"My Lord, the accusations are false! This is the Empress's doing," Sir Conrad said, stepping forward to defend Rue.
"Hmm…" The Duke leaned back on his throne, stroking his chin. "Whether that's true or not, keeping you here risks drawing the Empress's wrath upon the duchy. But if I surrender you to the Empire...I'll be rewarded."
"Please, my Lord," Rue said, stepping forward. "If you cannot offer me sanctuary, then I ask you to take in my men. They followed me here despite the danger."
"My Lord!" Sir Conrad turned sharply to Rue, shocked by his words. He could not believe his master would offer himself up so easily. It was their duty to protect him, not the other way around.
"I doubt your men would agree with that arrangement," Duke Kouzlo remarked, raising an eyebrow. Keeping him in the duchy is risky, the Duke thought, but he's still the son of the emperor. Until a new emperor is appointed, he is still useful.
"What can you offer me in return if I grant protection to you and your men?" the Duke asked, voice measured.
"I have little left," Rue replied firmly. "The Empress has stripped me of everything. But I will do anything you ask of me."
"Anything?" the Duke repeated, an idea forming in his mind. If he becomes emperor, I could have him marry one of my daughters. If not, I can still use him as a personal guard.
"Very well," the Duke said, rising from his throne. "Let us bind this with an oath spell."
He signaled a nearby mage to perform the ritual.
"I don't have anything I want for now," the Duke added. "But I will tell you when the time comes."
"Understood," Rue said, his voice steady with resolve.
They both walked toward the mage. Facing each other, they held out their hands. The mage raised his staff and began the incantation:
Two souls stand beneath the silent sky
To seal their words, or one shall die
This vow they make in shadowed breath
Break it once, and earn swift death
As the words were spoken, a glowing silver string wrapped around their joined hands, binding them. On each of their wrists was a serpent's loop, its head biting its tail, a mark indicating their oath.
"If either of you fails or breaks the promise," the mage explained, "the serpent's loop will release a deadly poison killing you instantly."
The Duke smiled, satisfied. "Then I shall ensure no harm comes to you while you're in my duchy, Marquess Rue."
"Thank you, my Lord," Rue said sincerely.
"However," the Duke's voice dropped to a more serious tone, "the Empress will likely pressure me to let her knights into the duchy to search for you. Even here, you are not completely safe."
He paused, then smiled slyly. "But there is one place her influence cannot touch, the Arcane Lyceum."
"Your father requested that I help you enter the Lyceum if you arrived here with the Dostani princess," the Duke said. "I haven't seen neither of you until now. He knew the Lyceum is the one place the Empress cannot easily reach. Though it lies within the duchy, it is under the Headmaster's authority, not mine. They follow their own laws. Not even I can command the Headmaster."
"Then how can I enter there?" Rue asked.
The Duke turned toward a seemingly empty space and called out, "Edric! I know you're listening, come out here."
A gust of wind swept through the open window, and with it came a figure who landed gracefully inside. It was Edric, son of the Duke, brushing dust from his cloak and scratching his head.
"You caught me," he said with a sheepish smile, rubbing the back of his head.
Without warning, the Duke smacked the back of his head.
"Ow!" Edric exclaimed, rubbing the sore spot. "That hurt..."
"I told you so many times not to eavesdrop," the Duke said, sternly.
"You can't blame me for being curious." Elric replied, nonchalant.
The Duke sighed deeply. No matter how many times he reprimanded his son, he never listened.
"Marquess Rue, this is my third son, Edric. He's a student at Arcane Lyceum."
"A pleasure to meet you, Lord Edric. I am Marquess Rue Mallory." Rue said respectfully.
"Just call me Edric, Your Grace. Mind if I call you Rue?" Edric asked with a friendly smile.
The Duke promptly smacked the back of his head again.
"Ow!" Edric winced, rubbing the spot.
"I told you to mind your manners and speak properly," the Duke scolded.
He turned back to Rue. "Forgive my son for his lack of decorum."
"I don't mind," Rue said with a faint smile. "If it makes him comfortable, then I'm fine with it."
"Thank you for your understanding," the Duke replied, then added, "He'll be the one to help you enter the Lyceum."
"What?!" Edric exclaimed, eyes wide. "But the Order of the Chosen already ended! There's no way to get someone in now!"
The Duke raised a brow. "Weren't you just bragging about being in a relationship with the usher's sister?"
"Ugh, that was before, we broke up," Edric muttered.
