"Father..." Sir Shaedwyn said in concern, glancing toward the direction of the explosion. He wants to go to his father but his mission comes first. He had successfully escorted Lady Rose out of the palace, fending off soldiers along the way.
"What about the Emperor?" Lady Rose asked anxiously.
"The Knight-Commander went to check His Imperial Majesty. Please do not worry my lady, I'm sure he'll ensure His Imperial Majesty's safety." He replied to assure Lady Rose. Judging by the explosion, even he wasn't sure anymore, but he hoped his words would hold true.
"Captain! Enemy ahead!" One of the knight alerted them, bringing them to a halt.
"Where do you think you're going?" Two young mages in black robes stepped into their path.
"They probably got scared scared of your face, Soren," one of them said teasingly.
"What?! We have the same face, Loren!" the other snapped.
Sir Shaedwyn could immediately sense the danger. These twins were on a different level. He turned to one of his knights and whispered, "Take Lady Rose and get her out of here. You must leave the empire."
The knight nodded and moved swiftly with Lady Rose and her lady-in-waiting only to be stopped by a shadow monster.
"Who told you to leave?" Loren asked.
Sir Shaedwyn summoned a blast of fire striking the shadow creature. "Now go!" he shouted as the knight and Lady Rose fled.
"So you're a fire user," Loren said, intrigued. "I wonder if you're as strong as the Knight-Commander."
"But I'm hurt. Do you think you can beat the two of us and with just few men?" Soren said.
"What should we do about the woman? Scion will get angry if we don't complete our mission." Loren muttered.
"Ugh! Just send your shadow monsters to track them." Soren suggested.
"Now, shall we play?"
At the palace, Sir Garran was totally defeated and lost his right hand. "Get him treated and lock him in the dungeon," the Empress commanded coldly. "Make sure to put a seal on him. Last thing I want is the palace being burned."
"Has the Marquess arrived yet?" she asked.
"Not yet Your Imperial Majesty," the Duke replied. "But once he sets foot on the gate, he'll be captured with a spell and render him helpless."
"Good," she said, a hint of satisfaction in her voice. "Make sure the people know what happened. It's time for me to be a dutiful wife and prepare for my husband's funeral."
Outside the capital, Marquess Rue Mallory and his men rode swiftly along the road when they noticed smoke rising in the distance.
"My Lord, isn't that coming from the direction of the palace?" Sir Conrad asked, alarmed.
"We must hurry!" the Marquess urged and they rode faster with their horse.
As they are reaching the capital's gate, a man was waving at them, signaling for them to stop. When they drew closer, they saw that he was a knight. He was heavily wounded and staggered as he walk.
"Aren't you a knight under the knight captain?" Sir Conrad asked as they dismounted to help him.
"M-my Lord, please, do not enter the capital," the knight said, his voice strained. "It is dangerous."
"What do you mean?" Rue asked in confusion.
"The Emperor is dead and the Empress has accused you of treason. The empire is no longer safe for you. You must flee."
"The emperor is dead?" Rue cannot believe what he has heard.
"What about the Knight-Commander and the knight captain?" Sir Conrad asked in concern in the safety of his father and brother.
"And my mother?" Rue also asked. Both of them are worried for their loved ones.
The wounded knight struggled to speak. "Lady Rose escaped with one of the knights. Sir Shaedwyn ...." the knight cannot continue what he wants to say as he remembered what happened before as he barely survived.
"We've lost," he whispered. "I'm sorry, Sir Conrad..." With those final words, he succumbed to his wounds and collapsed.
"What do you mean?!" Sir Conrad cried out in desperation but the knight no longer responded.
Both men stood in stunned silence, uncertain of what to do next.
"My Lord, I ask for your permission to check the capital." Sir Conrad said, urgency in his voice.
Rue considered the worst possible scenarios and tried to be rational.
"I must decline." he replied. "You have heard the knight, the capital is no longer safe."
"Please, my Lord." Sir Conrad pleaded, dropping to his knees.
Rue felt his worry and unease as he also worries for the safety of his mother and the pain of losing his father.
"Sir Conrad," he said solemnly, "what can we do with this situation? That knight barely escaped, and now the empress has branded us traitors. That means our families are in danger. They'll be next."
