Chapter 771 - 770. What Comes Next (2)

Lady Elise was quite disappointed when she learned that Katherine had been killed. The whole ordeal may be gruesome and terrifying but she recalled Ocean’s words clearly when he spoke of making Katherine suffer.

"I have to play with her more, she needs to know what it means to suffer by receiving continuous blows from different places. I will cut her allies first, drag her through all sorts of hell and then put her on the pedestal before I put her on the execution platform."

Having Katherine die in a horrible way at the hands of the daughter of the man she killed was almost a poetic ending and the way the rumours of Katherine being involved with the Dark Forces were spreading was also good but Lady Elise knew it still wouldn’t be enough.

Esmertia family was like the cancerous root of all the evil, until they remained her son wouldn’t be safe, until anyone who was connected to Katherine was alive, Eric wasn’t completely safe.

"Aunt," Lady Elise was snapped out of her thoughts.

She turned her head to Alys who walked towards her with a concerned expression.

"Are you all right? You didn’t come for breakfast,"

With the time passing, Alys and Elise had grown closer, almost for a mother-daughter bond. Elise was at ease knowing that Alys genuinely didn’t want the throne- rather she despised the royal family with almost as same intensity as herself so, she had warmed up to her quicker than she had thought.

"You baked sweets again," Alys spoke as she picked one up and Elise hummed.

"I was just thinking of what happens from now," Elise admitted and then observed Alys, "I heard Master asked you to go with Eric to visit the people, right?"

Alys nodded, "It is mostly to show that I am in support of Eric and also that Carlos isn’t a threat."

Elise’s expression soured a little, Alys noticed that and quickly added, "Master has a plan for him since he’s possessed after all, the Golden Serpent being dead is a good thing but it wouldn’t be overall good if the people are agitated enough to go for a civil war. That’s the reason."

Elise sighed, she knew she was not supposed to question it all. These political and strategic matters were Ocean’s forte and he had worked hard for years to pave the way for Eric to become the King. The public already loved him and Eric himself had proven that he is the legitimate King but then again, Elise couldn’t help but shake the bad feeling she had regarding Katherine’s son being so close to her boy.

"I hope I could tell Master to keep him away from Eric..." Elise spoke and Alys walked over and sat down beside Elise.

"Don’t worry, Eric is strong and if anything happens, Master- Reina will chop Carlos’s head off." Alys spoke and then held up the madeleine to Elise’s lips, "Here,"

Elise looked at the young woman and couldn’t help but chuckle as how she had become so casual when in the beginning she was so guarded. Elise ate the madeleine and just hoped that her feeling would just subside with time. After all, without her mother or the support from Esmertia, the spoiled Prince was nothing but a paper Prince with no power or influence.

Carlos and Eric returned to the royal palace four days after the siege. There wasn’t any fuss about it despite it being Eric’s return to the palace after quite a long time.

Roger did try to make it special by joining Eric for lunch and talking to him in an amicable manner but Eric didn’t let that get to his head as he knew who was genuinely on his side and what he needed to do to keep his part of the bargain from hence on. The road to him becoming the King was already being paved and all he had to do was walk on it gracefully.

He had even received a letter from his mother that morning, she had asked about Ocean and also reminded him that no matter what happens, even after Katherine is dead, he should not think that the King or anyone else of the royal family were his family.

Eric had decided to take that advice but the way things were he couldn’t simply ignore Carlos since he was responsible for Carlos for the time being. Him being possessed was a variable that couldn’t be changed for now but Ocean was sure that Carlos could be used for their advantage while being alive.

Carlos, on the other hand wasn’t quite thrilled with the arrangements of the present.

"Ruel... do I really have to go and fix my image?"

"What else are you planning on doing? We need to follow his word for now and besides, having the people think positively of you is also for our advantage."

"But just as he is capable of helping to fix my image, he can also have it destroyed when he wants."

"That’s true..." Ruel answered, "But it’ll be fine. The Dragon isn’t someone who would break a deal thta he made, they are rightful and arrogant so, for his own honor he will keep the deal of protecting us and even helping us from time to time even if his objective is finished."

"You mean making Eric the King." Carlos rolled his eyes.

Ruel fell silent for a moment before he spoke, "It might seem impossible, my boy but trust me. I have a way of getting that throne rightfully. I just need to get my hands on something."

Carlos perked up at that, he knew Ruel had been going on and on about how he will- without any doubt- get the throne for him but now he was mentioning a specific object.

"What is it?" Carlos asked, "We can look for it together."

Ruel hummed, "It’ll be hard to find but even if we did, I have a feeling that the Dragon already has it in his possession."

Carlos’s enthusiasm deflated in an instant, "Then it’s as good as impossible to get."

Ruel chuckled, "It doesn’t work that way, my boy. The object is mine to begin with so, even if a Dragon has it, it won’t make a difference, as long as I can get my hands on it. We will have a legitimate claim to the throne and nobody- not even that Dragon could stop us then... Hell, we could even slay the Dragon at that time."

