Chapter 9 - Everhartia State

"I'll go and inform her, Your Grace," one of the maids quickly responded to the Duke.

No one even noticed the Young Servant, He was like invincible in eyes of everyone, but then Duke gaze shifted on him.

"Charles, you coward! I'm certain that when the monster attacked your brother, you were probably cowering somewhere nearby. You have no idea which monster it was, do you?" The Duke interrogated.

His attention settled on Charles, the very Charles who had suffered under Sebastian's cruelty. Charles wasn't just a servant; he had endured Sebastian's mistreatment. His other siblings treated him no better, considering him a lowly servant due to his lack of mana and common abilities. In the eyes of society and even his own father, he was an outcast, often overlooked. He was the son of the Duke's late wife, Rosalind, and his existence felt like a whisper amidst the crowd.

"I... I didn't, Father..." Charles stammered, his voice quivering with a mixture of fear and anxiety.

"How dare you call me your father? Now, be gone, and be gone, you pathetic," the Duke's voice echoed with a mixture of anger and disdain.

Charles withdrew to his room, tears welling in his eyes. His body trembled with fear, and a deep sadness consumed him. He often thought about ending his own life, but he couldn't gather the courage to do it. He lived in a state of invisibility, feeling like nobody noticed him or cared about his existence.

"Where is the divine healer? Has he not arrived yet?" the Duke inquired with impatience evident in his tone.

"He's arrived and is currently in the young master's room, attending to him," one of the guards informed the Duke.

"Then why didn't you inform me about this crucial news earlier? Do you wish to lose your head from your shoulders?" the Duke's voice carried a tone of reproach and anger.

"Your Grace, you were engaged in conversation with Charles, so I didn't want to interrupt you," the guard explained, his tone respectful and apologetic.

Duke then rushed to Sabastian room, to check upon him and want to know what happened to him, He met the divine healer in Sabastian room.

"What has happened to my son? Will he awaken soon?" the Duke inquired, concern and impatience evident in his voice.

"Your Grace, there's no need to worry. It's just a minor injury, and it was a bat that bit him, causing some fatigue and dizziness. He'll wake up tomorrow. I've already treated him," the divine healer reassured the Duke, his tone aiming to alleviate the Duke's concerns.

"Thanks to Goddess Seraphina, my son will be saved. I am truly grateful to you as well; my son will be safe," the Duke expressed with a sense of relief and gratitude, acknowledging the divine healer.

"It is my duty. Now, I shall take my leave," the divine healer replied with a respectful nod, ready to depart.

The divine healer departed after tending to the Duke's son.

"Now, I believe it's time for me to go and meet with my wife, to demand some answers," the Duke declared, his tone firm and determined.

The Duke headed towards his main bedroom to meet his first wife, where Victoria awaited him. She sat in the room, her heart filled with unease. She knew that she had been the one who ordered their son to venture into the deep Dark Forest to clear the dungeon. Yet, with news of their son's injury reaching the Duke, fear gripped her as well. She had been avoiding facing the Duke, well aware of his profound love for Sebastian. In his bedroom, she mentally prepared herself to face the Duke's potential anger, knowing that his wrath would soon be directed towards her.

Standing outside Victoria's room, the Duke slammed the door open and entered. His eyes burned with wrath as they locked onto Victoria. She lowered her head, unable to meet his gaze, and nodded in acknowledgment of his presence.

"My Lord, I... I didn't realize that our son could face such danger. I thought that if he cleared the Dungeon, he would become a viscount and could marry the princess," Victoria admitted, her words tinged with regret and explanation.

"You insolent fool! If that was your intention, you should have sent the knights of Everhartia state to accompany him. Why did you allow him to go alone with a group of pathetic adventurers? You know well that it was a newly formed Dungeon, and no one knew the dangers it held," the Duke's voice resonated with anger and frustration.

"I did advise Sebastian against it, but he insisted on going alone with his friends. I..." Victoria's voice wavered as she tried to explain her perspective, her words tinged with a mix of guilt and regret.

"Enough. You could have still sent the knights to shadow him," the Duke interrupted her, his voice firm and resolute.

She trembled in fear under the weight of the Duke's anger. Clutching her fists, she cast her eyes downward, the fear in her expression palpable. Everyone was well aware of the Duke's fearsome wrath. He held the esteemed title of the first-rank swordmaster in the entire Kingdom of Eldoria, a force not to reckoned with. His reputation instilled fear in all who crossed his path, leaving no room for anyone to challenge him. No one dared to speak out against Duke Everhart.

"Next time, remember the complete safety of my son. I will not tolerate a single mistake in any of your plans, especially when it concerns his marriage to the princess," The Duke warned, his voice carrying a tone of authority and seriousness.

Having delivered his verdict to her, he turned away and returned to his chamber, where he was to meet with the knights.

He issued a direct order to the knights, instructing them to locate and eliminate the bat responsible for harming his son, ensuring that anyone who posed a threat to his son would face dire consequences.