V1 C5 - The Attack on Castle Kelsey

Alone, in a dark stone chamber, trapped in an iron cage, was a young naked woman with chains wrapped around her limbs.

Her eyes were downcast, her throat dry, her stomach empty and rumbling, echoing throughout the cold room.

She didn’t know how long she had been in that room for, nor did she know if it was the day or the night.

There was only one thing that broke up that unending misery and that was a small, faint, glimmer of hope that kept trying to stop her from dying.

The heavy wooden doors opened and a maid came into the room carrying a tray.

“I’ve brought some food and water.”

The maid set the tray beside the cage and smiled, though the woman in the chains couldn’t see it.

“I was only able to get some bread and a little bit of meat today. The chef gave me the best bits before serving the lord his meal tonight.”

The caged woman said nothing.

She just slowly moved to the bread, grabbed it and took a tiny bite from it.

The maid’s expression twisted in agony, but she quickly forced a smile.

“I’ll try and bring you some more tomorrow before dawn. I’m sorry, but I have to go now. His lordship might notice if one of us is late and…”

The maid, realising how she had messed up, quickly left, whispering ‘I’m sorry’ before closing the door, leaving the woman alone once again.

***

Castle Kelsey, the home of the noble Kelsey family, sat in the Northern Hills region of the Holy Empire of Themis between the Great Northern Road and the Dragon’s Spine Mountains.

The land itself was very fertile and very wealthy, making Lord Anthony Kelsey a very rich man.

With his short blonde hair, handsome face, silver tongue and ties to the underworld, he was a very influential and prominent figure in the Holy Empire.

No one dared raise a hand to the Kelseys, not with the rumours going around the country about what Lord Anthony did to those who defied him, many of which his guards had a hand in.

He was so powerful it was said that even the emperor himself didn’t dare invoke his wrath.

What was scarier still to those who believed such rumours was that Lord Anthony rarely left his own keep, preferring to stay locked within his walls.

He could harm the Imperial family from the comfort of his very own home.

The castle was something that Lord Anthony himself had ordered constructed two decades ago sparing no expense with its materials and furnishings.

The dining room he and his family were eating in was a testament to this.

Lord Anthony himself always sat at the head of the table while his wife, Lady Katherine, sat close to him and his daughter, Rebecca, sat quite far from him.

Katherine Kelsey was a pretty woman with green eyes and long brown hair tied beautifully on her head. She was wearing a lavish emerald dress that made her even more beautiful in Anthony’s eyes and she was adorned with expensive jewellery.

His daughter, Rebecca Kelsey, had his blonde hair and her mother’s green eyes. She was as beautiful as her mother was, but she wore a plain white dress with very little jewellery.

Unlike her parents, she wore a dark expression and was looking down at her plate.

How many times have I warned her about this?

“Darling, what’s wrong?”

“It’s nothing. Just a minor issue; our tax income from the peasants is lower than last year’s.”

“How is that possible? You raised the taxation rate to generate more money, didn’t you?”

“I did, but it seems that it has had the opposite effect. It seems that some people have taken it upon themselves to cast aside their duties to us and have left our domain.”

“Disgraceful!”

“It is, isn’t it? It was only a five percent increase, nothing substantial. What’s a few extra coins to them? Nothing. But, to us, it allows us to properly protect and govern this region so it may prosper.”

“The world is full of selfish people, dear.”

Rebecca gently placed her knife and fork on her plate.

“What’s wrong, child?”

“…I’m not feeling too well. May I retire to my room?”

Anthony glared at her. “Rebecca, have your mother or I finished eating?”

“…No, my lord.”

“No. So, would it be polite for you to retire early?”

Rebecca curled her fingers tightly around her skirt’s hem. “…No, my lord.”

“No, it wouldn’t. If you have finished eating, then you could have the common decency to look up and listen to your parent’s conversations. Or do you perhaps find talks involving our lands distasteful?”

“…I’m sorry, my lord.”

Anthony grunted and resumed eating. “Katherine, make sure to discipline her properly later.”

“Of course, dear.” Katherine stared daggers at her daughter.

Then, not even a second later, she eagerly turned back to Anthony and continued talking.

