[Arthur's Point of View]
Tsk, bastards dares to disrespect the young miss of Lacsena? They are bringing shame to the mansion!
"Arthur, wait!" Yelled Neron while following my fast pace.
We were brisk walking in the hallway. I planned to gather all the knights in the mansion. I cannot forgive those useless knights who don't properly execute their duties. While walking, I saw a figure of a man and I immediately ran into it. I saw the head knight Lucas wandering around, it seems that my luck is according to plan.
"Lucas"
He turned around as he heard me call his name. He bowed down in respect when he saw me and Neron.
"Young master Arthur, young master Neron. What brings you here?" He asked.
"Gather all the knights in the mansion. Ducal knights or not, I don't care. I just want an answer." I said in a cold stance.
"Affirmative," he replied and left the place to comply to my errand.
I looked at my left side and stare at the window in my front.
"Neron"
"Yes?"
"Why are we doing this?"
"What do you mean?"
I glared at Neron and I was irritated when he was cleaning his ears with his finger like a child.
This guy is hopeless..
"I mean, why do you think we cared for Adel?" I asked him but I'm not looking at him.
"Because she's a family.. " Neron answered.
What a practical answer, Neron. Bravo.
"At first, I don't like her because of her attitude. She's annoying and a mean girl. I don't like her pestering around in the prince. But then, I realized one thing after we confronted her. And that is, we're all the same." Neron continued.
He's right, we're in the same state of Adel. Back when I was young, I enjoy my life as a noble's child. Everything I wanted always given to me but one thing is exempted. That is parental love. I didn't get that love from my parents, they always compared me to Neron who's talented in swordsmanship so I worked hard. I study all the books in the library from A to Z. I didn't became a genius right away, it's the results of my blood, sweat, and tears.
That time, my parent's attitude towards me becomes different. But something is off, it was just a show. My parents are acting like a kind parents only when we're in front of other people and families. But in reality, they're still the same as before, the cruel and exploitive parents I know.
Then I saw little Adelaide alone in the mansion with her maids. I was jealous of her because she's the main master of the family because her father was the Grand Duke of the Dukedom. She must be very spoiled. But it was changed when I saw her following his father but her father didn't even cared for her. Then she was tripped on the floor and fell but I was shocked when she hit the maid with her toy.
'I cannot forgive that girl for being heartless' I said into myself. Then I started to make fun of her to make her pay for the things she has done. Together with Neron who become my friend because we shared the same experience. We sometimes hit her and we felt no guilt because we think she deserved it when hitting maids.
But we're wrong.. We usually hearing a rumours in the palace that she was being hit by his father and her mother didn't even looked for her. We became deaf for these rumours because we don't believe that the Duke can do that.
I can't forget when I saw her shivering while facing the Duke.
"I think little Adel suffered much than we do," I uttered.
"Man, I really didn't know that rumours are true. We can't blame her for having that attitude if this place is literally a hell. I was thankful that aunt changed her mind and cared for her."
"We all misunderstood each other. But I like the way we are now."
"What can we do? Even pur parents are secretly plotting against each other. This family is the worst"
"She's our little sister now so I decided to I will protect her at all cost. " I clenched my fist.
"Disciplining the knights, huh? You are really a brave one."
"Neron, I know you're just holding back. Don't act anymore, I know you more than anyone else."
He chuckled after I said that. His face becomes different and was unleashing an eerie aura. His red eyes beamed and form a big grin in his face.
"Yes, Arthur. I can't wait to crush the heads if that knights hahaha! How dare they leave little Adel harmed like that!" He said in a scary hoarse voice.
Neron has two personalities, he appears to be silly and clumsy in public but his true personality is more like of a devil. You wouldn't notice how frightening this guy can be. He's more terrifying than I do. This ducal house had raised a monster.
Neron was tortured by his parents. And these tortures are 'training' to them. Because Neron is most likely to inherit the power of the bloodlust eyes since his eyes are red unlike mine.
"Let's go outside and meet them"
We exited the mansion and head towards the grounds. The knights were aligned according to their ranks and the head knight Lucas is leading them well.
"Master Arthur and Neron is here, all knights salute!" Announced Lucas.
Neron halted in their front and all the knights trembled in fear by the aura of Neron. Besides me, all the knights knew the true personality of Neron since they all have sparred with him.
"Who among you escorted the carriage of little Adel earlier?" Neron said with authority.
"Y-Young master, one of them has been dismissed," answered one knight.
Oh he dismissed huh, what a good decision.
"One of them? Then who else?"
They seemed to gulped because of his questions. With Neron around, I wasn't able to speak, what a pity.
