Dead Soul Exorcist

05 | Ploy of the Princes

Dravon removed his estate cloak, draping it over his arm as he entered Duke Zephyr's warmly lit manor. A maid approached, walking alongside him.

"How is the little girl?" Dravon inquired. They strode confidently towards the western wing of the manor, where Dravon's prepared chambers awaited.

"She has just fallen asleep, Your Highness," the maid replied with a peaceful smile, one of the reasons Dravon preferred this manor over his own in Central Palace. Here, the maids didn't harbor undue fear of their master.

Arriving in the cozy room with a large canopied bed and a flickering fireplace, Dravon stood by the bedside. He observed the peacefully sleeping two or three-year-old girl, hands resting beside her head. His gaze softened as he noticed the pendant with the name 'Lunabelle' around the little girl's neck.

"Your current fate is similar to what I experienced in the past," Dravon whispered faintly. He then smiled at the maid. "Please keep an eye on the little girl every two hours. I'll sleep in another room tonight."

"Very well, Your Highness."

Dravon quickly left the room and briskly walked through the corridor. The manor was now quite deserted as the maids had retired and would only appear if summoned. However, Dravon wouldn't call them just to inquire about the whereabouts of his friend and the host. He knew precisely where he could always find Will Zephyr.

Will's house library wasn't the most luxurious Dravon had seen, but it was impeccably organized with well-maintained books and shelves, the scent of paper and room fresheners dominating the air, and comfortable reading lounges. Typically, Dravon could find Will lounging on one of those sofas, immersed in books on politics and economics. But tonight, Will wasn't there.

"Will... I beg you..." The whisper was faint and distant, but Dravon heard it. Silently, he walked toward the sound and stopped two shelves away from its source. Through the gaps between books, he saw the back of a girl wearing a red satin robe. The girl's hair was as blonde as the flames in the fireplace.

Dravon didn't recall inviting Emmeline Purplesong to this place. Apparently, the Crown Princess had chosen to stay here. No wonder the Lotus Palace was left unattended.

Normally, Dravon wasn't keen on befriending beautiful yet empty-headed girls, but due to their equally high social status, Emmeline suddenly accompanied him wherever he went.

"Enough, Ems." This was the first time Dravon heard Will's voice sound so soft and vulnerable. "I can't sacrifice the honor of my family name for you. A Duke's son like me shouldn't be involved with the Crown Princess."

Dravon was taken aback, keeping his mouth shut, not expecting to overhear such a private conversation between the couple.

"But... you know Prince Vikrant is ruthless, don't you? Just look at what happened to Princess Silvanna! Will, you won't let me suffer the same fate, right?"

"Ems," Books shifted as Will pressed Emmeline against the bookshelf. "When Dravon's plan succeeds, he'll soon become the Crown Prince! He'll be the next king! You won't be matched with Prince Vikrant! You'll sit on the throne alongside Dravon! And I won't dare steal my friend's future queen."

Will's words, full of trust in him, warmed Dravon's heart. But Emmeline screamed, "What?! Have you lost your mind, Will?! You think I'd marry a Prince whose blood isn't pure like his?"

Dravon's fingers clenched as he gazed at his two shoes. It wasn't the first time he had received derogatory remarks about his presence in the palace. However, it was the first time he heard such words from one of his friends.

"Ems, everything has changed now," Will's voice sounded as cold as an ice block. "Don't approach me like this again. Our relationship ended when you signed that engagement letter."

"Oh, you weren't like this when Princess Silvanna got engaged to Prince Vikrant!" Emmeline stepped forward, striking Will's chest. Dravon knew about Will's first love for Princess Silvanna, more akin to a younger sibling's affection for an older sister. "Do you still love her? Do you still hope she appears so you can marry her, Will? Just admit you still love her!"

"Who doesn't?" Will responded plainly, though the words were harsh enough for Emmeline to promptly leave the library. As the library door slammed shut, Dravon emerged from his hiding place.

