Forced Marriage: Thirteenth Wife
96

"The position cannot be owned by a selfish person, even a little." Dwi continued to speak. "There was a night where Arkas might be tired of thinking about everything, but he couldn't rest too long because everyone needed him. I know Arkas never hated his position. He was very accepting of the burden that was placed on him. But as a human being, isn't he amazing?"

Roxanne gulped.

Maybe Dwi didn't mean to offend anyone about his words, but inevitably Roxanne remembered Sanya.

The boy wanted to replace Arcas with Elios whose life was filled with the shadow of Eirene. This family will surely be destroyed if Elios holds it.

"Not only that," Dwi turned back, "this family, Narendra, is arguably the axis of the state."

"Eh?"

"Of course not everyone knows it because it is not something that can be known. Since the last two hundred years, since the beginning of this family was made, the leaders themselves have been involved with state affairs. Education, economics, even war preparations, the Narendra family is involved in it. And as a leader, Arkas is also responsible for that."

"Not to mention, there are many people who are not happy with this family position. Whether from a small rival or the government of another country, there are many people who want to tear Narendra down. Arkas bore the burden most because he was the First Son. You could say he's a prisoner in this family, who lives to think about everything about this family."

In other words ... This country would be fucked if Elios led Narendra?

I had to slap Sanya and tell her that her ambition was too insane. Roxanne had a sudden headache.

Who would bear that much burden? This family alone already numbered two hundred people, then he said he had to bear two hundred million people as well?

No kidding. Being the wife of Elios was more than enough.

*

Dwi—or rather Eris, observed Roxanne's silence after telling her a little about Arkas.

Yes, Eris purposely told him to make Roxanne think. Although Eris had no evidence, he observed little intention of rebellion around Elios.

Thus the story gives a message: think. Getting rid of Arkas does not mean getting everything, but taking everything and you cannot.

Eris had to do that because Graean was gone. All that was left on Elios' side now was a greedy woman who would think nothing of it.

Let alone Elios, Eris herself did not believe she could. And so these eyes are gone. Arkas must lead.

"I want you to kill Young Master Arkas" said a voice in Eris's memory.

The memories infiltrated unexcusedly between the silences.

A greedy woman makes mistakes. Eris hopes Roxanne doesn't become like that woman.

"Young Master, you love me, right? You said you needed me."

Yes, Eris loves his wife. The only wife he has so far. But instead he betrayed Eris. He wants too big and irresponsible, so Eris has to end her own life.

"Eris."

Eris still remembers how Arkas expressed that day.

"I'm fine." That's what Eris said with his wife's blood all over his face. "He insulted you, brother, so it's not worth living next to me anymore. He even thought of putting up a rebellion."

Eris smiled remembering Arkas' pale face.

"But ... but Nernia .. you—"

"Love her?" Eris leaves the body of his murdered wife, comes hugging Arkas. "I love you more, you idiot."

Arkas trembled with his cries. He feels guilty that Eris killed his wife.

"Nernia was right" said Arkas trembling. "You are more worthy of being the First Young Master. I shouldn't have—"

"What do you mean?" Eris interrupts Arkas' speech which she thinks is stupid. "No matter if I was in my mother's stomach or not, in fact you were born first. You came to this world first. No one can argue with it."

Arkas is down. "If," he whispered crazily, "if I die, you can ...."

As a result of this, Eris poked both of her own eyes and placed them in Arkas's hands.

"If you die, this blind man will become the First Young Master. Unless you let your brother kill me to make him First Young Master."

Hah, this family is full of blood and tears of blood. But even so, Eris would not let anyone destroy her.

Nernia loved this family even though she was greedy, Irene loved this family with pride, so Eris would never let Elios' wife do her best.

Even if you have to kill them all, again.

*