Dead Soul Exorcist

06 | Whispers of Uncertainty

Even the fire in Duke Zephyr's manor living room couldn't thaw the icy heart of the crown prince. All the servants had been awakened, lining up on the side of the room unseen by Prince Vikrant. It was an open secret that he regarded the servants as pests, unwilling to lay eyes on them unless necessary.

Dravon could only remain silent, observing his older brother sip the oldest wine owned by Duke Zephyr. He remained huddled, leaning his back against the chair occupied by Will. Since earlier, Will could only bow his head, unable to assume his father's role as the host. Dravon understood the simmering anger within Will upon learning that Lunabelle was a legitimate daughter Prince Vikrant refused to acknowledge. All sensible men in Valorthorn desired to marry and bring joy to Princess Silvanna, but Vikrant refused solely because their firstborn was a girl. What Dravon could learn was this: the more he knew his older brother, the deeper the disappointment he acquired.

"Your Highness," kneeling on the floor and guarded by several knights, General Griffin seemed to still be attempting to clarify his reason for being in Dravon's chambers at this late hour. But both Dravon and Vikrant were weary of hearing Emmeline Purplesong's name mentioned. As if Dravon were mad enough to sleep with his own brother's fiancée, and as if Vikrant cared enough about the girl.

Prince Vikrant immediately slammed the wine glass onto the floor until it shattered into a million shards. Some servants startled in surprise. "Stay silent, you old fool!" the prince snapped. "I am contemplating a fitting punishment for a traitor like you."

"Brother," Dravon cleared his throat. "You wouldn't impose a death sentence on the best war general our kingdom has, would you?"

Vikrant's hand rose, his wrist moving gracefully as a magic staff began to take shape. With a single swing of the staff, Dravon was immediately thrown against the brick wall by the fireplace. The back of his head felt an instant ache, though not more painful than what his heart endured.

"I could kill him if I wanted to, Dravon," Vikrant uttered coldly. The prince turned his gaze back to General Griffin, his eyes pitch black like the night. "You just arrived to witness our fugitive kidnapping that troublesome little girl. But how can I trust that someone without proficient magical abilities could escape the notice of the general? I may have been born fifty years after you, General, but I am not foolish. WHERE DID YOU SEND THEM?!"

"As I mentioned, Prince, he is agile and sharp-eyed. And I..." General Griffin fell silent for a moment, gazing at his hands resting on the floor. "...am quite certain he possesses a talent for magical archery."

Dravon took a deep breath. Yes, he had indeed heard from the Highest Priest that the revenant's curse Kieran possessed allowed him to absorb the magical abilities of a deceased friend or family member. However, he didn't know that Kieran would also acquire other abilities, such as agile and keen vision.

"Aaarrgh!" The Crown Prince rose from his chair and swept his hand across the small table beside him. Everyone fell silent, watching as the wine bottle and glasses on the table fell and shattered on the floor. "It feels like talking to the undead! How long do you think I've known you, General Griffin?! I know very well how you lie! From now on, your titles are revoked. I don't want to see you in my palace again, and I want you out of this kingdom as soon as possible. Take your entire family or you'll see them all end up on the gallows, Griffin!"

Truly a poor decision, thought Dravon. He glanced at General Griffin, who didn't protest the punishment at all. In his heart, he was determined to find that competent general as soon as he successfully claimed the position of the crown prince. Dravon couldn't view General Griffin as a mere pawn on the chessboard to be sacrificed recklessly. The general's skills and experience in warfare were invaluable.

As Prince Vikrant left the room with his knights, the wine glass held by Will shattered in his grip. Thick blood mingled with the spilled wine along his arm. His eyes were already teary. "Please, Dravon, reclaim the throne from that vile man!"

Dravon snorted, then patted Will's shoulder twice. "You don't even need to plead, Will. My purpose has never wavered."

***

"Ky... what are you doing to my hair?" A moment later, Lunabelle's sweet laughter echoed in the bathroom. "It's so cold!"

"Just a little more patience, Lunabelle!" Amidst all the unseen burdens seemingly weighing on Kieran's shoulders since reading Eliora's diary, he joined in the laughter. His hands skillfully applied the dark blue hair dye to Lunabelle's entire pinkish-red hair. Exactly like Kieran's original hair color. "I'm changing the color of your hair. Because it's so unique, I'm afraid someone might kidnap you."

"Do you mean Grandpa General?"

Kieran's hand movements paused in the air. "How do you know about General Griffin?" he asked, looking at the puddle on the floor, mixed with shades of blue from the dye. "Did he talk to you last night?"

Lunabelle shook her head gently. "But Grandpa General's scent is very distinctive! He smells like catnip! When he carries me, his hands are as strong as tree trunks. I want to marry Grandpa General when I grow up."

Kieran burst into laughter. "How can a three-year-old think about marriage?" he chuckled. "What about your father? Do you know him?"

For some reason, Lunabelle didn't answer immediately. From the mirror on the bathroom wall, Kieran noticed the child's face turning somber. "I've never hugged him, so I don't know how he smells," murmured Lunabelle. "And I forgot his voice because I've only heard it once. But Uncle Dravon's voice is easier to remember."

The response left Kieran amazed. How could a three-year-old be so intelligent and remember people she met as a baby?

"Who do you remember, Lunabelle?" Kieran decided to ask. He felt the dye in Lunabelle's hair was dry, so he began rinsing it with a stream of warm water.

"Grandpa, Grandma, King Grandpa, Grandpa General, Uncle Dravon," Lunabelle listed her family members like singing. "And you, Ky."

"Me?" Kieran blinked several times. "I've never met you when you were a baby, Lunabelle."

"True," Lunabelle wiped the water that accidentally splashed on her face. "But I often heard Mama whispering your name."

Kieran smiled faintly. "What did she say about me?"

"She said you were a cursed child."