Chapter 15

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"What ?" asked Matthew in a voice stifled with shock.

"I-It was Duke Lobelia... who ordered me... to poison the emperor..."

"You're lying... Tell me the truth..." he accused, squeezing his neck tightly.

"I'm not lying ! Believe me ! It's the truth ! He is the one who asked me to do it ! He gave us a big sum of money for that !" shouted the bandits' chief in tears.

Matthew released him abruptly and let him fall to the ground like a vulgar object. Then, he stepped back to go out of the room.

He felt suffocated and his surrounding began to spin. He tried to keep his balance by leaning against a wall and putting his hand on his temple.

'I can't believe it... The father of the girl I'm madly in love with... whom I'm willing to sacrifice my life for... is a traitor ?' he thought bitterly.

One of his companions came to help him while the other put handcuffs on the bandits' leader.

"Captain ? Are you okay ?" asked the knight worriedly.

"Y-yeah... I just felt a little unbalanced..." he reassured.

"The declaration of that brute wasn't easy for you... I understand you... I, too, am very shocked-"

"I want you to keep this a secret for now, Alphonse. We need to be certain of what he said, first."

The knight was surprised by his captain's words.

"As you wish, Captain."

"Good. Let's go back to the palace now. Bring this traitor back with you. I still have plenty of questions for him," he ordered.

"Understood."

Once out of the villa, one of Matthew's comrades who had freed the little Hugo from the stables approached him.

"Captain," he called.

"Yes, Tom ? What is it ?"

"It's the kid. He hasn't stopped crying for a while now. We've tried everything to calm him down but it's not working. He seems to be really scared."

Matthew looked ahead, near the horses where one of his comrades stood, accompanied by the little boy who barely reached his waist.

Matthew slowly approached him, smiling affectionately at him. The little child's eyes were swollen with tears and his small cheeks were red.

He knelt in front of him and wiped away his tears.

"Don't cry, Hugo. You have nothing to fear now. You're saved."

"Where is my mummy ? What happened to her ?" he asked, sobbing.

"Your mummy is waiting for you at the palace. She has nothing and is doing very well. But she's very worried about you."

"T-those men told me that she is dead... They told me that I'll never see her again..." he said bursting into tears even harder than before.

Matthew hugged him tightly in his arms.

"No ! No no no ! She's not dead... We'll bring you back to her..."

"Really ?" asked the little boy with his innocent, sparkling eyes.

"Of course. But you have to be strong. You have to stop crying and show that you are very brave so you can meet your mummy."

"Okay..." he replied, smiling slightly and wiping his tears.

Matthew carried the little boy in his arms and sat him on the back of his horse before climbing up behind him.

"Hold on to the reins, Hugo."

"Yes."

Matthew turned to the others to give them the signal.

They had tied the handcuffs which they put on the bandits' leader with ropes so that he can't escape.

"Let's go," he ordered.

══════ ∘◦❁◦∘ ══════

Meanwhile, at the palace, Azusa was sitting with Mina in the small living room while having tea.

"It feels good to rest a little bit every now and then," Azusa said with a sigh.

"It's true. Especially when there's a lot of work to be done. You should accept my help more often, don't you think ?" she suggested, smiling.

"Thank you. But you also have your own tasks to do. It must be difficult, isn't it ?"

"Not too much. Sir Lobelia often helps me when he has free time," she replied, blushing slightly.

"Eric ?" Azusa asked, teasing her.

"Y-Yeah..." Asminah's cheeks got more red.

"I see..." she said, taking a sip of her tea.

A little moment of silence settled down.

"I really don't understand why they want to poison His Majesty. Everyone knows he doesn't have much time to live, and no one knows about Luana's departure except us. So why do it ?" Mina asked, confused.

"I don't know... I'm really lost..." Azusa replied, staring blankly at her cup.

"I hope Sir Carter can capture those damn bandits ! At least we can find out who's behind all of this."

"I hope so too... But..." she mumbled.

"But ?"

"I don't know why but... I have a bad feeling... A very bad feeling..."

"Don't worry. Everything will be fine. It's normal to have this feeling given the events that happened earlier."

"Things are getting from bad to worse, Mina. I'm very afraid of what the future holds for us."

Mina took Azusa's hand and squeezed it gently.

"We're going to be okay, Azu. Trust me. We're strong enough for this," she reassured.

"Thank you..." replied the young girl, smiling softly.

