Chapter 13: Valthera stormbane

Kael and Darius rushed toward the Williams mansion. From a distance, they could see the brightly lit structure and faintly hear the sound of shouting.

"I hope it's not what I think it is," Kael thought, his expression darkening.

"The Crown Prince, running on foot like this? Isn't this—" Darius began, only for Kael to cut him off.

"It seems we're too late, Darius," Kael said, slowing down. His breath was uneven; they had taken a shortcut to reach the mansion faster leaving their horses behind, but it had been in vain.

"Crown Prince, you mean...?" Darius asked, confused.

"William… dead," Kael replied grimly as they arrived at the gates of the mansion.

"Crown Prince," the guards greeted, bowing respectfully as they stepped aside to let them through. Kael and Darius exchanged a nod before walking up to the door and stepping inside.

A loud voice rang out immediately.

"Who did this?! Who killed my father?! If I find out, I will kill them all!"

The anguished shout came from a young man rushing into the living room. Kael and Darius followed silently, each lost in their thoughts, too distracted to observe their surroundings properly.

"If the Crown Prince is right, someone dared to kill an aristocrat under the kingdom's protection? Who would dare do this? And didn't that arrogant fool always travel with a horde of bodyguards? How could someone manage to kill him?" Darius thought, frowning.

"Damn it. She's far smarter than I assumed. I should have dealt with the guards and maids earlier. News travels too quickly—or perhaps I should've come straight to the Williams mansion myself. Maybe I would have caught up," Kael reflected bitterly as they entered the room.

The faint scent of candles lingered in the air. A crowd had gathered at the center of the room, where some murmured while others wept over a bloodied body lying on the ground, stabbed to death.

The furniture had been moved aside, creating a wide space for the mourners. Guards stood vigil, protecting those inside, while maids scurried back and forth, attending to the guests.

Despite Kael's luxurious attire and Darius's imposing armor, neither drew much attention amid the grief-stricken chaos.

"Darius, let's head to that corner and try to gather some information," Kael whispered. Darius nodded, and the two quietly blended into the crowd.

"Tell me who killed my father! Who?!" the young man demanded again, his voice breaking. He knelt by his father's body, bloodshot eyes filled with rage as he gripped the blood-soaked clothing.

The young man was strikingly handsome, with sharp eyebrows and a chiseled face.

"Young Master, we guards deserve punishment," one of the guards finally stepped forward, his voice trembling. "The lord left a few minutes ago and ordered us not to follow him. We neglected our duty and left him alone…"

The speaker was the commander of the guards. Though his usual demeanor radiated authority, he now looked utterly defeated—like a cat drenched in rain.

"I just want to know who killed my father," the young man demanded again, shouting even louder.

"A drunkard," the commander replied shakily. "His body is already outside. He's dead."

The young man's rage peaked.

"Slice his body into tiny pieces and feed him to the pets! Track his family down and bring them to me! They will die, one by one!" he bellowed, his voice seething with fury. The commander bowed deeply before hurrying out, the crowd parting to let him pass.

"The leader of the Velmont family is here!" a loud voice announced from outside.

A middle-aged man walked in, his expression grim. Dressed in regal noble attire, he carried himself with the air of someone who had long held a position of power.

"The leader of the Ravaryn family is here!"

"The leader of the Ashbourne family has arrived!"

"The leader of the Drakemont family has appeared!"

The names of various noble families echoed as their leaders entered. Some were older men, others middle-aged, but all wore solemn expressions as they regarded the lifeless body of their colleague.

Different thoughts swirled in their minds. Had Williams offended someone higher up? And if so, who? The only authority above them was the royal family, but they wouldn't resort to assassination—they would execute him publicly. So, could it be one of them?

"Let's leave, Darius. I think we've heard enough," Kael whispered. Darius nodded, and the two left the mansion, their faces marked with shock.

Once outside, Darius broke the silence. "Crown Prince, do you think he was really killed by a drunkard?"

"Not likely, Darius. William wasn't just an aristocrat—he was a minister. How could a drunkard kill him?" Kael replied, shaking his head.

"But according to the commander, he was alone. He wasn't a martial cultivator, so it's possible for an ordinary person to kill him. Besides, aristocrats indulge so much in worldly pleasures that even a drunkard could overpower them," Darius analyzed.

"I agree they're weaker than ordinary people," Kael said with a bitter smile. Though Darius hadn't said it outright, his words indirectly included Kael in that group of indulgent aristocrats. And while he was right, Kael wondered how Darius would react if he found out he was a martial cultivator. Kael hadn't had time to examine his body properly since returning to the Eryndor Kingdom.

