” Mortimer said, his tone smug, “Even my daughter-in-law is a vision. Name your price, and I’ll give you any woman you desire. With a snap of my fingers, I’ll deliver a new beauty to your doorstep every month, all from my territory!”
Victor leaned closer, his chin almost resting on Mortimer’s shoulder, his breath warm against the old man’s cold skin, “Indeed, that does sound like a tempting exchange,” he murmured softly, “But it only works on Dragons~”
Mortimer frowned, “Hmm? Your are not dra—” His words trailed off as he turned his head, his smug expression giving way to pure, unadulterated shock.
“E-Ether?” Mortimer stammered, his voice barely a whisper.
Aether winked playfully, after removing the mask, “Yours truly~”
Before Mortimer could react—whether to defend himself or process the revelation—Aether’s hand shot forward, gripping the old man’s face with ruthless force.
And then… They vanished!