Chapter 14: Family Wars

The dead body of George were taken away by some knights.

"Wendell, isn't it?" I asked the knight in front of me.

"Y-Yes..," he flinchef as he answered.

I grinned as I see through his fear from him while he was kneeling in a knight's stance.

Excellent expression, that is what I'm looking for! Fear us more! I would be pleased if you all plead for your life hahaha!

"Do you want a duel?" I asked.

"I-I dare not young m-master.., " he uttered in shiver.

Where's your confidence earlier? I wanna see it. Especially the expression that you're going to make when you regret even looking at my eyes.

"Isn't it a great honor to have a duel with your master, Wendell?" I growled while grinning.

"Ce-Certainly..." he replied.

"If so, take your stance and prepare for the duel."

He stood up and went into the duel grounds. I too, went to the grounds and face Wendell.

"Take your stance... Ready... Fight!" Yelled by Lucas.

"I will attack if you say a wrong answer. I will attack if you lie. One mistake you said, and I will kill you, no I will show no mercy to you. Understand?" I warned.

Surprisingly, he laughed loud.

"Man, I was scared for nothing. Master Neron sure is a tough opponent. I was so lucky that I didn't have to duel with him. Apologize young master Arthur, but I won't go easy with you." he said.

A smile formed in my lips when I heard his testimony. That's more I like it.

"Well then, let's begin," I said with a smile.

There was a drum-like sound that is occupying the grounds and made the duel more intense.

"What are you doing when you were on duty?" I asked.

"I did come and sat beside the lady. But I didn't bother to follow her because it's a waste if time." He said in a calm tone while shrugging.

"Wrong.."

I throw my sword directly to his head and he tilted his head to the left so he dodged the sword.

"Young master, you shouldn't throw your sword like that. This is a duel, the one who lose his sword will die and-----"

"Look up" I uttered

"Huh?" He looked up and my sword hit his shoulder downward and produce a very shining light.

"Aarghh!" he shrieked

I continued to smiled to him and made him flinched. It's true that Neron is strong in appearance and was more than terrifying than me. But it doesn't mean that I don't have that power too.

"W-What just happened---Aaagh!" He murmured in confusion.

With my finger, I commanded the sword to return into my hands. He was shocked when the sword leaves no wounds from the outside but it still hurts.

"Seven Holy Sword, 1st sword of light" I said.

The holy sword can damage a person's internal organs but not scratch the skin. No matter how strong a person's body can be, if a sword damages your internal organ then you're dead. The only way to avoid taking damage was to dodge it!

Now, he looked at me with his shocked expression.

Hmmm... That's right. MAKE MORE OF THAT EXPRESSION FOR ME!

"D-Don't tell me--"

"HAHAHAHA!" I interrupted his words.

"We have been truly blessed by god Valeria, aren't we?" I grinned

"S-Spare my life, young master!" He cried.

Now that I've gone mad, you have to compensate it.

"What do you do when you saw Adel full of blood while entering the carriage?" I asked him.

"I-I help her to get in the c-carriage!" he answered

"Ho, is that so?"

"Y-Yes young master!"

"Then prove yourself, I'm going to call Adel and if you lied. I'll kill you and your family," I said in terrifying tone together with a dark violet aura surrounded me.

"Neron, call Adel," I said.

"I-I didn't do anything! Young master spare me! She didn't call my help so I didn't---"

"Seven Holy Sword, 2nd sword of grace"

Two swords immediately strike him to his body. After that, he screamed so loud because of the pain. Ugh, so noisy.

"Shut up!"

He began to cried because of pain and trying hard not to make a noise.

"If you saw your daughter coated in blood, what will you do?" I asked again

"I-I will be worried young master, I'll send her right away to the hospital" he cried.

"Very well... Looks like you already know what to do if someone who's in trouble but why won't you do that in Adel?"

"Be-Because----"

"What's going on here?"

A cold voice caught the attention of everyone and we all bowed when we saw the Duke and some higher ranked knight heading into this place.

"All knights salute!" yelled by Lucas.

"D-Duke!" murmured Wendell.

His eyes were overfilled with joy when he saw the Duke, as if the Duke will help him in his state.

Tsk, I really wanted to torture this knights and teach them a lesson.

"Uncle!" Neron returned into his idiot self and happily greeted the Duke.

"What's going on here, Neron? Why are you look so dirty." the Duke asked and pats Neron's head.

"We punished some knights," Neron answered.

"Is that so?" He looked in our direction and then saw Wendell kneeling in pain

"It seems that you two are in a duel. I dare not to interrupt it, finish it," the Duke said and then walked towards Lucas and discuss something.

"D-Duke..." I looked at Wendell's direction and it seems that his hope we're shattered.

Ha! You think that the Duke will give a damn about you?

"Haha.." Wendell laughed.

Looks like he's getting insane now.

