The royal golden carriage came to a smooth stop at the palace gates, flanked by lines of royal guards. The city streets had been cleared for the king's arrival, and the capital bustled with excitement and whispers of his return. The atmosphere shifted as the grand doors opened, revealing Duke Ferdinand and his ever-present bodyguard, Margrave.
Duke Ferdinand stood tall, his long white beard flowing to his chest, his luxurious red fur coat adorned with gold and gemstones shining in the sunlight. His every move radiated an air of calculated grace, his smile wide but not reaching his cold, cunning eyes. At his side, Margrave loomed, clad in black heavy armor with the sigil of the Duke's house emblazoned in white. His bald head gleamed, and his expression exuded arrogance as he cast a condescending glance at the royal entourage.
The Duke stepped forward, spreading his arms dramatically as he greeted the king. "Your Majesty, welcome back! When I heard of the heinous attack on you in Forest Hill, I was worried sick. Truly, the gods have blessed us with your safe return," he said, his voice oozing with faux concern.
The king raised an eyebrow, his tone laced with subtle mockery. "Ah, Duke Ferdinand, how kind of you to worry. Though, I must thank the gods—and this young hero Alonso here—for my survival. If not for him, I wouldn't be standing before you now."
The Duke's eyes flicked to Alonso, quickly taking in the icy horns and tail with a flash of disapproval that he masked behind a tight smile. "Ah yes, the young hero. Quite an… impressive appearance. Thank you for your service to the crown and the people of Vita. I am Duke Ferdinand Applebottom." He extended a hand, his polished demeanor never wavering.
Alonso studied him for a moment, his sharp eyes catching the subtle shifts in the Duke's expression. What a snake, he mused internally, suppressing the urge to call him out. With a calm smile, Alonso clasped the Duke's hand firmly. "Your most gracious welcome, Duke. I am Alonso, and these are my companions. Lyra," he said, motioning to her as she offered a graceful curtsy, "and Maria." Maria gave a short nod, her star-shaped eyes glowing faintly, her expression unreadable.
"The pleasure is mine," the Duke replied smoothly, his gaze lingering on Maria and Lyra with calculated interest before turning back to the king.
As the group began walking toward the palace, they were joined by the head maid, Mary, who bowed deeply before the king. The king, however, frowned, his tone turning sharp. "Where are Fin and Johnathan ? Why have they not come out to greet me?"
Duke Ferdinand tilted his head in mock apology. "Ah, Your Majesty, the third and fifth princes are currently on a training mission and won't return until tomorrow. They send their regards, of course."
While the king and Duke exchanged words, Margrave, who had been walking with Marcel, Alonso, Lyra, and Maria, shot Alonso a disdainful glance before turning his attention to Marcel. With a sneer, he said, "Hmph, what a disgrace. You couldn't even protect His Majesty, leaving a demon to do your job. Such a pitiful excuse for a knight."
Marcel's hand went to his sword, his face reddening with fury. "What did you say?" he growled, his voice low and threatening.
Margrave chuckled cruelly, leaning closer. "Oh, did I strike a nerve, old man? Careful now. At your age, you might keel over from high blood pressure before you can draw that sword."
The Duke smiled faintly, clearly enjoying the tension as he let the exchange continue.
Before Marcel could act, Alonso stepped forward, a mischievous smirk on his face. "Now, now, Margrave," Alonso said, his tone dripping with mock innocence. "Marcel is a brave knight who protected His Majesty against two S-rank criminals while ensuring the king's safety. Meanwhile, where were you? Lounging around the palace, I assume? What an honorable knight you must be," he added, his sarcasm biting.
Margrave's face contorted with fury. "What did you say, Oni?" he spat, his voice rising. "I dare you to repeat that!"
Lyra and Maria exchanged glances, both stifling laughter. Lyra grinned, her voice teasing. "Oh, wow. Just a few words, and he's all wound up? Talk about easy to rattle."
Maria smirked slightly but kept her composure, while Alonso pressed on, his smirk widening. "Hit a nerve, did I? Honestly, when I saw the king traveling with just one guard, I wondered which knight could be so incompetent as to allow it. Now that I see you, the answer is clear."
Margrave's fists clenched, his body trembling with rage. Before he could lash out, the king's sharp voice cut through the tension, brimming with urgency. "What's this about an assassination attempt on Fin? Why was I not informed?" His face was etched with concern as his gaze bore into the Duke.
Duke Ferdinand bowed slightly, his expression a practiced mask of regret. "Apologies, Your Majesty, but the incident occurred only five hours ago."
The king's fury only grew. "Five hours ago?! You could have contacted me immediately through the mirror, could you not? You'll be punished for this negligence, Duke Ferdinand. And why is the palace so calm, as if nothing has happened? I am the king—who dares to undermine my authority?"
The Duke's voice remained smooth, though there was a flicker of irritation. "Your Majesty, please calm yourself. Fin, the head eunuch, is alive and recovering in the medical ward. Fortunately, Royal Knight Leeren intervened and slew the assassin before they could finish the job." His tone carried a hint of disappointment, as if the survival of the head eunuch wasn't entirely to his liking.
Marcel stepped forward, his brow furrowed with concern. "Who would dare attempt an assassination within the royal chambers? Such an act is beyond brazen."