“Dear, can I ask you when you intend to get rid of that woman in the dungeons?”

The butler, the maids and Rebecca froze when she asked that question, but didn’t dare let their true feelings show on their faces.

The guards, however, didn’t react in the slightest.

“Hmm, probably before I set off for Stonefall again this weekend. I imagine there will be some good replacements for her and some new staff at the market, so you may pick your favourite to do with as you like.”

“You're too kind, dear.”

Anthony smiled. “Not at all. We all have our own ways of unwinding after a hard day of work, so I am just happy I can provide for you yours.”

Rebecca resisted the urge to look away from her parents and cry her eyes out.

Every two months, her father made a trip to Stonefall to conduct business with his associates and buy slaves from the black market. Some would be forced to become their new butlers and maids, whereas others were unfortunate enough to be given to the soldiers as ‘gifts’.

The ones that suffered the most though were those taken by her parents to the dungeon.

Rebecca had tried many times to save the slaves' lives, but they had all failed.

She’d been beating for trying and, on one occasion, was forced to watch a man she tried to save die.

Her parents and all their guards were cruel; the men who protected them were former mercenaries who committed atrocities in other countries that her father bought out.

How can the Great Goddess allow such cruelty to exist? Rebecca thought, resisting the urge to turn her eyes downwards to her spear necklace.

If she did after her father’s warning, she would get a beating or perhaps another scar on her back or chest.

She smiled bitterly and pretended to care about what they were saying.

…There’s nothing I can do to stop them, is there?

***

There were five hundred guards stationed at Castle Kelsey.

All of them had plate armour, spears, shields and sword, none of which ever saw any combat.

Their main duties consisted of patrolling the walls and grounds, and trying to find ways of appeasing their boredom.

No one dared raise a hand to the Kelseys with the rumours surrounding Lord Anthony, and those who defied him.

Some said he dabbled in magics forbidden by the Church, others said that he was in the pockets of the Sons of Tartarus, the most ruthless and feared criminal group in the Holy Empire.

Not even the Holy Paladins crossed Anthony Kelsey’s path.

That sense of superiority and security led to the mercenaries losing their once honed skills, but they never lost their cruel or ruthless edge.

No matter the time of day, not one of the guards took their duties seriously unless Lord Anthony, his wife or an officer was passing by.

Even at night, when they were most vulnerable, the guards didn’t properly patrol the walls and towers. The torches were all lit to make it seem like they were but, in reality, the guards slacked off and relaxed as best they could on the night shift.

“You can’t be tired already. We’ve only just gotten started on our watch for the evening.”

“Who cares? No one’s going to check on us, are they?”

The two men on the walls laughed.

“Still, it sucks that we had to draw the short straw on poker night.”

“Well, we’ll just have to make sure it isn’t us next week stuck out here.”

A cold breeze blew over the castle.

“Agreed,” the shivering man said.

Then, something flashed across his vision.

“What was that?”

“What was what?”

“That…black shadow. Didn’t you see it?”

“You got scared by your own shadow?”

“No, dumbass! I meant-”

A knife pierced his neck and Rob died instantly.

Before Andrew could react, a sword pierced his heart.

Mímir pushed Rob onto the floor and the Raven dumped Andrew’s corpse beside his friend.

Then, Mímir turned to the wall and shot his wires down into the ground outside the castle, anchoring themselves in the dirt. A moment later, he felt the strings get pulled on and Mímir waited patiently for the Machai to scale the walls five at a time.

Mania flew to the top of the wall slowly, carrying David by his hand.

Gently, she placed him onto the battlements and took out her whip.

Once they were at the top, the Machai growled, weapons in hand.

“Don’t kill anyone other than the guards, but spare any that surrender. No one, I repeat.” David shot the attack party a fierce glare. “No one but the guards.”

***

“Took ya long enough,” Colin chided.

“Hey, some of us had a lot more to drink than others!” Steven slurred before he lost his balance and almost fell over.

There was always plenty of alcohol at poker night and that meant every barracks was filled with loud, drunken guards. Each was located in the base of the four large towers at each corner of the keep, and their friend’s merry cheers could be heard from a hundred metres away.

