"Ah..." Sylas sighed deeply, offering no response.
Jade reached out, wrapped her arms around his shoulders, and patted him gently, offering comfort. "It's alright. At least we're still alive, aren't we?"
Sylas whispered, "Is being alive truly better? Auntie, I... I don't think I can survive this. I've completely offended Isolde."
"You were too impulsive. Our lives are in the Empress's hands now. Offending her will only bring more suffering." Jade comforted him gently, letting his head rest on her shoulder.
Sylas could naturally feel her tenderness and care. He closed his eyes and shook his head. "I can't go on like this. It's too difficult... too painful..."
Hearing this, Jade began to console and persuade him tirelessly.
Eventually, she held him close and said softly, "Do you know how your sister is doing now?" She was likely referring to her own daughter, Crystal.
"Lyn?" This is her nickname.
"Your sister now... ah." Thinking of her daughter, Jade could no longer control her emotions, and tears streamed down her face.
Sylas hurriedly wiped them away for her, asking with concern, "What's wrong with Lyn? Is she being tortured?"
Jade cried, "Someone told the Queen of Aethelred that she is your betrothed.
Now Her Majesty is furious.
She told me... she would have her cut into pieces."
"This..." Sylas panicked instantly.
He bit his lip, then said with determined eyes, "Auntie, I will beg Isolde. I'll make her spare Sister Lyn."
Jade wiped her tears, crying in despair.
"It's useless. Before I came, Her Majesty already said that if she doesn't get what she wants tonight, I will see Lyn's head by morning. Ah."
Sylas urgently asked, "What does she want? Auntie, don't panic. We can think of a way. I no longer wish to live. If my life can be exchanged for Lyn's, I agree!"
"No need for a life exchange. Just..." Jade cried while rubbing her face.
Her fair, delicate skin burned with shame.
She leaned close to Sylas's ear; the warmth of her breath made his ear turn red.
She whispered, "This Isolde is truly despicable. To make me prove that Ling is not your betrothed, she ordered me... ordered me to... with you..."
BOOM!
Sylas could not believe his ears! It felt like thunder crashing overhead.
He was petrified on the spot. He stared blankly at Jade, his voice distorted. "Auntie... you... have you lost your mind?"
Jade also covered her face in despair, too ashamed to meet his gaze.
But for her daughter's life, she sobbed, "Sylas, there's really no other way.
Please, consider this your aunt begging you. Alright?
It will be quick! Auntie will be gentle.
Just close your eyes, pretend you're falling asleep, alright?"
"Auntie! You've been tricked by her! How could she possibly do such a thing? She..." For a moment, Sylas nearly went insane, shouting wildly.
He tried to rush to the cell door, to yell down the corridor, but the chains on his body restricted his movement.
He tugged at the chains, screaming, "Isolde! You are a true tyrant! You! Just kill me! Kill me!"
Finally, he understood Isolde's venomous plan. She wanted to make him fall !
He shouted himself hoarse. Jade came over to support him.
Sylas swatted her hand away, pointed at her, and launched into a furious, merciless tirade: "Jade! You! As the Chancellor of Lyonesse, you didn't speak of loyalty to your sovereign or serving your country—instead, your whole family surrendered!
Now, to save your own skin, you would commit this act worse than beasts? You want... you want to... with me? I'm fifteen years your junior!"
"I..." Jade was shamed into silence by his words. She stood rooted to the spot, staring at the floor in utter humiliation.
"Get out! Get out!" Sylas was so angry he raised his hand to strike her.
Jade let out a long sigh and could only stand silently.
Sylas, his hair a mess, leaned against the wall, fuming.
Jade slowly reached the cell door. She looked back at Sylas and said helplessly, "Sylas, I was wrong. I'm sorry. I shouldn't be so weak. I..."
Suddenly, the cell door opened. A female guard entered.
She tossed a lock of hair at Jade's feet and said coldly, "By the Empress's decree: this is Crystal's hair.
You have one hour. If you fail to obtain the Memory Orb, Crystal's head will be delivered to you." With that, the guard shut the door.
Jade stood as if struck by lightning. She instantly fell to her knees, picking up the lock of hair and staring at it.
Then, she completely broke down, wailing, "Lyn... my Lyn... you've suffered so much, Lyn..."
Sylas, listening from inside the cell, felt wretched. He turned his head, silently crying against the wall.
After crying for a long time, Jade approached again.
She placed Crystal's hair in Sylas's lap and said despairingly, "Sylas, are you really so heartless? Will you just stand by and watch your betrothed get beheaded?"
"What betrothed? It was only verbally acknowledged!" Sylas retorted stubbornly.
"Wuuu... Sylas, you are truly heartless. Really. You are forcing us mother and daughter to our deaths!"
"Auntie, I'm sorry. We are human beings, not beasts."
"I don't care! My daughter is about to lose her head! I'll be a beast if I have to!"
Jade grabbed Sylas's shoulders and yanked him backward forcefully. Her tear-streaked, beautiful face appeared right before his eyes.
Sylas cried out in panic, "No! No! Auntie!"
"Don't call me Auntie, Sylas. Make this easier for both of us. Call me Jade." Jade began her self-deception.
Then, she began to undo Sylas's robes.
Sylas let out a long sigh. His face deathly pale, he finally moved his lips and murmured, "Auntie... after... can you kill me? I beg only this one thing of you."
Jade sighed. "I'm sorry, Sylas. We... we have to do this again tomorrow for the recording."
Sylas: "..."
Isolde! You are truly merciless!
…
Jade left.
Before she went, she carefully tidied Sylas up. She smoothed his hair and straightened his clothes.
Once he was presentable, she bit her red lip and left without a word. She didn't know what to say.
I had just been intimate with Sylas, fifteen years my junior?!
And he was the son of her colleague, her daughter's close friend.
Words felt utterly inadequate. She could only wipe the tears from his face, over and over again.
When Sylas finally stopped crying, she fled the scene, consumed by guilt.
The dungeon fell quiet. But Sylas knew the storm was about to break.
Sure enough, Isolde arrived, carrying a gleaming sword, her eyes blazing with fury.
She pressed the sharp blade against Sylas's neck and roared, "You wretch! You gave in?!"