Chapter 74: The Curse of Love [2]

"What are you going to do with Lionel?" Killian asked. I had already explained these matters to him earlier.

I wanted him to help me think, not just for protection or to prove the story of the Puppets Society.

"I'm definitely not going to give him the potion, but we will give him something else." I laughed a little. Events should start unfolding in a few hours.

"What do you mean?" Alfred looked at us with some tension, clearly not understanding anything.

"Why are you smiling like that? Stop it. Seriously." Killian looked at me with some disgust.

Alfred's face suddenly turned red with anger. Although he wasn't awakened, he bravely and determinedly jumped towards Killian to knock him down.

I paid them no attention, just hoping things would go as I wanted.

***

In one of the subsidiary buildings of the StarHold family, where Lionel and his immediate family stayed. The place was spacious enough for him, his wife, and his son, along with a group of trusted servants.

The place was decorated in the same style as the main palace, and the scent wafting through the building was refreshing to the mind and heart.

At the building's gate, Lionel stood with his short blonde hair and imposing stature, looking at the carriage in front of him.

"It seems you've returned!" He extended his arms wide, preparing for a hug when he saw the person who emerged.

With short black hair and gray eyes, all the original traits of the StarHold family were passed on to him. Lucas StarHold, one of the people sent on a mission to cleanse the west of monsters, had finally returned.

"How was it?" Lionel asked.

"Good, Father." Lucas embraced his father in return as he answered. Seeing such a relationship between father and son within a noble family was not common.

"Tell me more! What did you encounter and find there? How was the meeting with the dwarves?" Lionel laughed in front of his son's face, filled with pride.

His son had reached rank S- before the age of thirty and was sure to reach rank SS- in the next fifteen years.

His entry into the family council was already confirmed; it was just a matter of time. Soon, father and son would be in the same position. That would happen once he reached rank S+, not now, but soon.

"When we arrived, most of the fighting had already ended. How did the other families react to our warnings?" Lucas asked.

"They all found dwarves in their territories as we expected, but all were less than what you encountered," Lionel replied before continuing, "Tell me everything about the prince."

"That's what I wanted to do, but let's go inside first," Lucas said, waiting for his father to enter before following, maintaining a step behind out of respect.

Lionel was truly impressed by his son's manners, which was also rare in royal families overflowing with repulsive pretense.

"What happened with the north?" Lucas asked, recalling Daristan's outburst of anger.

"The government is still covering it up from the citizens. Lady Daphne announced that spreading any news about the disappearance or destruction of the MoonHold family constitutes collusion with the dwarves and goblins," Lionel explained briefly. "The government still runs the city, but they won't be able to cover it up for long."

"When the dwarves and goblins start invading, it will be from the east and north. One has lost its royal family, and the other suffered many losses after the liberation of the monsters from the Mountain of Fog. We are on the losing side even before the war begins," Lucas replied, his voice tinged with concern.

Once the war began, he and many of his friends would be on the front line. He was sure of that, given the nature of his skill.

"It may seem like we're in a losing situation, but I can't imagine a way we could lose," Lionel scoffed. He began climbing the stairs to the second floor, with Lucas following.

"Do you mean the Supreme Commander? Do you know his skills?" Lucas thought of the rumors he had heard about that person.

The person who was the biggest reason the disaster didn't spread eleven years ago and involve the citizens

"Most people and the human elders aren't even sure of his exact name. What makes you think I know his skills? I only have a vague idea," Lionel replied honestly.

"I heard that my uncle—the former king—and my uncle Octavius had some issues with him before. They seemed incredibly talented." 

Just imagining the previous image of Maximus StarHold and his current state... that alone made Lucas think of some conspiracy theories.

"Hah! You're joking! True, they faced him, but it wasn't even a fight! But I can't deny the talent of my older brothers for surviving that, especially Maximus. I only saw things from afar, of course, but I felt it vaguely." Lionel's expression became strangely grim since he mentioned his older brothers' names, but he maintained his tone for his son and continued:

"Once you join the council and get closer to the next king, whether it's Darian or Cassian, you'll have some opportunities to become their companion and accompany them to the annual meeting, just like my brother's wife Loana did at the last meeting."

After Lionel's grim look, it was Lucas's turn to frown when Cassian's name was mentioned. "About Cassian and the potion..." He hesitated a bit, surprised when his father interrupted him.

"Even if he doesn't give it to us, I have my ways to ask for it. Don't worry." It was clear he meant blackmail; the meaning was evident anyway.

"Aren't you looking forward to seeing her?" Lionel changed the subject immediately when they reached a particular door on the third floor.

"You'll tell me everything you learned about the prince later. Enjoy this meeting now," Lionel smiled as he opened the door.

The reason he and his son wanted the legendary potion lay here... the reason a person born with royal blood descended to the level of blackmailing a child younger than his son.

And finally, the reason he couldn't break through to rank SS- no matter how hard he tried or how much time passed.

'Kathryn...' Lionel thought of her, his feelings filled with love for that woman. She was all he could think about for many years.

"Hello, Lionel." Inside the room, right next to the sleeping Kathryn, stood a tall, smiling figure.

Katherine was as beautiful as always in Lionel's eyes. Her hair was still long, her skin still smooth and pale. She slept by the window, illuminated by the moonlight.

Even when he saw her beside the moon, in her sickly state, he chose her beauty. But now, all Lionel felt was intense anger at the person who intruded into this room without his permission.

With his short white hair and familiar white robe, his red eyes contrasted sharply with the moonlight.

Jin held a red apple like his eyes, eating it while smiling at Lionel.

As if mocking them…

"We meet again." Jin's gaze focused on Lucas.