The event had concluded earlier than expected as a suffocating gloom hovered around Urah's atmosphere.
Royals and nobles had retired to their respective abode,most from distant lands had settled into temporary quarters in the imperial palace,awaiting the long weary journey ahead of them to their respective nations while others unable to bear the lingering tension left Urah immediately,grieving the young prince's untimely demise.
He was too young some would say and others too charming ,too radiant to have been taken so early,had he lived till adulthood,he would have grown into the most beautiful creature in existence.
But majority however rejoiced the prophecy had been prevented awaiting the good news of a funeral.
Delvin's six kings had quietly retired to their quarters,each respectfully awaiting news about the imperial prince before they would return to their respective kingdoms.
King maxmillian sat in his bed chamber leisurely fondling his goblet with a wide grin as he stared at the polished marble floor,the entire event that transpired at the prince's birthday replaying vividly in his head.
The smile remained,dark and proud as the wine wobbled in the goblet he held,he bit his lips at intervals,his teeth dragging from one end of his lips to the other.
His gaze travelled to Dark who sat in a chair next to his bed with his legs and arms crossed.
"It actually worked!..."he raised a brow looking the sorceror's way while bitting his lip,his teeth sliding from one end of his lips to the other once more before grabbing the wine jar to pour the sorceror a drink.
Dark received the goblet with both arms,a cheerful glint dancing in his eyes.
"Unfortunately I wasn't present to see for myself".
"You were right...he was expecting you that's why he put up an anti teleportation barrier".
"And the attendant that served him?".
"Dead both of them.The attendant willfully ate the poisoned bread she was given shortly after they were arrested and the older one got her neck snapped by my hands when she demanded her payment, I'd rather leave no loose ends".
King maxmillian nodded before taking a slow sip his mind rummaging through every detail from yesterday in his head.
"The scarlet general disappeared just after the prince fainted... so did the emperor,the physician we prepared didn't get to confirm his death,for some reason I feel uneasy about this".
"Lord Tydor had paid a blind physician,one of the emperor's most trusted ahead of time to deliver the final blow,just Incase".
"Really"King maxmillian raised a dark lash.
"Was he summoned by the emperor?"
Dark nodded.
"Hmmmm....he had left to personally summon a physician to check the prince,if by any chance he survived if I were Tyran,I would get rid of him to keep the prince's health status a secret ".
King maxmillian said,pointing an index finger the sorceror's way,his eyes narrowing.
"We will wait to see If the physician lives or dies,this will determine if the brat still breathes".
Dark nodded slightly.
"Your majesty,you are indeed wiser than any ruler I know"
"You flatter me Sorcerer,I simply know a close friend well as I should"the king replies,gulping down the whole contents of his cup in a swift motion
"This won't do,I should start investigating right now...look out for the scarlet general,we must find him".
"We are similar in way"Dark said calmly "He isn't someone one can find just because they want to".
King maxmillian eyed him wryly,his expression with clad with disappointment.
He tried reaching Tyran via telepathy but his link was blocked.
Then he established a telepathic link with king Zemah.
"Any news about the imperial prince?"he asked via telepathy his tone laced with feigned concern.
"How would I know,dead probably, nothing announced yet"
"No!... he can't be"
"A child that tiny was poisoned,what else do you expect?"King Zemah replied,his voice hoarse and sharp.
"Come with me and Parlu,we must ascertain the emperor and his son's well-being,I am deeply worried for his sake,meet us at Fiona's quarters".
King maxmillian rose to his feet before swinging on his Royal coat.
"One more thing your majesty... Athena wants back in"
"Athena?"
"Yes your majesty,she is known to be in a romantic relationship with Zero,the emperor's Knight".Dark reported.
"And Zero?any leads on his identity?".King max said as he swung the coat over his shoulders before pulling the drawer next to him to collect his crown.
"Nothing is certain for now, but we are close".
The king backed him,staring out the window.
"Athena!.. Athena...the love sick sow"His lips spread across his face in a smirk"She is of no use to me"
"She was asked to bring his head your majesty".Dark said.
King maxmilian exploded in laughter.
The laughter faded and he faced the sorceror,his gaze stern.
"Not yet.Now that I think about it,he could still be of use to me...He might have deserted us for the death of his friend but he hates Tyran even more,The emperor knows this yet I cannot understand why he still keeps him by his side,its just difficult to figure him out these days".
**************************
"You disappeared after the ceremony,I believe you owe me an explanation".Zero blocked Athena's way,the moment she opened her door to enter.
He had just appeared before her,both his hand gripping each side of the door frame,his head titled slightly.
The Chief knight eyed him calmly,she was back to a casual dressing,her black long hair neatly curled behind her back with a curled lock against her face that entirely concealed her brow on that side but had managed to blend with the remaining strands to prevent obstructing her eyes.
Zero however remained in full armour with his entire hair neatly folded into a topknot.
"Do you go in?"She said cooly"or do you need an invitation?".
"I don't know, many things happens in a lady's room..."he leaned into her face such that it was few inches away from hers,a faint smirk tugging the corner of his lip.
"A lot of things"he added but Athena averted her gaze looking uninterested.
"Not up for baseless flirting Zero, outta my way".
He grinned sheepishly as he released his his hold from the door frame,moving aside to let pass before shutting the door to stand behind it,his arms crossed.
"So?..."
"Like I said,Lord Tydor wants you dead.He is currently digging into your file and has asked me to get rid of you"
Athena said as she took her seat on the bed.
Zero frowned.
He studied her expression closely,his features restless.
He had been caught and so easily,he had concealed his identity so well yet was still discovered.
Damn that Provincial governor!
Next in line would be looking into his identity,he had to get rid of him and fast before it reaches King Maxmillian's ears.
"You use a false identity,I won't ask why but now he knows too much about you,it's only a matter of time"
Zero sighed.
He turned the door knob before taking one last glance her her way.
"It's not just a matter of time...for him,it's just a matter of hours".
The door slammed shut and Athena collapsed into her bed, staring at the bare ceiling while listening to his receeding footsteps down the quiet hallway.
Tonight would bring bloodshed once more, but whose was it going to be?the Emperor's Knight or the provincial governor's.
Lord Tydor's heavily guarded mansion reinforced with anti teleportation barrier wasn't an easy one to break into and compared to Zero,he was on an entirely different magic energy level.
Despite being a sorcerer,judging by magic energy levels,he was no match for the Lord but If the knight was special as they claimed he was then perhaps,just perhaps,he might have a slim chance of winning.
Athena exhaled softly.
"Is this the last night I would behold him?"her voice faded into the stillness of the evening
"And I didn't even get to say goodbye".