After receiving Elysia's blessing, I sat by Stalworth's side, eagerly waiting for him to recover. The aura of light and magical power from the Elysia enveloped my body, initially feeling strange but soon empowering me as my mana surged.
"Ummm… Your Majesty," Stalworth mumbled, slowly opening his eyes.
Relief washed over me as I saw him waking up, and a smile broke across my face as tears fell from my eyes. "I'm glad to see you awake, my friend."
Concerned by my tears, Stalworth struggled to sit up on the bed. "Your Majesty, are you alright?"
I laughed through my tears, "Of course, I'm fine. You should worry about yourself for once." Playfully smacking him, I wiped away my tears.
Stalworth's discomfort eased as he saw me smile back at him. I asked him about what happened, and he sadly shook his head, indicating he had no consciousness when the dark spirit possessed him. I proceeded to explain everything, including Elysia's revelations.
After hearing my account, Stalworth looked uneasy and bowed his head, asking for forgiveness. "Your Majesty, I can't apologize enough for my actions," he trembled, his clenched fist betraying his frustration.
"Stop blaming yourself, my friend. It's not your fault," I firmly held his shoulders before pulling him into a hug.
"You heard him, you stupid guard! Quit blaming yourself," Alistair's familiar voice resonated as he entered through the window.
"Don't tease him, Alistair," I chided him, and Alistair sighed before settling on the sofa.
"In any case, it's the fault of the dark spirit," Alistair said loudly enough for Stalworth to hear.
Seeing Stalworth sigh at Alistair's words, I smiled, knowing Alistair disliked seeing Stalworth blame himself needlessly.
"Ahem… Since you're back so soon, I assume you've already figured out the situation, Alistair?"
Alistair glanced at me seriously before handing me his reports.
"They aren't even trying to hide it, my King. The Duchess and her son have bullied Lady Aurelianne on many occasions. Not only that, but they even canceled her coming-of-age ceremony, a significant event for noble ladies."
"Aurelianne has never attended social events since the Duke married the Duchess. Many nobles don't know if the Duke has another child besides Caussius and Aria. Furthermore, they've completely isolated Aurelianne from the world, and a few years ago, they started giving her a poisonous drug that will slowly weaken her and eventually cause her death within five years."
Listening to Alistair's details filled me with anger, and I could see that Stalworth shared the same emotion.
"Can we cure her?" I asked, my concern evident.
"The Duchess began administering the poison to Lady Aurelianne three years ago, which means she is still at a stage where she can be cured," Alistair's words brought a sense of relief as if a heavy burden had been lifted from my heart. Alistair's expertise with poisons was unmatched, and if he believed there was hope for a cure, I had complete confidence in his judgment.
Alistair had developed a solid immunity to poisons through his extensive experience dealing with them. His knowledge and skills in this area were exceptional, and he had faced deadly concoctions that would have been fatal to most. His assurance gave me hope that we could save Aurelianne from her dire situation.
"Very well, tonight we'll save her and ensure the Duke and Duchess face justice for their sins."
"My King," Alistair began, "I don't believe the Duke is directly involved in this plot. He often stays away from the mansion due to his duties, and the Duchess has manipulated him into thinking Aurelianne is sick and unfit for noble society."
His insight intrigued me. Although I couldn't sense any malice in the Duke's aura or detect any lies, it didn't mean he was entirely virtuous. Nonetheless, I agreed with Alistair's point.
"Nevertheless, that doesn't absolve him of the sin of ignoring his daughter's plight," I remarked solemnly.
Stalworth rose from his bed, assuming his position behind me. I wished he'd take it easy, but vigilance was in his nature.
"Don't push yourself too hard; you haven't fully recovered your mana yet," I reminded him as he abruptly stood up.
"Have you gathered the evidence?" I inquired, and a sly smile crept across Alistair's face.
"What do you think, Your Majesty?" Alistair's grin widened, sending an intriguing shiver down our spines.
"Are you a demon?" Both Stalworth and I blurted out simultaneously, sparking a flash of annoyance in Alistair's eyes.
"How rude!" Alistair retorted before regaining his composure. "Nevertheless, I have gathered the evidence. I confronted the human who sold the poison to the Duchess and recorded his damning statement using the memory device."
"Excellent," I commended, admiring the ingenuity of the memory device, an invention from our esteemed Beast Kingdom. Capable of recording an hour of activity, Alistair wielded a unique version with 24 hours of storage capacity.
"But what if the Duchess denies the allegations?" I asked Alistair, as a devious grin plays on his lips.
"Of course, she'll deny them vehemently, but remember, My King." Alistair's grin widened even further.
"I have another trick up my sleeve. You can question the Duchess without worry. Leave the rest to me."
Stalworth's eyes widened in surprise, and he sighed, well acquainted with Alistair's crafty nature.
