CHAPTER 13.5: THE FUGITIVE KING OF NERFES

**Eris**

I hated that man.

James Walter Reed II, king of Nerfes. Not only was he a rival king to our nation, but he was also a man full of pride and bravado. When he first came here after the disappearance of Sir Kuro, I and my fellow maids thought he would only stay for a while…

After all, he is friends with our head maid and Her Holiness…

But then, as the days passed, we realized he would stay here for quite long, with his entourage of royal guards. The other maids hated them, for these guys would often interfere with our work to flirt with us. The king, however, never checked the behavior of his men…

He even dared to have the Paladin Corps’ captain dismissed from her service!

“…”

And then, one time, I saw them.

When I was about to clean the place where Sir Kuro used to stay, I saw Her Holiness with the king of Nerfes. Never wishing to disturb them, I quickly backed off. But I could hear their conversation, which made me stay…

“I knew you are stressed, but are you sure that’s the reason? Aren’t you crying just now?”

“M-Me? Crying? No! Something’s got into my eyes, and it’s quite irritating!”

“Hmm…you know, Maddie, I may not be as intelligent as you, but I’m your friend. I can tell if you’re crying or not just by looking at you.”

“I-I’m fine, James. Thanks for your concern.”

“Ah…it’s okay as well. You’re a strong lady, Maddie; everyone knows that side of you. However, it’s not all the time you can put up a strong front. Your friends—Lily, Simon, and I—are more than willing to listen to you.”

“Th-That’s…”

“Don’t worry. There will be times when you need someone to cry on.”

“James…I miss Kuro!”

At that moment, I heard the Saint wept uncontrollably, which made me check on them. However, much to my surprise, the king of Nerfes had his arms around her, ostensibly consoling her.

There’s something between them I just couldn’t understand. I mean, they were friends, but weren’t they too close? And the king’s expression—unseen by Lady Madelaine—was far from what a consoling friend would do.

It’s as if he’s happy that this is happening, after all.

I asked myself if the king was faking his tears and sorrow all along, shouldn’t the Saint notice it? Wasn’t she able to read minds? That thought bothered me for a while until recently. It was then that I decided to investigate him. I’m sure that there’s something that’s going on behind our backs…

And so, for several days, I’ve been watching the king. At first, I found nothing wrong with him. I observed he was just a royal bloke who’s trying to seduce Her Holiness to love him…a view is shared by my fellow servants. And then, one time, a maidservant came to me and asked about something…

“Lady Eris?”

“What is it Lady Veronna? Something I can help you with?”

Lady Veronna shook her head, “No, it’s just that, I’m intrigued by something within the king’s possessions.”

“What do you mean?”

“See, I was cleaning his room the other day when I chanced upon it.” the maidservant explained, “There was this strange-looking—no, I should say, there’s this similar-looking book to the one that you lost in Amaranth before in the king of Nerfes’ possessions.”

“Hm? The history book I lost?”

“Is it a history book? The one with a brown, leather cover and red letters saying ‘A History of Amaranthine Kingdom’?”

I was dumbfounded when I heard that. I just couldn’t believe that it would resurface again, after all this time…and it is in the possession of the king of Nerfes? How’d it come to his hands?

“…”

Wait…if that talisman is in his possession, then that would explain the inability of Her Holiness to read his mind!

And so, with the help of my fellow maids, I took the chance to see it for myself. We arranged for me to bring his breakfast, and I confirmed it with my own eyes…

That really is the talisman Lady Seirna gave me to suppress the Human Saint’s power to read minds and her magic!

Wasting no time, I quickly headed to Her Holiness’ room. She needs to know that she’s being manipulated by this man!

----------

However, when I finally arrived at the Saint’s private chamber…

“Good day, Eris!” Lady Madelaine greeted me, along with her paladins led by its new captain, the Dame Atkins, “It seems like you have something urgent to tell me.”

“Your Holiness…”

“Is it about the book in James’ possession?” she turned towards her left, and much to my horror, the king of Nerfes, with his royal guards, was standing and looking at me. He had a nasty smirk on his face, and I could tell he pre-empted me to the Saint.

“Your Holiness!” I cried out, “Please open your eyes! This man is clearly trying to manipulate you! He has my talisman with him!”

“As someone who betrayed me before, why should I believe you?” Lady Madelaine asked, “James had been a faithful friend to me, even though a lot of you had been doubting him!”

Those words felt like a slap to me. It’s as if the air had been sucked from my lungs, and I couldn’t say anything back. From within my chest, a small feeling of anger and betrayal slowly grew, and I could feel my whole body shaking…

Y-Your Holiness, is this the extent of your love for Sir Kuro?