“You ever wonder if you drink too much?”

“Never!”

“Just be careful not to have too much.”

“I will. You know what, I don’t think I should drink anymore tonight.”

“Came to that realisation all on your own, did you?”

Steven giggled and wrapped his arm around his friend’s shoulders. “I did. Aren’t ya proud of me?”

Colin sighed and brushed his friend’s arm away. “Whatever you sa-”

Colin came to a stop and reached for his sword.

“What you doing-?”

Colin shushed him and drew his blade.

“What’s going on?” Steven whispered.

“Ain’t it far too quiet?”

The tower that had been roaring with joy had all but stopped.

“S-should we sound the a-alarm or s-s-somethin’?”

“They might’ve all just passed out from drinking too much. Lord Kelsey would flay us alive if we raised the alarm over nothing.”

“M-Maybe you’re right. Y-y-yeah, let’s check it out first.”

The two men crept towards the door.

When they reached the door, Steven threw the door wide open and gasped in horror.

Twenty-three dead men were strewn across the room, their blood painting the stone walls and floors.

Two monsters stood over them.

Those monsters held weapons dripping crimson and, with a roar, lunged at their new prey.

***

By the time Captain Rowan and his men had got their gear on, the castle was in complete disarray.

Someone, or something, was attacking the castle and their guards were dying fast.

The servants were left defenceless and either tried to run or find somewhere to hide.

Guards, some half-dressed and others in their pyjamas, had assembled but didn’t know what was going on.

No one seemed to have a good grasp of the situation, but everyone knew that Castle Kelsey was under attack.

Rowan took charge of whatever soldiers he could find.

“Jaspar! Take three men to the east wing and sound the alarm! Ian, take your men and start setting up defences in the main hall. Don’t let anything past you! Everyone else, with me to his lordship’s side! Protecting him and his family is our highest priority!”

“Captain, what about the servants?”

“We can’t waste any time protecting them. Now, move out!”

The guards moved as directed.

Rowan and his men ran through the castle chambers, the sounds of battle echoing down the halls. They ran into the main chambers of the castle as the screams and guttural shouts of battle drew closer.

As they ran, Rowan spotted a few guards trying to flee before a muscular monster in steel armour with a deer skull helmet.

“What in the name of the Goddess is that?!”

“Focus, men! Remember your duty!”

They ran along the upper balcony of the main hall; Ian’s men were below, desperately trying to barricade all the doors.

Their efforts, however, proved to be in vain.

The main, large doors were blown clean off their hinges.

Four of the monsters stormed through and began tearing Ian’s forces to pieces.

From behind them, a figure in molten rock armour entered, laughing manically.

His blade was bloodier than all the others.

Rowan and his men ran even faster to Lord Anthony’s chambers where a handful of guards, his lordship and his family were waiting.

“Rowan, what in the Goddess’s name is going on here?!”

“Lord Anthony, the castle has fallen. Men, barricade and guard the door, now! My lord, an unknown group of monsters have broken in and we’ve been overwhelmed.”

“Barricade us in?” Lady Katherine burst out upon seeing how recklessly the guards were throwing things in front of the bedroom doors. “Are you out of your mind? Shouldn’t you be out there fighting, or shouldn’t we be escaping?”

“My lady, they’ve breached the outer defences and the main hall. Ian’s men are being cut down as we speak and, while I sent Jaspar to sound the alarm, I fear help will come too late.”

“Too late/?” Rebecca whispered.

“How could this have happened, Rowan?! You have the best equipment money can buy and-!”

“My lord, we have tried but we have been overwhelmed so totally. They caught us by surprise and appear to outnumber us. Is there a secret passage where you and your family could hide, or escape, my lord?”

Lord Anthony’s eyes widened and he smiled. “Of course! Of course there is! I completely forgot. I had it installed when I had this place built; never thought I’d need it, so I’d forgotten about it.”

“Where is it, my lord?”

“Behind that painting there!”

Lord Anthony pointed at a gigantic and gorgeous picture of an oak tree.

“It’ll lead us outside the walls and to the old servants’ quarters. Quick, you men there! Help me move it.”

