„I'll go to my room.", leaving the room Jakob headed towards his chambers, when he heard something. Voices were shouting, but he couldn't exactly hear wat was going on.
Deciding he wanted to know what's going on, he walked towards the sound.
Coming closer to it, he started to unterstand,
This is not how it was supposed to be!"
„What are you talking about?"
„You know exactly what I mean. I didn't do it for that!"
„You didn't know what you were doing it for at all! Be grateful! This will only better the situation, believe me. You have a special place in my plans."
„Well your plans are going to fail! You never said that it was for him, for father"
These Voices, they sounded like Azuki and Cornelius, could it be?
Growing confused and sad, he kept walking, until he reached a door. It was opened a bit. He looked through the little opening.
He didn't know what he should feel. Sadness, because his father was dead, Anger, because of his family.
His own family betrayed him. Why would they do such a thing? He didn't see any reason for it at all, but it was obvious, they must have ment fathers death.
He heard steps behind him and turned around. It was Tristan, who gave him a sad look, did he know of this? Jakob decided to confront him.
He walked quickly to catch up with Tristan, and when he did so he stopped him.
„Do you know what killed father?", he asked.
Tristan looked at him for a few seconds, then he said,
„Yes."
„Tell me please! Was it them?", Jakob wanted the truth, even if it would destroy his world and break him.
„It was all of them. I do not know their plan exactly, so please do not confront anybody before I can find out more information.", and with that, Tristan walked away.
Jakob just stood there, asking himself, how did Tristan know of all this?
Jakob walked back to his room, and went to sleep.
————————————————
Tristan wasn't sure, but he what he knew so far was that Cornelius probably made some kind of poison for Azuki, with wich she probably poisoned the Emperor. The funeral was already planned for the next day. He wanted to find out exactly what happened, since Katherine looked like she was part of it.
For now, he wouldn't know.
But later that day, at the dining table, the whole family gathered around. Before drinking or eating anything, Tristan used his skills to look for poisoned things. And right was he, the bottle of wine got a blurry outline, it was the poison.
But not only Tristan was observant today. Cornelius sat down at his chair and looked at the others. He believed that there probably still was some poison, as it was more than for one person, he knew, because he made it.
Then he noticed Tristan, the special guest. He was looking at the food, no, he was looking at the wine. Why was he looking at it so intensely?
„Do you perhaps like some wine, Tristan?", he asked.
„No, thank you. I'll go with some apple juice.", Tristan replied.
So he didn't want to drink it. Although he never drank wine, he never stared at it. Cornelius concluded that the wine must be the poison. And not to his big surprise, no one else drank.
„I think Caroline, you are big now, aren't you?", Azuki asked with a smile.
„Yes!", Caroline proudly replied.
„And do you want to do a grown up thing?", Azuki asked.
„Yes!", Caroline said, once again. She was very energetic.
Azuki walked over to Caroline.
„You see, little one, we are drinking on your father. It's a way to show him that he will always stay in our hearts. You don't have to drink much, only a little sip.", Azuki explained.
„Caroline. You are way to young for this.", Cornelius replied. Tristan raised an eyebrow.
„You just don't want me to drink it! That's not fair! I love father too you know!", Azuki had managed to talk Caroline into drinking, with so few words.
A maid poured wine in all glasses, except for Tristans. He got his apple juice.
‚Interesting. So he should live. I wonder why', Corbelius thought to himself.
His brother Jakob wasn't there. He was asleep, so he would be safe for now.
„Caroline. Don't. It's not healthy!", Caroline was very important to Cornelius, but he never showed it that much. It was more one-sided. But then,
„To the Emperor, let him live on in is forever!", Azuki said.
Caroline raised her cup to her mouth.
„Caroline no!", but it was to late. Everything seemed to be in slow-motion. Cornelius could see Caroline's throat moving. She swallowed.
„Caroline!", he couldn't move. He was frozen in place.
And then she fell.
„No! NO!", he was in control again. Tears flowed down his cheeks.
„Caroline!", he ran towards her and tested her breath.
She wasn't breathing. Next he checked her pulse. It didn't make him happier.
„You! You did this!", Cornelius turned towards Azuki.
He stood up in rage and dashed forward.
But then Azuki's bodyguard jumped in. He simply unsheathed his sword and pointed it at Cornelius.
„Why? WHY?! How could you? She was so young! She never did anything! Why?!", Cornelius cried out.
„You wouldn't understand. The kingdom would have fallen! I am doing this for all of us! I am doing this for a greater good! You should be thankful! You should be on your knees, thanking me, no, praying to me! I will become a god! I will rule! I will rule over kingdoms, empires, entire worlds! I will have the ultimate power to defeat all my enemies! And I just need him and her!", she started screaming like a maniac and pointed at Tristan and Katherine.
The first of wich slowly stood up.
„You have no understanding of the gods... It's because they are like you! You will never be a god!", Tristan raised his arm and pointed at Azuki.
„What are you talking about? Sit down! Guards! Guards!", Azuki really thought that she was in power.
„Now, [Revenge of Darkness]!", Tristan yelled.
A black beam of light shot out of his hand, mich bigger than the one from before. Not only did it vaporise Azuki, but it also burned a giant hole into the castle. People from the streets looked up in shock.
Tristan looked down the new hole, and saw a man running out of the castle.
„Ladies and gentlemen, we are sorry for this sudden change, but the funeral of his great Majesty will be delayed. Thank you for your understanding!", he used some kind of magic to make his voice louder. Then the man ran back into the castle.
„Tristan, Are you planning on staying in Kathul? I don't think the people will understand the things that happened here. I think they might not like you as much now.", Cornelius said, a bit of hope in his voice.
„I never planned on staying. I will leave soon.", Tristan replied.
„Tristan. Please. Take me with you, wherever you go.", suddenly Cornelius fell to his knees.
„I can help you, I'm sure! I can heal you! I can make potions! I am sure I'll be of help, anywhere you go! Please!", he begged.
„I guess you are smart. I'll make use of your skills.", When the two of them wanted to walk out of the door, Katherine stood up.
„Can I... please can I come.", she asked.
Tristan looked at Cornelius and shook his head. Cornelius turned towards Katherine.
„No.", he simply replied.
„But I'm your sister! I can't stay here! Do you know what brother would do if he found out?", Katherine was also on her knees, just like Cornelius before.
He looked her dead in the eyes and said his last words before leaving.
„We are no family.",