The Princess raised an eyebrow.
“I’m amazed at how quickly, Duke, the news of your son’s execution reached you.” Her voice sounded confident and inexorable. “But I’m even more amazed that you don’t know it was me who executed him.”
Boreas frowned, and his hand moved toward the hilt of his saber. At the same time, without saying a word, Nero and Hadjar unsheathed their weapons. They stood back to back as always. Each of them stared at ‘his’ half of the legionaries. The soldiers in green armor wanted to take a step back, feeling like the sharp metal would be caressing their throats at any moment.
Hadjar and Elaine knew perfectly well that Boreas was aware of who exactly had been the cause of his son’s death. However, he could send only the former General to his forefathers, and not the Princess... Despite all the support the Empire gave him, he would have to answer to the King and the Governor if he did.
“Step aside, Princess,” the Duke said through gritted teeth. “Don’t aggravate the situation.”
Now it was Elaine’s turn to frown.
“Excuse me?” Steel sounded in her tone. “Are you giving me orders? It seems you’ve forgotten something very important, Duke. You are the subject in my Kingdom, not the other way around.”
Her words made Boreas snap. He bared his blade and spat derisively. “Foolish girl. Your father should have kept you locked up in the Palace. Well, some proper discipline was long overdue anyway.”
Upon hearing those words, Hadjar and Nero turned away from the legionnaires and looked at the Duke. Just the energy emanating from the two swordsmen was enough to make the spears of the legionaries bend, their shafts shattering into small pieces, and then all of the soldiers were flung back in different directions, as if they’d been at the epicenter of a powerful explosion. They fell to the ground and groaned miserably. Deep gouges, caused by invisible blades, could be seen on their shields and armor.
“Perhaps you’re brave enough, Duke,” Nero growled out, his eyes flashing, “To repeat what you’ve just said.”
“But I must warn you,” Hadjar finished. “You’ll be repeating your words a second time in front of the forefathers.”
Behind Boreas, four figures in dark cloaks appeared seemingly out of thin air. Despite the fact that they were emanating the energy of a practitioner standing on the verge of becoming a true cultivator, they didn’t frighten Nero and Hadjar at all. While they fought together, they were certain that no gods or demons could stop their blades.
“That’s enough!” An imperious voice declared.
From the other side of the road, the King was walking toward them calmly. Holding his hands behind his back, he radiated the energy of a Heaven Soldier. Dark wind blades danced around him in the air. The smiling Governor followed along next to him, clearly enjoying the show.
“My King,” everyone from Lidus said in unison and fell to the ground.
Hadjar, who once again had to touch his forehead to the ground in front of his parents’ murderer, kept his rage and anger in check with great difficulty.
“Milord Governor,” the soldiers thundered, dropping to one knee. They didn’t bow to the King.
“My King,” Boreas said happily, “You must-”
“Must?” Primus roared back.
He didn’t move, didn’t even utter a sound. Hadjar could detect nothing as the Duke suffered the same fate as his son — Boreas’ head rolled across the grass.
Everyone was shocked by the King executing one of his closest allies. No one noticed how the former General stared at Primus, or how Primus kept his eyes on the mark on the back of Elaine’s palm.
Chapter 225
After Primus executed the Duke, things quickly calmed down. The Governor reprimanded his legionaries. Hadjar heard him saying that they’d become too greedy and had sold their blades to a ‘dirty peasant’. This is what Darnassus considered Lidus to be — a remote village.
The cooks and soldiers were free to go. The latter, after saluting Hadjar — which didn’t escape the King’s disgruntled gaze — set off for their homes. Hadjar watched angrily as the soldiers of his country were patrolled by the legionnaires.
The other people from Lidus considered it perfectly normal. Only Nero gritted his teeth, but that was all. Elaine, gratefully accepting the help of her brother, climbed down from her horse and almost flew over to her father.
The Princess’ intentions were clear. Primus looked at the mark of the sword on Elaine’s palm unkindly. Just for a moment, Hadjar managed to spot surprise, envy, and even anger in the King’s eyes. Then those emotions subsided, replaced by humility and even love.
Nevertheless, the King’s first urge had been the desire to possess. Not Elaine, but what she’d received from the Tree of Life. Hadjar was surprised. It wasn’t difficult to guess that Primus knew what this symbol meant. But how?
Their eyes met. The King looked at his best, but already retired, General. The former General looked at the King. It didn’t last long. It passed by as quickly as the first torrent of Primus’ emotions. It ended with Nero standing between them.
“I’ll go with them,” the Prince said, returning his gigantic blade to its sheath on his shoulder. “You never know what my sister might do.”
“Okay,” Hadjar nodded. “I’ll be in my chambers.”
Nero squinted at the King who was giving the legionaries orders. After grouping up, they marched toward Hadjar and stood behind him. They didn’t unsheathe their weapons and didn’t let their energy flare up. Even then, it was clear that Primus had assigned them to escort the General.
“I don’t think you have a choice, buddy,” Nero shook his head.
Hadjar demonstratively moved his hands away from Moon Beam.
