CHAPTER THIRTY-SIX: BARGAIN

Two long years had passed since Lord Ranfel’s beloved wife suffered the miscarriage. Life had continued for the rest of the Heartlets family. Though the tragedy would never be forgotten, the world did not pause for grief.

One fateful afternoon, a castle messenger returned from a delivery errand in the nearby town. The moment he entered the castle gates, he broke into a run, rushing through the corridors toward the inner chambers where Lord Ranfel’s office was located.

“This is bad… terrible…” he muttered under his breath as he ran. His face was pale and slick with sweat. Then, louder this time, he cursed openly.

“Damn those White Wolf bastards.”

After racing through several hallways, the messenger finally stopped in front of the Lord’s office. Bent over with his hands on his knees, he struggled to catch his breath. Once he had steadied himself, he wiped the sweat from his forehead with his sleeve and knocked firmly on the door.

“Come in.”

Taking one last breath, the messenger pushed the door open and stepped inside.

Lord Ranfel sat behind his large wooden desk, surrounded by towering stacks of paperwork. He had been reviewing documents for hours, signing and sorting them with methodical efficiency. When he saw the messenger enter, he set his pen aside and leaned back in his chair.

“Ah, just the man I have been waiting for,” Ranfel said calmly. “Tell me, what do our friends in the north-west have to say about our agreement?”

The messenger swallowed nervously before answering.

“M-Milord, unfortunately when we arrived, the Clan’s leader was not present. However… we were able to proceed with negotiations with their temporary leader. A man named Hazel.”

Ranfel considered the name for a moment.

“And?”

“The discussion went surprisingly well. Hazel said they must still wait for their leader to return before making any final decision. He promised we would receive an answer within a week.”

Ranfel nodded slowly.

“That will suffice, so long as their leader has been informed of the proposal. I am not fond of the Clan, but I do trust the judgement of their leader.” He folded his hands together. “Tell me. This man, Hazel. What did he look like?”

The messenger scratched his head awkwardly.

“Forgive me, Milord, but he wore full ceremonial clothing and a White Wolf mask. None of us could see his face.”

“But you confirmed he was truly a member of the Clan?”

“Yes, Milord. He bore the white tattoo that symbolises the Clan, and he swore he was acting as their temporary leader.”

“Very well,” Ranfel said with a small nod. “You may go. Thank you for your work.”

The messenger bowed his head and placed three sheets of agreement documents on the desk before leaving the room.

Once he was alone again, Ranfel returned to his paperwork. He picked up another document and rubbed his tired eyes before stifling a yawn. Endless administrative duties had become a daily routine.

His gaze drifted toward the agreement letters lying beside him.

The White Wolf Clan had promised to aid Luyas should the kingdom ever face invasion. In return, Ranfel had granted them permission to settle on a small portion of his land without demanding payment.

Ranfel might have been a proud man, but the safety of Luyas came before everything else. If tolerating a group of barbaric warriors ensured the kingdom’s security, then so be it.

He studied the papers again.

For a moment, he thought he saw something unusual written on the surface. Blinking slowly, he looked again, but nothing appeared out of place. Perhaps it was simply his exhaustion playing tricks on him.

Shaking his head, he rose from his chair and left the office to rest with his family.

As promised, Ranfel waited patiently for the Clan’s response.

***

By the third day, however, anxiety began to creep into his thoughts. By the fifth, irritation had replaced patience. He had offered the Clan land without demanding tribute, yet they had not even shown the courtesy of responding promptly.

It was not until the sixth day that an unexpected visitor arrived.

Hazel himself.

The temporary leader of the White Wolf Clan appeared at the castle gates accompanied by several of his companions. He explained that the Clan’s leader was still unreachable due to their current operations, but that he had already informed her of the proposal and received permission to proceed.

Though the visit was sudden, Ranfel welcomed them politely. That evening, he invited the group to dine with him in the castle’s grand dining hall.

“The dinner was splendid, was it not?” Ranfel remarked once the servants began clearing the plates.

Dessert was served shortly after. A molten chocolate mousse presented in delicate cups, one of the Lord’s personal favourites.

Ranfel scooped a spoonful into his mouth and sighed with satisfaction before turning toward his guests.

“Once again, I thank you for travelling such a distance. I must admit, I was beginning to wonder what had happened when your leader did not respond to my proposal.”

“Rest assured, Milord,” Hazel replied evenly. “Our leader is a wise woman. She would never allow a matter of this importance to pass without her knowledge.”

“A woman?” Ranfel raised his brows in mild surprise. “Your Clan is led by a woman? How fascinating.”

“Yes,” Hazel answered. “Her leadership equals that of the former Alpha. She has guided our Clan wisely for many years.”

“I see no issue with that,” Ranfel said with a polite smile. “If her own people trust her judgement, who am I to question it?”

The servants cleared away the dessert dishes and the conversation resumed.

