Chapter 43. What Kind of Sorcery is This?

"This..."

Lucilline was stunned. All of a sudden, Zephyratt propped his elbow onto the black-haired nobleman's head, ruffling his hair with satisfaction. "Just watch and learn."

The mahogany red-haired nobleman strode forward to the Head Priest.

The Staff of Curses held in his hand was much mightier, compared to the one that the Head Priest carried. It beamed a bright light of silver, almost completely blinding the Head Priest, who was still scrambling on the ground with fear.

"Have you ever expected retribution to fall unto you?" Zephyratt questioned.

His silver eyes were searing cold, with his gentlemanly appearance fading away, the facade breaking into small crumbles.

The Head Priest sweated. "Second Master of House Rubius... you needn't to get so serious. I was merely fulfilling my duties as the overseer of the Holy Church! I am a Head Priest...! I protect Lydia Kingdom from the demons... without me, you'll all be over...!"

Zephyratt tilted his head. A strand of mahogany red hair fell down, lightly brushing his forehead.

"We'll all be over? I think you've forgotten that there are humans in Lydia Kingdom who can kill demons... without the subjugation of your God."

This sentence seemed to bite away the Head Priest's last hope.

He screamed, "I AM JUST FOLLOWING IN THE FOOTSTEPS OF OUR ANCESTORS! Why won't you understand!?! I am doing this all for the greater good...!"

His last sentence had struck something in the male lead. Azalea's amethyst purple eyes widened. From the broken glass ceiling, slivers of wind tousled through his lily white hair, sending small strands to brush into his illuminated eyes.

The moon that night was bright, but also sorrowful.

Azalea lowered his sword. To the Head Priest, righteousness is to use others for his own good. For me, righteousness is...

He couldn't finish his last thought.

It wasn't because someone interrupted him—no, he just couldn't answer himself. What is righteousness to me? To hurt others is not right. But... I've hurt people before. I ended up hurting mother... I ended up hurting sister... I ended up hurting demons... So what punishment should I convict myself of?

Azalea felt his mind twinge in pain. He clasped a hand over an eye.

"I'll begin now." Zephyratt deadpanned.

He spun the staff, leaving behind only a vague silver shadow. All of a sudden, he slammed the staff down onto the ground, sending the ground into a soft tremor. The sound of metal clashing against the floor had created a loud noise, but left the entire Church in utter silence.

Zephyratt didn't say anything else after that.

The Staff of Curses emitted a soft glow, drawing everyone's sight to it. The light didn't seem like much, but it began twisting in the air, taking form of actual movement.

The light gradually floated before the Head Priest, pausing in front of him, as if examining every detail. Then, it dashed into the old man, striking him right in the chest... before passing right out from his slouching back, bursting into a flower of flames.

In an instant, the priestess gasped.

She felt as if something was lifted off of her chest, as if her shackles had just been broken at that very moment...!

"I... am I free?" Tears welled in her eyes.

A smile slowly fell onto her lips, and she cried with gratitude. The priestess kowtowed at Zephyratt's feet, knocking her forehead onto the Church's floor.

In contrast, the Head Priest wore an ugly expression.

He gritted his teeth, and muttered several curses underneath his breath. Zephyratt merely acted as if he couldn't sense the murderous intention behind that glare. He coughed, "I have completed my job here."

During the afternoon, he had been rummaging through his father's bedroom and office. He was in search of the Staff of Curses. Zephyratt held many suspicions after hearing that the Crown Prince wanted to borrow it from Lucilline.

Could the Church be involved in curses?

Zephyratt did not find the staff, but instead, he came across his bedridden father—sitting up on his bed, and conscious. "Are you looking for this?" By Duke Rubius' side was the Staff of Curses.

It sent chills down Zephyratt's spine.

One second, his father was sleeping. The next second, his father sat up in bed, holding onto the staff which was a length of over one metre. It was almost as if Duke Rubius could sense him. It was as if... he was awake the entire time.

Zephyratt shook his head. He withdrew the staff from the floor, then watched the Head Priest collapse onto the ground.

"I will arrest the Head Priest," Dimitri sighed. He retracted his sword, sheathing it and reserving the white glow of the blade. "Leave everything to me, Second Master Rubius. You're the official heir to the Grand Duke position, aren't you? There is no need to involve yourself. I, as a Crown Prince can handle myself. However... about the matter regarding the demon girl..."

The Crown Prince sighed, fixing his gloves.

"I can help chase her down." Lucilline volunteered.

