Sweat coated Irwin's forehead and he ran through the passageways to reach behind the palace as fast as his short legs could take him. The sight of the young prince was horrifying than his worst nightmares and the more he remembered those merciless eyes and his devilish grin, the more his heart thundered and he increased his pace. Now that he snuck out of their eyes, he couldn't get himself captured by him.
He had heard Prince Demian was merciless and after seeing a child, both he and his master laughed at him. But were they so wrong at his appearance that it ended up in their doom.
His chest heaved with the lack of air and his legs could no longer take him. He tilted his head as he found the back gate wasn't that far. He smiled and bent forward to fill air in his lunges. The large backpack made his back and shoulders hurt. At times, he wanted to discard the object but how could he when that bag had years and years of his earnings. Not to forget the recent taxes were there. His eyes glinted in the dark as he felt the weight on his back.
When that bastard of a Prince was taking his Master in his custody, he knew, their days were ended. He tried to warn his master yet, Lord Heartstone didn't listen. Now, he was in the dungeon. Lord Heartstone was a foolish greedy man and Irwin could care less about him. After all, this whole thing was his idea. He wanted to get the whole city of Rockdelia but the illegal trades got the young prince's attention.
Irwin muttered some curses under his breath as he neared his destination. But Oh well, he had a big fortune for himself already.
The days he was serving Heartstone were coming to an end. He may had pledged to serve him whole life but not by sacrificing himself. His master might have given him gold, women, land but it couldn't compare his life. Besides, he never wanted to serve him, he just wanted to use the fat lord for his benefits and he did it.
Irwin looked around the large plants that were attached to the old palace's walls and as he had been here for more than a decade, he knew where the secret passage led and that's where he would go and in a few hours, he would be free. Outside of the palace walls.
He laughed.
But poor Irwin, as his smashed face, his brain was smashed as well. He hadn't realised two of the Dragon's guards were following him the whole time Demian had set his feet on the land of Rockdelia.
As Irwin reached the gate he huffed catching his breath and holding his knees. His small ant-like eyes circled around but couldn't see a soul. He grinned at his accomplishment.
The gate was hidden under plants and algae and he looked for a specific carvings that he knew from Lord Heartstone. One of the large root of the tree had a star in a circle and he knew, this was the tree which hid the door behind it.
He went near and shook off the small bushes and tree roots as a door appeared in front of him. He nodded at himself, proud at what had he achieved so far.
Behind this ancient door, his freedom laid in wide hands and he would embrace it. Straightening himself, Irwin opened the door and the land beneath his feet seemed to have slipped as he saw the sight before him. There were more than hundred soldiers standing in front of him donned in armours with the crest which unmistakably represented the Royal family.
*****
One of Demian's guards came following behind the wounded soldier and informed, "Your Highnes, the Dragon Knights have arrived."
The nobles present there including Seraphina looked at Demian wide-eyed as he clasped his hands excitedly, "Perfect timing!"
Seraphina looked at him questioningly as she asked, "What do you mean? And why have the dragon's knights arrived here?"
"Because prior leaving Dragon city, I had already told them to follow after our ship leaves." Demian answered.
He looked at the shocked nobles and said with a smile, "Why don't you all leave for your abodes and bring me all of your papers and money?"
The nobles including their families hurriedly stood and were about to exit when Demian said, "Wait!"
All of them halted and turned toward him, fear and confusion engraved on their faces. They had no idea what this young Prince had planned for them in his evil mind. Up until now, they had heard rumours about him and now, they were witnessing it. No one said that the young prince was this evil! If Lord Heartstone had warned them, then maybe they would have been safe.
"Not the family members. They'll stay here and enjoy the meal while all the respectful Lords will be accompanied by my men," Demian said with a devilish grin which made them shake in fear.
"Bu-but."
"Don't worry, I will take good care of them and will make sure they are not treated unfairly and of course, I will not let hand them over to the masses of people." There was a hint of threat in the young Prince's voice which made them shiver in their place and they gulped. They could not run away from him, could they?
Demian added with a shrug, "You all should go immediately before I change my mind."
