Claude rushes to the Ainsworth estate after Vincent's call. He knew something was wrong and Vincent was trying to warn him about something and he had a bad feeling that his father, Duke Elizar is involved.
The Estate is not far from the palace, it is located inside the capital near the west exit so Claude never had trouble going there. The Ainsworths', aside from being famous Dukes, they were also known by their amazing medical abilities and scientific approach towards technology, they have the biggest contribution in making the Kingdom of Saveria progress till present.
Thankfully the royal family was the only people who can get close with the Ainsworths ever since the first King of Saveria chose one person from the Ainsworth household to be his right hand, thus the creation of the oath between families.
Claude arrives in the estate and to his surprise, he witness there were a lot of soldiers and knights patrolling around the area, what makes it so uncommon was all of them were new faces, for many times Claude visited the estate since he was a child he always had this eerie feeling when facing Vincent's father. The previous Duke was famous for its accomplishments against the previous war with its long rival - the Kingdom of Rosei.
It was already dark when he was greeted by the family's butler and King Elizar himself who was already waiting for him outside, they must have known he was coming because he was using the palace's official car.
"Your Majesty, this is a surprise, for you to come visit at this time" King Elizar greets him with a bow
"Where's Vincent?" Claude did not bother to converse with him
King Elizar was quite displeased by his action that he replied with a monotonous tone "Vincent is not feeling well as of the moment, your majesty"
"Can I see him!?"
"No, I suggest you go back for today, he has been busy with the hospital lately"
"But he was just fine when I visited him this morning" Claude intentionally told Duke Elizar, the Duke's gaze starts to turn bleak looking at him
"Ah, I see, maybe he became busy after you left then, I apologize if this may sound rude to you your majesty but please leave, Vincent is just resting and he will meet you when he's feeling better"
Claude was about to answer back but Tseng stop him "Your Majesty, it's already late, I'm sure Duke Vincent will contact you somehow"
"Tsk" The King calms down a bit and faces Duke Elizar "Okay then, I apologize for coming over on short notice"
"Don't worry your majesty, please take care on your way back home"
"Very Well" he turns his back to them and followed by Tseng they walk towards the car when they pass someone familiar. Claude immediately looks to the person's direction and saw a white hair dude with silver eyes greeting the duke.
(Silver hair?) he asks himself
Claude paused for a moment staring at the unknown visitor's back figure when the other party suddenly notice him. The eerie feeling he felt surrounding the estate got stronger and the guards and soldiers were both watching them with an intense mood.
The Silver-haired man gave Claude a provoking smile and slightly bow down his head. The King was furious but he cannot let his anger show, he knew in his mind who that person was, he did not need to second guess.
"Tseng"
"Yes, your majesty"
"When does Caleb plan to hold the harvest festival this year?"
"I believe five days from now your majesty"
"I see"
He went inside the car and they left the estate.
The Silver-haired man watches them as the car exits the gate.
"You shouldn't have provoked him, Rell" Duke Elizar speaks to him.
"So? It's not like he knew me right?"
"But he's already suspecting it, don't underestimate the royal family, for all the years I have served them their strength and power is no myth"
"That's why you want to end their reign right?"
Duke Elizar smile "Once we get our hands on that system, we can freely control Etheria as much as we want"
"Phew. I don't mind doing the dirty stuff you know as long as every last one of the Royal family dies"
"Of course, do what you want, come inside, we have five days left till the harvest festival, I heard they will be coming tonight"
"Oh? Well, that's nice, how about your son? I'm sure he won't like the fellers"
"Don't worry about him, he's already been taken care of"
Rell was wearing a black ring and it shines for a second turning his beautiful silver hair to brown.
"I really don't like this holo stuff, I still get surprised looking myself at the mirror"
"Get used to it, since you have shown yourself in front of Blythe at Mary's Birthday, I'm sure he has told Claude about you"
"Fine. Fine, I kind of like the attention though"
As the two went inside the mansion the butler who was with them watches as they fade further inside.
----
As soon as Claude reach the palace he went directly to his father's study. He didn't bother to knock when he came in his father was already sitting on his chair, expecting him.
"It's about time you came," King Blythe told his son
"Father, I believe Duke Elizar is involved with something dangerous"
"Did Tayne told you?"
"She did but I'm sure she's still hiding something from me" he goes closer to King Blythe "...and also you father, you better start talking about what you know"
King Blythe chuckle when he heard Claude said those words but it did not take long also to change the atmosphere into something serious. He took a deep breath and told Claude about what he said to Tayne, he finally mentions the Angels of the Abyss being an organization with full of extremist people who supports the 'True King'.
"Then who is this True King? Do you know about him? The original should have died already, right?"
"No, I haven't seen the True King's identity but his bloodline lives, for many generations they chose a wife worthy to bore him a child. I heard the heir of today's generation looks like the first King"
King Blythe looks down and closes his eyes "The truth is, the story of the Angels of Abyss tells about the organization's betrayal to the first king, sadly they couldn't assassinate him easily back then because the first King became so powerful. So with the help of the true king, they swear loyalty to him and they traveled around the world in search of allies and spreading stories about the true king, that the black flag symbolizes his return"
"If that's the case, father, this year's harvest festival, we will be in danger, am I right?"