The instant moment he heard that, Zephyratt's brows furrowed. "No, Lucy—I mean, brother... there is no need to go yourself."

Lucilline had a look of puzzlement.

Zephyratt patted him on the shoulder, "I've already got everything under control." His voice was lowered down to a mere hush, with his narrow eyes revealing a sharp and silver glare.

*****

November raced against the shadows.

Her small figure dashed forwards, while her chest heaved up and down. She must escape...! Her plan was foiled... she must regroup with Miss A. this instant...! Who knows when the Royal Knights will find her. No matter how strong she was, she mustn't underestimate the power of humanity.

Her slit mouth had healed, but small traces of gooey black mucous had remained.

November's hair flew in the wind, but was still unnoticeable within the dark shadows. Her footsteps were silent, as if she was running on feathers instead of cobblestone.

I need to contact Miss A..

November's eyes begun to glow crimson red... becoming a demonic scarlet colour. She just wanted to concentrate, until—

"Huh?"

A dashing figure leaped out from the air, standing out from the night sky like a sore thumb. A woman flipped backwards, her elegant body landing onto the ground and settling into a poised position. Her heeled thigh-high boots clicked against the ground, and a black-white military outfit had shone with the moonlight against her back.

Mahogany red hair had flown prettily, scattering down to land unto the woman's fair shoulders. Silver eyes glared the demon.

"Haven't you noticed yet?" Scarletta questioned.

November blinked.

"You're already dead." The next moment November regained her eyesight, her realized that her head was already grabbed in the woman's hands...!

"You...!" Before the demon could retort, she already died.

Scarletta heaved a sigh. She swung the decapitated head around by the hair, with black mucous splattering all over the cobblestone ground. November's body had collapsed onto the ground.

Originally, Scarletta was planning on joining the mission along with the Royal Knights. However, Zephyratt had stopped her. He explained how he had studied the entire structure of the Holy Church. After all, the three Grand Duke Houses had helped along with the building. To find its structural blueprints was not a hard task for the future heir of House Rubius.

Zephyratt had studied the blueprint, then finally came up with a good idea. He predicted which were the best escape routes, and chose one for Scarletta to ambush.

"Will this really work?" At that time, Scarletta had her suspicions.

But this mastermind was truly efficient at his work.

Scarletta tapped her feet, waited for November's body to disintegrate like how the other demons did so...

Her eyes narrowed.

November's limp body had suddenly glowed red...! Within a second, Scarletta leaped backwards by ten feet. She was on her guard... cautious for the worst.

Then, she blinked.

November's body had disintegrated to ashes... just like any normal demon.

"...that..." Scarletta was at a loss for words. "What was that..."

*****

Lucilline slumped over.

He felt a great urge to close his eyes, but just bowed his head instead. There were many things to take into account this night. If the Head Priest of the Holy Church were to be arrested, then who would handle the demonic activity at Lydia Kingdom?

All of a sudden, a hand touched his hand—

"Who?" Lucilline lifted his head.

He was stunned when he met a pair of enchanting pink eyes. Jacques was at a loss for words, but he still insisted on saying something.

"...I am sorry for stealing your... bracelet earlier." His eyes slanted downwards, as he apologized. The blue-haired mage's brows furrowed, as his expression was contorted in sorrow. "I didn't know you were the Young Master of House Rubius. I... also didn't know that the bracelet meant a lot to you. I... I am sorry."

Lucilline's delicate golden eyes widened.

His lips parted, wanting to say something... but then just nodded silently.

Jacques didn't know what to make of it. He added, "I am indebted to you, Young Master Rubius. If it wasn't for you choosing not to punish me, Hugo would've had to suffer without me. Please accept my apology, Young Master Rubius. I can give you whatever you want of me."

The blue-haired mage had meant to add more.

But he was interrupted by a finger to his lips. Lucilline leaned close, enough for the mage to count every single delicate eyelash.

"I don't want anything of you." Lucilline whispered, his breath pouring onto the mage's lips.

Jacques felt himself overwhelmed by a mysterious force. It was strange. This mortal clearly had not a single trace of magic energy, but Jacques' heart squeezed so badly that it was painful.

"But I appreciate your sincere apology." Lucilline's thin lips curved upwards. He smiled gently, "Then just take care of yourself for me? Make sure to not steal anymore."

A layer of blush revealed on the mage's cheeks.

Jacques could feel his face burning, but he forced out the words, "Mn," before rushing back in a hurry.