The guards rushed to lift it off and place it gently to one side, revealing a locked steel door.

“Where’s the key, my lord?”

“It’s under the bed on my side-”

Something heavy flew against the bedroom doors.

Then, silence.

The battle that had been tormenting them had ceased.

Nervously, the guards drew their swords, placing themselves between Lord Anthony and the doors.

His wife, whilst shaking and scared, tried to slowly tip-toe towards the bed to grab the key.

The sound of heavy boots drew closer to them, accompanied by two lighter sets of steps.

The doors blew wide open, launching the makeshift barricade into the guards.

Several of them were knocked down and the rest took a few steps back.

Three figures stepped into the room.

One was very tall and in armour, one looked like an assassin and the other was a scantily clad woman.

“Mania.”

The woman giggled and brandished her bloodied whip. “With pleasure, Master.”

Mania cracked her whip and it snapped forwards; then, it bent at an impossible angle before launching itself into the guards.

It pierced through their armour, skewering eight at once.

She snapped the whip again and it sliced another six in two.

Despite their fear, Rowan and his men charged at the intruders.

They knew that they were outmatched, but they also knew they had no choice but to try and fight.

The assassin threw knives at them, piercing several of the guard’s chests, before they drew their sword and leapt into the fray.

Soon, only the three Kelseys remained.

Satisfied, David sighed; then, in a deep voice, he spoke.

“Take them.”

***

Thirteen minutes - that was how long it’d taken Castle Kelsey to fall.

With ruthless efficiency, the Machai cut through the guards, captured the servants and fought their way to the lord’s chambers.

Now, the castle was entirely under David’s control and the survivors had been dragged into the courtyard by the Machai and his generals.

“Fifty-eight survivors, Master, including the guards. Mímir sent word that no one saw the attack from the outside either.”

“No alarms were raised and all parts of the castle have been thoroughly searched. This castle is yours, Lord Emperor.”

“Excellent. Abaddon, tell Mímir to keep lookout in case, then take a few Machai and sweep the castle once more to be certain. Do not harm any survivors you find.”

“As you command, Lord Emperor!”

The general left with three Machai.

With a purr in her voice, Mania asked, “Master, what shall we do with the prisoners?”

In his heart, David didn’t want to spill any more blood tonight, even if he hadn’t personally taken any lives.

As he gazed upon the survivors, many of whom were sobbing or begging for their lives, he felt nothing but despair.

Eris might have wanted me to kill someone tonight, but I couldn’t bring myself to do it. I was scared that she’d punish me for breaking one of her rules if I didn’t, but she hasn’t shown herself yet. Maybe it’d be more like a Demon Emperor to not take their lives and say something like: “You aren’t worth my time”?

However, that didn’t solve the issue before him.

Fifty-seven servants, three nobles and twenty-eight guards.

How many of them can I save whilst still following Eris’s rules?

“W-who are you? What do you want from us?!”

The Machai hissed and several brandished their weapons towards Lord Anthony, making the other prisoners scream.

“How dare a worm speak like that to my Master?!”

Lord Anthony shrieked and shuffled back, but a Machai kicked him hard, knocking him onto his front. The Machai then leant over him, pressing his blade against the lord’s throat.

“Dear!”

Rebecca, while shocked, said nothing and adverted her eyes.

“Stop.”

The Machai stood back and lowered its weapon.

“I shall forgive your impudence this once.” David and Mania walked towards the Kelseys. “However, if anyone else dares to speak out of order again, you will suffer the appropriate consequences.” He leant down to the lord and stared deep into his eyes. “Is that understood?”

“Y-yes!” Lord Kelsey nodded repeatedly.

“Good. Lord Anthony Kelsey, I presume? Lord of the Northern Hills?”

“Y-yes, your lordship-majesty! P-p-please don’t-!”

The Machai kicked Lord Anthony again, much harder this time, and the crowd screamed again. David roughly pulled Lord Anthony by his head and dragged him into the centre of the courtyard, throwing him hard onto the ground.

