The Duchesses

Chapter 59 : Imperial Burial Ground

He must be confident to let it be announced like this. Ares truly sickened Duchess of the Light more than she could ever imagine.

The words will soon spread throughout the capital and the entire Empire. With this announcement, the Emperor indirectly hint at the people of the perpetrator of this case. However, the silence comes again as the nobles swarm around the Emperor, sucking over his good side and Ares.

"If only Your Majesty knows what your son did. I sincerely pity you, Emperor Atticus, and Empress Ophelia for raising a demon," Medea thought in her mind.

She glances over the real mastermind, who still has water glazed over his eyes. People watch for him in such pity, offering condolence to him. He would be a top-notch actor at that time. Rather than being a God, a Demon should fit him the best.

"However, who am I to say when my parents also raise me to be the same in the past," she lets out a small chuckle in her mind.

Ares looks over at Medea's place, only to find her gone missing. Some people were in her place, and he couldn't see the sight of her everywhere.

"She just performed her actions then left without a goodbye."

As the funeral almost ends, some Imperial Knights swarm over the place, pushing the nobles out from the Emperor and Crown Prince. They surround them while pointing out their swords at people who come close to them.

"What are you doing?!" the Emperor asks, enraged by the knights who scared people away.

One of the knights accidentally lets out a fact that continues to shock people again today. As if today is going to get any better, another storm is coming for them.

"The perpetrator has escaped! She might come here and harm you and the Crown Prince as well, Your Majesty," he said as people turned around, looking at specific people.

At this time, Ares catches off guard about it. His eyes widen until his nose flames angrily, and his jaws clench. He doesn't protest at it, but the thought of Hera being able to escape is beyond imagination. The Imperial Knights were immediately in action, escorting both men to the Imperial Palace for safety reasons.

The Emperor is quite bothered by that fact and immediately passes out on his way, letting Ares regain control as soon as they arrive. Some carried out the Emperor and brought out the physician right away.

"You all guard here with the Emperor. I'll go off to check on the dungeon. Julius!" he orders, looking a bit frantic at that time.

"Yes, Your Highness!" the other said, bowing at him, leaving with Julius.

The Crown Prince reaches there in no time, only to find the two knights being slaughtered there. Blood pooled on the ground as the lifeless bodies scattered around it. Finally, the gate opens, and the chains are broken inside. No one inside the dungeon except him and Julius. He draws his sword, stabbing the corpse over and over again.

Julius cowers in fear at sight but chooses to hide it. He hides his trembling hand behind, looking at the ruined corpses.

At the Imperial Burial Ground.

Duchess Natalie snaps her finger, stopping the time and people around her except for Duchess Medea. The blonde woman turns her head, motioning with her hands and opening the portal to teleport. They arrive at the Imperial Palace's dungeon in no time. The problem starts when they have no idea where Hera would be located, but Medea has a faint idea where she might be.

Two knights are in sight at the corner as soon as they reach there, guarding up one cell.

"What should we do?" Aurora whispers to Medea.

The amethyst eyes glance over the surrounding, confirming her theory that Ares wouldn't let many people in Hera's cell. So those two must be his trusted knights.

"Follow me," Medea faintly said as she walked directly over to both men.

Aurora panics a bit, following her, not knowing why Medea charges toward the men boldly. The men notice the women's presence, feeling taken back, as their sight keeps moving back and forth to Natalie and Medea. Probably they heard about the news of their bad blood. The Duchesses never meet eye to eye every time they meet.

So, watching them together like this would be a rare sight.

"My apologies, Your Graces. You aren't allowed to be here," one of the knights steps forward, stopping them in their tracks.

The amethyst and ruby eyes look intimidating together, causing the men to feel smaller under that gaze. It's so cold, like the usual sapphire eyes that they used to see. Why are those people so fierce?

Medea catches a glimpse of Hera, who is lying in her blood. Her clothes were stained in blood, her blonde hair scattered around the floor, and the side of her face kissing the floor. She looks unrecognisable.

Duchess Valimos sees red at this sight, as well as Duchess Smith. Unfortunately, the knights don't show remorse looking at her, causing the Duchesses to not think about anything rather than killing them and saving the woman. Sparks of fire come from Smith's hand, but Medea holds it off to calm her down.

"Why is she isn't treated yet?" Medea's voice is so low, sending a shiver up and down their spine.

"It is the secrecy that I can't disclose the matter. Therefore, I kindly ask Your Graces to leave," the man said, bowing slightly at both women.

Medea ignores them off, walking right through them, but the man's hand grabs her arm. While the other drew a sword towards her. The blade lands on vital points in a blink of an eye, followed by thud sounds hitting the ground. Aurora sees the massacre in front of her again, feeling queasy at sight, but she can manage for now.

Medea goes through their bodies, finding a key for the cell. The squeaking sound of the gate wakes Hera up as the emerald eyes glow in dim light. It aches Medea to see her this way.

Ares treats her as less than an animal when the chains wrap around her hands and legs.

"Lady--Lady Medea?" she speaks in a hoarse voice.

Medea grits her teeth, watching the woman as Hera turns her attention to another woman.

"Lady--Lady Natalie?" Hera wants to get up, but her body fails her.

Without saying any words, both women know what to do. Finally, Aurora breaks the chain, using her magic power.

Medea slips her arms around Hera's body, carrying her like glass, not wanting to cause any hurt to Hera again. Her body thumps in pain, causing her to whimper. Hera hides her face on Medea's neck, feeling the world start to go black again.

Aurora watches this, silently opening the portal and teleporting the three of them into another place. After arriving, the physicians rush over to transfer the women to the waiting treatment area, where they are greeted by a mysterious figure. Aurora and Medea couldn't stay any longer, feeling a tug on their heart to leave earlier.

However, they have to since Aurora excessively uses her power to stop the time around the capital. The more they drag this, the more it exhausts Aurora. As a result, they might not be able to teleport back. Fixing their attires, they are back at the funeral with a poker face as a mask.

Aurora snaps her finger again, listening to the Pope's voice giving a speech about Empress Ophelia. She lets out a small relieved sigh, feeling her hand tremble, but brushes it off by hiding it from Medea. She doesn't need to be concerned over this, although Aurora did overuse her power.

"Dispatch the Imperial Knights to look after her. I want her alive. Anyone who gives information about her whereabouts will be rewarded," Ares said, wiping the blood from his face.

"You can't run away far from me, Hera."