Chapter 2

The forest scenery zoomed past as a black figure flashed by creating strong gusts of winds that shook the surrounding trees

'I couldn't sleep a wink last night. This better be worth it....'

Duke Cassian Valhile De Solan spead through the forest on a majestic looking black horse, leaving clouds of dust in its wake

'The situation at the borders is unstable, and the soldiers' moral is declining what impeccable timing to call the Commander back....'

Sounds of horse galobes reverberated around the forest with the capital looming in the horizon, the royal palaces snow white walls, the proudest landmark of the Legacia kingdom showing its majestic splendor even from a distance of hundreds of kilometers

Even if the surrounding scenery seemed to bring a kind of peace to the viewer, the man speeding through the forest seemed immune to this kind of peace with a look of extreme vigilance guiding the horse to the imperial capital a black cape fluttered behind him

Nearing his destination, the horse slowly came to a stop in front of the huge walls surrounding the capital.Soldiers stationed at the entrance opened the gates, seeming to know of his arrival early

Passing through the gate, some soldiers stared at him with a mixture of admiration and curiosity, but the man on the horse passed by without sparing them another look as if absorbed in his thoughts

'The people in the capital look strained how weird last I remember this place was joyful and bright...'

'It must be from the war.They all look hagered as expected this war should end soon, and for that we might need reinforcements from his Majesty the Kings army..'

Turning towards the palace, Cassian moved at a faster pace determined to finish whatever it is that the King wants from him as soon as possible

Passing the vast white walls of the palace in the distance, a group of people stood before the palace long stairs waiting for his arrival

'What a grand welcome.What happened to the butler and direct escorting to the court?'

With a hint of irony in Cassians eyes, he pulled the horse to stop in front of the group of people, dismounting he took a closer look at the people present

One of the people at the front of the group stepped forward, extending his hand for a handshake

"You must be Duke Solan,I'm Duke Abradon, his Majesty's closest confident and aide,"

Extending his hand, Cassian accepted Duke Abradon's hand, shaking it for a while before letting go

"Nice to meet you, Duke. Are you, by chance, expecting any guests this welcome seems too grand for a Commander from the desolate northern borders"

The irony and mockery imitating from the words were exposed without any obstacles, making the aristocrats standing behind Duke Abradon waiting for their chance to exchange pleasantries embarrassed with ugly expressions hanging on there faces eyes instantly filled with condescending lookes

'Now that's better those fake kind faces make me sick, but...'

Turning his face slightly, Cassian studied Duke Abradons face his face still maintained that same warm smile his eyes shining a slight light of approval

Frowning his browes, Cassian tried to see the slightest crack in his good-natured face to no avail

'This Duke doesn't seem simple. I will have to take more caution around him..'

The atmosphere was getting tenser, but before it could get worse, a light-hearted laughter sounded in the air, breaking the tension

"Of course not, Duke Solan.We are all here to welcome you back. You are the hero fighting for our kingdom. How could we possibly neglect you it was my mistake before I assumed you wanted to finish with his Majesty early so you can continue protecting the land. I apologize if that offended you in any way."

Gracefully handling the situation, the other novels seem to come to their senses, nodding and smiling in agreement

"Of course, of course, it was our mistake. Please don't pay it any head,"

"Indead, we apologize."

Seeing as the ruined atmosphere became peaceful again, Cassian squinted his eyes but didn't say any more

Going with 'Silence is Aquitaine', the atmosphere became more harmonious, the nobels joking and laughing between themselves, but even so, Cassian could still feel there persistent gazes sticking to him like a second layer of skin

Frowning slightly, he decided to end this quickly as it seemed that if he left it to these groups of hypocrites, he was going to stay here a while remembering his stupid second in command he's eyes were again filled with determination

'I should move they all die by throwing themselves in an enemy camp....'

With that in mind, Cassian took a step towards Duke Abradon, the most composed of the group

"I was summoned with an immediate return letter. I assume there is something of importance that His Majesty wants me for?"

"Ah, of course, let's go inside first. You've come a long way. Have some rest, then we'll talk"

Making a simple and elegant please gesture, the Duke walked in first, maintaining his smile from beginning to end. Cassian followed behind him, the aristocrats still maintaining their friendly appearance seeming to want to start a chat but dared not only staring at him from behind with calculating eyes

'How uncomfortable the battlefield is much better. At least there, the enemy will come straight at me with a sword to take my life...'

'Something is wrong though hmm it seems that I came with a call from his Majesty but-'

Duke Abradon stopped walking in front of massive wooden doors, almost bumping into him, Cassian managed to stop a few inches away, looking at him with an inquiring gaze the Duke turned around still with the perfect smile

"You can rest here for now, Duke. We didn't have much time, so the preparations may be inadequate. Please bear with it for a while,"

Frowning slightly, Cassian decided to go with the present arrangement he was anxious to go back, but his anxiety couldn't offset imperial arrangements

"I see. Then we can discuss the urgent matter -"

"Of courses we will discuss it after dinner, a maid will come and inform you of the time for now. Please get some rest,"

Before turning to leave, Duke Abradon gave Cassian a meaningful smile at an angle that the other nobels couldn't see

'What is it? This guy had a shady appearance from the moment we met how chilling..'