“Do the lords of Themis not know what respect is?” David dug his boot into Lord Anthony’s back; the man cried out in agony from the crushing weight pushing on his spine. “Perhaps none of you deserve my mercy if you cannot pay me the respect I deserve. Mania, what do you think?”

“Master, I would prefer it if you had a Machai pinning that filth to the ground.”

“Oh? And why is that?”

“That insect doesn’t deserve to touch your boot.”

With a booming chuckle, David stepped off Lord Anthony. “No, he doesn’t, does he?”

The moment David had moved, a Machai eagerly stepped forward and pushed Lord Anthony’s head into the ground with its foot.

Internally, David felt sick.

He was desperately trying to push down the growing disgust in his heart, but it threatened to overcome him.

However, he couldn’t let it, not yet at least.

A Demon Emperor couldn’t appear weak.

“Now, I have other questions I want to ask you all and I expect nothing but the truth, otherwise your lord dies. You, guard.” He pointed at a random one in the crowd. “Tell me, what sort of territory is the Northern Hills?”

“…I…I…”

“Answer him, or your lord dies! Aren’t you charged by God to protect and serve your master. Answer Master now!”

“…Let him die.”

Mania, furious, went to strike the woman who spoke up, but David held her back.

The woman who’d spoken up was a blonde-haired maid, her eyes were downcast and wet with tears, and she was sitting on her knees. The Machai near her head gone to strike her, but they pulled back after David told Mania to stop.

He walked over to her and crouched beside her, before gently putting his fingers on her chin, forcing her to look into his eyes.

“Repeat what you said.”

The maid, though terrified and shivering, scowled and said in a much clearer, and louder voice, “Let the bastard die.”

The guards, Anthony and his wife gasped, but the lord’s daughter and servants did so.

Interesting.

“Don’t think I won’t do it because you stood up to me. I could snap his neck like a twig. I could kill every last one of you before you drew your next breath.”

“That man deserves worse,” the maid said firmly, not breaking her gaze. “If he and his wife die, then I’m okay with that.”

“You insolent wench!” Lord Antony cried.

“How dare you speak ill of the lord and lady like that?!”

“You bitch! How dare you say that about my husband!”

They continued to voice their hatred until David ordered silence.

David let go of the maid’s chin and stared into her eyes for a few more seconds, the air still and quiet around them, before he laughed quietly to himself.

“You truly meant what you said, didn’t you?”

“…I do.”

“Is he that terrible of a master then?”

“He is.”

“My people have been watching this castle for the past few days and have searched everywhere, yet we have not seen anything that would warrant such a response. What sins have they committed?”

“If you can say that after seeing what he did to that poor girl in the dungeons, then I-”

“Dungeons?”

The maid, confused, said, “You said you searched everywhere.”

A deafening silence.

For the first time, the prisoners could see the look of fear on Mania’s face and the uneasiness of the Machai.

A sinister aura began to develop over David’s body as he ground his teeth.

“Mania.”

“M-master?”

“I was informed that we had searched everywhere. Thoroughly.”

“W-We did, but-!”

“But what?” David glared at her.

Mania flinched and took a step backwards. “…One of the Machai that went there said there was only a corpse in the dungeons.”

The servants gasped in horror.

“That’s impossible! She was alive an hour ago!” The maid yelled.

“You dare speak to me that way?!” Mania roared.

“Mania.”

She shrunk back. “Master?”

“Raise the dead guards and search this castle very thoroughly this time. If there are any other survivors, bring them here. And tell Abaddon that I want to see him after his thorough search is completed.”

“A-at once, Master!”

Dark magical energy flowed from her fingertips over the dead bodies. The flesh on their corpses disintegrated, leaving only their bones behind. Then, the skeleton soldiers began to rise and Mania quickly gave them their orders.

“Now, maid.” David turned back to the woman before him. “All the other servants seemed to be just as horrified as you about this woman in the dungeons. Elaborate.”

“Might I explain, my lord?”

It was Rebecca, the lord’s daughter, who stood up and slowly approached David.

A few of the Machai moved to stop her, but David waved them off.

Once she was five feet from David, she curtsied and sat down on her knees.

“Please forgive my rudeness, my lord. I am Rebecca Kelsey and I have witnessed my father and mother’s crimes against our servants.”

