The Heartbeat of the Cruel Elves

“It’s still no different than before…” Cassia sighed as she watched Myrcella straighten up again.

"I originally thought you were stubborn and would never repent, but now it seems that you are really stupid."

"Well," she suddenly trembled her eyebrows and sneered with a hint of self-mockery, "It's my fault."

"We shouldn't expect anything useful to come out of a madman like this."

"But..." She rolled her eyes and looked at Myrcella with a cold expression, "Does your master really think that I have no other way to find out her identity by sending out a mentally disturbed lunatic who can only talk nonsense?"

"I promise you, I will send her down to reunite with you as soon as possible."

She smiled coldly and then waved her hand:

"Take him away. Bring him to court tomorrow and charge him with treason, murder—oh, and," she tapped the armrest of the chair with her long, white fingers, "false accusation and libel."

When she mentioned these two charges, she became furious again and sneered, "Punish him."

Li Yin's heart suddenly tightened. Treason and murder, either of these two crimes, were enough to sentence Myrcella to death!

"Your Highness, Your Highness!" Myrcella was obviously aware of her situation. She was horrified and immediately let out a series of desperate screams.

"No, you can't do this to me, you can't do this to me..."

Li Yin's heart was tense, and he looked at Cassia with eyes full of awe and vigilance.

What shocked him was not Cassia's decision, but that he never expected her to be so intelligent and scheming.

Originally, how to use legal and compliant means to deal with Misella, the instigator and the only person who knew about the incident, while preventing her from exposing herself and implicating herself, so as to avoid future troubles, was a considerable challenge.

Now, since Myrcella can openly "say" such "crazy words" as Cassia ordering her to kill her, any of her accusations, such as exposing that Rein had killed Turner, will be regarded as hysterical and revengeful nonsense, and are not credible. In other words, from the perspective of ordinary people, she has become a complete lunatic, and any of her evidence and accusations are no longer effective.

At this time, as long as Cassia and Li Yin agreed in advance and colluded in their confessions, they could attribute Turner's death entirely to Myrcella's coveting the position of bishop and her deliberate murder. As long as Myrcella died, the matter would be completely buried and Li Yin would be completely cleared of it.

Previously, Li Yin still had a little bit of arrogance in his heart, thinking that he could easily control Cassia, and that a priest like her who could be easily controlled by the charm spell was a "shame of the priests". Now, he has completely restrained even the last bit of disrespect in his heart. He must be doubly careful in the future, he thought.

"Princess Cassia, Princess Cassia..." On the other side, Myrcella kept crying out in pain.

At this moment, although she had realized the truth of the matter, under the pressure of death, she completely put away her previous anger and just kept begging.

But Cassia said nothing, and didn't even look at her again. At the same time, the two female dark elves behind her, having received the princess's signal, grabbed her shoulders and dragged her back without saying anything.

"Princess Cassia! Princess Cassia!" Myrcella called out twice more, but still got no response. Her legs kicked in vain, but her body was dragged by two dark elf warriors and quickly moved towards the door.

“Li Yin! Li Yin!” In a hurry, she suddenly turned her head and looked at Li Yin, her eyes were anxious, her expression was sad and pleading, her voice was sharp and hoarse, “Help me, help me!”

When faced with her pleading eyes, Li Yin instinctively felt reluctant and lowered his head. Then, he couldn't help but raise his head and look at her again.

"Li Yin! Li Yin! Li Yin!" Mircella was still calling his name, her eyes full of tears never stopping. She looked at him pitifully, with a look of pleading and despair, holding on to him tightly, like a drowning man grabbing the last straw.

That look was different from the one she had shown Cassia before. It was just as sad and sorrowful, but without any fear. Instead, it was full of trust and reliance. That kind of look was particularly unbearable, even though Li Yin knew very well that it was just a wrong reaction of the other party under the influence of the charm.

In panic, he did something similar to Mircella - he subconsciously looked at Cassia. At first, he didn't realize what his look meant, and then he suddenly saw that Cassia's cold expression changed in an instant.