Sir Conrad thought of his family. He clenched his fist. They will likely be targeted, as all families of traitors will be killed. He has to save the rest of his family before it's too late.
"Let's go to your family first. We need to get them before it's to late." Rue said.
Sir Conrad stood up and tried to strengthen himself hoping that his brother and father are alive. They looked back at the capital with heart heavy and uncertainty. Together they left for Solstara to save Sir Conrad's family.
At the palace, the Empress summoned for all the nobles in the throne room. Whispers of the Emperor's death and the Marquess' alleged treason is all the talk of the nobles. Some found the accusation impossible to believe knowing how deeply the emperor favored the Marquess and some believe it to be true.
All whispers stopped when the Empress entered the hall and went to walk to the seat for the emperor. "I'm sure by now you have heard the tragic news," she began, her voice calm and heavy with sorrow. "The news are true."
Gasps and murmurs rippled through the crowd, but the Empress raised her hand, silencing them. "Unbelievable as it may sound but the Marquess has killed the emperor after knowing that he cannot inherit the throne. He and Sir Garran tried to kill me after killing the emperor," she said tearfully.
"But his evil plan did not prevail for the gods have helped us. He guided Duke Vane who was here to visit the Emperor to aide me." A fresh wave of murmurs surged across the hall.
"As a reward for his valor, I shall give him the authority to command the imperial knights. He will be the new sword and shield to protect the empire." She stood tall, her voice growing firmer.
"As for the Marquess, he is now stripped if his title and lands. For committing treason against the crown, he will be executed. Whoever brings me the Marquess, dead or alive, will be granted his title and territory. And anyone who tries to help him will be branded as traitors."
Uneasiness filled the room. The empress scanned the room slowly, hiding her inner triumph behind a mask of grief. Her gaze finally landed on the old and former Marquess Mallory who is looking at her with contempt.
"Excuse me, Your Imperial Majesty," a noble spoke up raising his hand respectfully. "You claim that the Marquess and the Knight-Commander committed treason. However, that is hard to believe. Everyone here knows of the Knight-Commander's unwavering loyalty. Is there any proof to support these accusations?"
The room grew tense. The nobles leaned in, eager to hear the Empress's response.
The Empress offered a composed smile. "Of course, Duke Vane was able to subdue the Knight-Commander and he is now in the dungeon being questioned. The Marquess and Sir Garran couldn't have done this by themselves."
The Empress glanced at the previous Marquess Mallory. "There must've been someone that helped them and if we find out who they are, I will make sure to give appropriate punishment for aiding the emperor's death." She tilted her head slightly. "Speaking of which, do you know that your adopted son will do this?" she asked the previous Marquess.
A quiet murmur rippled through the nobles. All eyes turned to the old Marquess. The old lord knows that this is the ploy of the empress to make him look like he has something to do with this.
"I'm sorry, Your Imperial Majesty," he answered in a calm manner. "But I know nothing of this."
"Of course you claim that," she said sweetly. "But words alone offer little assurance, so how about staying in the palace until the investigation is over?" It was more of an order rather than a request when the empress said it.
The nobles from the old marquess' side tried to persuade her but the empress's patience thinned behind her serene mask.
"I only wish to clear any misunderstandings that may fall upon Lord Mallory," she said with feigned concern, her voice dripping with false sympathy.
"If there are no further questions then all council members are to prepare and meet me this afternoon," the Empress declared. She turned and exited the throne room with regal poise. As she passed through the doors, her tone dropped into something far colder.
"Eliminate all the weeds," she ordered Duke Vane, her voice like ice.
"Understood," Duke Vane replied, bowing deeply.
Lord Mallory was escorted to a room in a palace. A room that doesn't fit to a noble and with heavy guards guarding outside the room.
"This is unacceptable!" Mirael, his loyal aide, paced angrily. "How could they treat you like this? This is similar to a prison."
"Have you received any word from Rue?" the lord calmly asked.
"No, my Lord," Mirael replied. "The last message I received was when he informed me that they had tracked down the grave merchants."
The old Marquess turned to him with sharp unwavering eyes. "Mirael, I need you to listen carefully and do exactly as I say."
Mirael fell silent, sensing the weight of his lord's tone.