After exchanging pleasantries with some of the other nobels, Cassian was finally left alone in his brand new room

Looking around, a flash of surprise crossed his face as his eyes swept the room again he could see furniture made of wood with golden carvings and red cushions with a pure white carpet and a chandler made with crystal hanging from the ceiling further to the front a balcony was stationed with silk curtains flowing with the wind

To the left two wooden doors seeming to be a bathroom and a closet and to the right, a big bed was located with white and navy blue cushions looking very comfortable

'Sure enough, the royal palace is different. All of this, and they haven't prepared much'

After stretching for a while, Cassian decided to take a quick bath and sleep to replenish his energy

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Cassian felt like he was walking on clouds he have never been so relaxed in years he even wished that this dream could last longer so he could relax but suddenly the surrounding changed to the battlefield he was familiar with

The sky turned blood red war cries could be heared from far away felling as if awaken from a distant dream Cassian immediately rushed to the source of the sound only to see his subordinates being slaughtered by the enemy forces further away in the distance he could see his second in command battling the enemy general covered in blood

He ran towards them avoiding attacks from the enemy seeing first hand as his loyal soldiers died turning to lifeless corpses clenching his fist Cassian took a deep breath he wanted to tell himself that all of this was a dream no a nightmare a horrible nightmare that shook his core but everything was too realistic the pain he felt on his hands from his nails diging his palm

The blood curling screams from his soldiers the blood socked soil under his bare feet and the strong pungent smell of blood he inhales with every breath he takes

Barely opening his eyes, his hazy vision captured the enemy general, raising his sword high his second in command on one knee, bleeding on the verge of death, closing his eyes with an agonized expression as if to accept death

Cassians eyes widened running with all his might he tried to reach the sword hanging on his waist only to grab air panic flashed in his eyes raising his head he saw the sword descending with a sharp arc towards his second in commands neck

Drums sounded in the air as if announcing a death of a hero voice didn't seem to come out of his mouth no matter how much he tried

Fire was raging, engulfing everything corpses,solders,trees everything was turning to ashes all their efforts all these years burned to the ground

'No No No No No No No No No NO, why is this happening? What happened? we were obviously at an advantage. Why? WHY..'

Boom Boom Boom

"NO-"

Opening his eyes, Cassian saw the unfamiliar palace room he was given early in the day, his right arm extended in a gesture of grabbing something

Retracting his arm, he placed his palm on his forehead only to realize that he was in a cold, sweet all-over

Blinking his eyes to organize his mind, he heard the intense and periodical knock from the door

standing up, he tried to get his beatings before walking to the door

Opening it a maid with a frightened expression froze with her hand in the air as if to knock on door before Cassian could speak a word she bowed a perfect ninty degree with both her hands clenched into a fist on her skirt

"I sincerely apologize Duke you didn't respond when I knocked gently, so I had to do it a couple more times."

Seeing her trembling shoulders Cassian felt a headache coming most people are afraid of him since he stayed most of his life on the battlefield some call him a barbarian and lots of rumors went around about him being a monster with a thrust for blood

Mainly, people screamed,fainted some even run at the sight of him. Actually, this young maid seemed to be on the better side standing at the same spot without fainting

Taking a deep breath, Cassian tried to make his voice as gentle as possible

"No problem you are here for?"

"Dinner is ready sir if you could come to the dining hall..."

Recalling what the Duke have sayed about discussing after dinner, Cassian felt the need to settle matters fast once again

'It seemed my nap took too long..'

Directing his attention Bach to the still bowing maid, Cassian still tried softening his voice

"I see. I will be there in a minute,"

The shaking maid bowed deeper before turning to leave but was stopped by a call from behind

"Could you wash these armor for me and bring it at nightfall?"

Turning around the maid's sight fell on the armor staines of red liquid all over, taking it with shaking hands she bowed and dashed to the corner of the hallway as if being chased

Scratching his head, Cassian closed the door, returning to the room

'I came straight from the battlefield, so I haven't had the chance to clean it. Ahh, I thought I talked without scaring her gusse not..'