"You always have a solution, don't you?" I chuckled, attempting to hide my amusement at his cunning.
"It's always better to be prepared for any situation, my King," Alistair replied, the smug expression still lingering. "Besides, this is all for justice and to aid Lady Aurelianne."
"Very well," Stalworth and I nodded in agreement.
"After the dinner, I will confront the Duke's family and Stalworth, you shall embark on the noble mission to save Aurelianne," I proclaimed with determination.
"I shall carry out your orders, Your Majesty. Rest assured, I will do everything in my power to ensure Lady Aurelianne's safety and bring her back unharmed," Stalworth confirmed, his loyalty unwavering.
"As for you, Alistair, take my emblem and present yourself before the King. Seek his aid in bringing the Duchess to justice for her heinous crimes. Articulate the gravity of the situation, and make sure to act wisely."
"I will leave promptly and return swiftly to aid you, my King," Alistair responded with a respectful bow, acknowledging my command before leaving the room.
After a while, the butler knocked on the door, signaling that everyone awaited our presence in the grand dining hall.
"Let's go, Stalworth. It's time," I declared, leading the way as we followed the butler to the dining hall.
As we entered, the Duke rose to welcome us, wearing a pleasant smile, completely unaware of the impending storm about to descend upon his household.
"How are you feeling now, Your Majesty?" The Duke asked with genuine concern in his voice.
"I'm much better now, Duke," I replied, returning his smile. "Your warm hospitality has certainly put me at ease."
After exchanging greetings, Stalworth and I settled down with the Duke's family, and they warmly welcomed us as well. Throughout the dinner, we engaged in polite conversation, though I concealed my intense emotions beneath a composed facade.
"Sir Stalworth is incredibly strong," young Caussius suddenly exclaimed, looking at me with excitement. "During our practice, I couldn't land a single hit! Thank you, Your Majesty, for arranging the sparring. It was an incredible experience."
Though his enthusiasm was evident, it was hard to believe that such a spirited child could be involved in such cruelty towards his sister.
"I'm glad you enjoyed the sparring, Caussius," I replied with a smile, attempting to shift my focus back to the dinner.
As each moment passed, my impatience grew, and I couldn't help but steal glances at Stalworth, who sat next to the Duchess, his expression stern. I could sense his restlessness, eager to embark on the mission to rescue Lady Aurelianne.
Understandably, I too yearned to confront the Duke and free Lady Aurelianne from her prison. As dinner concluded, I signaled to Stalworth to bring the Ale we had prepared. With haste, he fetched a large container of Dwarven Forge Ale.
"Duke, I offer you a gift: the Ale of the Beast Kingdom," I announced, observing the Duke's shock.
"Your Majesty..." The Duke's voice trembled with surprise. "Is this the famous and rare Dwarven Forge Ale?" Caussius, too, stood up, visibly taken aback.
As I suspected, they recognized the significance of the Dwarven Forge Ale. It was an exclusive and highly sought-after beverage, known for its rarity and symbolic connection to the Dwarven community.
The ale's brewing process involved secret methods and precision passed down through generations. Dwarves believed that the enchanted Dwarven forges played a crucial role in imparting its distinctive flavor and magical properties.
Brewed with carefully selected rare and magical ingredients unique to the Beast Kingdom, the ale boasted a deep amber color, shimmering with traces of magical energy. Its rich, earthy aroma enticed all who encountered it, while its taste was a complex blend of sweetness, bitterness, and smokiness, leaving a warm, lingering sensation akin to the embrace of the Dwarven forges.
But what truly made it rare was that Dwarves did not trade or sell their ale to anyone outside the Beast Kingdom. Even as the King, I could only receive limited barrels each year.
"Yes, you are correct. This is the rare and renowned 'Dwarven Forge Ale,'" I affirmed with a firm smile. "I would like to share a drink with you, Duke."
"It would be an honor, Your Majesty," the Duke replied with enthusiasm. "The Dwarven Forge Ale is the world's rarest, and to partake in it with you is an opportunity no wise man would refuse."
With that, the Duke instructed his butler to prepare a room for us to enjoy the ale together.
"Darling, we shall leave you gentlemen to savor the drink and have your conversation," the Duchess gracefully interjected, coming towards me. "We will take our leave, Your Majesty. It was a privilege to dine with you. I hope you have a delightful evening," she added, as Caussius and Aria bid us farewell, leaving the room.
"The preparations have been made for you, my lord," the butler informed the Duke, to which the Duke smiled at us and said, "Shall we, Your Majesty?"
I nodded, following the Duke's lead. Our plan was falling into place perfectly. I glanced at Stalworth, signaling that it was time to execute our mission. He nodded back in agreement.
Lady Aurelianne, hold on just a while longer. I vow that soon you shall breathe freely again. My heart echoed with determination.