“I hope for your sake that you aren’t lying to me.”

“S-she isn’t, my lord!” The maid, in her desperation, had grabbed onto David’s arm. Realising her mistake, she let go and prostrated herself before him. “F-f-f-forgive me, please, my lord!”

The nearest Machai growled at her, but David shrugged it off.

“I will hear what Lady Rebecca has to say first; then, I shall deal with you.”

The maid whispered many thanks to David.

“Thank you, your majesty, and I hope you can forgive her disrespectful actions. My father has not ever once hired servants to work at this castle; they are all slaves bought at Stonefall who he forces to serve us.”

“Is this true?” David asked the servants.

“It is, my lord!”

“Tis!”

“Yeah, milord!”

All of the servants quickly shouted their support to Lady Rebecca, ignoring the threatening glares from their former masters and their thugs.

The guards had started to turn white as Lord Anthony and his wife cursed at their daughter and servants.

Well, even if they’re lying, I can still recover from this later.

“Then, that makes this easy. Kill the guards.”

The Machai acted instantly.

Brutally, they executed the guards.

A horrific, bloody scene played out as David and Rebecca kept their eyes fixed on each other.

Her body might have been trembling, but Rebecca didn’t flinch once as people died all around her.

As expected of a noblewoman’s daughter.

In his peripheral vision, he could see her fingers tightly wrapped around her skirt’s hem.

“I trust you don’t object to what I’ve just done.”

“…Of course not, your majesty. I only ask that you spare at least the servants from your wrath; in exchange, I shall give you anything you want.”

“Anything?”

Rebecca dug her nails into her thighs. “…Yes, anything.”

Yes! This is what I was hoping for!

“Quite a generous offer, one I might even consider accepting. If you were to uphold your end of the bargain, then I wouldn’t harm a single servant in this castle. I would give you my word if you give me yours.”

“…And what of my parents, my lord?”

David folded his arms. “What would you do with them?”

Lady Rebecca held her head low in shame. “…I would make them confess first and…give them a proper punishment.”

“Well said. Mania, have the Machai escort Lady Rebecca to her bedroom for the time being and see to it that her needs are attended to. Have someone handle that filth over there.”

He lazily waved his hand at Lady Rebecca’s parents who were then dragged by their necks away, cursing and begging for mercy.

“As for the servants,” David started to say, but he cut himself off.

The last thing I need is for them to fear me even more than they already do. It’d be better in the long run if I took a carrot and stick approach.

“Show them to the guest bedrooms and have the skeleton soldiers see to their needs. While I don’t know how your former master treated you, you deserve better than that, I’m sure.”

The servant’s all looked slightly comforted, but the most relieved one was Rebecca.

Before the servants were led away, David stopped the blonde maid with his arm.

“Show me the girl in the dungeons.”

“…As you wish, my lord.”

***

“Tell me what life was like here before.”

“…As you wish, my lord.”

“Your majesty.”

“I’m sorry?”

“I am no lord; I am an Emperor and you will address me as such from now on. Understood?”

“…Yes, your majesty.”

“Good. Now, what is your name?”

“Eva, your majesty.”

“Eva, huh? While I have no doubts you are suspicious of me and my people, I assure you that as long as you cooperate and work like a normal servant, then no one will suffer. You have my word.”

“Thank you for your kindness, your majesty.”

“Tell me everything you know and do not lie to me.”

“I was originally from a village called Loggers’ Cross. I was seventeen when I was first kidnapped and forced into slavery. Some bandits raided us and I was one of the girls taken on wagons to their camp. From there, we were taken to a smugglers den where they ‘stored’ us before taking us to Stonefall.

“We were then sold to the highest bidders and sent all across the country. I had been sold to a few other lords before being sent to Lord Kelsey’s after the others had…used me enough. After three years of being passed around at auctions and between nobles, Lord Kelsey’s wife picked me out at an auction in Stonefall and brought me here.”

“…I see,” David mumbled, grinding his teeth together.

I have to get better at controlling my emotions.

“How long have you been here for?”

“Almost five years now, your majesty.”

“And how bad was it here compared to the other places you were enslaved?”