"That was just last week," the Duke replied, staring at his son in disbelief.
Edric looked away, avoiding his father's gaze. "Well… she found out about the other two," he mumbled, referring to his other girlfriends.
The Duke snapped his eyes shut and took a deep breath. "Edric," he said, calm but with a dangerous edge in his voice.
Edric immediately broke out in a cold sweat. That calm and serious tone meant his father was furious.
"But I think… I can talk to her?" he offered nervously.
"Find a way to get them into the Lyceum," the Duke ordered firmly.
"Yes, Father," Edric sighed.
"My fate lies in your hands, Edric," Rue said gratefully.
At the Imperial Palace
Crown Prince Caleb rushed through the palace halls the moment he dismounted his horse, his heart pounding. He searched for his mother and finally found her in his father's study, quietly reviewing documents.
"Is it true?" Caleb asked, out of breath.
The Empress looked up, smiling warmly. "It's good to see you back, son."
"Is Father really dead? Why didn't you tell me sooner?! Why?!" Caleb shouted, his voice cracking with agony.
The Empress's smile faded. She rose from her chair and stepped toward her son.
"I knew what happened to Lady Cecilia," she said gently. "I didn't want to cause you more pain."
"That's why you kept it from me?" Caleb's voice was filled with resentment. "How could you do this to me?!"
She reached out to touch his face, but he brushed her hand away.
"Where is Father?" he asked, his tone suddenly cold and firm.
Without a word, the Empress turned and led him through the corridors. At the end of a quiet hallway, she opened a guarded room.
"Father!" Caleb cried over his father's body.
The Empress stood there silently.
Caleb slowly wiped his tears, forced himself to stand, and faced her. "What happened?"
Her jaw tightened. "The Marquess and the Knight-Commander revolted. Your bastard brother wanted the throne just like I've been telling you but your father didn't agree to his appeal to be included in the right of succession, so he killed him."
Caleb shook his head. He couldn't believe what he was hearing.
"Rue wouldn't do that," he said firmly.
The Empress narrowed her eyes. "And how would you know that? People can be blinded by greed and power. They're capable of things you never thought possible."
"Like you?" Caleb asked sharply. "Mother... did you have something to do with Father's death?"
The Empress's expression faltered.
"M-me? Ha!" she laughed bitterly. "Are you accusing me of killing your father? Caleb, you know how much I loved him. Yes, I've done terrible things, things I won't deny but I would never hurt your father."
Caleb looked down, still torn. His instincts screamed at him that something didn't add up, but he also knew the truth in her words. No matter how furious she'd been about the emperor's affair, she never laid a finger on him.
"I'm sorry, Mother," he said at last, his voice quieter. "It's just... hard to believe Rue could do something like this."
The Empress stepped closer and gently cupped his face.
"I know. Everyone thought so too. After all, your father showered more affection to him than you, his true son."
"I want to speak with Sir Garran," Caleb said. "I want to know why he did it."
The Empress paused for a moment, then nodded. "Alright. I shall come with you. I haven't spoken to him either. Just thinking about what he did causes me great pain."
She looked genuinely hurt.
Caleb gently took her hand. "Don't worry, Mother. I'm here now."
They descended into the palace dungeon, where Sir Garran sat shackled and weakened, his face gaunt from days of confinement. He looked up as the prince approached, eyes dull until he saw who stood before him.
"Sir Garran," Caleb said coldly.
The knight lifted his head, meeting the prince's gaze, only to find hatred staring back at him.
"How could you do this to my father?" Caleb demanded. "He trusted you more than anyone. Why would you betray him?!"
"No, I didn't do it. It was your mother." Sir Garran thought. "Will the prince believe me if I say it? Maybe if it's him he can do something about the Empress."
There was only one chance.
"Your Imperial Highness, it wasn't me who killed the emperor. It was..."
Footsteps echoed down the stone corridor.
The Empress stood behind the prince, holding a ring in her finger.
Sir Garran froze mid-sentence. He wanted to say the truth but seeing his wife's ring made him stop.
"Who is it?!" Caleb shouted, gripping the bars of the cell. "Who killed my father?!"
Sir Garran hesitated, eyes flickering toward the Empress before he spoke. "I-It was Marquess Rue Mallory… your brother."
A chill settled over Caleb. His heart sank as Sir Garran's words echoed his mother's claim. He had hoped that it was a lie.
"A-Are you sure?" Caleb's voice trembled. "Why would my brother do that?"
