As expected, with Lady Belle, he could easily pass the check at the capital's gate. As soon they arrived at Moonspark Residence gate, some guards approached them.
"Lady Belle has return! Hurry up and tell the Duke!"
One of the guards ran back into the mansion.
He reached out his hand to help her get off the horse."Thank you." she said.
He released his hand and bowed slightly as a farewell."I'll take my leave."
"Sir Zel, are you sure you don't want to work for the Moonspark Family?" she asked once more.
"No, thank you for your offer. I must go now." he said as he nodded slightly, turned around and walked away.
After hearing that his daughter had returned, Duke Nicolin immediately ran out of his residence and embraced her."Belle, as soon as I heard your carriage being attacked, I thought I would lose you." He released his arms and examined his daughter's condition."How are you? Are you hurt?"
She gave a soothing smile to her father."I'm fine, father. Don't worry."
"What happened?" asked Duke Nicolin worriedly.
"I was attacked by a monster on my way back but fortunately there was a hunter who saved me." she answered.
"Where is he now? I must thank him."
She turned around and looked for him. "He-" She swept her gaze towards the direction he went and search for him but couldn't find it. "Where is he?"
*
*
*
Angel slipped into the Moonspark Residence and quickly walked down the corridor. Occasionally he hid himself behind the curtains and pillars to avoid passing servants. He opened several doors to peek inside until he found a room with a luxury desk and many bookshelves.
He immediately slipped into the room after making sure there was no one in it. He approached the desk and examined some documents. His eyes widened when he found a document that have an Euphorion's crest stamp on it. 'Court approval for attacking Asteria?' He quickly checked the document. 'King Xenos wants to turn Pearl Gate City into a fortress because he wants to attack Asteria.'
'He wants to start a war... Of course, If I were him I would attack Asteria first as the peace alliance's leader before any kingdom on Andromeda Continent.'
He put the document back and examined other documents. Another document caught his attention.'Fortress construction plan at Pearl Gate City.' He opened the document and read it. 'King Xenos wants to intervene himself for the fortress construction at Pearl Gate City. He will be going there in a few days. I can take this opportunity to attack him.'
He tidied up the document and walked towards the exit. He just touched the door handle when the sound of footsteps from the outside could be heard. Angel immediately hid himself between the bookshelves. Soon, the door opened and a middle-aged man entered the room accompanied by an assistant, he recognized him because he had just seen Lady Belle hugged him in front of the residence and calling him, father. Duke Nicolin Joce Moonspark, he is one of Euphorion's respected nobles, he is very careful with his actions and has a big influence in the court. But even so, he still have to be careful to keep his head attached since King Xenos didn't hesitate to get rid of the nobles who oppose him.
Duke Nicolin threw himself into his seat."Thank God, Belle was able to return safely. The king was so worried about her, he even ordered his troops to look for her."
"Looks like the king really loves her," said his assistant who stood before him.
Duke Nicolin looked down and breathed a weary sigh. "I don't know about that, there used to be some women who received the same treatment as her. But they all ended up miserable... I could only buy time and hope the king would change his decision to marry Belle."
"Lady Belle has just had an accident; will she still attend lunch invitation with the king tomorrow?"
"Yes, she must be present... The king has invited her several times and she kept avoiding him, now she couldn't refuse his invitation anymore after what the king did to her."
Angel kept watching them between the bookshelves.'Looks like King Xenos likes Lady Belle, but she doesn't like him. Now I understand why she looks unhappy when I ask her about the king.'
Suddenly Duke Nicolin stood up from his seat and turned towards him."Who is there?"
He gasped in surprise.'How did he know? I didn't make any noise.'He closed his eyes, tried to feel the flow of magic power around him. He opened his eyes and glanced at Duke Nicolin.'Magic user... Duke Nicolin is a magic user, that's why he can feel the magic power within me and know where I am.'
"Call the guard!" ordered Duke Nicolin.
'I can't let them catch me.' He pull out his sword and cast his dark aura on it. In an instant the sword turned into dark aura that formed like a human.
The fake person immediately stormed at the duke, the duke extended his hand ready to cast some magic spell at him but the fake person ran pass him and jumped through the window behind the desk.
-SHCHING!
The window glass was shattered to pieces and the fake person vanished like a smoke. Several guards rushed in to secure the room. Duke Nicolin and his assistant quickly looked out the window to find him, but he didn't find anyone."Get him!" Duke Nicolin ordered as he ran out of the room with his assistants and the guards.
As soon as they left the room, Angel extended his hand; a second later dark aura around him gathered on his hand and reshaped his sword. He quickly sheathed his sword, slipped out of the room and left the Moonspark Residence.