A few seconds later, someone knocked on the door.

"Come in," Azusa ordered.

It was Gardner who appeared in the room, a letter in his left hand. He stepped forward and bowed to the two young girls.

"Lady Lobelia. Lady Taliny."

"What brings you, Gardner ?" asked Azusa.

"Her Highness received a letter from Sir Andvari. Since she's not here, I thought I should give it to you," he said, giving her the small white envelope.

"Thank you, Gardner," she said, smiling at him.

The butler bowed one last time before leaving the room.

"Who is this Andvari ?" Asminah asked curiously.

"It's me and Luana's childhood friend. Although he was four years older than us, we played together a lot," she replied, smiling slightly.

"Oh I see."

"He's also an Imperial Knight. But he's specialized in the Secret Services."

"So, he's a secret agent."

"Exactly. He left six months ago on a mission for His Majesty," she said, opening the envelope.

"And what does he say in his letter ?"

"Let's see..."

She took it and began to read it aloud.

┌─────── ∘◦❁◦∘ ───────┐

Your Highness,
Princess Luana Aubretia,

I heard the news about His Majesty's illness and very serious condition.
I'm sincerely sorry about that

and I praying that he recovers quickly.

I wanted to let you know that
the mission he gave me is accomplished.
So, I'll be back at the palace in about two weeks from now.

Take good care of yourself.

Your faithful
servitor and friend,
Elion Andvari,

└─────── ∘◦❁◦∘ ───────┘

"He seems to have a very good relationship with Luana," remarked Mina.

"Of course. He always thought of her as his little sister, and she, as her big brother."

"That's so cute," she chuckled softly.

"Yeeah, you're right," Azusa did the same.

══════ ∘◦❁◦∘ ══════

Matthew and his companions arrived at the palace after a three hours ride.

Once in the courtyard, Ruth, who remained planted in front of the window all day, ran out of the building towards her son.

"Hugo !" she called out.

The young boy dismounted the horse with Matthew's help before running towards her.

"Mummy !"

She took him in her arms and lifted him into the air, hugging him tightly, tears streaming down her face.

"I'm sorry I left you there alone, My Baby."

"I-I was scared, Mummy," replied the little boy in tears.

"Don't worry, My Angel. Everything's fine now. We're not going to separate anymore, okay ?" she reassured, stroking his cheek and hair.

"Y-yes..."

At that moment, Azusa came out of the building and walked towards Matthew. The latter felt a pain emanate from his chest when he saw her. An enormous sadness filled his whole being.

"Good to see you again, Sir Carter," she said with a smile.

"Thank you, Lady Lobelia," he replied, bowing.

After that, Ruth turned to Matthew and smiled affectionately at him.

"Thank you so much, Sir Carter. I'm very grateful to you. Without your help, I would surely have lost my son."

"I only did my job, Mrs. Lander. Hugo was a very brave young man, isn't it, Hugo ?" he said, stroking the child's head.

"Yes ! Uncle Matthew saved me and got me on his horse. I was like a real knight !"

"Really ?" Ruth asked, chuckling lightly.

"Yes ! When I grow up, I want to become a strong and courageous knight like Uncle Matthew ! And I will save so many lives !"

"You will be, Hugo. I'm sure of that. But before that, you have to grow up well and listen to what your mom tells you. Can you promise me that ?" asked Matthew, smiling.

"Yes, Uncle Matthew ! I promise !"

After that, Ruth took her son inside while the captain ordered one of the knights to take the bandits' leader to the dungeon.

"I'm glad to see that no one was seriously injured," Azusa said.

"To tell you the truth, Lady Lobelia, this is the first time I've encountered a group of bandits as weak as this one."

"Maybe they were just taken by surprise."

"No. I don't think that's the case..."

Azusa looked at him in confusion.

"And what did their leader say ? Who ordered them to do this ? Did he reveal anything to you ?"

Matthew stayed silent for a few seconds, looking her in the eye.

"No... He didn't say anything yet..."

"I see..."

"I have to go now, Lady Lobelia. Please excuse me," he said, bowing.

Matthew followed the others inside, leaving the confused and slightly sad girl behind.

Walking down the hall, Matthew saw Angus coming from the opposite direction. Seeing them, a big smile appeared on his lips.

"Sir Carter. I'm glad you're back safe and sound."

"Thank you, Your Grace. I brought the traitor back with me as you requested," he said, bowing and pointing to the man behind him.

