Contract binder is people who bind contracts with demons. By binding a contract, one would have a bit of the demon's power. The price to be paid is unclear. People only know the second they make a contract with the devil, their soul has been separated from Nirvana and belongs to the devil.
But then what will the devil do with their souls? Can be anything. Either his life is being toyed with, given a lot of misery and sorrow, or the soul can't go anywhere after death.
Contract binders are different from demon controllers. Although both require "payment", basically demon controllers can't just borrow demonic powers. Demon controllers often simply "ask" the demon to leave or not to make a mess–that's why demon controllers can control even many demons, because nothing is at stake.
The demons who have a pact with these humans will then follow these humans everywhere. They become invisible, both to their fellow demons and even to humans who have great holy power. Or, at least that's how it should be.
"Since when did Your Highness see it?" asked Duke Colton after a long silence.
"Since I was a kid. I don't remember exactly when, but… it seems like it was only some time before… the coup took place," Axelle replied quietly.
"And all that time you were silent?" Chas asked furiously.
"Chas," said Duke Colton.
"I understand that Your Highness used to be silent. But now, after all these years?"
"I apologize," Axelle said earnestly. "I know my actions were cowardly, but..."
Duke Colton let out a long breath. "And Your Highness should have defended himself from this impudent remark of my son who doesn't even have any title," he said sharply. "You are a prince, part of the Palace family that leads the Rexton Kingdom. So act like a prince. Be strong and firm in your heart, Prince Axelle. There are still people out there waiting for the truth to be revealed."
"I also want to know the truth, Duke Colton. That's why I'm looking for Lady Rheannon," said Axelle. "She's the only demon controller left in the Rexton Kingdom. I think Lady Rheannon must know something..."
Duke Colton nodded slightly. "Since Whitley's land is completely burned down, Rheannon is the only source of accurate demonic knowledge and information."
"Those bastards," Chas hissed. "No wonder King Rexton V ordered Marquis Hadrian to burn everything to ashes."
"Yes, it could be," said Duke Colton. "Surprisingly, the King didn't kill Rheannon until many years later."
"It might have something to do with something. If it's true that the King is a contractual tyrant, he might want something more."
"Contract cancellation, maybe?"
"The contract with the demon can't be canceled," Axelle said.
"I'll find out," said Duke Colton. "Such information might still be found in the library of the Beulah Temple."
"Duke Colton going there?" asked Axelle.
"Yes, of course. Since Your Highness isn't going there."
Axelle was shocked to hear that.
"Listen, Your Highness. It's not that I don't believe in you. It's just that you have too much doubt in your heart, and it makes you a coward," said Duke Colton. He stood up, about to leave. "Nor do I mean to overstep you. But if there's anything I can do, I'll do it. Feel free to call and ask me for help. Then, for now, I'll take care of Rheannon."
"Yeah, thank you," Axelle muttered.
"No, Your Highness. I should be thanking you."
Duke Colton patted Axelle on the shoulder, then left with Chas following. Axelle himself did not stand up to escort his guest back.
At this moment Axelle felt himself…
useless and helpless.
***
"I hope we're not too harsh on Prince Axelle," Duke Colton said as he headed back to the hunting grounds.
Chas glanced at his father. "I didn't expect Father to speak to Prince Axelle like that either," he said. "Father loves him more than loves me."
"He needs encouragement," sighed Duke Colton. "He must have been brought up with the image of living as an ordinary person. Never imagined that he would be the only legitimate successor of the kingdom. And once that happened he was not confident in his own abilities. Not that it's incomprehensible..."
Chas nodded in understanding. "Because the late His Highness Prince Hiero was a very great person. All the people loved and were proud of him. Meanwhile Prince Axelle at that time was just a little boy who rarely appeared in social gatherings, got sick easily, and was shy."
The pair father and son then stopped as they crossed the Painting Hall which became a shortcut. There are many paintings of the royal family there. Both of them stopped right at the painting of the family of King Rexton IV.
In the painting sits His Majesty King Rexton IV side by side with Her Majesty Queen Tullia. The two of them smiled gently and sincerely. They were both flanked by their young children. Hiero the first prince by his father's side, smiled with pride. The smaller Axelle stood up as if to hide behind his mother but still tried to smile.
"We've never done anything like this with Mother," Chas chimed in.
"Well, we can't make one indeed," said Duke Colton. "But we have at least one painting of me with your mother, then another of ours with Marioline."
"When is Marioline coming home, huh?"
"You miss your sister?"
"Well, at a time like this, she'd better stay there."
They continued their journey.
***
Considering that Chas was only pretending to participate in the hunt and considering that he had spent most of his time in Axelle's castle, it was clear he had lost. But as camouflage, Chas hunts a deer with golden horns, decapitates it, and presents it to Luciell.