"I never knew you were involved," Dravon said, stepping confidently towards Will.

Will didn't appear surprised by his presence, merely leaning against the bookshelf with folded arms. "We were supposed to be engaged next year. The agreement would have been highly beneficial for both our families. But the vacant position of the Crown Princess needed to be filled urgently. I'm grateful she was greedy enough to take that role. Her whining gives me a headache."

They walked towards a table Will had occupied earlier. On it, there was a bottle of whisky and a glass. "Someone has to pay final respects to that woman," Will whispered while pouring a glass for Dravon. "She should be buried and given a farewell by all those who loved her."

Dravon took a slow sip of his drink. He may not have known Princess Silvanna like the rest of Valorthorn's citizens, but he had encountered her a few times in the palace.

"So, it's true, Princess Silvanna is your first love, and you still love her?" Dravon inquired.

"Always," Will replied.

***

Prior to this, Kieran had only visited Duke Zephyr's Manor once, attending William's birthday party. However, he still remembered the imposing walls surrounding the manor and the guards who preferred lounging near the gate, chatting and sipping coffee rather than patrolling to find potential intruders. Given Duke Zephyr's esteemed and benevolent reputation, no one dared to steal from his residence.

Thanks to Kieran's climbing skills and the tall trees both inside and outside Duke Zephyr's residence, Kieran arrived in the lush garden. The makeshift garden lights left shadows behind untouched trees. It became Kieran's hiding place as he observed the state of the house.

From a window with slightly parted curtains, allowing glimpses of passing maids, Kieran discerned Lunabelle's room at the end of the corridor on the west wing of the main building. He approached the nearest window to scrutinize the door closely. The door was intentionally left slightly ajar, revealing only the flickering fireplace behind it.

After ensuring no one was in the corridor, Kieran broke one pane of the window. The glass shattered, scattering onto the carpet below. He swiftly reached through the window, turning the window lock. The window swung open, and Kieran jumped into the manor.

Entering the warm room, Kieran was startled to see a large person standing with his back to him. Lunabelle was asleep on his shoulder like a koala baby.

"General Griffin?" Kieran stared at the person in disbelief. He took a step back as General Griffin turned to look at him. Prepared to flee if General Griffin decided to imprison him. However, General Griffin remained unmoved.

"During your time with Eliora, have you ever thought she's a very kind person?" Kieran held his breath, steadying himself as he stepped closer, preparing to take Lunabelle.

"Can't answer, huh?" The General sighed in disappointment. "To me, she's like a mischievous child. Unhesitant to break rules to get what she wants."

Kieran's eyes widened. "You know Eliora well?" he asked.

The General forced a smile. "I'm the one who forged that identification card for her," the General whispered, full of regret. The embrace around Lunabelle tightened, causing concern for Kieran. "I'm also the one who secretly escorted her to the city of Umbravale."

"General, are you going to take Lunabelle to the orphanage in the north?" Kieran asked.

General Griffin didn't answer immediately. Kieran just realized how old and compassionate the general's face appeared. "Eliora Silvanna Silverlake," the General whispered, mentioning two names familiar to Kieran. Names he belatedly recognized as a complete identity. "I gave her that middle name. When she was born, her hair was as beautiful as cotton candy. Eliora hated that hair, so she always covered it up."

Kieran's breath caught. He didn't grasp the unfolding reality. Every fact uttered by the General felt like an unreal dream. But Kieran lacked arguments to refute it all.

"Is she managing the orphanage properly?"

"Who are you really, General Griffin?" Kieran challenged the General's gaze.

"I..." General Griffin's hand gently stroked Lunabelle's hair. "Am the finest knight in service to the Silverlake family. Before I joined the war and was promoted to a general."

"And..." Kieran bit his lip. "Eliora is Princess Silvanna?"

General Griffin fell silent.

"Why did she forsake her destiny as a future queen in this realm to care for a small orphanage in the neighboring kingdom?" Faintly, Kieran heard the pounding of hooves. Yet, he ignored it in pursuit of the truth from the General.

