57 Fredek

Ritz...

A lone figure sat on the bed, in a room shrouded in darkness. He was so still, that if it weren't for the very slight movements of his shoulders when he breathed, one would think he was a statue.

Alistair, the King of Ritz, looked nothing like he had been. He was once boasted as the beauty of the world, with his longish silver hair, ethereal visage, and lively amethyst pair of eyes. However, these days, although still beautiful, he was now a figure of sorrow and mourning.

It's been a week since his beloved sister had left the world to run free in the Elysium Field, and nothing was the same anymore to those who were left behind – most especially to the brother who had been riddled with guilt aside from his anguish.

Tears?

There was not a day he hadn't wept. The despair he felt was just too much, it was so painful even to breathe. Most days, he wondered if he should just join her. He couldn't understand nor remember his reason for being here most of the time.

Except when he remembered his revenge – the revenge he vowed he would do to Alinea's killers. It was what kept him from getting a dagger and plunging it into his hollow heart.

A soft knock echoed, and he gave his assent to enter, his amethyst eyes glittered dangerously as he watched the door open.

The light slowly flooded the dark room and Alistair flinched at the contrast. Still, the stricken expression he had on his face never changed.

"Your Majesty," a tall brown-haired man in his late twenties entered the room. He was a warrior garbed in traditional Ritz clothing, a chiton dress with a gold belt, indicating his noble status. His pair of green eyes behind a pair of spectacles was hidden by the shadows, but that pair locked with the king's orbs with concern.

"You have returned," Alistair commented.

The man's name was Fredek, the king's right-hand man – and soon would be advisor. Alistair had sent him on an errand a month ago, and he had just returned.

"I am deeply sorry about your loss, Your Majesty," Fredek announced as he kneeled in front of the king.

Alistair, however, waived him back up on his feet. He then signaled to a servant to light the torches, and soon, the bedroom was finally illuminated, showing the almost emaciated body of the emperor.

"Y-Your Majesty…"Fredek looked taken aback.

To say he was surprised to see the gaunt appearance of the beautiful king was an understatement. The rumors that the king had been refusing to eat and barely slept must be real.

However, he was not in the position to order the other to mend his ways. He could only arrange for someone who could do it to come here, and he would definitely do it later as soon as he left the king's presence.

"You have asked for this servant, and I'm here to hear your orders," he said softly.

For the first time, there was a flicker of strong emotion in the king's eyes. "Find them Fredek. Find those bastards who had sent the fake army to murder my sister and her vassals."

Fredek had already expected this much. Since the moment he had been asked to come back and he heard about what happened to the princess, he already had an idea of what his task would be. Alistair, in his current state, couldn't trust anyone else to do it.

A Purge.

Alistair of Ritz already had an idea who the culprits were, and Fredek would have to comb through the royal faction – the people supporting the king who would lose power if Alistair was removed from the throne.

The cowards might have panicked when the faction supporting Princess Alinea's ascent to the throne started to move. When the princess used lightning during the war, he had already expected it to happen. But he was so sure Alistair could easily take care of it. After all, the king of Ritz was…

An idea came to his mind, his eyes widening as he looked at the king in awe.

Could it be?

"Your Majesty…"

"A great tribulation awaits those who defied heaven's will," Alistair recited out loud, and Fredek couldn't help but flinch in fear.

Heaven's will.

If there was someone who could use these words, it would be no one else but Alistair, the King of Ritz.

"Understood, Your Majesty," Fredek answered humbly as he bowed.

Alistair had nothing else he wanted, and so he excused Fredek almost immediately. As soon as the door closed, the king looked out the window, to the sky above. Since Alinea's death, the weather in Ritz had always been gloomy and tumultuous – reflecting its ruler's heart.

"Very soon my little one, very soon. Just a little bit more, and your brother would be able to avenge you…"

Outside, Fredek walked down the hallway with a thoughtful expression. He could already predict what would happen soon, and his heart soared as he looked forward to it. For now, he had to gather information and do a cleanup. But before that…

Fredek saw some servants and beckoned them.

"My Lord," the servants bowed as soon as they reached him.

Fredek almost sniggered at the respectful address. How times changed. It wasn't long ago when he had been ridiculed by the royals as well as their servants. But since Alistair took over the throne, being his subordinate, his ranking had definitely gone up. Nobody would dare belittle him now.

Alistair was a very intelligent King. Among all his men, the king knew Fredek would be the happiest doing this bloody task. His hate for the royals was palpable.

But he didn't hate everyone. He actually had a lot of respect and cared for the king and his best friend, Ivan of Kresnik. Also, he was mighty fond of the princess whom the king loved dearly in spite of what people believed.

Fredek took out a note from his pocket and scribbled on it. It was a short message saying that the king hadn't been eating or taking good care of himself. If this continued, he would be sick despite being a powerful being.

"Deliver this to His Majesty, Ivan of Kres," he ordered, and the servants immediately took the note with care, and hurried to do his bidding.

If there was someone who could force Alistair to eat, it would be Ivan. The latter was strong enough to endure the Ritz King's attacks in case he got angry and become violent.

Afterwards, Fredek continued on his way as he whistled. The purge would commence starting tonight.