The king's patience snapped. "Mary!" he barked at the head maid. "Take our guests to their rooms. Marcel, with me." His steps were brisk, his face tight with fury as he stormed off, leaving the Duke standing with Alonso and his companions.
As soon as the king was out of sight, a sly grin spread across the Duke's face. He turned to Alonso, his voice laced with venomous curiosity. "So, what do you see in the king? Are you truly happy he gave you your so-called 'freedom'? Tell me, does it bring you joy not to be a slave anymore?"
Alonso arched an eyebrow, his tone cold and biting. "What nonsense are you spewing? Slavery or no slavery, I'd like to see the fool who thinks they can enslave me."
Margrave, ever the instigator, sneered. "Arrogant, aren't you? Watch your tongue when addressing the Duke, or I'll happily take your head."
Lyra burst out laughing, the sound sharp and mocking. "What an inflated ego you have. Do you actually think you could defeat Master Alonso? That's hilarious!" She laughed even harder, and Maria, unable to resist, joined in, their combined amusement bruising Margrave's pride.
Margrave's face turned crimson with fury, but before he could retort, the Duke raised a hand, his voice firm. "Enough, Margrave. Let them enjoy their little moment." His gaze lingered on Alonso, Maria, and Lyra, his sharp instincts detecting their power. He narrowed his eyes at Alonso, his tone turning calculated. "You are powerful, that much is clear. Tell me—why not leave the king's side and join me instead?"
Margrave's jaw dropped. "What?! My lord—"
The Duke silenced him with a sharp glare, his authority unmistakable.
Alonso chuckled, a slow smile spreading across his face. "Well, well, it seems I underestimated you, Duke. You're sharper than you look. But no thanks—I'm not one to betray those I've decided to stand with."
The Duke's smile returned, cold and measured. "I see. I won't press the matter now. You'll be staying at the palace for some time, yes? Take a look around, see how things are here. Then, perhaps, you'll reconsider." With that, he turned on his heel and strode away, Margrave trailing behind him with a frustrated scowl.
Mary, the head maid, stepped forward, her tone polite but firm as she bowed slightly. "Please follow me. I will show you to your quarters."
Shortly after Mary led Alonso and his companions to their rooms—a trio of adjacent, luxurious chambers along a grand hallway—she respectfully stepped back to address them. Each room was adorned with a king-sized bed, an ornate sofa, and a polished dining table, all draped in rich velvet and golden accents. The scent of lavender lingered in the air, adding to the opulent ambiance.
Mary bowed slightly, her voice warm and professional. "If you require anything, Master Alonso, please ring the bell. Myself or another maid will be at your service immediately."
Alonso nodded, his expression calm. "Understood. Thank you, Mary."
With another graceful bow, Mary excused herself, leaving the group alone.
In Alonso's chambers, Lyra and Maria joined him. Maria sat cross-legged on the plush carpet, her eyes closed in deep meditation, her presence exuding calm focus. Lyra, leaning casually against a wall, broke the silence. "Master, are you thinking what I'm thinking?"
Alonso, sitting at the edge of his bed, crossed his arms and nodded. "Yeah. That assassin... they said he died five hours ago, right? If we can get access to his body, we might be able to extract his memories and uncover who hired him."
Maria's eyes snapped open, her steady gaze reflecting her determination. "I'll leave the palace and start investigating Red Raven and the Dark Adventurers guild. They're behind too much chaos."
Lyra tilted her head, a hint of concern in her voice. "You'll likely need to go through the slums, Maria. Are you sure you'll be alright on your own?"
Maria smiled faintly, her tone unwavering. "You forget—I grew up in the slums. If there's one place I know how to navigate, it's there. Criminals thrive in the shadows, and that's exactly where I'll find them."
Alonso smirked. "Looks like we've got our tasks set."
Just as the group was solidifying their plans, a knock echoed through the room. "Master Alonso? It's me, Mary," came the maid's voice from behind the door.
Alonso raised an eyebrow, exchanging a curious glance with Maria and Lyra before saying, "Come in."
Mary entered gracefully, her hands clasped in front of her as she bowed slightly. "Excuse me for interrupting, but the Queen has summoned you, Master Alonso."
Alonso, Lyra, and Maria exchanged startled glances. "The Queen?" Alonso asked, his tone tinged with confusion. "Why would she want to meet me?"
Mary shook her head gently. "I'm afraid I don't know the reason, Master Alonso. She simply instructed me to fetch you immediately."
Lyra straightened, her expression sharpening. "Well, as Alonso's diplomat, I'll accompany him."
Mary hesitated, her voice polite but firm. "I apologize, but Her Majesty specifically requested Master Alonso attend alone."
The tension in the room thickened as Lyra and Maria shared a concerned look. Lyra's eyes glimmered faintly as she activated silent communication, sending a message directly to Alonso and Maria. "Master, this could very well be a trap."
Alonso replied through the same channel, his lips barely moving as his calm demeanor held firm. "Trap or not, with all the gadgets I have up my sleeve, anyone trying to spring it will regret it. Trust me."
Maria, watching him carefully, nodded slightly in silent agreement.
Alonso turned back to Mary, his expression calm and composed. "Lead the way."
Mary bowed again, her voice steady. "This way, Master Alonso."
With Lyra and Maria staying behind, Alonso followed Mary out of the room, his steps measured and deliberate. His thoughts raced as he prepared for what awaited him in the Queen's presence.