Chapter 181: Chapter 181
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"Your Excellence!" — Ervin called. Entering in hast into the lounges of the Emperor.
"!? Curse you! Am I not to enjoy this day fully?! What do you want!?" — Frustrated by the exaltation his sudden appearance brought, Francois protected his chalice from dropping its wine from the jump of surprise.
"Pardon me, Your Majesty. However, there are urgent matters to report..." — Nervous by what may be happening as he followed protocols, Ervin shivered trying to control his concerns.
"... Go on."
"Gulp... The Ninth has been taken to the Physician during her dinner with the Crown Prince and–"
Crack...
The unusual sound of wood cracking interrupted him.
"... Zeleskiaz... What did that imbecile!!!?"
Bang!Crumble...
"!!!" — Alarmed by the fall, Ervin flinched.
The hit Francois had given to the already cracked arm of his chair made it fall in a thunderous noise, followed by the little bits of kindlings that could not stay attached.
"–Do!!?!" — Enraged by what this could mean, Francois turned to throw his chalice.
"Your Majesty!! The Prince did not attack the Lady!"
"!... Truly?" — Francois stopped.
"Yes!"
"Ah... Then how is sh–"
"This is not the time, Your Majesty!! The Lady is safe!! However, the Crown Prince–!!!"
A pressure well known fell over them. Alarming as its summoner’s corrupted nature was, the suffocating energy that halted their every movement weighed heavily upon them, overburdening their standing position.
"!!? He’s..."
"We’re running out of beasts Your Majesty!! He did not wait nor called! The Crown Prince went directly to the Beast’s Pit!!!"
"D*mn it!" — The situation seemed critical and his breathing became erratic, aware of the danger an ungovernable Crown Prince as Zeleskiaz while in his wildest strike could signify. — "Inform Orland! We’ll need him if things get out of hand! And–!"
Bang!
"Your Majesty!"
"Now what!?" — Interrupted by the second servant rushing into his lounges, Francois retorted, frustrated.
"T– The Ninth was taken back to her chambers, she woke once she arrived..."
"... Hold on in summoning Orland... Take me to the pits... I think I get what this is all about."
The information he had been shortened of by the circumstances haste made him figure out the possible motive for his hardheaded son’s chaotic and perilous behaviour. Exhausted by the mere contemplation, the Emperor held a strong sigh of disbelief and displeasure scowling thoroughly.
"Are you... Are you convinced, Your Excellence?? His Highness... His state is..."
"Do as I say." — Disgusted at the brazen question, the Emperor answered roughly, glaring at the inopportune server.
Passing by his side wrapping his cape over his left shoulder, Francois stepped up still with his filled chalice at hand and mumbled to himself. — "He’s crown Prince for his accomplishments, called a Hero and Tactician, yet he’s still idiotic. Bloody man I brought to this d*rn Realm..."
Gulp gulp gulp gulp...
"Bring the wine! I’ll need refills!!"
Gulping down the wine on his cup Francois ordered as he walked, lifting the chalice to his side and asking for it to be filled immediately for he did not want to relinquish the pacifier he would surely need while dealing with his seemingly unreliable heir.
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Swoosh! Thunk!... Slash...
The skilful swings of his two-bladed sword broke through the various beasts’ fur and skin easily, whilst leaving gruesome stains and flesh behind along with the shrieking howls of the dying creatures.
With ease, his hand handled it with expertise and... As the surrounding beasts watched from afar, Zeleskiaz went for each victim, rabidly tearing their corpses apart in a wild rush for their gruesome essence.
His disrupted chest had become rampant for the violence his inner beast thirsted over. However, the conflict within his body’s trails had commenced escalating the moment his forced peace of mind uttered the necessity for larger beings to rip with his hands.
The Lady’s sudden ailing, the thin path of a hue he was so familiar with and the drowsy gaze she portrayed in those wonderous gems under her frail lids... Nothing like the ones he had witnessed before as he enticed her body and soul’s lust in a tousling caress... But one lost of anything suitable of her true beam that reverberated through his everything with a mere blessing of her glance.
Her weakness and withering energy as she was held preciously by her Father... How she seemed to be disappearing slowly with every heavy blink of her eyes and the devoid of rosy shade he desired to see more of painting her smooth and tempting skin... Everything startled his burgeoning emotions towards her.
It felt as if disaster was to take reins of his life only by recalling her languishing image...
