PROVOCATION - THE WAR HERO

Who wouldn’t know about this person? He was someone who gained the reputation of a war hero and the title of a duke for he had severed most of his life being the dog of the empire. However, among all of his infamous reputation loitering around the empire, Laurence also knew that he was a bastard. A product of sin from his father.

Benedict Van Seinsfield.

For Laurence Williams, he is just a cold blooded murderer who seeks wealth and honor. He was desperate to prove himself. She swore to never have their fates crossed together but now, in this cold prison cell, the only person who has the highest authority to set her free was this mad man.

“Laurence Williams,” He said. His voice as cold as ice and authoritative. A heavy pressure surrounded them. Laurence felt like she was short of breath and her heart started to hammer against her chest. His eyes clearly was void of emotions. Was this the feeling of being pinned down by pressure? Laurence doesn’t know. She wants to run away but where?

Benedict Van Seinsfield, He seemed to be heartless.

In that very moment, Laurence’s hope came crushing down to her thinking that this will be the time of her death.

Despair started to eat her heart slowly crawling through her limbs eating her flesh and blood. Her body trembled as her mind was going blank. She can’t fight all of her negative thoughts anymore. She’s slowly dying inside.

Laurence stared on the cold floor of the ground. Two knights opened the cell. One was holding a paper while Benedict continued to watch was was happening. His cold sharp glare remained as though he was keeping in check the witch.

“According to the imperial report, Laurence William used the forbidden arts to resurrect the dead. Bring her out and chain her. She will be transported immediately. The reports that I have passed to the imperial courts were all backed up by evidences. Laurence William is a witch.”

Laurence doesn’t have any more strength left. Her feet, legs, and thighs were beaten. All of her skin had wounds and she hasn’t eaten for days.

They were scared of her. They begun to chain her hands and feet without trying to touch her skin. The cold metal chains felt heavy as she was meant to be bound there and then waiting for her death. Laurence tried to look up hoping she could talk to at least one of the knights but they avoided her gaze and they seemed to be disgusted.

They were all scared to touch her and to associate themselves to her. Since when did she hit rock bottom like this? Laurence was scared and helpless. Nothing could even save her right now. Even the gods themselves. Ha, she doubt that they all even exist. If she wanted to get out of this situation now, she needed to pray to the devils and ask for salvation. Perhaps they might sympathize a sinner like her.

Maybe death was her only salvation. But she refuse to die here.

“Be careful of her. She’s a witch! She can kill you in an instant!” They all dragged her again by her hair. She did not resist this time. Her body hit numerous pillars, woods and she was even dragged through the stairs leading up the deck.

Her eyes that was void of emotions completely gave up life now. However, just as everything in life seemed to have turned their backs on her, she lifted her gaze. In that instant, she felt the cold gush wind touching her skin, then, she saw the sky. A whole different world revealed itself to her.

Dark sky with glittering stars greeted her with no judgement nor contemplation. The moon shined as though it was giving her comfort. Just as she was under them, they all look as though they were pitying her.

She, someone who had a bright future was led to this humiliation, to this treatment.

She take pride of herself as a noble. But now, she now only have clothes and a little dignity she can barely keep. And she was facing death once again. However, this time, it was her soul dying.

Perhaps this was her first death and later, she will experience her second death.

A small smile appeared on her lips. Her hair was still being dragged but it doesn’t hurt anymore. Perhaps she had gone numb from everything. She wanted to end everything now. It was heavy.

Everything is, heavy.

“Laurence Williams,” She tore her gaze of the dark sky and went to the man standing in front of her now. The knights that was dragging her away tossed her carelessly like a piece of baggage. She hurt her knees and elbows at the same time but she refused to give them the satisfaction of seeing her cry because every limbs of her body hurt.

The two knights stood behind the Duke of Van Seinsfield. He was looking down at her. There was mockery on his gaze with his Cold piercing eyes. In Laurence mind, perhaps that was his gaze whenever he slaughtered his enemy. He sees them nothing but flies.

In this moment, their standing, distance, and position in the whole noble society was visible.

Him who was regard and seen with pride for his miraculous deeds and her, a criminal who had committed the most heinous crime they could probably think off, Resurrect the dead. Laurence thought of it before. Her research wasn’t about that but somehow it all led to this.

She was framed. She knew deep inside her that she was innocent.

“Laurence Williams,” Benedict’s voice vibrated through the air. Laurence looked at him. Laurence was kneeling and Benedict was standing in front of her. This scene, it was a perfect well portrayed scene discussed through the temple when a sinner betrayed the gods.

The kneel for repentance.

He was standing tall and dignified under the moon lights gaze. He was handsome but his eyes looked too disgusted. Laurence pitied herself. The wind continue to blew and the sound of the ocean was comforting.

“The imperial court had given an order to specifically kill you.” His voice was heavy. He doesn’t have any pity at all. He spoke as though he was death himself but what right he has to kill someone?

“ You are a disaster that walks through the land and the imperial court has sentence you to be killed immediately once we arrived for we can’t afford to let you lose and kill more innocent people with your forbidden arts.”

Laurence blinked. She felt like everything was not making any sense. Perhaps she was also getting crazier the more time she get accused like this.

This man.

He’s spouting nonsense.

Murdered? Who? She was innocent.

She did not touch any blood nor sacrificed anyone to the devil. She wanted to give birth to life and be a help to the people. She wanted people to benefit with the products of her research. She never once put other people’s life in risk of her research.