What kind of sorcery is this? ( ･ั﹏･ั)

He cupped his cheeks, afraid to let anyone else see the burning red. All of a sudden, an ice cold hand fell onto his shoulders. Willow's expression couldn't even be described with words. Her frigid cold voice washed over the mage, "What did you steal from Young Master?"

Jacques' flustered appearance had froze solid.

Zephyratt took a seat on the floor next to his younger brother. He played with the strands of black hair, wrapping them around his finger.

When their mother was still alive, he would do the same with her black hair.

Now that she was gone, he did it to his younger brother. Lucilline always acquiesced. Hair was hair. But Lucilline's hair was by far the closest to their mother.

"The mission is to stop here." Dimitri ordered. "You've all done your best. We have achieved something and learned from this mission. You may all return back to your homes."

He turned to secretly flash a look at the black-haired nobleman.

Lucilline noticed that gaze, and just gently smiled.

Dimitri hurriedly broke eye contact, not daring to look anymore. He coughed, throwing a fist before his mouth. "Let's separate."

The Royal Knights had returned back to their settlement, with the Crown Prince heading back to the Royal Palace. Meanwhile, Lucilline ushered his big brother back to Duke Rubius' manor. The black-haired nobleman wanted to catch up with his friends.

In the end, Willow and Augustine was sent to escort Zephyratt back.

"We missed you so much, Lucilline!" Daphnne smiled.

Azalea wore a gentle smile, but his mind was plagued by questions. "Yes, we missed you." For some odd reason, he appeared quite haggard.

"How have you been the past few days?" Percival asked. He tucked his bow and arrows away, and wore a friendly expression.

Lucilline sighed. "I have been busy these past couple of days."

Indeed, he was busy training back at home for the upcoming mission. But now that the mission was over, he felt as if a stone was lifted off his chest.

"I'm worried," Percival admitted, "I wonder what will happen to Lydia Kingdom now that the Head Priest is arrested..."

"It will be fine! I'm sure that the King and Queen will find a solution!" Daphnne added.

She quipped, "Right, Az?"

Azalea flinched. He hurriedly added, "Ahh, yes, of course."

Daphnne: ???

She asked, "What's wrong, Az?"

The male lead just shook his head apathetically, "No, nothing's wrong. My mind just hurts a little, that's all." He rubbed his temples, his brows furrowed from stress.

Lucilline turned to look at him.

Concern etched over his face, "Are you sure? You should return to the inn if you're tired." Lucilline stepped closer, pressing the back of his hand against the male lead's soft forehead. "Are you sick? Make sure to get some rest..."

Azalea hurriedly snatched Lucilline's hand off of his forehead.

His amethyst purple eyes shied away, with his face turned light red. Azalea held on the black-haired nobleman's fair hand, not daring to let it go. It was cool and yet soft, bringing him back out from his earlier recollection.

"Azalea...?" Lucilline tilted his head.

His delicate face had moved Azalea's heart, and the latter couldn't help but stumble. He tightened his hold onto Lucilline's hand, as if wanting to merge them into one.

"Sorry," Azalea smiled. "Perhaps I was just too stressed." There is no point in figuring things out this instant. I can think about it later.

Seeing that Azalea was no longer worried, Lucilline could let go of his concerns.

His hand slipped out from the male lead's grasp, as he sighed, "If you have anything of concern, you could always tell us. Remember that you will always have your friends."

Azalea just smiled. "Mhm."

Percival smiled too, and wanted to add something. All of a sudden, he felt his arm grabbed by someone—

"Young Master Delta!"

In an instant, Percival's smile had vanished. The soft and gentleness in his eyes had also gone. It was one of his servants...!

"Hey!" Daphnne retorted. "As a servant, are you allowed to grab your Master like that?"

"We need you right away!" The servant was desperate, ignoring the heroine without batting an eye. "Don't worry, this has nothing to do with your father. Rather... it has something to do with the entire House of Delta."

Seeing that the situation was so urgent, Percival turned serious.

"Tell me right here." He deadpanned.

The servant hesitated. He looked at Lucilline, Azalea, then Daphnne.

Sensing his gaze, Percival added, "They are all my trusted companions. We have just finished a mission together, so speak quick. I want to rest."

At last, the servant overcame his hesitation.

He blurted out, "Just now, a bunch of intruders had trespassed Grand Duke Delta's property! Right now, they're being chased, but they not only trespassed but have also stolen something...!" The servant fiddled with his thumbs, then added, "They stole the Book of Revelation!"