Hacking the Game Didn't Go as Intended [Part Two]

CHAPTER 259: Branded a Criminal

Reneal stood motionlessly, his forehead pressed to the sealed doors of the king's bedchambers. His fists trembled at his sides, the cold bite of grief slicing deeper with every breath he drew. The charred remains of his father had already been removed, and the room quarantined for investigation by the Magical Forensics Guild.

Neville.

The Knight Commander.

His father.

Lumielle.

Everyone he held dear felt like ash slipping through his fingers. Now he was surrounded by serpents—aristocrats cloaked in honeyed words and venomous schemes who sought to pull, twist, and tear him until he regressed into a docile and obedient puppet.

Am I too late? He thought bitterly, squeezing his eyes shut. If I had taken a stand sooner... if I had chosen to fight with Lumielle from the beginning—could we have changed anything? Could this devastation have been avoided?

A flicker of silver flashed through his mind—hair like moonlight, a gentle smile, and eyes the color of warm butterscotch.

Sophia.

He hadn't seen her since the ballroom. What had become of her? Had she perished in the explosion too? No... she was supposed to be untouchable, invincible—like a guiding star in a world gone dark. And yet... she was nowhere to be seen.

As faith in his sister's words began to peel like old paint, something stirred. Reneal gasped as the darkness at his feet stretched and detached. As he stared at the anomaly in surprise, a feline's head peeked out, olive-green eyes fixed on him.

His eyes widened in recognition. Wait... isn't that—

Reneal didn't let the words slip from his mouth. Instead, he glanced around the corridor, then swiftly turned and headed for his old room in the stone keep.

There, bathed in the soft glow of firelight, he unfolded a scroll the feline had delivered. His hands trembled as he read the familiar, elegant handwriting:

January 17th, xxx

Dear Big Brother,

I hope this letter finds you well. I'm sorry I couldn't contact you sooner—we had to flee the palace before it was too late.

Lynn and I are safe. Still shaken, but alive. More importantly... so is Father.

Sophia rescued him just before an assassin could carry out their plan. We suspect Lord Vaerythos and his loyalists. Father's unconscious, but stable. I believe he'll wake up... I have to.

Sophia says you're not in any immediate danger of being targeted by the Mhaledictus. But if anything changes... if you ever feel threatened, don't hesitate to reach out to us. We'll come and get you right away.

For now, we're moving forward with the plan to reclaim the kingdom and purge those who've bent the knee to evil. I heard about what you did during the dungeon break, and I'm proud of you—truly—but no more reckless endeavors. Try to keep a low profile. We've come too far to lose everything now.

Take care of yourself.

With love,

Lumielle.

The tears that had been stinging the back of Reneal's eyes at last broke free, trailing silently down his cheeks. Moments ago, he had felt utterly abandoned—damned to grieve alone in silence. But Lumielle was alive. Lyndoria too. And, even more surprising, their father was also still breathing.