Angus gave him an icy glare that made the bandit tremble.

"Let me go ! I told you everything I know ! Let me go !"

"You're really too insolent for someone who is going to die soon," Angus said in disgust, stepping in front of him.

"Who are you to talk to me like that ?! Do you think you're scaring him ?! Argh !" he was hit hard by the knight who was guarding him.

"Take him to the dungeon," Angus ordered.

"Yes, Your Grace," answered the guard.

The criminal was taken away while Matthew stayed silent, a very confused expression on his face.

"I'm going to show him what happens to those who try to attack His Majesty," Angus said angrily.

Matthew was snapped out of his thoughts and pulled himself together quickly.

"Don't worry about it, Your Grace... I'll take care of it myself..."

Angus sighed heavily.

"Thank you, Sir Carter... I'm very tired of all this..."

"I understand you, Your Grace."

"I won't hold you back any longer. You must be tired. Go get some rest for now," he said, smiling tiredly.

"Thank you, Your Grace," Matthew replied bowing.

══════ ∘◦❁◦∘ ══════

As night fell, Angus went to Arthur's room. There, he found Gardner accompanied by the doctor who was examining the emperor's condition.

"Good evening, Doctor Cross," he greeted.

The doctor stood up and bowed to him.

"Good evening, Your Grace."

"Reassure me, Doctor. He's doing better, isn't he ? He's going to be okay !" he asked, a glimmer of hope in his eyes.

The doctor looked down. Then, he walked over to the duke and put his hand on his shoulder.

"All we can do now is pray for him," he replied sadly.

Angus stared into the void in front of him, not saying a single word. He opened his mouth to speak, but no words could come out.

"Please... Leave me alone with him..." he asked, shaking slightly.

"As you wish, Your Grace," replied Gardner.

Once the two men left the room, Angus burst into tears as he fell to his knees on the floor.

"Arthur..." he whispered, clenching his fists.

He stood up slowly and walked over to the emperor's bed and looked at him. His eyes were closed and his face was very pale. He looked like a dead man.

"Arthur..." he called softly.

He got no answer.

"Arthur, my friend..."

He took a chair and sat beside him, taking his hand in his and squeezing it tightly.

"Please... Wake up..."

His tears continued to flow down like rivers, reflecting the agony he felt inside.

"Arthur, please... Don't do it for me... Do it for your daughter... She has no one but you... Don't abandon her too... She will not be able to bear it... Please... Come back to us..."

He continued to cry like this for long minutes, not knowing that on the other side of the door, stood Matthew, his forehead placed on the hard surface, lost in thoughts while clenching his fists.

Then, abruptly, he pulled himself together and strode away from the room, walking along the long hallway.

══════ ∘◦❁◦∘ ══════

The young knight went down to the dungeon and walked towards the cell of the bandits' leader.

When he got there, he found a guard who opened the door for him.

"Did anyone come here ?" he asked.

"No, nobody. We did exactly as you ordered us."

"Good."

As he entered the cell, he found the man sitting on the floor, staring into space. The latter looked at him.

"What do you want from me again ?! I've already told you everything !" he said, annoyed.

"Who gave the order to poison His Majesty ?" Matthew asked.

"Are you kidding me ?!" he asked in a very angry tone.

Abruptly, Matthew took a dagger out of his pocket, pressed the criminal against the wall and placed the sharp blade on his throat.

"Answer my question if you don't want to die," he ordered coldly.

"I already told you it was Duke Lobelia !"

"You're lying to me ! Tell me the truth ! Now !" he ordered, shouting in his face.

"I'm telling you the truth ! It's him ! I'm one hundred percent sure !"

"How can you be so sure of that ?"

"Because I saw him with my own eyes !"

"What ?! What did you say ?! You saw him ?!" Matthew asked, surprised.

"Yes ! And I will recognize him anywhere !"

'But the duke didn't go out of the palace since Luana's departure,' he thought.

Matthew recovered quickly and pulled the dagger closer to the man's throat.

"Then why didn't you recognize him when we ran into him earlier in the hallway ?"

"What ?! Duke Lobelia is here ?! In this palace ?!"

"Do you take me for a fool ? He's the man you insolently talked to earlier !"

"What are you talking about ?! That man isn't Duke Lobelia !"

"What ?"

"Duke Lobelia is a young man with white hair and red eyes ! I saw him with my own eyes ! It's impossible that the man I met earlier was him !"


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