"Darius, don't you know the saying?" Kael asked with a slight shake of his head.

"What saying?"

"Believe half of what you hear and half of what you see."

Darius's expression darkened. "Wait… are you saying the commander killed him?"

"No. Wait, do you mean one of the other aristocrats killed him through the commander?" Darius corrected himself, frowning.

"Most likely," Kael admitted. Though he had a suspicion about who the true culprit was, he chose not to voice it. He was almost certain one of the princesses was involved. But saying so would likely lead to an investigation by the king, and Kael didn't want that.

He wanted her dead. Keeping a potential helper of the son of destiny alive was a mistake he wouldn't make.

"Crown Prince, I will investigate this matter thoroughly once we return. I will leave no stone unturned," Darius vowed firmly, and Kael nodded.

"I'll leave it to you, then," Kael replied as they made their way back to the palace.

By the time they arrived, night had already fallen. Kael spotted Ash and Garrick together, both engaged in a cheerful conversation with smiles on their faces.

"You two seem to be getting along quite nicely," Kael remarked coldly as he walked past them, heading to his room.

"Crown Prince!" Ash quickly stood and knelt, but Kael didn't spare her a glance.

Without a word, Garrick followed Kael into the room.

"Why is he so cold? Did something happen?" Ash wondered, already planning to investigate the matter.

**************

Inside the Crown Prince's room…

Kael sat down on his bed, letting out a tired sigh.

"Crown Prince, is something wrong?" For the first time, Garrick initiated the conversation. Kael looked at him and felt a sliver of relief—at least his plans involving Garrick were proceeding smoothly.

"One of our ministers was murdered tonight," Kael said gravely. "They claim it was the work of a drunkard."

Garrick raised an eyebrow, not seeing the connection, until his expression suddenly changed as realization dawned on him.

"Crown Prince, could this be related to the person who attempted to assassinate you?" Garrick asked.

"Yes, most likely. Garrick, I fear something significant is about to happen. I can only feel secure knowing you're here to protect me," Kael said, his voice tinged with urgency.

"Crown Prince, you have my word. I will protect you with my life," Garrick vowed solemnly, his expression firm.

Kael grinned faintly, his true thoughts hidden behind a composed exterior.

(Ding! The host has altered the timeline. The Son of Destiny has now devoted his life to the villain.)

(Luck Points: -100 from the Son of Destiny)

Name: Garrick

Position: Bodyguard of the Crown Prince

Rank: Martial Master

Luck: Son of Destiny (Currently has an Ancient Warrior as his master)

Luck Value: 900

(Chaos Progression: 10%)

"Fascinating," Kael thought as his grin widened. But the surprises weren't over yet.

(Congratulations, host! You have advanced to Stage 5 of the Martial Warrior realm.)

"With your assurance, I feel much more at ease," Kael said, a genuine smile appearing on his face.

It seemed siphoning from the Son of Destiny was the way forward. For now, he couldn't confront him directly—the Son of Destiny had already reached the Martial Master realm after their last encounter. His growth was terrifyingly fast.

"Next is Ash. How do I extract the information I need from her? Preferably, I should get her on my side," Kael pondered, strategizing his next move.

A knock sounded on the door.

Knock, knock.

"Yes, enter," Kael said, and Ash stepped in, bowing respectfully.

"Crown Prince, the King has summoned you to the palace first thing in the morning. Also, your elder sister is returning tomorrow," Ash reported while kneeling.

Kael nodded. "Understood. You may leave."

Ash bowed again before leaving the room.

"Garrick, I need some time to think. Stay outside from now on. I believe you'll be more useful there," Kael instructed. Garrick nodded in understanding, knowing the storm they were caught in was deepening.

After Garrick left, Kael lay on his bed, exhaling a heavy sigh.

"My elder sister, Valthera Stormbane—the War Queen feared across this continent. Ten years ago, she left the Eryndor Kingdom to study on a broader continent, and even there, her name echoed far and wide. That's where she earned the title 'War Queen.' Now she's returning? The third heroine?"

Kael's heart was restless. His sister was the most feared and revered being he knew. Yet, in his memories and the original timeline, she never returned to Eryndor. Perhaps the Son of Destiny met her in the broader continent instead.

But now, she was back, and all signs pointed to his interference in the timeline. His actions had caused chaos, disrupting countless events.

"Two heroines? No, I can't fight both. I have to find a way to keep the second heroine out of the picture—at least temporarily. Too bad I can't kill her. Still, I need to make Father investigate. She needs to be kept on edge," Kael mused as he carefully refined his plans.

******************†************************†**************