39 The new duke

Vervain Castle, Verbena...

Where is the key, my lord?" Lobelia asked, her eyes glowing in deep purple. A wicked smile graced her red lips.

Alastor screamed as the witch's hand penetrated through an open portal on his chest. The woman searched for his heart and grabbed it, almost squeezing it in the process.

"I…I don't know… where!" Alastor coughed in pain.

"Leave my brother alone!" King Ignys shouted as he watched the witch torture his younger sibling.

He struggled to break free from the chains that held him in place. "He has nothing to do with this. Your business is with me."

"Oh no…no." she almost sang. "I will only stop and set him free, if you tell me where the key is." Lobelia laughed as she continued making the duke suffer.

"I told you, I do not have it. The key had been stolen a few years ago." Ignys yelled as he helplessly watched his brother writhe in pain.

"You are lying. Don't you think I could tell my dear husband? The both of you are keeping something." she gave up searching the duke's chest and steadied her hand.

"Definitely, the duke doesn't have the key…" She kept on murmuring to herself until she remembered something.

Turning towards her victim, she mused. "Is it possible that your only son has the key, Lord Alastor?" She asked as she delved deeper into his chest.

"Arrrgh!" With tears brimming his eyes, he cried out in pain.

Blood flowed out from the corner of his mouth. "I…I'll… talk." He spluttered.

The woman retracted her hand. Cocking her hips, she queried. "Well? Does my poor nephew have the key?"

"No…" he panted. "The key… was never… handed down to him."

When he was finally able to breathe properly, he said. "We don't know where it is. We are telling you the truth. If you don't believe me, you might as well let me die."

"Alastor!" Ignys shouted as if begging his brother to stay with him. His blue eyes beckoned his sibling not to give up.

"Just let me die! Damn it! I am no use to you. I don't know where the key is." The duke continued before spitting out blood.

He looked at the two stumps where his hands were supposed to be attached. The bandages had been dyed by his blood. "I've suffered long enough…"

"No way… I know that the two of you are hiding something. I have a hunch that both of you had hidden the key somewhere." the woman said.

She threatened. "If you will not tell me properly, I will keep on torturing you to make your brother talk."

Turning towards the king, she wickedly smiled. "So unless you tell me, your younger brother will suffer."

She then let her hand penetrate his chest. This time she punctured the duke's right lung.

Throwing up blood and writhing in pain, the duke begged. "I….I will…I will… tell you. Just…just let me die."

"Alastor! NO!" Ignys shouted at his brother's betrayal.

The queen withdrew her hand with a satisfied smile. "I knew you would give in."

"I am sorry Ignys… I cannot take it anymore. This is for the best…"

But instead of saying the truth, Alastor muttered. "This is my life. I will never give anyone the privilege to take it."

The blood that he had thrown up had started moving into a pattern and finally, it formed into a pentagram.

The witch tried to stop him from casting the spell but she was repelled.

"I am the master of my soul. With this, I will pass on." Alastor screamed before he suddenly burst into flames.

"Damn it! He killed himself!" she shrieked in anger.

Yelling profanities, she turned to the grieving King of Verbena. "I cannot believe that after all this time, your brother will still refuse to speak. He really wanted to take the information to his grave."

Suddenly, the door opened. The woman would have snapped at the intruder. However, when she saw who entered, she stopped short.

"Mother!" a young woman who looked so much like the queen sauntered inside the room.

Long flowing brown locks fluttered as she made her way towards the queen. Her purple eyes were filled with fear and anxiety.

"Yes, Gloriosa, my dear one." Lobelia gaze softened at the sight of her daughter. "what seems to be the matter?"

"This information was a bit late." Gloriosa imparted.

"What is it?" Lobelia's face turned stern. By the tone of her daughter's voice, she knew that it was bad news.

"There was a prison riot a few days ago. Some of our men were killed."

"That's it?" the queen probed further.

The girl's eyes shook in fear. "A few prisoners were able to escape, including the duke's son, Aliester."

The queen's scream of rage reverberated through the halls of the palace.

~~~

Linden...

"I think we are lost." Aliester voiced out. Then all of the sudden, he wobbled as sharp pain shot through his chest. "What the-"

The knight was quick to help him. "Are you okay?"

Turning pale, Aliester shook his head.

Since Aliester was in pain, they had let him rest on a bench.

"What is going on?" Conrad asked.

"It hurts." Aliester groaned.

[Condition for transfer of emblem has been met.] Zarame declared. [Congratulations master! You are the new duke of Alcove].

Aliester could not believe it.

When the mage examined Aliester's chest, his eyes widened. The Verbenian duke's crest formed. "The former duke has died. You are officially the new duke."

Aliester's heart sank at the information.

"Crap!" Daxton burst out. "We are running out of time. We really need to convince the princess to come back before all of our allies are dead."

"But I doubt if Aria will leave this life." Blaze stated as he surveyed the school fair from the window. "her life here is peaceful and free from trouble.

"Living here for a few days made us almost forget what we came here for." The king continued. "I doubt if she will give this up and go back to our realm corrupted with malice and greed."

"we'll have to talk to her." Conrad said. "For now, we need to find her."

Before they could move, a voice called out. "Wait!"

They turned and saw the same girl who dropped by earlier.

"I knew it. You're Aria's cousins and friends." She smiled at the guys. "I was surprised that you visited our school fair. Are you looking for her?"

"Yes." Aliester answered.

"You look sick." she gasped as she noted his appearance. "I think you need to be brought to the infirmary."

"I am all right. Just please take us to Aria." Aliester said. He felt nauseous but he compared earlier, he could now tolerate the pain.

"Follow me, Aria is at the student council café." She led the boys to the room which was turned into a café.

Chairs were decorated with frilly pillows and the waitresses that were serving wore maid outfit.

"Aria." Kanna called out. "you have guests." Aria turned around as her name was called.

Their jaws dropped as their eyes fell on the girl.

"Welcome, master!" Innocia greeted with a huge smile.

But the smile was replaced with a scream when she saw that the boys are at her school.