“Lady Atkins!” I heard the Saint turned to the Paladin Corps captain, “Arrest Lady Braunhauer! I won’t tolerate any insult for my friend.”

I remained silent as the members of the Paladin Corps surrounded me. I didn’t have the time to pull my wand to defend myself; it’s futile to resist her, anyway. From where he stood, the king of Nerfes looked at me with a triumphant smile on his face.

“…”

I know I deserved to be thrown at the dungeon for my betrayal before. But what I won’t forgive is that Sir Kuro loved you, Your Holiness! You’re betraying him!

“…”

I could only glare at Lady Madelaine as her paladins restrained me. I wanted to shout in anger, to thrash around to resist. But I knew it’s useless…

“Throw her in the dungeon!” the Saint ordered with cold eyes.

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My eyes spun as the paladins obeyed Lady Madelaine’s orders. I couldn’t believe what’s happening; ever since my betrayal, I’ve been trying my best to serve the Saint faithfully. But for her to betray me, and Sir Kuro, for this man…

I can’t forgive this!

“Is that what you want me to hear, James?”

“!!!”

At that moment, however, everyone froze in shock. While all of us were focused on me, we didn’t notice that the other members of the paladin corps had already surrounded the Nerfes royal guards and were ready to disarm them anytime.

“W-What’s the meaning of this, Maddie?” the king was confused, just like his men.

“Well, let me tell you something…” Lady Madelaine smiled, “…while it’s true that I couldn’t read your thoughts, James, I could see through my servants’ hearts and mind, especially when that book you possess is far from me.”

“!!!”

At that moment, another figure appeared on the scene. It was Lady Sylvia, the Duchess of Henristone!

“Hey there!” she greeted the confused king, “I see you got bamboozled.”

“What?”

“Nothing. Just dropping by to say that all those dramas of dismissing me were a ploy all along.”

Err…what’s happening?

The Duchess of Henristone then gestured for the paladins to restrain the men from Nerfes, and she searched the king’s body. From his mantle-covered back, she found the history book I formerly possess.

“Is that the book you’re trying to warn me about, Lady Eris?” the Saint asked me.

Confused, I only gave her a nod for an answer.

“Ah, in case you don’t know yet…” Lady Madelaine gestured for her paladins to release me, which they did, “I am aware of what’s happening, Lady Eris.”

“Huh?” the king of Nerfes was also in the dark.

“James, do you think I’m so weak-willed that I would leave the man I loved for the few times you’ve been showing kindness to me?” Lady Madelaine chuckled, “I guess you’ve been underestimating me, as you always do.”

“But…how—”

“You wanted to know how I knew you’ve been manipulating me all along?” the Saint gestured for her paladins to disarm the Nerfes royal guards, “Well, first, I couldn’t properly read your thoughts. I mean, I could peer into your mind, only to see that your thoughts kept on unusually repeating. Second, you’ve suddenly become concerned with Kuro, when in fact, you hated him before.”

The king remained silent. His face suddenly went pale, as if every drop of blood was drained for him.

“And if those were not suspicious enough…” Lady Madelaine turned towards the hidden part of her room, and out came the head maid, who turned out to be hiding there all the time, “While your talisman suppressed my mind-reading, I could still read into the thoughts of my servants. And unfortunately for you, Lily and Lady Braunhauer remained faithful to me.”

“M-Maddie, you won’t understand…” the king of Nerfes was defiant, “I loved you long before that commoner came!”

“I know about your feelings, James, and I understand why you did this…” there was sadness in the Saint’s voice, “However, you shouldn’t have done it. You’ve been a good friend to me, and it would only stay that way…”

“Maddie…”

“I love Kuro; he’s the only man who supported me when I’m in my lows,” Lady Madelaine had a nostalgic look in her eyes as she said that, and then, “James, please, help me. I wanted to bring him back; only you can do it. Tell me how Ruro took him.”

The king was completely silent. Now that his schemes were exposed, there was no way out for him other than to cooperate.

“…”

“James…”,

“Maddie…Your Holiness, I’m sorry,” the Nerfes royal said, “I guess, this is where we part ways…”

“!!!”

At that moment, Lady Henristone was quick to draw her sword. However, the king of Nerfes was quicker than her and parried her attack. By instinct, I and Princess Lilyhaven moved to protect Her Holiness just as King James of Nerfes chanted a light spell that blinded every one of us in the Saint’s chambers.

Soon, once our eyes adjusted to normal conditions, the Nerfes king was already gone. What’s left was his retinue of royal guards, who were promptly arrested by the Saint’s paladins.