Dead Soul Exorcist

04 | Cold Throne

In his fifty-year career, General Griffin had never felt the central palace walls as cold as this. He strode down the corridor, unconsciously observing every portrait of the royal family hanging on the walls and the vases of flowers supposedly personally chosen by the late Queen. Griffin had fought in countless wars throughout his life to defend the country, yet he had never felt as ashamed as he did now, having failed to preserve the warmth and security of this nation for his queen.

Upon reaching the study room of the palace, Griffin knocked on the door twice. Only the anxious exhale from inside was heard, which Griffin interpreted as a response. He promptly opened the door and strode confidently past bookshelves, sofas, and a desk to reach the crown prince leaning by the window. His sleepwear, made of ivory-colored satin, appeared remarkably wrinkled on his frail frame. His hair was tousled, with dark circles beneath his eyes.

"Forgive my tardiness, Your Highness," General Griffin said, bowing briefly. Prince Vikrant returned his gaze with an empty, disdainful look. Gone were the admiring glances Vikrant used to direct at him when teaching the prince how to ride and shoot arrows or strategizing wars on a miniature board of the entire Valorthorn kingdom.

"Is that truly her corpse?" the prince uttered, devoid of any hint of sorrow.

"Yes, Your Highness. The body belongs to Miss Silverlake," Griffin replied. "We will promptly contact her family so she can be laid to rest on their estate."

Griffin heard a disdainful snort. "General, you do realize that will only inconvenience us?" he spoke as if Griffin were too old and foolish to comprehend his words. "The wretched woman suddenly appears and dies at a time like this. Wasn't it intentional to cause us trouble?"

"She perished due to a dead soul attack, Your Highness," Griffin corrected. "While saving a child at the orphanage she tended to."

Prince Vikrant's face twisted in pain. "Silence!" he snapped. "Bury her in the public cemetery. Now go and handle everything! All of this happened because of your negligence in safeguarding that cursed blessing ceremony!"

"Prince—"

"I said go!"

"What about her daughter?"

Prince Vikrant lifted his head. He stared at Griffin as if seeing him for the first time. His hand rose to stroke his chin, contemplating something, perhaps in his usual malevolent manner. "Send her to the orphanage up north. I'll consider her fate later. If she proves useless, we can dispose of her."

And Griffin felt the palace growing colder than he had ever felt in his lifetime. "Very well, Your Highness. I will contact Prince Dravon."

"No," Prince Vikrant stepped away from the window. "Prepare a carriage in half an hour. I will tell him myself."

***

Kieran's head felt like a drum being pounded as he woke up. Perhaps the guards had indeed struck him when he resisted being captured. He quickly sat up, surveying the dark cell he was in. There were no windows in the low walls. Faint moans and murmurs could be heard from other cells. From the cold temperature and vibrations of carriages against the walls, it seemed Kieran was in an underground prison.

Kieran massaged his head once more. His throat felt too dry even to swallow saliva. Leaning against the wall as cold as ice, he reached into the pocket of his robe to find his dagger. However, he couldn't find it. He had nothing to help him at the moment.

Kieran closed his eyes, recalling all the painful events that had unfolded in the past twenty-four hours. The moment Eliora had saved him, the moment Eliora had died, and the moment Dravon had accused Kieran of being Eliora's killer. If Kieran was proven guilty in court, he didn't know what would happen to Lunabelle. She was still so young. Perhaps Dravon would just send her to an orphanage in this city, or take her to Eliora's family.

Suddenly, the sound of footsteps echoed down the hallway, accompanied by a flickering light.

"What? My brother wants the little girl sent to the orphanage up north? I thought she was important to him!" Dravon's angered voice forced Kieran to pretend to be asleep. "That's an awful place."

Kieran's heart seemed to stop upon hearing that. Eliora could rise from her grave with a broken heart if her daughter were sent to the orphanage up north. The suspicious orphanage with unsettling rumors. It is said that the orphanage only raises the most beautiful children for a purpose too sinister for Kieran to imagine happening to Lunabelle.

"But this is a direct order from the Crown Prince, Prince. General Griffin also wants to know where the little girl is."

"In my room, at Duke Zaphyr's residence," Prince Dravon sighed. "We'll think about that later. Is Nyxshade still unconscious? I've received word from the high judge. He said he can ensure the severest punishment for that revenant."

"But, Your Highness, the woman may indeed have been killed by a dead soul attack. The wounds on her body guarantee that."

"Silence. We know she was attacked by a dead soul. But we also know who compelled her to venture into the middle of the forest after sunset." Dravon's voice was as cold as ice. "I know Nyxshade as well as I know myself. He wouldn't hesitate to sacrifice his friend for his own sake."

When the two individuals stood in front of Kieran's cell, he intentionally closed his eyes and loosened his body to appear as if he were sleeping. Despite this, Kieran's mind was clouded. He couldn't fathom why the Crown Prince would concern himself with Lunabelle's life, the daughter of someone he didn't know.

Suddenly, a memory surfaced. It was from a long time ago when Kieran first came to the Central Palace with his father. The blissful times when the dead souls had not yet invaded the world. Everyone was in the ballroom, dancing and enjoying the party. However, that night, Kieran got lost in the labyrinthine garden and found Prince Vikrant spraying something on a tree trunk, tormenting ants. "Come on! I want you to rise! Is that all the endurance you have?" Foolish and cruel words Kieran never imagined would be uttered by the future leader of a kingdom.

In the current situation, Kieran wouldn't allow Lunabelle to become Prince Vikrant's plaything like ants.

"How hard did they hit him?" Dravon asked. Kieran braced himself for a reprimand or something of the sort, but instead, he heard footsteps moving away. "Give him proper nourishment. I need him in good health during the trial. Let me know when he wakes up. I'll be at the Duke Zhapyr family manor."

Kieran pursed his lips. So, he was in the underground prison of the Lotus Palace. The Duke Zhapyr Manor was the first house Kieran would encounter upon leaving the Lotus Palace gates. The question now: how could he escape from this place?

After ten minutes, Kieran decided to try his luck. He approached the bars and called the prison guard. When someone appeared, it was a large man with a white beard partially covering his face like a grand sorcerer. His hands carried a tray with very little rice and something Kieran suspected was dried fish. The tray was placed in front of Kieran's cell. Without a word, the guard was about to walk away, the keys jingling in his pocket.

"Wait," Kieran called out, pleadingly. "My hands are broken. I can't pull the tray inside! Please."

The guard stared at him. Kieran couldn't decipher the old man's thoughts from his weary eyes. Eventually, the guard bent down and pushed the tray into the cell. An unexpectedly courteous gesture compared to what Kieran anticipated.

Kieran felt guilty, but he still had to carry out his plan. He restrained the old man's hand. "Thank you," Kieran gazed sincerely at the old man. Then, within seconds, Kieran pulled his collar and struck the back of his neck. The old man immediately fainted without a sound.

"I apologize, Old Man," Kieran whispered, filled with guilt. In the cold and cruel city of Valorus, not many humans were as kind as that man. He reached through the cell and took the keys from the prison guard's pocket. As his hand touched the jingling metal, Kieran smiled in relief.

Soon, Kieran was running on the wet ground. It was hard to believe how easily he left the Lotus Palace. Strangely, there was little security tonight; there wasn't even anyone guarding the gates.

Then, realization struck Kieran. Right, why bother guarding the Lotus Palace when both princes are at the Manor not far from here? He cursed and quickened his pace.