“Since your Alpha has entrusted you with the decision,” Ranfel continued, “may I know your answer to my proposal?”

Hazel did not respond immediately.

Behind the mask, his expression remained unreadable.

A full minute passed. Then another.

Suddenly, Ranfel felt the room tilt.

A wave of dizziness crashed over him, followed by a deep nausea. His vision blurred and doubled as he gripped the edge of the table.

Looking up, he saw Hazel and the others slowly rise from their chairs.

The sharp clang of metal striking the floor echoed through the hall. One by one, the castle guards collapsed where they stood.

“What… what is the meaning of this?” Ranfel demanded, struggling to stay conscious.

Hazel slowly removed his mask.

The moment Ranfel saw his face, he gasped.

“You…”

Cold blue eyes burned with hatred.

“You truly believed I would forgive you for what you did two years ago?” Hazel said quietly.

Ranfel stared in confusion.

“The dam you ordered built near our village collapsed in the middle of the night,” Hazel continued, his voice rising with fury. “The flood drowned half the settlement. My pregnant wife. My children. My home.”

“T-That was a natural disaster!” Ranfel protested weakly. “You cannot blame me for that!”

“Yes. I. Can.”

Hazel shoved several crumpled papers toward him.

“These are the petitions we sent to you before construction began. We begged you to reconsider building that dam. We warned you it would poison the river and flood the village if it failed.”

His fists trembled.

“But you never listened. You ignored us completely.”

Hazel’s voice darkened.

“We asked for time to evacuate. You refused. When the construction failed halfway through, you abandoned it. The debris polluted the river. The rains came. The water rose. And still you ignored us.”

The memory burned in his mind.

The endless rain.

The rising water.

The village drowning while help never arrived.

Hazel had been away that night. When he returned days later, his home had already been swallowed by the flood. His family was gone.

Despite strict orders from his Alpha not to escalate tensions with Luyas, Hazel had never forgotten.

Now, two years later, he had returned.

The dining hall doors burst open.

More White Wolf Clan warriors entered. Behind them lay the bodies of Ranfel’s fallen guards.

“You took my family,” Hazel said coldly. “Now you will feel that same pain.”

He drew a hidden blade and turned toward the exit.

“Wait!” Ranfel cried.

But his body would not move. The drug from the chocolate mousse had paralysed him.

Before he could do anything else, darkness consumed him.

***

When Ranfel finally awoke, the castle was silent.

Like a graveyard.

He staggered to his feet and ran up the staircase toward the family chambers, dread clawing at his chest. Then he heard it.

A scream.

From his son’s room.

Ranfel burst into the chamber.

His world stopped.

Anna lay motionless on the floor. Between her killer and their two terrified children.

Hazel stood above them, a blood-stained blade in his hand.

“Don’t…” Ranfel whispered hoarsely as he staggered forward. “Please… don’t touch them.”

Hazel’s glowing blue eyes stared down at the children. Then at the woman who had thrown herself between them.

Slowly, he closed his eyes. He bent down and picked something up from the floor.

A jade pendant.

“I will keep this.”

Hazel turned to face the pale Lord one final time. For a moment, the same murderous hatred returned to his eyes. Then he said nothing.

***

Lord Eden remained silent throughout the entire confession.

The small recording device resting on the table beside him captured every word.

Across the narrow space of the prison cell, Ranfel sat with the saddest expression Lord Eden had ever seen on the man’s face. For all the years Lord Eden had known him, he had never once seen the proud man look so devastatingly defeated.

After a long moment, Lord Eden drew a slow breath.

“How does this connect to King Lewis and the Spirit invasion?” he asked quietly.

Ranfel rubbed his reddened nose and wiped the tears from his cheeks.

“Haemon approached me again one day,” he said. “He told me he had heard about the attack on my castle. He claimed he was deeply sorry for my loss… and offered me something in return.”

Ranfel’s gaze drifted downward as his thoughts slipped back to that evening.

The sky had been painted in shades of Byzantium, slowly fading into deep midnight blue. It was one of the rare moments when the changing colours of the sky seemed almost unreal.

He had been sitting in the reception lounge of Haemon Enterprises, waiting to meet the old man. The soft couch beneath him felt strangely uncomfortable, as if some unseen presence hovered behind his shoulder.

Would this be the right decision?

Would he regret it? Would it be worth it?

Those questions had circled his mind ever since Haemon had first proposed his offer.

At first, Ranfel had refused outright. Accepting help from a stranger was already difficult for a man of his pride. Accepting it from a powerful figure in the Spirit World was even worse.

Yet the nature of the offer had eventually forced him to reconsider.

“Absolutely not!” Ranfel had shouted when Haemon first explained his idea. His face burned red with anger. “Have you lost your mind?”

“Easy, sonny,” Haemon replied calmly. “I am merely offering compensation for your loss. Should you agree, the profits will be yours.”