Eva stopped.

“…Worse, your majesty. At the other estates, I was at least paid and given a proper bedroom, and looked after if I fell ill, but there was nothing like that here. I have been beaten, taken, abused, left to starve, left locked out in the rain, forced to work whilst ill and more. Those of us who couldn’t do that and live up to the castle’s standards were taken to the dungeons as their ‘plaything’.”

“Not a single person in this castle helped you, not even once?”

Eva shook her head. “Lady Rebecca tried her best to, but her parents would hit her if she raised any objections to them and none of the guards wanted to help her. Why would they?” Eva clicked her tongue. “I wish they hadn’t died so quickly.”

“And the girl in the dungeon was their last plaything, correct?”

“Yes, your majesty.”

“What do they do to them?” Eva said nothing. “No matter. I will soon see for myself.”

“…Yes, your majesty.”

Upon seeing her downtrodden expression, David frowned.

You know what, I can’t stand this. Even if it’s just for one person, I hate just being called your majesty or Master or things like that. I want someone at least to call me by my name, but I can’t use my old one.

Then, he remembered a time in his old life, five years ago when he played an RPG with Hailey, a time he held fondly in his heart.

“Allaric.”

“…Your majesty?”

David sighed. “Call me Lord Allaric instead. I have put you in an uncomfortable position and no doubt made you more terrified of me than I had intended.”

“You intended to scare us, your majesty?”

“Of course. If you didn’t fear me, you could act against my interests. I do not wish to rule as your former master did, so, I grant you and Lady Rebecca permission to call me ‘Lord Allaric’. Is that understood?”

“Yes, your maje-I mean, Lord…Allaric,” Eva whispered nervously.

The Machai following them didn’t react which made David relieved.

“Inform the others of this when you see them,” David told the Machai.

The two soon found themselves in a dirt, dimly lit hallway with a thick wooden door at the end of it.

“Is this it?”

“…Yes, Lord Allaric. May I go first so we don’t startle her?”

“You may. Machai.”

The Machai handed a torch to her. Eva pushed her entire body against the door and struggled to force it open. She walked into the room and lit the four oil torches in the room before returning to the door.

When David walked in, his eyes shot wide open.

In that dark stone chamber, trapped in an iron cage, sat a lone, naked woman with chains wrapped around her limbs.

Across the woman’s chest were countless wounds caused by cuts and burns, some of which looked fresh and had puss oozing from them. The skin around her neck was completely scarred; her left eye was a constant blood-red and she had a long mark on that side of her face as well.

Her hair was so dirty that David couldn’t even tell what colour it was meant to be.

Her entire right arm had a horrific burn mark on it, and she was severely malnourished.

How is this woman even still alive after everything they’ve done?

“What’s her name?”

“…I don’t know, Lord Allaric. We…we were never told.”

David had to fight the urge building inside him to kill Lord and Lady Kelsey himself.

Is this another one of your schemes, Eris?! To make me feel this way so I could kill people myself? All to help me become your Demon Emperor sooner?!

“Are there others?”

“…Not anymore, Lord Allaric. The others…were…left in the old quarters outside the castle…for the birds.”

“…I see.” David grabbed the metal cage’s door and ripped it off, throwing it with great force into the wall. “Eva, see to it that this woman is looked after. See to it that she recovers and no harm is done to her.”

“Thank you, Lord Allaric.”

“Machai, assist her with whatever she needs to tend to this woman’s wounds. Tell Mania to treat them both kindly and not to harm them. Understood?”

The Machai nodded.

“Eva.”

“Lord Allaric?”

“You are now the Head Maid of this castle. Do your duty well and no harm will come to any of you. You will be given proper working hours and compensation which we’ll discuss another time. However, you cannot leave this castle, nor can any of the other servants, without my permission. If even one of you did, I’d kill the rest of you. Understood?”

“…Yes, Lord Allaric.”

“Good.”

The three left, leaving only David behind. He took several long inhales and exhales.

“Raven.”

“Yes, Master?” The figure asked, emerging from the darkness.

“Tell Mímir to find out exactly what they did to this woman. I want to pay them back tenfold.”