—... Not in danger anymore? —
"Kh!!"
Crack! Shrieeek~!
’Was she to die!!?!?!’
Rip! Swish... Crack crack...
— She’s out of danger —
’Why?! What caused it?!! How threatened was her to!!!... To swoon so miserably!!?!’
"K–ngh... My Lady’s malison..... How..."
’How long has such malison harmed her... Her condition is fiendish...’
Tap... Tap...tap...
Pain had invaded his expression at the inward declaration. Nonetheless, it disappeared like a leaf taken by the storming wind as a third’s steps reached his ears.
His eyes flashed in the noise’s direction and taking one end of his two-bladed sword out of the deceased creature’s torso, he calmly swirled it on his hand’s hold, pressing once more on the corpse’s leg with his foot, causing a strenuous shatter of its bones.
"... I would applaud you if not for the wine I’m holding, Zeleskiaz. As expected, you never fail to craft atrocious exhibitions in my Palace."
Swish...
"I’m not in the mood, Emperor. Leave."
Suffocating tension was emanating from his body.
From the edge of his eye, Zeleskiaz slightly turned to let his piercing glare menace his obnoxious Father, staring intently at that same hand holding the precious wine intending to cut it if he did not follow his demand.
"..." — Silently, Francois swallowed in nervousness before his son’s clear eyes... And continued despite the danger. — "Stop this instant. I came with good news yet you threaten your Father, ungrateful brat."
"... More beasts?... To replace your Hand?"
"!!..." — The powerful blare of ruby in his pupils sent a hesitant shiver, paralysing and irruptive. Frightening...
’This brutish ar**hole!!’
Gulping down the rest of his cup, Francois thought. Eventually, he inhaled deeply and declared.
"Lady Marianne has–"
Swoosh... swoosh... swoosh...
Calmly and at a silent pace, Zeleskiaz walked his way and commenced to fiddle nonchalantly with his deadly weapon without letting the Emperor’s figure leave his intense sight.
The ominous scene his son signified caused him to pause from panic. Nonetheless... Francois finished.
"She has awoken..."
Clank...
"..."
"... She was recently moved to her chambers and woke."
"... Is... Is that so?"
"... Yes. I assume she is with her Father."
"That is unquestionable."
’... Sigh... I’m saved...’ — The Emperor thought, throwing all the heavy air held in his lungs out in relief. — "Though this pit almost lost all its beasts... I ought to congratulate you, Zeleskiaz."
Raising his brow, the Crown Prince continued to glare as he listened with displeasure at his Father’s sarcasm.
"The path the Lady went through to arrive at her chambers was clean of your destruction... I suppose you had it in you to be thoughtful enough to only injure my knights where their bloodstains wouldn’t cross her path, huh? What a nice host you are."
"You’re welcome."
’Tsk... This beast!... Fifteen, d*mn it!! You almost killed them!!’
"Haaaaah..... D*rn child I have!! If you’re done with the slaughter, get lost!! Don’t ever come down here again, Zeleskiaz!! Do you think getting all these beasts for you is easy!?!? For the love of–!!!!" — In his frustrated outburst, Francois turned to look at his surroundings and noticed... — "Y–You!! You even killed some we were breeding for the hunting!!?!?! Aaaaaah!!! My neck! Ervin! Fill the cup! This brat will kill me!!"
Francois brought his hand to his nape in pain, loudly and garish, as his personality called for.
The sight was appalling, great preparations had been lost and the following steps to repair the loss would be his torturous demise as it would have to be resolved with hast.
Meanwhile, the appeased Prince stood blankly at his spot, with his weapon lowered. His eyes went downwards to watch the remaining blood in its blade slide through its smooth material to fall uselessly thick on the dirty ground.
Looking at the red puddles at his feet, his gaze went upward his outfit... And the abundant taint of the distasteful liquid was found throughout his body.
The realisation made him conscious of the dry drops that had reached his neck and countenance... As well as his hands that seemed to be wearing uncommon gloves over them...
"Fuu... I am off to my chambers..." — He declared, uninterested in the scene his Father was making.
’I should cleanse myself...’
Planning to bathe once he arrived, Zeleskiaz walked with his weapon at hand and...
"Fill it! To the top! There! Gulp gulp gulp..."
As he passed by his Father’s side when he began to swallow the numbing juice, he mumbled for him to listen.
"... Fortunate it’s still attached."