"I dedicate this deer antler to Her Highness Princess Luciell. May Her Highness always be blessed by God."
It sounds so romantic. Unfortunately, Luciell did not witness the handing over of the head of the golden-horned deer.
More precisely, Luciell regretted not being able to meet Chas. There must be a special purpose behind the surrender of the head that was deliberately beheaded.
"No matter how Chas doesn't like things, he'll still take his job seriously," Luciell said as she watched the servant preserve the deer's head. Later, she would hang the deer's head above one of her fireplaces.
If Luciell is still interested.
"Golden-horned deer are very rare around here, Princess," said one of the ladies-in-waiting who accompanied her. "Lord Chas must be having a hard time finding it."
Is he?
But even so, Luciell was happy that at least Chas was still thinking about it–though maybe not in a good way.
"Other than that, nothing special happened in this hunt," Luciell's lady-in-waiting continued her report. "Other than Viscount Cutler's son and His Highness Prince Axelle's absence."
"Oh really?" asked Luciel. "My cute cousin isn't seen on the hunting grounds or just sitting around with the other nobles?"
"Yes, Your Highness. There is also no representative from His Highness' castle."
"He's not usually like that." Luciel smiled. "I hope it's because he's preparing a nice present for my birthday."
***
Meanwhile elsewhere, Hadrian heard similar news in his room.
But there was one other additional information he got.
"There are guests visiting Prince Axelle's castle. Two people. They came separately, but one came with Prince Axelle out of nowhere. I think they are Duke Colton and his son."
"Unfortunately I can't find out what they were talking about. But for Duke Colton to visit Prince Axelle in secret… It seems impossible for Duke Colton to behave like that."
"The Coltons are indeed a family that has been passed down for generations ignoring their desire to clean up the royal filth. It's just that, at that time," Hadrian closed his eyes for a moment, "Duke Colton dared to disobey His Majesty's order to execute the late King and Earl Whitley. After all, according to confession. His Majesty the King, Duke Colton often looks for his nephew. Either it's because Duke Colton doesn't have the heart or he has prejudices."
"It would be terrible if Duke Colton had his own prejudices…"
"It's just conjecture - just a guess," said Hadrian uncertainly. "Because going back to our original problem: why did Duke Colton visit Prince Axelle's castle? At this very opportune time..."
Hadrian's and Ichabod's eyes met.
"My God," whispered Ichabod. "Isn't it possible, what Prince Axelle has been looking for and hiding is Lady Whitley?"
"That's the only plausible excuse at the moment," Hadrian said.
"What will Your Grace do now?"
Hadrian remembered his promise to Axelle. "As we both know, this is all conjecture. There is no evidence yet that Prince Axelle has released Lady Whitley and Duke Colton knows about it," he said. "We'd better find evidence first–one more visit to Prince Axelle's castle. Also with Duke Colton."
"I'll arrange the schedule."
After Ichabod left, Hadrian came out onto the veranda of his study room. After hearing the information and processing it he felt a need for fresh air. All these possibilities are terrible. That Lady Whitley, though perhaps still in her teens now, was a dangerous prisoner according to the court. To set her free would be a great crime. Why would Axelle bother to free her?
"What is your purpose?" Hadrian asked on his red ribbon that had been blessed by Axelle. Thanks to this red ribbon now Hadrian can think more clearly, although occasionally he feels there is a conflict within him.
Was Axelle actually trying to harm him?
"Your Grace? Sorry for just coming in. You didn't answer my calls."
Desmond emerged from the doorway of his room. So Hadrian immediately met him.
Hadrian smiled faintly at his distant relative. He had asked Desmond to call him "uncle", but it looked like he still needed some time.
"Come in, Desmond," called Hadrian. "What's happened? It's rare for you to see me at night."
Desmond looked doubtful. His eyes scanned Hadrian's room. At this time, Hadrian knew that Desmond actually just wanted to know how he was. Desmond always wanted to know how he was.
It's also my fault for not having time for him. Even though I promised to take good care of him, Hadrian thought.
"Oh, is that the red ribbon that Your Grace said got a blessing from His Highness Prince Axelle?" Desmond said suddenly.
"This?" Hadrian handed Desmond his red ribbon. "Yes. His Highness has great divine abilities."
"Wow!" murmured Desmond in awe. "His Highness must be really great then. Even though it's been over a week, but his blessings are still attached to this ribbon."
"How do you know?"
"Don't all sacred objects have their own aura light? The bluish glow on this ribbon is a blessing from God," Desmond explained. "People who have great divine power also have the same aura as this."
Hadrian went silent. No, Desmond. I guess not everyone can understand and see what you mean just now.
He was about to ask Desmond further, but someone interrupted him.
"Marquess Hadrian!" The knight looked tense. "The Palace captured Prince Axelle!"