The news spread quickly.
No one knows who first saw and heard it, what is clear now is that there are a lot of people talking about Marquess Hadrian Melchoir's health. They said, "Marquess Melchoir almost fainted in the middle of the road. Luckily, Duke Colton's son was there. But I also heard that the Marquess is about to adopt a boy."
Following the news, people began to speculate that the reason Hadrian adopted a distant nephew as his son was that he was dying.
"What kind of gossip is that?" squeaked His Majesty King Rexton V when he heard it. "Just a few days ago Marquess Hadrian was here, and he looks fine."
The Palace informant in charge of gathering gossip and public opinion, call him Alpha, continued his report, "Marquess Hadrian is nowhere to be seen outside the rest of this day. Neither is his prospective adopted son."
"Should I have a look over there, Father?" asked Luciell. "It seems His Highness' illness is quite serious."
King Rexton V told Alpha to go and turn to his only daughter. "No need. Marquess Hadrian has been looking strange since his last visit here," he said. "Don't you feel it?"
"You mean that Marquess Hadrian has been weird ever since he visited Axelle's castle?" Luciell smiled faintly. "Looks like he got some good stuff out of that our sweet little boy."
"The problem is, how much effect does that thing have on Marquess Hadrian? How much power does Axelle have?" King Rexton V was silent for a moment. "That brat just stays in his castle, he shouldn't be able to do or develop anything."
Luciell smiled sweetly. "I don't think Father has anything to worry about," she said reassuringly. "Axelle isn't stupid, but he's a timid child full of doubts. Meanwhile Marquess Hadrian has fallen into his solitude. His mind will be easily possessed."
"Yes, you are right, my dear daughter. I seem to overthink it too far. Our strength is more than sufficient. After all, we are now in control of both the demons and the Temple."
Once again Luciell just smiled sweetly. She agreed with his father's words, that they were now strong and had great power.
But why didn't Chas Colton bow to her too?
Luciell had met Chas many times face to face, but not the least bit of demonic power had worked on him. If Hadrian can be possessed, why can't Chas? And instead of being affected, Chas had been avoiding her lately.
"Damn it!" Luciell slammed a vase of flowers in her room in annoyance with her own thoughts.
[Oh~ Hysteria!]
"Shut up, damn it!" hissed Luciell.
[Still annoyed that you haven't gotten it yet? Khekhekhe. What did I say, forget about that boy.]
Lucielll chuckled. "Even though it's your job. At this rate, it's useless for me to had a contract with you."
[Oops. Don't be so angry, my dear princess. My power is not absolute; indeed there are some people –let's say–I can't possess.]
"You keep saying that but don't tell me why. As for Axelle, well, that boy is definitely hard to be fooled. As for Lord Chas… how can that be? His hands are as dirty as mine and Father's. He's closer to demons than to Gods!"
[I can't tell you, my dear princess. It's a treaty in our world.]
"That's it again!" Luciellle plopped down on her bedroom sofa. "Never mind, forget it. I'll definitely get Chas no matter what."
[Khekhekhe. Good luck~]
If only she could, Luciell would have strangled that damn demon.
Chas Colton… Chas Colton…
Of all the things in the world, there lived a man with hair as dark as the night that she didn't have.
Forget Hadrian with his rank and wealth. That black soft hair, his sharp golden eyes, his thin lips, and his flawless skin even though his soul was full of sin. Beautiful, handsome, something that deserves to be owned, stored, and collected.
Luciell wants Chas Colton!
His every finger, every strand of his hair, his eyes, his loyalty! Chas Colton had been her favorite for a long time. It had been a long time since Luciell had loved him with all her heart–a lot of things she had done for him, even to the point of selling her soul to the devil.
So what? Why doesn't he have it too?
"Just hold on, Chas Colton. I'll have you!"
***
The series of Princess Lucielll Rexton's birthday parties began.
While the commoners were content with the folk festival, the nobles flocked to the Ozera Capital, complying with the invitation from the palace.