Sir Garran lowered his gaze. "He could no longer endure how he and his mother were treated. He believed that, as the emperor's son, he had a right to the throne."
Caleb stumbled backward and dropped to his knees. His chest tightened, and betrayal stabbed through him like a blade.
"How could he do this? Was he just using me to take the throne?"
The Empress moved toward him, reaching out to console her son.
"I told you this would happen-"
"I want to be alone." Caleb's voice cut her off, sharp and pained. He stood and walked away from the dungeon, leaving her behind.
Silence fell.
Sir Garran looked at the Empress in desperation. "Where's my family?" he asked quietly.
"They're alive," the Empress replied. "Nothing has happened to them...yet. As long as you continue playing your part, they will remain that way."
Sir Garran looked up, eyes pleading. "I want to see them."
The Empress's face turned cold. "You don't make demands here."
Without another word, she turned and walked away, her heels echoing through the corridor as the door shut behind her.
In the deeper parts of the Labyrinhine forest
Three figures darted through the thick underbrush, fleeing from a shadow monster that relentlessly pursued them.
"W-Wait... Let's rest, just for a moment," Lady Rose panted, stopping in her tracks and clutching her side.
"We cannot stop, my lady," Mirael urged, glancing over his shoulder. "The shadow monster can track our shadows. The sun is about to set, until then, we must keep moving."
"But my lady is with child," her lady-in-waiting protested, kneeling beside Rose. "It's too strenuous for her to continue without rest. Please, just for a moment."
Mirael looked at Lady Rose's disposition and he can see that she is already at her limit.
"...Alright," he said at last, scanning the dense forest for any sign of immediate danger.
He was looking for Rue in the order of the previous Marquess Mallory when she stumbled a knight fighting a shadow monster in the border of the Marquess' territory. She probably went there to see her son but it has been taken over by the imperial knights.
"We must go now," Mirael said.
"Where are we heading?" Lady Rose asked, still catching her breath.
"There are knights stationed almost everywhere. Our only choice is to go deeper into the forest. With the shadow monster tracking us, we must stay within the shade. The deeper we go, the denser the forest becomes, so it will help hide us."
"I heard from my son that there are monsters in this forest," Lady Rose said with worry in her voice.
"No need to worry, my lady. I may look frail, but I can handle a few monsters," Mirael said with a reassuring smile.
As the sun sets, they finally stopped under a large tree.
"We're safe for now," Mirael said as he settled beside them. "The shadow monster can't track us in the dark."
Just as they began to settle, a loud growl broke the silence.
All eyes turned to Lady Rose, whose face flushed in embarrassment. She cleared her throat and said awkwardly, "I haven't eaten properly since the day we fled the palace."
"I'll look for something to eat, my Lady," her lady-in-waiting offered, already rising to her feet.
"It is not safe here after dark," Mirael said stopping her.
"I cannot let my Lady starve," she replied firmly.
"Mirael is right," Lady Rose interjected gently. "It's too dangerous. Don't worry about me."
"But my lady... you must think of the child," the lady-in-waiting said softly, her voice filled with concern.
Lady Rose sighed in resignation. "Alright. But take Mirael with you."
"No, my lady," the attendant insisted. "Someone must stay to protect you. I won't go far. I'll be quick."
"But-"
Her lady-in-waiting dashed off before Lady Rose could finish speaking.
After waiting for couple of hours, her lady-in-waiting has yet to return.
"We should go look for her," Lady Rose said in worry.
Just as they stood to search, a scream pierced through the stillness.
They ran toward the sound, only to find a sharp-toothed gremlin-like demon gnawing viciously on her lady-in-waiting's leg.
"M-My Lady, run!" she cried, pain wracking her face.
"No!" Lady Rose gasped, she was about to go save her but Mirael stopped her.
With a swift motion, he summoned a burst of wind magic that hurled the demon away. The creature crashed into a tree.
But the momentary relief vanished when dozens of glowing eyes blinked open in the trees above them. More gremlins. They had been watching.
"Run!" Mirael grabbed Lady Rose's hand and pulled her into the shadows.
"H-How about her?!" Lady Rose shouted between breaths, glancing back.
"I can't fight that many," Mirael said through clenched teeth. "I'm sorry."
Behind them, her lady-in-waiting's cries faded into the forest.
They kept running, Mirael casting bursts of wind to push back the creatures gaining on them. But Lady Rose tripped on a root and fell hard to the ground.
"My Lady!"