The elderly CEO leaned back in his chair, folding his hands together.

“As for me, I only want my great-grandchild to live safely, far away from the people who wish him harm. I lost my granddaughter, Reza, two years ago in an accident caused by the man she foolishly loved. I will do whatever it takes to protect the only family she left behind.”

Ranfel narrowed his eyes.

“And where exactly do I fit into this little plan of yours?”

Haemon’s smile grew faintly wider.

“I have heard that a human inventor in your world created a device known as Baron’s Portal. A machine capable of transporting someone instantly across great distances.”

Ranfel frowned and crossed his arms.

“That device is unstable and unreliable. I opposed its use from the beginning.”

“Precisely,” Haemon replied. “Which is why I am offering my assistance.”

He leaned forward slightly.

“My company possesses the technology required to stabilise the portal and correct its flaws. All I ask in return is that you persuade a certain human king to lend it to me temporarily. King Lewis XIII of Aquarius.”

Ranfel said nothing.

“I only need it long enough to move my great-grandchild somewhere safe,” Haemon continued softly. “Help me protect the child, Lord Ranfel. In return, I will ensure that you never again stand powerless against those who threaten your kingdom.”

The old man’s eyes gleamed with quiet confidence.

“I have many connections. I can provide you with influence, protection, and technology far beyond what your enemies possess. Accept my offer, and you will gain power enough to ensure no one can ever harm your family again.”

***

Ranfel exhaled heavily as the memory faded.

Back in the prison cell, he stared down at the cold stone floor.

“Needless to say, I did everything I could to convince King Lewis to lend me the portal,” he admitted.

Lord Eden’s eyes widened slightly.

“I blackmailed him,” Ranfel continued flatly. “The dam project that destroyed Hazel’s village had not been mine alone. Lewis had been involved as well. I told him that if he refused to cooperate, I would make sure the White Wolf Clan learned about his involvement. If they discovered the truth, they would destroy his castle the same way they destroyed mine.”

Ranfel gave a humourless laugh. “Of course he was tempted. He feared that if you or the previous Master Oracle discovered his involvement, his throne would be in danger. Eventually he agreed to my terms.”

He paused briefly before continuing.

“Before we used the portal, Lewis proposed a clever solution. To avoid suspicion, we would create a duplicate of Baron’s Portal. I handed the replica to Haemon, who repaired it almost instantly. Once he finished using it, he returned the device to me. I hid it inside a secret chamber within the castle walls where no one would ever discover it.”

Lord Eden stared at him in disbelief.

“So the real Baron’s Portal is in Aquarius?”

“Yes,” Ranfel replied bitterly. “Lewis kept it hidden for years. When the Spirits invaded Luyas, he must have assumed I betrayed him and revealed everything to you. The coward panicked and sealed his kingdom behind those barriers.”

“I see.”

Lord Eden reached over and switched off the recording device. The quiet click echoed in the cell.

“Thank you for telling the truth, Ranfel,” he said calmly. “I know it was not easy.”

Ranfel snorted.

“Save your sympathy for that cowardly king,” he muttered. “What I did was wrong. I know that. But at least I am not hiding behind castle walls.”

Lord Eden rose from his chair and walked toward the door.

“If I am to face punishment,” Ranfel continued, “Then I will accept it.”

Lord Eden reached the door and knocked twice for the guards.

Before it opened, Ranfel spoke again, his voice suddenly quieter.

“I have confessed everything,” he said. “But understand this. The war was never part of my plan. If I had known what Haemon truly intended, I would never have accepted his offer.”

The door opened.

“I made terrible mistakes after losing my wife,” Ranfel continued desperately. “I failed my children. I failed the Spirit child I was supposed to protect. But I swear on my wife’s grave that I never intended for any of this to happen. All I wanted was to protect my family… and this kingdom.”

Lord Eden finally turned back to look at him.

“There were many ways you could have protected them, my friend,” he said quietly. “Instead you chose the most dangerous path of all.”

His gaze hardened. “And what did that path give you in the end?”

Ranfel said nothing.

“You lost everything,” Lord Eden continued. “Your family. Your children’s trust. Your honour.”

He shook his head slowly.

“While you remain here, I hope you find time to reflect on the choices you made.”

Lord Eden stepped through the doorway.

“Good day, Lord Ranfel.”

The iron door closed with a heavy thud behind him.

Lord Eden stood still in the dim corridor for a moment.

The guards waited respectfully at a distance while he stared at the cold stone wall ahead, the weight of the confession settling slowly in his mind.

Haemon.

King Lewis.

Baron’s Portal.

What had begun as a simple investigation into the Spirit invasion had now revealed something far more troubling. A web of pride, vengeance, and ambition stretching across two worlds.

Eden exhaled quietly.

So this is how it began.

He straightened his coat and finally began walking down the corridor.

There was much to prepare.

And very little time left before the truth tore Fulaina apart.