The first day was a tea party for Luciell's close friends, a women's-only event filled with flowers and sweets. The second day there was a hunting competition in The Palace's forest, a place for noblemen to show off and attract the attention of the Princess. The third day is a visit to the Beulah Sacred Temple, where the Grand Priest as well as the people who can enter the temple pray for the Princess and give blessings. The fourth day was time for Lucielll to descend into the folk festival and make the streets even more crowded with curious people. The fifth and sixth days were quiet days, where the main palace and Lucielll were polishing themselves. The seventh day is a real feast.
It's a long and fun series. The Palace will definitely be very busy, everyone will be focusing on preparing the party. Perfect timing for Chas to infiltrate the Palace. Mingling with others was easy for him.
"Where is His Majesty the King?"
Chas heard knights in robes and special emblems whispering in the corner of the palace.
"In his study room, of course. What's wrong?"
Chas began to feel his infiltration exposed. No matter how you look at it, these knights were no ordinary knights. They are special forces somehow. It was the first time he had seen them.
But Chas' mind was broken by the next sentence, "The Tower of Shadow's door is open. The prisoner escapes!"
"What?!"
The knights left quickly.
"The Tower of Shadow?" Chas muttered in surprise. He had heard the tale about the Tower of Shadows when he was a child. When he was a teenager, Chas realized that the fairy tale was told so that the children would not wander around the vast territory of the Palace and get lost. Who would have thought that the Tower of Shadows existed for real?
"Wait, I don't have time for this."
Chas began to carry out his own mission. Go to the small castle where Axelle lives, the place where Rheannon is said to be.
The small castle seemed calm, away from the hustle and bustle of the main palace which was decorating itself. It was so calm, it felt like Chas was in another place. The atmosphere was really peaceful, the air somehow felt lighter.
There were only a few people guarding the vicinity of the castle, which Chas easily passed. Even the waiters didn't seem too busy inside. Basically, the Outcast Prince currently had very few people and few jobs.
Well, but, where's Rheannon?
"You're not lying, are you, Axelle?" Chas hissed.
Axelle wasn't lying.
Through one of the bedroom balconies, from behind a large window where the curtains weren't tightly shut, Chas saw her. Rheannon lay on the bed, while Axelle sat beside her with a book–which he seemed to be reading to Rheannon.
The sight is both a relief and envy.
The Outcast Prince wasn't lying, that was a good thing. But Axelle who was reading something and Rheannon who looked happy enough to make Chas jealous. The two of them seemed close and intimate, whereas in the past Rheannon had only been close to Chas. Now, you know, her love is alone with a man in one room.
"You look happy, Rhea," Chas whispered to the afternoon breeze, half expecting Rheannon to hear.
When night falls, Axelle turns off the lights and leaves Rheannon. Chas, who had been waiting for an opportunity, knocked on the balcony window.
It didn't take long for Rheannon to then open the window.
"Rhea…"
Rheannon gave a smile that Chas hadn't seen in a long time.
Chas rushed to hug Rheannon. He felt her bones protruding, the vibration of her frail body, also brushing her hair that was too short. It wasn't like the Rheannon he'd last seen, but this was definitely the Rheannon Chas knew.
"Look at you, you're so skinny," said Chas. "You are okay, right?"
Rheannon nodded, then made sign language, [I can't speak.]
"You can't talk?" Chas asked weakly.
Rheann nodded. He pointed at his throat and said, "It hurts."
Chas was furious. "That damn king! What exactly has he done?!"
"You okay?" Rheannon asked.
"No need to worry about me," Chas squeaked. "Here you are—"
The commotion outside Rheannon's room made Chas stop his sentence. He hurriedly checked the situation outside. There was a lot of panics there.
"Palace Knights come to visit!"
"Suddenly? What's wrong?"
"Looks like they already know that Lady Rheannon ran away."
Wow, that's dangerous, Chas thought.
He returned to Rheannon's room and looked at her meaningfully.
"Rhea, you trust me, right?"