King Blythe nods "That's why we must be more prepared than them, gather all your strongest guards for I'm sure they will be attacking us on harvest day"
Claude went silent "Vincent" he utters "He called me to warn me about something and the call was immediately cut off, I went there and the Duke told me he was ill, something must have happened to him father"
"I know he's your best friend but we cannot trust him anymore Claude, the same as I can no longer trust mine"
Claude thought about it, his father and Duke Elizar has been through a lot together as well. When his father was still King of Saveria, they were best of friends, to think Duke Elizar will be the one breaking the oath.
"Claude" King Blythe stands up from his chair and reaches his hand out to him "I've been meaning to ask but can I borrow that pendant of yours?"
"Huh? Why? You gave this to me when I became King"
"I know but there's something I want to do with it"
King Blythe's son was confused but looking at his father offering his hand to him means he was serious about it.
"O-okay, but it's just a necklace right?" he handed him the necklace
Claude's father smiles "I don't know about that" and he sits again on his chair.
"Claude" King Blythe calls out to him again
"What is it, father?"
"I'm always proud of you, remember that your mother and I love you so much"
Claude turns red suddenly "Stop saying that as if your dying old man, this problem, I will handle it so just relax, they won't know what hit them, I am after all a Saveria" he starts to walk out from his father's study.
"About Tayne" his father purposely utters
Claude paused.
"Please take care of her, she may appear irresponsible and hard to understand but she's been through a lot, I could not be much of help to her anymore"
"What do you mean?
"She's very important to me and I'm hoping she is to you too, I heard your mother made something for her, hahaha, well, if it's Tayne, I'm siding with your mother"
Claude glared at him and finally leaves the room.
Still smiling, King Blythe looks at the cerulean color pendant on his hands "I know you'll do great things but I believe I won't be there to see it"
----
The Harvest Festival of Saveria is held only once a year in recognition for the First King's accomplishment on his discovery of Etheria. What they usually do is for the current King to release a certain amount of Etheria across the Kingdom, this is what they call the harvest and the people will hold events and celebrate at the center of the Kingdom and pray for another bountiful harvest the following year.
Claude was focused on tightening the security for the event. The citizens of Saveria could not see him release Etheria for it is only witnessed by the royal family and the current duke, all of them will gather underneath the palace where Claude brought Tayne to meet with Victoria.
He was confident that he can do this for the Duke will be inside the palace, his territory, he has the advantage. So he summoned all his strongest guards in his studies, there were 15 of them in total and amongst these bunch, Tseng and Tayne were included.
There was no need to further explain the situation as they will eliminate any suspicious characters per his order. He walks across the room looking at his guards from head to foot when he reaches Tayne, the girl was silent and that surprise him but he then remembered his father and mother's statements and got angry.
"Sigh. What's so special about you anyway?" he bluntly asks her
Tayne got confuse "Pardon?"
"Hmn"
Claude ignored her and continue scanning his guards. He wasn't sure about the others compared to Tseng and the brat, he has seen how the two can fight but making it as top guards is not a joke. He also took precautionary measures in case something might go wrong, he was confident that he will stop the Duke's plan, whatever it was.
"Listen up all of you"
The guards straightened their backs.
"Only a few days left till the harvest festival and security will be tight this year. I trust you know each of your roles?"
"Yes, Your Majesty"
"Good, when I said eliminate suspicious characters, don't hesitate, kill without mercy"
"Yes, Your Majesty"
"Hmn" he faces all of them again with his arms cross he gave a slight nod to Tseng and looks at Tayne.
"As for the two of you, you are to accompany me on that day"
"Yes, Your Majesty"
"Very well, dismissed"
The thirteen guards all left the study except for Tayne and Tseng.
"I can understand why Tseng is here but you, why didn't you leave?"
Tayne gave Claude a worried look "You think they will attack on harvest day?"
"It's not that I think but I believe they surely will, it's the only event they can have all the royal family for themselves"
"I see"
"If that's all you need to hear please leave"
"Claude about what you said the other day"
Claude sighed "It's still a legit order and it's your majesty"
"What?"
"When you talk to me it's your majesty, don't call me by my name as if we're that close. I thought Caleb taught you how to address me properly"
"He did"
"Then why are you not following it when you're talking to me?"
"Well, I - I thought that we've become closer you know, like friends"
"Friends?" Claude flite by the word
"Don't make me laugh, I'm tired of your antics and disrespectful attitude. I'm grateful for what you have done up till now but please those silly adventures are no more, I can handle this as long as you do your job"
The worried expression on Tayne's face faded and was replaced into a blank expression.
"I apologize if I may have misunderstood, your majesty, very well, I'll do my job as you see fit" she glance at Claude again and give him a bow.
When she hastily left the room, Claude becomes quiet and seems to be bothered about what he just said.
---- End Of The Chapter