"From here on out, it will only get worse. The Empress will eradicate all our allies. Now that the emperor is dead, no one can stop her from controlling the court. She will try to frame all of us just like what she did to Rue and Sir Garran. I want you to warn all our allies, they know what to do next since we've prepared for this in case it happens and I want you to go to Rue and deliver my message."
Mirael nodded, his expression grim.
"He is not to return to the empire no matter what news he hears. It is not his fault. He must live his life freely out of this responsibilty and guilt. That is my wish." the old lord said in a smile knowing what will happen to him in the end.
"Now go."
"My Lord, how about you?" Mirael asked in a concern tone.
"Don't worry. I'll be fine on my own," Lord Mallory said gently.
Mirael doubts his words. How can he be fine when only death awaits to those who are charged with treason.
"No more visitors! Now leave!" one of the guards barked as they opened the door.
"Be discreet," the old lord whispered, leaning closer. "There will be eyes on you the moment you leave this room. Take care, Mirael. And thank youfor putting up with this stubborn old man."
He gave a faint smile and gently pushed Mirael back, signaling it was time to go.
Mirael clenched his fists. My lord doesn't deserve this. I will carry out your orders no matter what happens. He looked at his Lord's back for the last time.
Down in the palace dungeon, the Empress descended with a handful of knights in tow. They stopped before a cell where the Knight-Commander, Sir Garran, was shackled with enchanted chains to prevent him from using his magic. Trace of torture can be seen in his body.
"How are you fairing, Sir Garran?" the Empress asked, her voice soft but devoid of sympathy.
Sir Garran looked up at the Empress in his weakened state.
"Your trial will be held in two weeks," she continued. "It wil be in public. When the time comes, I want you to tell the people that this was all orchestrated by the Marquess and you were just following his orders in exchange for a title once he sits on the throne."
Sir Garran scoffed. He can't believe the Empress asked him to admit something that never happened.
"I can't believe the Crown Prince has a mother like you, poor prince," he said with a grin. He doesn't care anymore if he insults the Empress.
"How dare you-!" one of the knights began, stepping forward, but the Empress raised her hand and silenced him.
"It seems that you're mistaken about something. This is not a request," she said coldly. "It's an order."
"And why would I lie?" Sir Garran growled, anger flaring in his eyes. "You murdered my liege! Along with that treacherous snake!"
The Empress sighed. "I don't really want to do this but you left me with no choice."
She gestured to a knight, who left and soon returned dragging someone behind him. It was Sir Garran's son, Shaedwyn, the knight captain.
"I can't believe he managed to wound one of the twins, as expected of your son," the Empress said casually.
"Shaedwyn!" Sir Garran's eyes widened in horror looking at his son lying on the floor and heavily wounded. He tried to reach him but his chains prevented him.
"F-father," Sir Shaedwyn gasped as he lie on the floor trying to look up to his father.
"You wil pay for this!" he angrily shouted at the Empress as tears ran down his cheeks.
"Ha!" the Empress scoffed. " Let's see if you still have the audacity to speak to me like that." She extended her hand. A knight stepped forward and placed a sword in her palm. Two others seized Sir Shaedwyn and forced him to his knees.
"N-no! Please stop!" Sir Garran cried pleading as he looked at his son. Horror written on his face.
"I'm sorry father. I've failed you." Sir Shaedwyn whispered, blood dripping from his mouth. The Empress swinged the sword and cut his head.
Sir Garran wailed as he saw his son's head roll towards the cell.
The Empress stepped closer, unbothered. "Don't you have a son and daughter left? Oh let's not forget your lovely wife."
"P-please not them. I beg you." Sir Garran begged, utterly broken and filled with grief and terror for his remaining family.
"Then let me ask you again." She knelt to his eye level. "Who killed the Emperor?"
"I-it was all the Marquess' ploy to kill the Emperor." he said with his head down crying.
The Empress smiled triumphantly. Her plan was falling perfectly into place.
After leaving the dungeon, she summoned the twin mages, Soren and Loren, in the shadow "Go get his family, fast," she ordered.
"As you command," They said in unison bowing down and departed to fulfill her command. She needed leverage in case the Knight-Commander changes his words.