She was a little surprised at first, and her eyes were blank for a short time. After she came back to her senses, she first looked at Li Yin, and then at Myrcella. This time she did not lose her mind again, but a deeper level of surprise appeared on her face.

Oh no, he was suddenly shocked.

"Stop!" Cassia suddenly stood up and shouted coldly, stopping the two dark elf female warriors who were dragging Myrcella out of the door.

And this cold scolding made Li Yin's heart sink to the bottom of the valley.

Upon hearing the sound, the two elite and capable dark elf female warriors immediately stopped dragging and looked at their mistress in confusion, waiting for her further orders.

But Cassia ignored them and turned to face Li Yin. She narrowed her eyes, raised the corners of her mouth, and asked in a relaxed and nonchalant tone, "This lunatic is begging you for help. What do you think, Li Yin?"

Li Yin had a gloomy expression and remained silent.

To be fair, he and Myrcella had slept in the same bed after all, and their relationship had eased recently - although it was due to the effect of the charm. In short, it was really a bit unbearable for Li Yin to watch her die in front of him.

But, that was just a little bit. He was willing to risk his own life just to save a de facto enemy out of a little bit of sympathy (compassion is compassion, but he was not so stupid as to charm himself). He was not mentally ill to that extent.

Besides... the man had already been dragged to the door, and Cassia only then turned to ask for his opinion. This was certainly not a spur-of-the-moment thing, nor was it some trivial gossip. Obviously, she had noticed something, so this was a test...

This is a real test.

Chapter 1 The Real Assessment ()

At that moment, Li Yin didn't spend much time thinking and forced himself to put aside that bit of reluctance. He raised his head and prepared to give Cassia his answer.

To be honest, it’s a bit difficult.

But no matter how embarrassed he was, he hadn't yet - wait! Suddenly, at the moment when Cassia's face, as bright as the moon and more beautiful than snow, came into his sight, Li Yin's heart was moved, and a flash of lightning suddenly flashed through his mind.

In an instant, sweat broke out on his forehead, and his lips, which were about to open, fell silent again.

"Li Yin?" On the other side, after waiting for a moment, Cassia spoke in a soft and calm tone, as if nothing was wrong, and patiently reminded again.

"Your Highness." Li Yin came back to his senses from his thoughts, raised his head and looked at Cassia, who was looking at him with a smile, her scarlet eyes slightly narrowed, with a meaningful look.

"Li Yin! Li Yin!" Misaela's voice came to his ears again. She was still calling his name. Perhaps because of despair and fatigue, her voice sounded weak and a little hoarse, which made people particularly unbearable.

Beads of sweat the size of beans oozed and dripped from his forehead. He pursed his lips and made up his mind.

"Your Highness." He looked at Cassia, lowered his body, bowed, his tone a little awkward.

"I am just a slave. I have no right to make any comments."

"That's fine," Cassia interrupted him calmly, and said sympathetically, "You are the most direct victim of this incident. You certainly have the right to express your own opinions."

Li Yin nodded: "Thank you for your kindness."

He paused, and then said, "Since you have been so kind and tolerant as to allow me to speak, then please forgive me for making this presumptuous request."

He paused again, took a deep breath, and seemed quite nervous. "If possible, no matter how severe the punishment is, you can impose any punishment on her that suits your heart, but your insatiable servant would like to dare to beg you for a little mercy and tolerance. I hope you can..."

"Please spare the humble life of this arrogant and ignorant 'madman'."

"Of course—" He spoke hastily before the Dark Elf Princess could get angry. "This is just a little stupid opinion of a short-sighted and narrow-minded slave like me. You don't need to listen to it. In fact, she did cause you great offense. A common Dark Elf actually dared to plot against you. This is not only an infringement on your personal safety, but also an insult to your dignity and wisdom, because this overconfident female elf actually naively thought that with her poor mind, she could pose any substantial threat to you, the noble and intelligent princess of the Borgia family... Any of the above crimes is unforgivable. Therefore, no matter what decision you make in the end, I think it is very fair and reasonable, and as your loyal servant, I will accept and support it wholeheartedly."

