Legacy of the Betelgeuse

Ivonna is speechless and she looks down at the table. Rodwane is taking a deep breath and looks at the window.

"I believe my lady knows that since you once was a leader who lead millions of people during the skirmish. Even I who live far away from the three sovereignties knows about your achievements, and I also know the reason why you gave up on it. You were a good leader and a capable one at it, but your heart is too soft and that was the only thing that stopped you from becoming the greatest. If only there was someone who could make up for your weaknesses, then you would be on top for a while."

Ivonna smiles and nods in agreement.

"I guess can't argue with that. There was one who helped me cover my weaknesses, but I didn't appreciate it and until now I'm still feeling the guilt and regret for not taking that person seriously. Now that I heard it myself, your judgemental is on point and I believe in your decision."

Rodwane smiles and nods..

"Thank you, my lady."

Ivonna lifts her head and then she looks at me.

"What about him? Will he become a great leader?"

Rodwane turns his head and looks at me.

"Trevor? He would become a tyrant and there is no doubting it. He lacks compassion and he would do anything that fits his way to achieve his goal, his ambition is unattainable to people like us, and that ambition can only be reached by only him. Because of that, he would be a terrific and terrifying leader."

Rodwane scoffs and closes his eyes.

"Thinking about it, I am curious and scared of what he is capable of if he becomes a leader, but if my lady and Trevor worked together, then everything can be achieved and there will be no walls, mountains, and skies to stop you both from achieving your goals. You both are really a good pair, Trevor is the fire and my lady is the wind where you can fuel the fire or calm the fire."

I smirk and shake my head.

"Alright, I think that's enough. Let's go back and discuss the important thing now."

Rodwane nods with understanding. King Crafnell stands up and then he approaches me, he looks me in the eyes.

"Before we continue, can I ask you one thing?"

I raise my eyebrows and nod.

"Sure."

King Crafnell lifts his finger.

"One life is enough, right?"

I'm staring at him for quite a while. Ivonna is looking at me and King Crafnell back and forth in confusion, but Rodwane is staring at me so seriously.

"Of course, since the others are not my concern. My only target is you and nobody else, but you shouldn't ask that question to me, you should ask that to the person who lost her father. I did tell her to not take your life, or at least not now."

Ivonna then realizes that King Crafnell is asking about. He's bargaining his life in exchange for the lives of the people he treasures. King Crafnell is resigned with smiles and nods knowing there's no way out for him now for what he did. Rodwane sighs with disappointment but he can do nothing but accept it as well.

King Crafnell looks at Rodwane and smiles.

"The bill comes due, my friend. Don't pity the dead, pity those who have suffered because of a dead man, my friend. I will repay for what I did with my life at stake."

Rodwane closes his eyes and nods with understanding. Ivonna is just looking at me and listening to words. I don't know if she doesn't like my decision or if she does agree with my decision because I can't tell by her expression at all, but again, she knows what he did in the past decades so there's no way she would defend him.

Rodwane nods with understanding. Ivonna is still looking at me and so I look at her and raise my eyebrows.

"Do you have something to say, Ivonna? You can say it if you want to."

Ivonna nods.

"Can we spare his life? I know that he did so many bad things to the people, but he could be doing those things because he was ordered to do it, right? He must be regretting what he did."

I exhale deeply and then look at King Crafnell.

"I guess you should be the one who answers that. Let her know what your answer is."

Ivonna looks at King Crafnell, and King Crafnell looks at Ivonna with a smile.

"Yes, that is true I was ordered to do bad things to the people of the Hebraum Kingdom and to the people of the Alliance Kingdoms, but that does not mean I regret it. No, I never regret or think about what I did to them since they are nobody to me and did not affect my life or anyone that is precious to me. I live to serve Emperor Lerst Eogura, my loyalty to His Majesty will never waiver."

Ivonna is looking at him with disbelief and disgust. King Crafnell walks back to his seat and sits down.

"I know what you are thinking, my lady. Am I a mad man? Almost. If I am not regretting what I did, then why I agreed to this? The answer is simple, my lady. The only thing that keeps me sane is my family, and I do not want to become someone who would kill my own bloodline to power and wealth. They are precious to me and nothing can be compared to them, and that is the only reason why I agree to do this. I do not care if you are a hero, my lady, or anyone in general, but when it comes to my family's life, I would do anything to make them safe and happy."

King Crafnell smiles and looks at the window while exhaling deeply.

"You will think that I am lying if I said that I do not care about wealth and power, but it is true. I do not care about those things. A wise man once told me, don't feel pride or desire about money or power cause the past has seen unsatisfied Kings who had tons. The only reason why I became a King is that to secure my family's life in a place where they can be anything they want. I have been waiting for decades, waiting for the death bringer who will make a deal with me and drag me down to hell."

King Crafnell is looking at me.

"And I have finally found the death bringer, and he is sitting in front of me right now. I have made a deal with him, and now I am ready to be dragged to hell, but the death bringer does not seem to be in a hurry. He wants me to suffer in this life until my last breath, and I am not going to complain."

I'm just glaring at him and smirk while scoffing. Ivonna and Rodwane are looking at me for quite a while and then King Crafnell puts his hands on his knees.

"Shall we start to discuss your plan, Rodwane?"

Rodwane nods then he looks at both of us.

"I am planning to stay in a hidden place where Crafnell made secretly from the Emperor. His reason to build that place is to protect his family if one day His Majesty plans to kill his whole family. I will be living there in secret and help Crafnell run the Kingdom the right way, and when the right time comes, I will reveal myself to the people of the Alliance Kingdoms, and I believe that time will come after Crafnell's death because I do not want to risk his family for me and it is safer that way since Crafnell's family will not be suspected for treason."

Rodwane rests his arms on the table.

"And for that, we will need someone to take the responsibility for his death, and I am ready to bear that responsibility so His Majesty will be focusing on me while you both will proceed to the next step. Once I rule the Hebraum Kingdom, I will protect Crafnell's family with everything I have since that is the promise I made with him."

Ivonna and I are nodding with understanding. I cross my arms and look at him.

"Fair enough, but that will not be enough. I have something to add and like it or not, you have to accept it."

I look at Rodwane and King Crafnell.

"Avriel and all his men will be placed in the Palace. They could be hiding or pretend to become royal guards to make sure there are no spies from the Eluna Empire enter the Palace, either way, it's Avriel's decision to make, but she already planned on doing so. Avriel will be staying here and observing King Crafnell until the day he dies."

Rodwane and King Crafnell nod with understanding. I look at Ivonna.

"Ivonna, I want you to stay here and help Rodwane fulfill his goal. There's nobody else that I can trust other than you. You will take care of the Alliance Kingdoms while I proceed to my next plan. Your presence here will help the people of the Alliance Kingdoms to be at peace and you will be the one who will become the real Hero who united the Alliance Kingdoms like it used to be. If you think that my decision is unjust to you, you can try to do whatever you want to make things better, and I know you can do that and I will not interfere."

Ivonna nods with understanding.

"I will."

I nod and then stare at King Crafnell and rest my head on my hand.

"Your path to hell will start from now on, King Crafnell."

King Crafnell takes a deep breath and nods.

"I understand."