"I'm now willing to share a word with you, little master. Would you mind if I tell you something interesting?" he said while laughing hysterically.

"Spill" I said

"It's the Duke order to treat Adel----"

His words were interrupted when he was suddenly vomit blood. I flinched as I sensed the aura of the Duke around. I looked at him and he was just talking with Lucas.

What did just happened? Why did I sensed the Duke's aura for a second? And what was the Duke's order?

I put my sword back to its scabbard and walked towards Wendell's dead body and he was really dead.

It's a pity... I can't even torture him. But something isn't right. Why did the knights attitude are different when it comes to Adel? Was the Duke is behind all of this?

"Is it finished?" asked the Duke.

"Y-Yes.." I stuttered.

How does the Duke suddenly got here quickly?

"I already asked Lucas about what happened here and it seems that you two came to discipline the knights who were responsible for Adel's injuries, am I right?"

"Certainly" I utter.

"You really are good boys. You really cared for my daughter. But rest assured, everything will be under my control and Adel will be safe," the Duke said with a smile and start patting my head.

"If that's so, then there's nothing we should worry about." I said

But I'm still curious about what Wendell said. I think I must hunt the knight who was dismissed to know some answers. The knights in the knighthood of the Duke surely knows something.

"Duke!"

A distressed knight was catching his breath while running at us.

"What's your name?" Duke asked.

"Jeremy, sir!" he said and saluted.

"Spill it"

"Sir, this is bad. The Duchess beheaded the three maids who were associated with the incident earlier," Jeremy reported.

"She did?"

I can sense that he is slightly angry about what he heard but aunt is really cool! She killed the maids without a word.

"Sir!"

Another knight approached and was yelling.

"The Duchess are heading in this way!"

Aunt?

The Duke stayed in his position and it seems that he already calmed himself.

Not long ago, a silhouette appeared from afar and little by little the silhouette become a figure and then appeared Aunt Leighny in an armour with a sword on her right hand and carrying the three heads in her left hands.

Her eyes were fierce and omits a light and golden aura. I was amazed by her pure but strong aura. Aunt Leighny earn my respect. She is a true knight!

She stopped in our front and throw the three heads in our direction.

"What's the meaning of this, Leighny?" the Duke asked with a cold voice.

"I just punished some sinners," aunt replied with a smile.

"The maids are from some noble families, how can I explained to them that the Duchess killed them because of Adel?"

"That's right, Duke. It's because of their failed responsibly to serve the main daughter of the Dukedom and the future queen of this country. They will surely understand what happened"

"Tsk," mumbled the Duke.

"Knights of Lascena house, you hear me?"

All eyes were focused on aunt's direction and aunt was smirking.

"If you dare to quit your responsibility to my daughter..."

Her face become serious and omits a powerful aura.

"I'll beheading you and hang your heads to the mansion's gate. I'm not just a Duchess, I'm also a knight, a war general to be precise. If you value your life, do what I said. Do you understand?"

"Yes, madam!" they said in chorus.

Aunt is amazing. She just stepped here and in just a short span of time, now the all the knights respect her? As expected to a war general. Aunt is so cool.

She turned herself to the Duke's direction and her expression is someone who wants a duel.

"Austin..." she uttered.

It seemed that the Duke is surprised because the Duchess called him in his name.

"If this thing continued, I will not hesitate to go back to Ravella with my daughter." after she said that, she passed through the Duke and left the place.

Aunt is very cool! I looked at Neron's face and his are were sparkling.

"Lucas.."

We all flinched when the Duke begins to speak. He also release a dark aura in him.

"Yes, Duke?" Lucas asked.

"Let's have a private talk together with the high ranked knights"

"Affirmative"

Later on, the Duke and the knights left the grounds and that leaves us two. The butler suddenly appeared in front of us.

"Young masters, it's already noon. Please go back to your mansions," he said.

"Lead the way," I replied.

And then, the butler leads us to our carriages and went back home. Mysteries are making me confused on what was happening. If the Duke was responsible for the knights who didn't care about Adel, then what will he gain from it? If he loses his daughter, then it's his loss right?

Man, it's really hard to understand!

"Neron"

"What?"

"You have a chocolate bar with you and it is important because it is the only food that will help you survive in starvation. It is that important but you're still confident even if you loss it, what do you think is the cause?" I asked.

"Hmmm... The chocolate bar is the only food that keeps me survive but I'm confident even if I loss it? Hmmmm...."

Sigh, I should've bother myself to asked him.

"I think because I still have one chocolate bar left" he answered

That makes sense... But how could I apply it to the Duke's situation. Adel doesn't have a twin or maybe she has a doppelganger? That's impossible!

"Why do you asked Arthur? If you want to steal my chocolate bar, I won't let you steal it! Hmp!"

This idiot....

Maybe I'm having a paranoia. Once I've caught that Nemiel, I will know the answers.