After having a light dinner with Elysia, Azrael stayed by her side until she fell asleep before heading back to his study. Marcus had informed him earlier that the guards had discovered something of interest and were waiting for his return.
Azrael entered the study, greeted by Marcus and two guards who bowed their heads in respect. "What do you have for me?" he asked, leaning against his desk.
The room grew heavy with tension as the guards unpacked the confiscated items. Azrael's sharp eyes scanned the assortment documents, trinkets, and clothing, until they rested on a neatly folded set of letters tied with a ribbon..
Azrael's hand hovered over the bundle before untying the ribbon and pulling out the first letter. His brows furrowed as he read the elegant yet rushed handwriting. The letter was addressed to summon Dargan. Apologies filled the page.
Dear Lord Dargan,
Forgive me for I have failed you again for I underestimated Elysia. Give me another chance to redeem myself, I shall not fail you this time.
Rebecca.
Azreal's jaw clenched as he read on. It was clear the governess was working with Dargan even though she had denied having anything to do with him.
Azrael crushed the letter in his fist, his calm demeanor momentarily slipping. "It seems Rebecca has been lying to us," he said, his voice cold and cutting as it echoed through the room.
---
The dungeon was damp and dimly lit, shadows flickering on the stone walls as torches burned weakly. The governess, slumped in a corner of her cell, clutched her once perfect dress which was now covered in dirt. She looked tired, with dark circle around her eye.
Azreal stepped forward, his footsteps slicing through the tense silence. He raised the crumpled letter into the torchlight, his tone sharp and dangerous. "Care to explain this?"
The governess raised her head to look at the King. During the past few hours she had spent in the dungeon, she had devised more ways to lie to the King in hopes of escaping. But all hope was lost with the letter the King held in his hand. He had searched her house and found solid evidence that she was working with the Dragon Lord. She remained silent, her brain unable to think of a way out of this mess.
Azreal's eyes narrowed. "You've been writing to Dargan. What orders were you following, Rebecca? Speak."
The governess said nothing, her lips pressed into a tight line. What was there to say? He had caught her in the act, and there was no escaping the situation now. Rebecca laughed bitterly to herself. She had always prided herself on being smart and manipulative, but never had she imagined making such a small mistake that would be noticed by the King.
Azreal let out a frustrated sigh, his patience worn thin. Knowing how close this woman had been to Elysia, and the danger she posed, made his blood boil with rage. His eyes darkened as his voice turned icy. "I was hoping you'd make this easy for yourself. Do not make me ask you again, Rebecca."
He stepped closer, and the governess immediately flinched, her stoic expression cracking as fear flooded her eyes. Azreal leaned in, his gaze sharp piercing gaze biting at her skin. "This is your last chance, Rebecca. Why the hell are you writing to Dargan? What's your involvement?"
She swallowed hard, hands trembling. "I... I didn't mean for it to go this far. I swear," she stammered, voice barely audible. "I was desperate. He promised me protection, influence..."
Azreal's eyes narrowed. "And in exchange?"
She hesitated, her eyes darting to the floor. "He wanted information about… Elysia."
The mention of Elysia made Azreal's expression darken even further, his aura becoming more suffocating. His body stiffened, and the air around him felt thick with the raw energy of his fury. Golden scales of the Great ancient dragon appeared faintly across his neck, his eyes blazed golden.
The guards, seeing the change in their King's appearance, instinctively stepped back, fear rippling through them.
"What did he ask you to do?" Azreal asked, his voice sounding deeper. He didn't even try suppressing the rage of his dragon, all he wanted to do right now was burn this woman alive, but he refrained from doing so—barely. For now, he wanted answers, not ashes.
Rebecca, visibly trembling, shuddered under Azreal's piercing gaze. Her teeth chattered as she forced out, "He... he wanted me to get close to Elysia." Her voice, though low, carried a tinge of dread.
Azreal's fists tightened at the realization. "You were the one who filled her head with those foolish ideas of running away. That was your plan all along, wasn't it?"
"I... I swear, Your Majesty. He forced me to work for him. I didn't want to," Rebecca pleaded, her hands clasped together, desperation etched into every word.
Azreal's patience snapped. He slammed his hand against the metal table with a force that created a deep dent, making Rebecca flinch violently. "When I ask you a fucking question, you answer me. Do not fucking test me, Rebecca!" he growled, his voice laced with unrestrained anger.
Tears streamed down her face as she stammered, "Y-Yes, Your Majesty. I pushed the idea of running away to her. We set a date—I planned to hand her over to Dargan, but she left without telling me."
Azreal's jaw tightened further. "You exploited her innocence. You made her think you were her friend. Elysia trusted you!" he thundered, his golden eyes blazing with fury.
A look of remorse crossed Rebecca's face as her head dropped. "I am sorry, Your Majesty. I had no choice in all this," she said weakly.
"How long have you been working with Dargan and planning all this?" Azreal demanded, his voice sharp and unrelenting.
Rebecca hesitated before responding, her words cautious. "For some time now... before I even began as her governess. It was all arranged. An elderly woman who trains governesses recommended me to Lord Sevastian as part of the plan."
Azreal raked a hand through his hair in frustration. He had been blind to the threats around him, unaware of the enemies under his nose. The mere thought of what could've happened to Elysia, had she not been found that night, made him shake with fury. He gritted his teeth angrily, his hands trembling as he clenched his fist by his side. The thought alone was enough to make him go insane.
Azreal yanked violently at the chain wrapped around Rebecca's neck, slamming her back against the cold stone wall with brutal force. The impact sent a sharp pain through her spine, causing her to gasp, the air knocked out of her lungs. His hand tightened around her throat, squeezing the air from her as she struggled to breathe, her vision blurring at the edges. His cold burning gaze that looked like wild fire, which reflected his anger.
Azreal released his grip on the chain, letting it fall as Rebecca crumpled to the floor. She gasped for air, her chest rising and falling rapidly as she struggled to regain her breath. Her body trembled, but her fear didn't subside. Azreal's icy voice cut through the tension, "You have until midnight to tell me everything, what Dargan is planning, what he wants with Elysia, and who he's working with."
Without waiting for her response, he turned on his heel, his presence lingering in the dungeon long after his departure.