Carlos’s heart pounded with excitement as he heard that, something that belonged to Ruel that was powerful enough to even kill Ocean Ryujin? He wondered what it was but then again, if it were something so powerful was already in the hands of Ocean then retrieving it would be nearly impossible. Killing Ocean was the one aspect that almost seemed too good to be true for Carlos and he couldn’t even bring himself to believe it, but he couldn’t deny that Ruel was his benefactor and if Ruel believed it then Ocean Ryujin could be killed and probably Carlos could be the one to do that.

Envisioning the blood of Ocean Ryujin on his hands gave him a rush of thrill and anticipation as his heart raced, but he knew he had to be patient since he currently didn’t have any power to do so. But with Ruel, anything was possible.

"For that day to come," Ruel said, "We need to change how you are seen by the people, my boy. Become someone who is recognised beyond his mother and his flaws. Become someone whom the people cannot ignore or look down on. But for that, you have to start from the lowest. I hope you are willing to do anything that I tell you to, boy."

Carlos smirked, "If that’s the case then I’m ready to do anything that you tell me Ruel!"

Around four hours later, Carlos regretted saying that as he was riding on his horseback going towards one of the ruined towns of the northwest. There were large tents erected everywhere with people and soldiers lining the streets cheering for Alys and Eric while Carlos received cold, disgusted looks. He even saw some of the people whispering curses and harsh words as his horse passed by but he kept looking straight.

"Don’t get discouraged or angry. Don’t lower your head. And don’t under any cost lash out or defend yourself."

These were Ruel’s rules for this outing, Carlos would have loved for Ruel to do everything but since he also had to experience it himself, Ruel had decided that he would only step in when the need arises.

Carlos was disgruntled on the inside but he knew he couldn’t let it show. One old man spat near his horse while the kids threw pebbles at his feet, he didn’t react.

As they reached at the tent of the Baron Oberon, there were Ryujin family knights as well so the flags bearing the insignias of Oberon family, Ryujin family and even a tent that had the crest of Oasis Foundation.

The middle-aged Baron greeted the three royal children and the Archmage respectfully before he gestured for them to follow him in his tent.

Carlos heard Ruel grunt when he met eyes with the Baron. Carlos knew that this Baron was one of the three Underworld Lords who was loyal to Ocean and Ocean had destroyed one of his mother’s important allies for his sake.

They all sat down on the chairs around a small table with Drac and Sir Hopkins standing in the back.

"I welcome you all for coming here despite all the trouble to help us, Your Highnesses and Archmage." Baron spoke in a warm tone.

"It’s not any trouble, Baron. These are our people anyways." Eric spoke and the Baron smiled before looking at Alys.

"It’s an honor to finally be in your presence Your Highness. I’m so happy to see you safe and grown up so well. Your father and I had been acquainted, it’s my misfortune that I couldn’t do anything for him or you but I wish to fix that now, if you’ll allow me." There was an unmistakable light in his eyes as he said that and Alys smiled back at him.

"I don’t quite remember much of my father but I think I had heard him talking about you often and you also visited the palace to see us often, right Baron?" Alys’s memories were faint but she did recall a few things including those who genuinely were on her father’s side.

The Baron’s smile deepened, "It warms my heart that you remember me, Your Highness. If there is anything in future that you need of, please give me a chance to be of use, I’d love to be of any service that I could."

Alys nodded.

He then glanced at Archmage, "Now, I’m just hoping to see your wedding with my own eyes next and I’ll feel like this old man has lived his share."

Alys and Silas exchanged glances while Carlos sat silently without any hint of expression on his eyes, one would have thought that he was a statue.

The Baron’s eyes finally flitted over to Carlos, "I see even Your Highness Carlos is here. I’m glad that you decided to come."

Carlos gave him a curt nod and the Baron continued, "You can’t change your past but you can work on your present to hope for a better future... I hope you remember these words from this old man."

Carlos stared at the old man’s abyss like dark eyes, he felt a strange sensation coming from the old man, something he couldn’t put his finger on but he could already feel Ruel being repulsed by him so he didn’t want to interact much with him.

"I’ll keep that in mind." Carlos responded and the Baron then glanced at Drac.

"I see you are here too, Drac. How are you?"

Carlos was nearly taken aback by the casual tone that the Baron used for the man who had been acting as Eric’s guard- a Dragon at that.

"I’m fine." Drac responded.

The Baron chuckled, "You haven’t changed much apart from growing up into a strong young man, huh?"

Eric smiled as if he was in on some private joke as the Baron and Carlos started feeling nauseous, it was clear that he wasn’t supposed to be here, he didn’t belong here. The dark thoughts somehow made him recall his time with Nyx, she was probably the only one in this world now who would accept him for who he was. The only place where he could return.