CHAPTER 508: ESCAPED DEATH

Silvanius didn’t have a problem with Aurelius’s plans. He planned on marrying Lyra to a small nation over the ocean in the continent of Theraxia, where Draconia was located. Then, he would give the boys titles and responsibilities not important enough to influence the court but still befitting of their titles.

That way they won’t have the right to complain.

Silvanius was glad Aurelius didn’t plan on exterminating them. The children were never the problem, it was the mother pulling the strings.

Without the support of Seraphina and her family who were stripped of their title for Seraphina’s crimes. Theodore and Aric could not do much.

"I will take my leave now, Abrielle is waiting." Aurelius nodded at the emperor. His eyes fell on the portrait of Bethany once more but he refused to question Silvanius.

Aurelius stopped his gaze still on the painting. This drew Silvanius’s attention. The emperor’s brow furrowed, thinking Aurelius wanted to question him on the paintings.

Aurelius’s lips parted and he said something Silvanius was not expecting. "Thank you," the prince hurriedly left after saying those words, as if it were some forbidden sentence, leaving the emperor baffled.

Silvanius smiled then shook his head dismissively. It was unexpected indeed...

Aurelius was aware of how Silvanius had secretly been supporting him in court and even held Seraphina’s reins. It wasn’t obvious, but Aurelius had actually been protected by Silvanius.

Maybe it was his guilt towards Bethany which made him protect the last thing she left.

Abrielle’s ears perked up at the sound of the door. Aurelius stepped out. He wasn’t surprised to see her waiting. "Did you get the answers you wanted?" She asked him, her blue eyes staring at him curiously.

"Something like that."

The siblings left the king’s palace together. Aurelius chatted with Abrielle about some random matters. He was the one doing more of the talking and all she did was listen.

They stepped out of the main entrance and ran into Lyra. The princess’s face fell once she laid eyes on the ones behind her mother’s death.

The muscles of her jaw moved. Her teeth grind together. She could not mask her hatred and could barely smile at them before she rushed by them to avoid confrontation.

Lyra was dressed all in black with a veil covering her face. She was in mourning for her mother. The emperor didn’t declare the palace to go into mourning, but that didn’t stop Lyra from paying her last respects to her mother.

Aurelius watched Lyra’s fleeting figure until she disappeared from his line of sight. "Do you know any high noble or prince from Tharexia who might be needing a wife at least one who isn’t too old?" He casually mentioned.

Abrielle’s eyes narrowed at Aurelius. She was starting to understand him too well. The princess felt sorry for Lyra. She was about to be forced into a loveless marriage.

Well, it was still better than death or being sent to a convent.

*********

The candles flickered softly. The window was rustling in the wind. A soft groan slipped out of Cedric’s lips. His eyes slowly opened, flickering between black and gold.

Cedric struggled to sit up, his head was pounding. He grabbed a handful of his hair, tugging it lightly. Another sharp groan left his lips.

Cedric’s ears perked, he wasn’t alone. His eyes darted around the room. Stunned, he was back in his room. He thought he had died.

What happened?

.

But the greatest shock was seeing Raziel sitting on a desk apparently scribbling some notes. His attention was focused on the books before him.

He tried to speak but a cough came out instead. Raziel released a short breath, then dropped his quill before he glanced over his shoulder to see the boy. Raziel had already sensed he was awake long before.

"Finally decided to join the world of the living." Raziel taunted. His eyes trailed around Cedric. The marks were still all over his body but his eyes were gold now. Both sides were still in conflict

Cedric found Raziel’s gaze unsettling. The king of Netheralis was the last person he would have ever imagined waiting for him.

"I thought I was going to die," he groaned, still feeling the ache in his chest where he had been clawed. Raziel stood up from the seat, a tired sigh leaving his lips. He was tired of waiting; luckily, the bastard didn’t die, or Elysia would have ended up mourning him all over.

He only bothered interfering because of her. "You died," the king of Netheralis flatly said. Cedric was dumbfounded

.

"The only reason you are back is because I intervened, but the problem still persists. Your strong resentment for yourself." It was hard for Cedric to figure out what goes on in Raziel’s mind.

His every body moment shows how much he loathes Cedric’s but his actions spoke otherwise. "Thank you," Cedric said out of gratitude.

Raziel’s face scrunched on hearing Cedric. "I don’t need your gratitude. I only did it because of your mother." He said plainly. Cedric’s lips pressed together. He suspected the same.

"If you can stand up, we’d better get moving." Raziel then added, sounding a bit impatient.

The first prince of Darconia was puzzled. A slight frown on his face. Raziel read through his confusion and gave him an answer. "We have to fix you." He vaguely answered

Cedric pulled his legs to the side and managed to stand upright. He was fine, just the slight pain in his chest. His eyes caught his reflection in a mirror.

His feet were rooted on the floor, his face pale, unable to tear his eyes from the mirror. Cedric also could not recognise himself. He reached out for his face which was covered with the markings down to every skin on his body.

"That’s what we have to fix." Raziel chimed. Those were cursed marks, the thing that differentiated them from the gods. A curse binds them to Netheralis.

From the mirror reflection, Cedric saw Raziel approach. The moment Raziel got close enough he placed his hand on Cedric’s shoulders and they were shrouded with a dark mist

Teleportation magic. One trick Cedric was too familiar with.

The mist cleared up, and of course, their surroundings had changed. The air here was heavy. It felt like death was crawling over his skin.

"Follow me." Raziel folded his hand behind him and started walking down a dark hallway. The candles barely lit it up at all.

Cedric had a lot of questions but still quietly followed. It seemed like some type of ancient dungeon.

Raziel eventually stopped at a door, he opened the door and beckoned Cedric to go in. He was sceptical, but if Raziel wanted him dead he would not have gone this far.

Still wary, Cedric stepped into the dark room. The door slammed behind him. The loud bang frightened the prince, known to be scared of nothing.

Confusion flooded his mind. What was Raziel up to?

That’s when he heard the voice. "Cedric." Someone gasped in surprise. Cedric’s fist balled, his gaze slowly moved behind him..

It was Kaiden.