Legacy of the Betelgeuse

We both are looking at the pile of dead bodies burning, Ivonna then looks away because of how real it is and she can't handle it. Ivonna decides to go back to the throne room to see King Crafnell and Rodwane since we have been gone for quite a while. I also want to go back as soon as possible but I have to make sure that all of these turn to ashes since I don't want to leave any evidence whatsoever.

The fire is gone and there's nothing left but clothes and armors in there. I toss all the equipment into the sea and let the ashes blow in the wind. I check it one more time to make sure nothing is left on the ground, and then I go back inside to the portal.

I look at Ivonna is standing next to the portal while looking at King Crafnell and Rodwane. Ivonna looks at me and she raises her eyebrows.

"They're still talking. I wonder what they're talking about."

I shrug and then Ivonna tilts her head..

"Do you know what kind of relationship they have? It seems that King Crafnell was shocked when he saw Rodwane. I know that everyone knows that King Crafnell should be dead, but something tells me that he was shocked not just because of that. The way Rodwane talks toward King Crafnell feels like they were close as well."

I'm crossing my arms and nod.

"Well to put it simply, King Crafnell used to be Rodwane's friend. They were quite close based on the story I heard back then. The day King Crafnell received an order to set him up to kill him, he couldn't do it, but Emperor Lerst Eogura threatened him and would kill his whole family if he doesn't want to do it. In the end, he did set Rodwane up, but after King Crafnell told him that someone will kill him. So thanks to that, Rodwane managed to fake his death by asking Jariel's help and escorted him to Fjel Town."

Ivonna is furrowing her forehead with confusion.

"Wait, if King Crafnell is helping him out, then why is he so surprised to see Rodwane? and if that's the case, they should be still on good terms with each other, right? If so, then why King Crafnell ordered the subjects to kill us?"

I scoff and smirk.

"He was surprised to see Rodwane came back, that's all. Well for your second and third questions, it's not that simple. King Crafnell's loyalty is toward Emperor Lerst Eogura, and he already has all the wealth he needs and the big happy family he has. Now, if you're in his position, would you risk your life, your family's life, and everything that you have to help a friend that you already helped once? The walls have eyes, and even if he wants to help Rodwane again, he can't. So the only option left is to show his loyalty toward Emperor Lerst Eogura and that's it. I think he summoned all the subjects in the first place is to let us kill them and to free him from the eyes on the walls. He's nothing but a chess piece on the board."

I sigh and raise my eyebrows.

"He gambled and he won. Well, that's what I thought. I could be wrong though."

Ivonna is humming with understanding.

"I see. So he was pretending all along. Anyway, when you played with Becker back then, what happened to both of them?"

I look at her.

"They both died trying to defend what was precious to them."

Ivonna smiles while looking at me.

"So now we prevented that from happening."

I smile and nod in agreement.

"Yeah, that's right. But that doesn't mean King Crafnell wouldn't be punished for what he did. This is not just about me or you. It's about the people in the Alliance Kingdom, and of course, it includes the death of Jariel. I'm not going to be a good guy here to forgive, let go, and give a solution to those things."

Ivonna looks down and nods with understanding, then Rodwane looks at us and nods. We both look at each other and then walk toward them.

I look at Rodwane and nod up.

"You guys done talking?"

Rodwane nods while King Crafnell is still looking down at the floor. Ivonna is looking at King Crafnell and then she looks at Rodwane.

"Since we successfully infiltrated the palace and take him down, what's our plan next?"

Rodwane looks at King Crafnell.

"We both had a talk about it just now. Can you listen to my selfish request?"

Ivonna and I look at each other and I nod.

"Sure, go ahead."

Rodwane takes a deep breath.

"I heard what I need to know, and I want him to keep ruling over the Hebraum Kingdom. I know it is a part of our plan, but I have a different reason for it. There are so many things that you both need to hear, and I think now is the right time to do it."

Ivonna nods with understanding.

"Then there must be a good reason behind it. Well, I'm okay with it since as you said, it's our plan to keep him to rule the Kingdom, but I don't know about Trevor."

Both of them are looking at me. I shrug and nod.

"Sure, let's talk, but first, I need to clean up this mess. Give me a moment to clean the blood."

They nod and I use magic and spell to clean the room.

I'm done cleaning the room and it's no longer smells like blood here. The three of them are waiting for me, and then I walk toward them. Rodwane looks at King Crafnell and then he nods. Rodwane is removing the rope around King Crafnell's body, Ivonna is raising her eyebrows. Rodwane is looking at us and he wants us to believe in his decision, and so we are not saying a word.

King Crafnell is rubbing his left arm because the rope was too tight. King Crafnell looks around and then he looks at us.

"Please, follow me to my chamber."

We both nod and follow him from behind. Ivonna is opening the door for us and she looks at two royal guards are standing next to the door. She's surprised and looks back at me. I chuckle and smile.

"You don't have to worry, they both are Avriel's men."

The 2 royal guards are looking at us and then they both follow us through the hallway. The Minister is walking hurriedly from the other side of the hallway, he approaches King Crafnell and bows.

"Your Highness?"

King Crafnell is pointing somewhere in front of us.

"I will bring my guests into my chamber room. They are important guests of mine, so tell them to bring the food for my guests. Also, don't bother me for the rest of today because I will be in my chamber room with my guests."

The Minister bows again.

"Yes, Your Highness."

The Minister leaves and goes downstairs hurriedly. King Crafnell is looking at Rodwane and then he starts walking again.

We enter the chamber room, and we all sit at the table while King Crafnell is sitting on his seat in front of us. Rodwane is looking at us and then clears his throat.

"It will take a while, so please bear with me just for this."

Ivonna smiles and nods.

Rodwane starts explaining his history with King Crafnell. It's the same as what I told Ivonna earlier but in a more detailed story. My guess is right, King Crafnell is still in a good term with Rodwane, and he had no other choice but to do what he must to protect his family. Rodwane believes if King Crafnell is freed from Emperor Lerst Eogura, he would be a great king with his help. Now that we both know all the subjects in the palace are dead, but there are still so many of them out there around the Hebraum Kingdom.

Ivonna is humming with understanding.

"So, my lord is going to stay by King Crafnell's side for the meantime until our next move?"

Rodwane nods in agreement.

"I am trying to trust him because he was the one who saved my life, and I owe him that. So I will be here and try to help him."

Ivonna looks at King Crafnell and then looks at Rodwane.

"I want to believe, but everything that he did is unfitting for him to be a king. Our plan is to let you rule over the Hebraum Kingdom, and not him."

Rodwane is smiling.

"I know, my lady, but what makes us think the next king will be fit to rule? I am not trying to say that there are no other good people out there, there are millions of good people around the Alliance Kingdoms, but there are only a very few people that are fit to rule."