Li Yin finished speaking with great fear and trepidation, lowered his head, and silently waited for her verdict.

He clenched his hands, his palms were full of sweat.

Cassia did not answer immediately. She tilted her head and looked at him carefully for a while, as if she wanted to get to know him again.

"You talk too much nonsense." After a long while, she curled her lips and said indifferently.

Li Yin remained silent. From this one sentence alone, he couldn't figure out Cassia's true thoughts.

However, Cassia did not get furious immediately, which seemed to be a good sign, as if he was a little closer to his guess.

"You said that any decision I make is reasonable, even executing her is reasonable." Cassia turned her head and glanced at the female dark elf who was waiting for the verdict on the ground and also dared not breathe, then turned to look at Li Yin, "Is that so?"

"Yes." Li Yin said hesitantly.

"But you also said that you hope I will spare her life?" There was obvious doubt in Cassia's tone.

"Yes." After a brief silence, Li Yin responded again.

"What on earth is going on?" Cassia snorted, slightly surprised, and said coldly, "I thought there was only one madman in this room."

"Is insanity contagious?"

Li Yin couldn't respond and could only remain silent.

After a while, Cassia's voice came again, this time it was completely cold: "Can you tell me the reason?"

She asked calmly and calmly.

Li Yin pursed his dry lips tightly and then slowly opened them.

"Wait a moment." At this moment, Cassia suddenly turned sideways and looked at the two dark elf warriors behind Myrcella, "You go out first."

"Yes, Princess." The two female warriors answered in unison, and then one of them looked at Myrcella on the ground hesitantly, "She--"

"Leave her here. I'll take care of it."

"Yes." The two dark elf female warriors responded again, respectfully stepped out of the door and gently closed it.

Suddenly there were only three people left in the dark room.

The orange-red candle flame flickered, dividing the shadows of the three people, casting ever-changing faint light and shadows on their bodies and faces.

Li Yin's lips were still half open, but his tongue was stiff and he couldn't utter a syllable for a long time. He didn't know how to start or where to begin.

Surprisingly, Cassia seemed to have anticipated his reaction.

She paced back and forth in the room, looking a little annoyed. It was the first time that Li Yin saw her acting like this. In his subconscious, it seemed that no trouble could bother this profound and wise dark elf priestess.

Then, she turned around and looked at Li Yin, her frosty face looking serious:

"She told you in advance, didn't she?"

Li Yin opened his eyes slightly. Although he had guessed that Cassia had noticed the "close relationship" between the two and had further deduced more about the matter, he was still surprised by the priestess's profound insight.

Li Yin nodded, also sighed, and said awkwardly: "Your Highness, please understand."

In an instant, Cassia's face changed in a very strange way. Her expression was very complicated. She seemed quite helpless, but also filled with special surprise and curiosity, and... a slight anger, but not the kind of terrifying surging anger that one would imagine.

Yes, she wasn't particularly angry.

Even if you look closely, you can see that among the helplessness, curiosity, surprise and slight anger, there is a trace of an inexplicable look that is hidden very deeply, but once discovered, it is clear and sharp and unforgettable. Li Yin doesn't know how to describe it in detail and accurately, so he can only give a relatively vague description: it is like a deep peace and satisfaction, like after a long and close wait, hope has not been disappointed...

At that moment, Li Yin knew that he had made the right bet.

Chapter 2 The Real Assessment ()

That was the answer the cold and proud dark elf hoped to hear from him.

Although, this sounds a little incredible.

Just now, because of Myrcella's constant pleading, the relationship between him and her was exposed. He was obviously just a slave, and the real power of judgment was in Cassia's hands. However, after Myrcella briefly asked Cassia for forgiveness to no avail, she only called for him helplessly at the last moment. Any bystander with a little vision could see the trick.

What's more, in Cassia's original concept, he was the one who was threatened and forced by Myrcella, and the relationship between the two should be like fire and water. There was no reason for Myrcella to ask him for help.

So, with her keen insight, she quickly revised her view and reassessed the relationship between him and Myrcella.

