The Choice

Lloyd gritted his teeth as the royal court came to a decision on the Behmuth matter. The choice between Ignis Blaqua and the border towns. And as much as Lloyd hated it, the choice was made. It was to abandon Ignis.

Unexpectedly, Duchess Blaqua was very complacent with her only son being sacrificed for the sake of people. Lloyd found out later that the family bond between the Blaquas wasn't as great as he thought. Duke Blaqua didn't even show up at the royal court to at least pretend as a defendant for his son. Their crude attitude made it all clear as to how they treated their son.

As soon as the other noble families saw this, they immediately took this chance to suppress house Blaqua. Ignis was nothing but Lloyd's unattractive replacement in their eyes. Someone they couldn't even use as a puppet king because of House Blaqua's blind loyalty to the empire. They just got the perfect way to get rid of him.

But Lloyd knew something was off. There was no way that Behmuth would act like this, making a choice trap for Alkezar in a situation like theirs. They clearly knew that Alkezar could start a war in the middle of their inner trufe. But they still decided to mess with Alkezar anyway.

Both the Whitlock Duchy and the king of Behmuth had something hidden. That hidden thing was giving them enough power to act out like this. It was as if they knew that Alkezar wouldn't choose war but settle with a choice.

There was someone who knew Alkezar too well to be a citizen of Behmuth. Someone who can even be called a pure Alzarian(citizen of Alkezar).

There was a spy.

The possibility of a spy being in Alkezar was too dangerous. The king of Behmuth didn't have enough wits to plant a spy in Alkezar. It must be the Whitlock Duchy. And if in this situation, they chose to side with the king on the weak basis of some border dungeons, who knew what could happen?

Ignis' engagement with Julia didn't matter much to Lloyd at this point. He just couldn't bear the sight of an innocent child being preyed upon by those in power for more power. That child must not even know how desperate those people are to get rid of him in the name of sacrifice. Even his own parents.

But Lloyd couldn't do anything right now. The envoy party planned by him failed him, so the royal court held him accountable. His explanations mattered little to those people. The noble families who wanted Ignis to die made it so that Lloyd couldn't get past their arguments. 'Too young to make decisions' they said.

And now the court had favored those people. Lloyd now could only accept this along with other people. Without concrete reason, he just couldn't continue defending Ignis when even his own parents weren't. And the public sentiment toward him was taking a turn for the worse.

Just as the court was about to disperse, there was a knock on the large gate of the courtroom. A servant came in with a letter from house Shuzar. It had Baron Raymond Scarlett's name on it. And apparently, it was of important significance with the royal court's decision on the Behmuth issue.

As the letter was read in the court, Lloyd's smile grew wider and wider. It was a letter exposing how the king of Behmuth had whatsoever no control over the border dungeons, that were about to break because of natural decay. And they would break, whether or not they sided with the king. The king of Behmuth was tricking Alkezar into helping him.

That single letter caused an uproar in the royal court. Many questioned its legibility, others the source of this information. But the information itself was correct as the historical records mentioned in the letter were checked. Those dungeons broke every 200 years. This was the 200th year since the last dungeon break.

Now that the third and last day was nearing its end, the royal court had decided to re-evaluate the decision. It very much meant that they were not going to support the king. As Lloyd chuckled at some muttering and glaring noblemen, he truly felt relieved. At least no other child was being used as he was.

Lucifer entered the room of the Whitlock Duchy's current head and his uncle.

Duke Hector Whitlock was an affectionate and kind-hearted man unlike his father and Lucifer's grandfather who was but inherently a cold man. However, Hector's affection was limited to his family. To the son of his only sister, Ava, and beloved friend, Theodore, he could only be a loving father figure.

Lucifer's grandfather had deeply instilled the hatred inside his grandson's heart, which the entire Whitlock Duchy carried. Hatred towards the crown, the king of Behmuth. Lucifer carried this hatred too well for his own good being the center of all the consequences.

But Hector still hoped to see this child live a normal life that had nothing to do with repulsive things like revenge, hatred, or rebellion. But if those things could buy this child his happiness, he very willingly supported Lucifer's every action.

"Ignis Blaqua," Lucifer said as he sat down after bowing to Hector. "He'd make a fine pawn, I guess."

"Weren't you originally going to send him back in pieces?" Hector said pouring himself a glass of wine and sweet tea for Lucifer. "What caused the change of mind?"

"I've never seen someone so idiotic and stupid before," Ignis said looking out of the window on the moon. "He is the definition of an 'open-book'."

"An 'open book' isn't a good pawn," Hector replied sipping his wine. "What is the real reason, Lucifer?"

"..."

Lucifer remained silent for several minutes as he drank the tea. Putting the cup down, he looked Hector right in the eyes and replied:

"He intrigues me. I kidnapped him, yet he sees me as a friend. He finds me beautiful in my girl form, yet wishes to remain loyal to his beloved back home. He mentioned the servants in his estate, yet he never once talked about his parents. And you know what is the strangest part?"

"What is?" Hector asked.

"I wondered why he won't attack me when I look so frail and vulnerable. I asked him since I know he can't lie. Guess what was his answer." (Lucifer)

"Something unexpected?"

"'I know you're stronger than me,' he said. He's like a beast living on pure instincts instead of intelligence and wits." (Lucifer)

"So what do you wish to do now?"

"No matter what Alkezar chooses tomorrow, we will keep Ignis Blaqua here for one year. I wish to see what he would become if I train him my way." (Lucifer)

"Have I ever refused any of your requests, dear nephew? You can keep a dog for all you wish. I'll see to it."

"Thank you, uncle." (Lucifer)

Lucifer got up and was about to return after wishing Hector good night when Hector said," Ah, be careful about how he sees you."

"Don't worry," Lucifer said, putting on his necklace and smiling. "He'll just remember meeting a girl called Lucia who doesn't even exist in the records of Whitlock Duchy."

Hector chuckled as Lucifer's happy steps disappeared into the hallway.