"We don't have time," General Griffin said suddenly. The man transferred Lunabelle into Kieran's arms. Now, Kieran could hear the front door slamming. He stared at General Griffin in panic as the old man whispered, "General's Bow." A golden bow and arrow materialized in his hands like magical conjuration.

"General—"

"Go! Take Lunabelle to the house at 27 Black Rose Street. That's my home. Grab some clothes and necessary funds. There are a few new identification cards in the drawer you can choose from."

Kieran quickly opened the window, ready to leap out. "You haven't answered my question, General," he said.

"Don't you realize, young Nyxshade? You are the reason behind all of this."

The footsteps of several people echoed in the corridor. Kieran had already jumped out of the window, hiding behind the shadows of trees when he heard the light voice of Prince Vikrant.

"Woah. May I know why you arrived here before me, Griffin?" the Prince asked. "Or should I interpret it as betrayal?"

"Not, my Prince. I came here to pick up Princess Emmeline."

"Do you think I believe your foolish excuse?"

Kieran desperately wanted to stay and defend General Griffin in case something happened to the old man. However, the unfriendly expression from the General seemed to force Kieran to leave immediately. Therefore, Kieran took Lunabelle away from Duke Zephyr's residence.

***

The house was dusty as Kieran entered and turned on the lights. He quickly found a room and seated Lunabelle on the bed. The girl just sat there, rubbing her hands.

"Lunabelle, talk to me. I'm worried about you," Kieran said as he took a suitcase from the wardrobe and filled it with a few pieces of men's clothing. Then, he checked the drawer and found some gold pouches. After taking two gold pouches, Kieran picked an identification card that might match his age.

"Mama forbids me to talk if she doesn't come back for a long time."

Kieran turned in surprise. "Did Eliora say that?"

Lunabelle nodded. Her pale white eyes blinked a few times, which Kieran realized was an attempt to hold back tears. "When will Mama come back, Ky?"

"Eliora..." Kieran rubbed his face. He quickly closed the suitcase in frustration. "Eliora went to a place very far away, and we can't reach her."

"Not possible. Mama promised not to leave me alone!" Lunabelle began to cry, breaking Kieran's heart just by seeing it. "Mama couldn't have gone without her favorite thing."

Kieran crouched in front of Lunabelle. "Oh really? What thing is that?"

Lunabelle took something out of the pocket of her warm jacket. A thin, small diary. "Mama always lets me keep her favorite thing."

Kieran wet his lips. He felt so powerless. The girl was around three years old, born without sight. Her father didn't care for her, and now her mother was gone. Kieran was still too young to care for her alone, especially considering his fugitive status. Should he wait for General Griffin and let him take care of Lunabelle? But what if Prince Vikrant became suspicious? It seemed Kieran had no choice but to leave the city with Lunabelle, keeping her safe as Eliora had requested in her final plea.

"Lunabelle, tomorrow we're going home," Kieran said, stroking Lunabelle's hair. "Sleep now. You must be tired. I'm sure, wherever Eliora is, she's about to sleep, singing a lullaby for you."

His words made Lunabelle burst into tears. Kieran hugged her and lay beside the little girl all night. When Lunabelle had fallen asleep, unintentionally releasing the diary, Kieran took the book and was about to place it on the nightstand.

But then he remembered his conversation with General Griffin. That he was the reason behind all of this.

Kieran opened the diary to a random page and came across a page stiffened by water stains. There were only a few lines written.

"Tonight, the nefarious scheme of Dravon is officially in motion. I can't bear it any longer. I won't stand idly in the palace while the citizens of Umbravale suffer."

Kieran's hand trembled. Anger over traumatic events from the past blinded his eyes. Dark revenant power emanated from his body. Kieran clenched his fists until the palms were injured.

"Dravon..." he whispered furiously. "Why would you be so heartless to do all of this?"