The results of the assessment shocked her - that's why her face changed drastically earlier.

Only then did she turn to herself, giving herself the power to decide whether Myrcella lived or died.

There are two possible reasons why she did this.

First, she wanted to see him personally request the execution of Myrcella. This was based on resentment, cruelty, and revenge, and was the most logical approach. In the first moment, when Rein realized that Cassia had noticed his "intimate relationship" with Myrcella, Rein also speculated on her motives for asking him.

However, just when Li Yin raised his head and was ready to abandon the inappropriate weakness in his heart and agree with Cassia's previous decision, Cassia's delicate and elegant face also came into his eyes. From that face, Li Yin did not see much anger, nor did he see obvious disguise. In addition to the usual calmness and gentle smile, there was also a hidden and deep concern on that face, as if the other party was secretly expecting him to make a decision deep in her heart. That was completely different from the direct and violent anger that was eager to be vented out of jealousy. It was a deeper and more subtle appeal. Because of this, it was hidden in Cassia's usual expression, subtle and difficult to detect. But fortunately, Li Yin still noticed the slight abnormality in time. Maybe... Li Yin thought about it later... that was a secret emotion that its owner himself was not clearly aware of.

So, what kind of decision does she hope to make?

After noticing the secret change in Cassia's expression, Li Yin fell into thought. First, he considered using mind detection, but that would be very risky, and he didn't want to do it unless it was absolutely necessary. Fortunately, his mind was quick enough to quickly think of the second possibility and avoid taking the risk.

The second possibility is that she did not want to see herself execute Myrcella. More precisely, she wanted to use her attitude towards Myrcella to infer her attitude towards other close people - specifically, herself, in times of crisis.

This speculation seems to be very unreasonable - how could the dark elves give up the jealousy, hatred, anger and revenge that are right in front of them, and instead seek that elusive sense of security, reliability and support?

This is completely unbelievable to them and completely contrary to their racial nature!

At first, Li Yin felt that his bizarre idea was ridiculous, but soon he realized the rationality implied in this idea.

First of all, Cassia is not a normal dark elf. She is under the influence of charm, which makes her trust herself more than suspicious, and uses kindness to bridge the gap. Perhaps this will cause her to subconsciously hope to find a sense of security and reliability from herself.

Secondly, the dark elves did not have a culture that advocated monogamy. They were a fairly open race. Therefore, the jealousy and hatred caused by "emotional disputes" that she had initially imagined might not exist, or might not be strong. Even this "emotional dispute" itself might be just a false concept that did not exist in Cassia's mind. This was the difference between two completely different civilizations.

But... maybe... maybe, maybe all of this is just my own imagination, maybe Cassia is just so good at cultivating her Qi that he can't see anything unusual...

Li Yin was not absolutely sure, especially the "frame-up" of Mircella that had just happened made him fully aware of how clever, deep and unpredictable the mind of his "mistress" was. Therefore, no matter what she did in the end, no matter how bizarre her true intentions were, Li Yin was not surprised at all.

But in the end, he decided to act according to the scenario that he felt deep down was more likely.

This was the key factor that prompted him to finally decide to plead for Myrcella after a long silence.

The only thing that surprised him was that Cassia not only guessed the relationship between him and Myrcella, but also further speculated that Myrcella had leaked the previous "test" to him - although the truth of this fact may be far from her guess.

In any case, what needed to be said had been said, and what needed to be answered had been answered. Now the only thing Li Yin could do was to wait.

He waited anxiously for Cassia to speak again. This would not only determine Myrcella's fate, but also his fate.

"You always have something to surprise me."

After a brief silence, Cassia glanced at him with a hint of dissatisfaction.

After a brief but very complicated change of expression, her face returned to being cold again, but Li Yin felt that something had changed, as if her mood was no longer as heavy as before under her icy face. She still looked at Li Yin very sternly, her tall and straight figure was intimidating, but Li Yin felt that her arrogant figure like an iceberg seemed to have a little more vitality.

It’s like... the long-awaited flowers have finally borne fruit.