Sighting, he went to wash up to be as presentable as possible for his first formal dinner in a while

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Cassian stood before the doors to the dining hall, preparing himself for all the trouble waiting for him

Formal dinners like this normally involve lots of words between the lines schemes and faction disputes but, of course, in the most elegant way possible

Basically, everything he doesn't want to get involved in, he couldn't be bothered. People are dying, and he is here listening to the same old geezers talk

Taking another deep breath, Cassian pushed the doors open only to see a long table filled with exquisite food on both sides nobles of the royal faction sitting with smiles on their faces

The kingdom of Legacia is a kingdom with a long history its one of the kingdom's that passed the dark ages and was able to survive until the godess Helda descended onto the continent to purge all the darkness and gave artifacts to the surviving kingdom's to protect them from those four kingdom's Legacia was one of them the others were kingdom of Turunul,Entrad and Bralav

Currently the Kingdom of Legacia and Entrad are in a clash the war was started by Entrad they accused Legacia of stealing there sacred holy artifact saying there grand mage could fell its holy print reacting to his mana around the royal palace

But none of the kingdom's believed them after all is sayed and done who will leave there holy artifact in a place to be stolen all in all except for the Entrad people themselves everyone else thinks they are just using that as an excuse to attack Legacia but even so there was no reform send from the other two kingdom's as if there was a possibility of one in a hundred that we stole the artifact they don't want to defend the thief

'I would say they are just preparing their military forces to fight back if they were attacked next...'

Cassian was now sitting on the long table right in front of him was Duke Abradon on his right there was an empty chair at the head of the table belonging to his Majesty the King

Looking at the empty chair a couple more times and till the meal was served, the king didn't appear all the eyes either discreetly or bluntly stared fixedly on the person most close to his Majesty and his most trusted aide Duke Abradon

Noticing the inquiring gazes on him, Duke Abradon finally opened his mouth with a gentle smile

"His Majesty sadly won't be joining us today as he had urgent matters to attend to. Instead, I was sent here to entertain you, our honored guests, as best as I could."

Saying so the Duke smiled, the other nobels also dismissed it as normal since the King would always use the same excuse each time he didn't want to attend a formal gathering

Almost everyone acquainted except one person Cassian who kept staring at the Duke as if hearing something absured seemed unconvinced

'If that's true, then there was no need for all of this. we could just talk in court about all this preparation.. as expected, this Duke Abradon sure is fishy...'

The dinner went peacefully despite Cassians doubts and suspensions after a nice but fruitless dinner. The nobels from the royal faction all exchanged pleasantries before leaving with a satisfied look

Cassian with a stinky face stood up to leave the area as fast as possible only to be stopped from a calling voice turning around he saw Duke Abradon standing alone in the once packed hall still maintaining his annoying signature smile

"Duke Solan, could you spare me some of your time it seems we didn't have a chance to greet each other properly yet,"

Standing a distance away Cassian had a feeling that tonight may be one of the most longest and tiring nights of his life that he will remember for years to come

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Birds were chirping it was another peaceful and cold morning for the group of aristocrats standing in a group socializing in front of the stairs leading to the imperial palace

Even though everyone was discussing business, smiling and laughing there eyes keept glancing toward a certain direction there another small group of aristocrats stood talking in a sem circle at the center of which Duke Abradon was smiling his infamous sweetened venom smile

But that wasn't the focus of these group of high ranking aristocrats instead it was the palace gates that remained opened without restrictions after a long while staring at it intently as if waiting for something or someone to appear

They didn't wait long as a figure appeared from a distance with a fluttering black cape seeing so all the aristocrats stopped what they were doing at once getting closer to the other circle of higher nobels they pasted kind hearted smiles on there faces

But among the crowd of nobels there was a person who had a more obvious calculating and cunning look on his face seeing the figure entering the palace gate he's face turned into a kind hearted smile as if imitating everyone else

Looking at the now dismounting young Duke Solan, his gaze followed and studied his every moment, looking quite satisfied that was for but a brief second before his expression turned hideous

"Nice to meet you, Duke. Are you by chance expecting any guests this welcome seems too grand for a Commander from the desolate northern borders "

Anger bubbled inside him, feeling as if he was slapped in the face saying yhis to then when they came all the way here to greet this barbarian was simply tearing his face and stepping on it

But even so, remembering his goal, he tried to smile again and followed the dukes words to apologize

"Indead, we apologize."

Saying soo he keept a closer look on the newly arrived young Duke of Solan until they reached his temporary room arranged by the King a fellow nobel man talked to him

"Baron, how is Marques Gracilia doing these days? Have they still got no news of the crown princess?"

"Ah, unfortunately, not any that I know of Count."

"That's such a pity. Marques Gracilia has always opposed the royalties she should have been more careful least she really angers his Majesty this time..."

Clenching his fists the Baron tried to contain his accusations as much as he could, replying with a normal flat tone

"Her royal highness will be back very soon Cont she must have gone off track with helping some poor commoners again"

The Count gave the Baron a meaningful glance before replying with a mocking tone

"Indead our princess is just too kind"

Saying so the Count turned his head as if he finished all he had to say his back showing a strong sense of contempt

Grinding his teeth, the Baron turned his head, continuing to walk with the group of people as if nothing happened

'All of you are fools one day this kingdom is going to fall in the hands of the same faction you hold such contempt for at that time I will make sure all of you suffer....'