And they all scattered like ants and Demian said to Alonzo, "Make sure they get three guards accompanied with them."
"Yes, your Highness." Alonzo took his leave and Seraphina looked at the steward as he vanished from them. She had never seen the man-child steward that serious and she hadn't expected the crybaby Alonzo to be this daring. He hadn't even flinched nor did he questioned Demian. He seemed a different person as well.
For a moment, Seraphina thought she had no knowledge on them. That was how the Dragons were when they become serious?
She was frustrated yet felt angry at Demian. She was fuming with anger as Alonzo knew everything but not her. She wanted to ask why hadn't he said anything to her? Maybe he still didn't trust her.
As the men left, Seraphina looked around at the horrified women and children. All of them sat clutching themselves against each other. They were so scared that she could feel their fear in the air. Seraphina almost felt sympathized with them but she knew Demian wouldn't harm them. Or, would he?
She looked at Demian whose face had become dark and she couldn't read what was his plans.
Demian called the General of Lord Heartstone who had surrendered himself before him, "You, tell me more about the trading ships."
"Yes, your highness," the man said in a hesitant voice, "but our only task was to send the poor to their ship. We don't know any details other than that."
"Are you certain, you don't know any other details?" Demian asked, his voice was grave.
The general hung his head low as he said, "No, your Highness, we were only ordered to do so by Lord Irwin."
"Irwin, you say?"
"Yes, Your Highness, Lord Irwin might know everything as when the man appeared, it was Lord Irwin who had a conversation with him."
Demian looked around but there was no sign of that smashed-faced person. Might have tried to run away. He grinned. Demian had already said his men to surround the whole palace. The palace was in the middle of the city and it didn't have any layers of defense. If only Lord Heartstone was smart enough to pour his wealth in his defense. What a foolish Lord!
His father's manor was protected with defense although it was two times small than this. To have a foolish Lord removed from their monarchy, Demian felt relieved. Now he needed to find a Lord for this city. But it would be done later.
"Alright," Demian ordered his men, "Capture the knights of Rockdelia and put them in the dungeons."
At this, the knights shook with fear and Seraphina's eyes widened. He wasn't going to harm them, would he? The knights had already surrendered yet why was he taking them in the dungeons?
As the Dragon knights took the Heartstone knights, Demian headed outside, four knights following him. Seraphina went beside him. "Why did you capture the knights?" She asked.
"To torture them to death, of course." Demian said with a straight face as Seraphina halted in her ground.
"What! But why?"
Demian halted as well as his guards and he turned to her. "Because they had helped Heartstone in his dirty works."
"But they had no choice!"
"Well, I hadn't tortured anyone for many days," Demian said with a sigh, "and I suppose, it will be a great excuse for me to have some fun."
If Seraphina thought her jaw was on the ground before, now it had went even further. "Are-are you serious!" She hissed, "I would not let you harm them. It wasn't their fault!"
Demian raised a brow. "Ho! I see you have changed your sides, haven't you?"
Seraphina clenched her jaw as she growled furiously, "I'm not! It's just-"
"I know."
"What?"
"I was just teasing you."
Seraphina could see the corners of his lips twitching and her anger increased tenfold. How could he tease her in this dire situation!
"It is for safety. They are still Heartstone's men. We can't trust them yet," Demian added coldly.
"You won't hurt them, would you?" Seraphina was a bit hesitant and she couldn't agree more that she felt a little scared of the prince that she couldn't recognise anymore. Her heart thumped thinking what would be his answer?
Demian looked at her and with a smile as he said, "Depends on my mood."
Seraphina's mouth hung and with clenched fists, she hissed as she knew he was teasing her again, "Don't you dare. They have already surrendered."
"Indeed and that's why I would not waste my time hurting them."
And they reached at the entrance. The people had crowded the front of the whole palace. They were screaming and their anger could be felt from here. Seraphina gasped and asked, "But what will happen to the gathering of these people?"
Demian looked at Seraphina and said, "Don't worry, everything is according to my plan."
Seraphina snapped at him with wide eyes and a slacked jaw, "What do you mean?"
"Well, this chaos was created by me."