Chapter 23: Breaking Off These Chains [5]

The wheels of the royal carriage thundered over the shattered remains of the iron gates, a startling reminder of what just happened.

The sounds of the Duke screaming and the soldiers yelling after them filled the air, causing a commotion. The servants, who had been watching from afar in frozen horror, rushed out of the castle. They gawked as the Duke's son fled the castle without even looking back even after the Duke himself issued a threat.

"What's happening?" said one of the servants in a whisper. "Sir Leon has never done anything like this before!"

"I heard he knocked the guards unconscious outside his room!" exclaimed another servant.

"What? But Sir Leon has always been so gentle. He couldn't possibly have done that!"

As they deliberated, Duke Alfred turned to the guards who were still standing there uselessly, his eyes blazing with fury.