But this man, he had killed people. With the emperor declaring a war, he was the one who ended people’s lives and continue to bathe with their blood claiming that he was a savior.

What a hypocrite.

“This is for the law and for the peace of the empire,” He spoke with dignity. He seemed to be a role model for all the knights in the palace. The one they should aspire into. Ha, it’s ridiculous and disgusting.

Laurence doesn’t care anymore. Using the ounce of her strength, she tried to get up. The two knights remained alert and draw their swords pointing at her. The wind blow as though it was announcing itself as the spectator of the scene that was about to unfold.

Laurence did not care anymore. Everything was blank. She’s surrendering to all of her emotions now and the one who will take in charge was her rage.

“You claimed that you have the right to punish me.” Laurence begun. Her knees trembling but she did not fall. Her pride was keeping her body from falling.

“I have.” He said appearing as though he did not really care. “I am the commander of the order of the knights. I am the duke of the empire.”

“Disgusting,” She uttered. She revealed a looked of disgust.

“How dare such thing! You have killed people!” the two knights reacted pointing the swords on her neck. However, she did not move. The blood seeped through the skin of her neck but her anger was still there.

“You do not have evidence of my crime.” She said with mockery and confidence. Her raised her chin upward with a smirk on her lips. Her gaze changed. This time it glimmered through the moons gaze announcing her resolve.

“The empire and the people at courts did not conduct any proper investigation. They pointed their fingers at me claimed me that I was a witch. I never practice such forbidden arts. I only hope to bring my family’s honor to the top where no one can harm us but I guess that everything I am going through right now was plotted and planned. Are you one of those people who wished for my death?” Laurence mocked.

This time, Benedict draw his sword pointing at her. She stepped forward. She can’t feel her fears anymore. In fact she was angry. She was angry at herself and she was angry at the world. She was angry at this man who did nothing but accuse her. Laurence loathed the empire and the people that dragged her to this kind of state.

If ever she get out of this alive, ha.

She would gladly go to hell for there was no hope for her here anymore.

“This is the law,” Benedict pressed. Laurence laughed. All the two knights present including the duke himself looked at her as though she already had gone insane. She knew she was already insane. Who in their right mind would remain sane with this kind of treatment? She was still grateful enough that she can control her words and actions.

Laurence was itching. She wanted to see blood at the moment. Her whole body was craving for violence. If she ever get out of this, there will be no mercy.

She desperately took a step forward. Eyes mocking. “Law? Heh, you the war hero, dare to lecture me about law? What have I done?”

“You killed your family-”

“I’m not. I was framed.”

“That’s just what you wanted to tell us. To make us believe. We are not idiots who believe in every words a criminal like you, Laurence. We have intelligence.”

Laurence took a step forward again. She did not care if the sword of the knights slashed off her neck. She did not care how much blood she lost or will she ever see the light of tomorrow.

She was angry. At the very least, she wanted to tell what people had been keeping away from her, her voice. She wanted to speak her mind.

“Intelligence of what? Your way of thoughts can’t be even compare to a monkey. You arrogant bastard who was intoxicated with the current fame you have. Ah right, because you’re a bastard! Son of a bitch!”

Benedict watched her. He glared clearly offended by her words. She scoffed.

“You are nothing but a murderer killing people because you were tasked to. Those people you killed were innocent ones who have a bright future a head. Have you ever thought of the children that was swept away by the war? Or the elderly people who only wanted to care for their family. A bastard like you only knew to swing their sword hoping for praises!” Laurence laughed but her expression turned serious.

“You should have pity inside your heart, Sir Van Seinsfield for you knew what is it like to be treated as a bastard! As an animal! But what did you do? Heh, you killed them all just because you were tasked by the emperor? Ha, what mockery! What a hypocrite! Disgusting bastard.”

In that moment, Benedict’s hand grabbed her neck. His eyes were drilling into her but she did not care.

“Who is the monster between us now, huh? You are nothing but a bastard who lucky won the war and now you are portraying here like you have save the whole world when you only let the scum people live. Your views in life is contradict on how they way you live, Sir Van Seinsfield and it looked pitiful and disgusting!”

“I won’t tolerate this insult.” Benedict roared with anger. Laurence laughed.

“You’re insulted? Ha, then it’s true?” She pressed.

Laurence doesn’t care if her neck get snapped. Death was the only one waiting for her in the end no matter what route she takes. Her body swayed as his hands were lifting her up. She looked down seeing the cold water beneath them.

In that moment, an Idea came to her mind.

She won’t die by their hands. She won’t give them any satisfaction too. If she was going to die, then, she’ll choose her way. She’ll die by her hands.

Chuckling, Laurence said,” I’m sorry.” She apologized. All the three of them blinked. They looked flabbergasted and baffled. “Duke Benedict Van Seinsfield, do you know that I like the flower of clematis” the duke does not understand what she was talking about. Laurence smirked. Her expression looked to dark as the moon lights shadow cascaded over her.

“If I ever survived this place, you’ll hear of me again as a flower,” she threatened.

“How dare such prisoner!”

In the last moment were Benedict and the two knights were busy pointing their swords and accusation at her, she used her strength to kick the duke’s chest taking him off guard. It happened in an instant.

With the impact of her feet on his chest, he was able to let go of her neck.

Laurence found herself falling. She smiled mockingly at the duke watching her fall. She was deeply satisfied with their faces losing hope. In that moment, Laurence closed her eyes as she felt the cold water swallowing her, pulling her beneath.

At least this way, this death was her choice.

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