Baron Willard, Sophia Wycliff, and the young man beside them, along with the other knights at the back, stood frozen in disbelief as Lord Emberon spoke.
The air grew heavy with tension, and a profound shock enveloped the group, their eyes widening in astonishment.
Soon, the daze began to dissipate, and Baron Willard, his voice filled with incredulity, managed to ask, "Are you saying you intend to harm and kill your own mother?"
He struggled to grasp the gravity of the situation, unable to reconcile the noble Wallace he knew with this unthinkable demand.
At that moment, anger gave way to sheer astonishment, holding him captive.
Sophia, her face filled with pain and confusion, let out a choked sob.
Tears flowed freely as she pleaded, "My son, what did you say? You're planning to hurt me? Your own mother? Why?"
The very idea of a mother facing harm from her own flesh and blood shattered her soul, leaving her vulnerable and bereft.
As the shock wore off, the young man standing beside Sophia stepped forward, his eyes reflecting concern and determination.
He addressed Lord Emberon/Wallace, his voice initially flat but trembling with concern, "Sir, there must be another way. We can find a resolution without resorting to violence. Respectable Madam is your mother, the one who brought you into this world, nurtured you, loved you. Think of the bond you share, the memories you've built together."
In the midst of the young man's plea, Lord Emberon/Wallace watched him closely, his eyes piercing through the facade of deceit.
Then, Lord Emberon, with an authoritative voice, said to the young man, "Stop pretending, drop the act because you are not their son, yet."
The young man, standing next to Baron Willard and Sharon Wycliff, fell silent, struck by the seriousness of Lord Emberon's statement.
The room descended into a heavy silence, laden with unspoken tension.
Sensing the weight of the moment, Lord Emberon continued, "If you truly want to become their son, I will allow it. But first, you must accept my challenge to a duel and defeat me convincingly, even if it costs me my life."
His words resonated throughout the room, leaving no doubt about the gravity of his challenge.
Lord Emberon looked at both Baron Willard and Sophia, his voice tinged with bitterness, and said, "I am all too familiar with the concept of 'survival of the fittest'."
Though he was acting, there was an underlying truth in his words, reflecting years of neglect, resentment, and an unfulfilled desire for recognition that he himself struggled to comprehend.
Nevertheless, he chose to push through, understanding that the more convincing he sounded, the better.
With an eerie calmness, Lord Emberon rose from his seat, each movement exuding a cold intensity.
Baron Willard, Sophia, the young man, and the attending knights felt a chill run down their spines as they witnessed Lord Emberon's chillingly slow and deliberate approach.
"You treat him as if he were your own child, disregarding my existence," Lord Emberon accused, his voice filled with longing.
"Why is that?"
His question demanded an answer that would unveil the truth.
Before anyone could respond, Lord Emberon added bitterly, "Well, it's because he possesses talents superior to mine, doesn't he? He is the potential path for our territory to gain recognition from the Kingdom, am I right? Or does it not matter?"
His gaze shifted once again, focusing on Baron Willard, Sophia, and the young man, his grip on the sword tightening.
The room fell into silence as he extended his arm, pointing the sword directly at the trio before him.
"But do you know what he has done to me?" Lord Emberon's words carried a mix of vulnerability and hidden anger despite his calm tone.
Baron Willard and Sophia turned their gazes toward the young man, who appeared oblivious to Wallace's accusations.
"Perhaps you are unaware that he has mistreated me in secret, using his elevated status to degrade and undermine me."
A pause hung in the air, heavy with the weight of Lord Emberon's accusations.
Lord Emberon's eyes remained fixed, unwavering in their intensity.
"As the true heir and your son, it is only natural that I react negatively, wouldn't you agree?" he continued, his voice tinged with sorrow and righteous indignation.
"The breaking point came when he openly declared that I am nothing but a pitiful creature, while he enjoyed the love and favor of our own parents who abandoned me.
"That's also the main reason why I challenged him."
Another pause allowed his words to sink in. "And yet, what have the two of you done for me? Confined me to my room in order to avoid dealing with me? Completely ignored me, thinking I am insane? Turned a blind eye to the torment I endured?"
Lord Emberon's voice echoed through the dimly lit library.
"At that time, I had to come up with a plan, or I would lose everything to him," he said as he pointed the sword directly at the young man beside Baron Willard and Sophia, his mother.
"Then I remembered the legend of the Slimy Forest, where a treasure could be found. I had no other choice but to venture into the treacherous depths of that forest and face its perils," he confessed, his voice filled with remorse.
"Driven by desperation, I slipped away under the cover of night, hoping to discover something in that forest."
As he spoke, Lord Emberon's eyes gleamed like shards of ice piercing the air.
"However, there was no treasure to be found," he murmured.
The knights, Sophia, and Baron Willard felt an unexplained chill crawl up their spines. "But that place gave me something more by reminding me of their sacrifices," he added.
"I once believed that none of you cared about my struggles," Lord Emberon continued, his voice growing more determined.
"But it was through the actions of the knights you sent to retrieve me and the guidance of Sir Palest that I managed to survive against the increasing number of beasts."
His eyes glinted, though Lord Emberon couldn't be certain if it was indeed Sir Palest who had entered his prison.
However, as memories of the reincarnator stirred within him, he was convinced that it was Sir Palest. Sir Palest had always been by Baron Willard's side, and now that he was gone, it meant he was one of the intruders.
One of the intruders met his end at the fangs of Lord Emberon's subordinate, Steelteeth.
Baron Willard, Sophia, and the knights stood rooted to the ground, initially shocked by Lord Emberon's explanation. Yet, there was something that filled them with even greater dread.
Did this mean that Sir Palest, the loyal companion who had always stood faithfully by Baron Willard's side, had met a tragic fate?
Lord Emberon disregarded their thoughts and continued.
"Sir Palest claimed that you are the enemy and that I should be wary, but, now I think I have no choice but to take your life... But if I can't, then I have no choice but to take my mother's life, as she now loves you more than me due to your manipulation!"