"Wendell, George and Nemiel are the knights that was assigned to the young miss during her stay outside the palace. Nemiel was dismissed," reported by Lucas.
"Wendell and George, step up," I commanded.
The two knights confidently step up without hesitation. It seemed that they are knights in the knighthood of the Duke. No wonder they can just slack off during their shift.
"You there, what's your name?" Asked Neron.
"My name is George, young master." He replied.
"What are you doing when you were on duty?"
"I didn't come"
Although his answer were obviously intriguing, no one is shocked about it. It's like they were telling us that it's the usual set up of the ducal knights. It's clear that even though they are assigned to protect the young miss, Adelaide's life is not their responsibility. They are a shame in this mansion.
I suddenly remembered what she said earlier,
"And I dressed like a commoner so that I can't stand out. I know that no one will escort me to buy," she said it with an innocent look.
It's seems to be normal for her to go out without an escort. She only has one maid and that maid is responsible for all of her affairs so she can't be with her anytime.
I see... That's why she can go to the palace without them noticing or they just didn't give a fvck about it.
"Very well, George. Now, I challenge you to a duel." Said Neron in a fierce tone.
The knights gasped silently about what they heard.
"Ill gladly accept your duel, young master." George replied.
He seemed to be confident in his skills. Well, he's a knight managed by the Duke after all and he didn't get a chance to spar with Neron before. How unlucky...
The rules in a duel are simple. The challenger can kill the person he challenged, but the person who accept the duel can't kill the challenger.
"Where do you want to duel?" Neron asked while warming up.
"We can do it here," George stated.
Neron's grin become wider and his aura expanded. He seemed to be pissed off by the attitude if that knight. Neron, just run wild.
"Take your stance, ready.... Fight!" Yelled Lucas.
The fight has begun but silence surrounded the place as they are just standing firm, waiting for each other's first move.
"I think you should strike first, young master," said George.
Ah, this man is really courting death. Now he's pissing Neron off.
"Don't regret your decision, if I strike first, you will die"
Neron's face become more serious and began to hold the handle of his sword.
He lift up his sword and his sword began to scatter in a form of needles.
"Thousands needles of roses," he chanted.
I grinned as soon as I seen him moved. That was his infamous Ninra skill called 'Thousand needles of roses' and it has six stages/levels. A normal person will die after receiving an attack from the first stage for it was as strong as a lightning. His sword were made of thousands of needles and because Neron was a Ninra user, he can control a certain thing within the reach of his power and he's controlling needles.
His needles are as powerful as bullets and it can pass through a person's body. That's why if you are a normal person and get hit by it, you'll die.
"First dance: Thorns pierce the heart of every sinners"
Neron's needles rushed towards George's direction but George remained calm and in posture.
"Steel skin activate," said George.
His aura focused on his body and the needles of Neron's can't scratch him. So he's confident because he's a Taira type and he knew that if he hardened his skin he will be invincible. This guy has no logic. Neron is just starting.
"So this is the Thousand needles of roses? It's not strong as I heard." He mocked.
George smirked and start to attack Neron with his sword and rushing towards his direction. Neron didn't move from his place, instead, he started to attack while George is on the move.
"Second dance, whip the evil with your thorns," Neron chanted.
George stopped from attacking when the needles attached to the handles of sword as a thorny whip and the whip surrounded George's arms. When Neron sway the whip, the whip surrounding George's arms made his arms detached from his shoulder.
George scream in pain while in contrast, it was Neron who's started laughing. He slowly walked to see George.
"That's what you get from being arrogant dog to your master," Neron said.
"I didn't do any wrong! Why do I have to experience this!" George cried.
"Didn't.. do any wrong?... Hmmm... Wrong answer"
Neron whip George with his thorny whip and the needles sink in to George's skin and then Neron pulled it out and parts of his flesh scattered.
"Aarghhhh!" shrieked by George.
"Tell me George, if you are escorting a princess what will you do?"
"I... I will protect her at all cost----Please spare my life, young master," he answered while catching his breath.
"Good, and what about if that princess happens to be Adelaide, what will you do? "
"I--HAHAHAHA!"
The silence was broken by a loud laugh coming from George.
"THE HELL I CARE WITH THAT GIRL! IT'S NOT MY RESPONSIBILITY TO PROTECT HER---THAT UNFAVOURED CHILD---"
"Wrong"
Neron break George's neck by twisting it. He also returned his sword from his scabbard and walk beside me. His whole body is coated with blood so I took distance from him.
"What an unpleasant sight. I should've sew his mouth for spitting nonesense," Neron sighed.
Neron already did his part, I too will do it as well. Good job Neron.
I started to step and walk forward. As they saw me smiling, they all flinched because they were realized that things are about to go bloody.