The Web of Knightspur-Chapter 256 - 252
As soon as the chief healer entered the room, he saw Grand Duke Christopher sitting on the chair and looking at the door. There were still priests and healers walking around, trying their best to save the Crown Prince.
"First P..." The chief healer was still uncomfortable as he said those words. How can he call the Grand Duke as First Prince even if it was true?
"The High Priest sent you?" Grand Duke Christopher’s voice was sharp as he spoke and did not let the man complete his sentence. His goal was set and he wanted to get it done soon.
The chief healer did not know what to expect out of the situation. Everything was getting worse by the second. He looked at the others as he gestured with his hand. The one who had all the knowledge of medicines was the chief healer. The man was influential in the Temple and was only second after the High Priest.
All the people looked at one another before they nodded their heads and walked out of the room. It was clear that the chief healer wanted some time alone.
Grand Duke Christopher rose up from his seat and he walked towards the chief healer. He extended his hand out only to see the confused look of the man.
The chief healer could not understand what was requested of him. His eyes moved to the hands that were extended in front of him.
"The bottle?" At Grand Duke Christopher’s clipped words, the chief healer was speechless. He did not have any reason to shake his head. It was evident that the Grand Duke was aware of the High Priest’s intention.
’Should I give it or should I not?’ The chief healer was confused. Many thoughts were playing in his head, but when he saw the determined and savage gaze of the Grand Duke, the chief healer swallowed hard and handed the bottle over with slightly trembling hands.
"You stay at the door and keep watch. I will be out in a minute." The Grand Duke said without any expression. It was clear that the man did not want to have any contact with him now. The chief healer shook his head as he walked out. He had to stay near, just to make sure that no one entered. This was of utmost importance.
Grand Duke Christopher smiled as he walked to the side. He opened the bottle as he headed straight to his destination. Upon reaching Prince Richard’s bedside, he poured the medicine into the mouth of the Prince and clamped his mouth shut, making the man swallow all of it.
"With this, you will never wake up ever again." Grand Duke Christopher murmured, unaware that even if Prince Richard was already on the verge of death, his subconscious mind was still aware of the situation going on around him. "But before you die, let me tell you that all of your planning and plotting will be in vain. Nothing that you say is going to work out. All the things that you did back then will be coming to bite you in the ass."
Prince Richard’s mind was still alert and functioning. He could feel his heart beating faster. He did not know what the man had given him to drink, but it was definitely something fatal and he understood the reasoning behind it.
"Things will not get any better from now on. Do you know what medicine you just drank? The same one that the Royal family gave permission to the Temple to prepare. A poison that can make a person die instantly but cannot be detected yet. How lucky it is that your whole family get to experience something that you had pressured the temple to make." Grand Duke Christopher shook his head as he walked to the chair nearby and sat down again. His eyes looked at the body of the Prince as he continued speaking, "It will make your organs burn slowly and steadily from within as it will soon go deeper and deeper into your body."
Grand Duke Christopher wanted to laugh but he did not show any emotion. "You wanted a person to choose you to be the Emperor, but that person killed you. What made you think that she would believe your words? She is an intelligent lady and knows who is manipulating her. But I cannot say the same for you."
Grand Duke Christopher laughed softly as he shook his head, "You were right. I am not the First Prince. I never was, but can you imagine who the real First Prince is? A man that you have never thought of. Someone who had been planning this entire thing for a really long time. The High Priest of the Empire. Priest Erasmus. Someone whom you would never relate to Royalty."
Crown Prince Richard could understand the words that were said to him. His mind was running wild as he wanted to open his eyes. He was struggling to say something out loud to the man but his lips just would not cooperate. An unsettling fear was making it difficult for him to say or do anything. He wanted to break free from this darkness but something told him that the only way to push this darkness behind is to embrace death.
Crown Prince Richard could feel something burning in him. Something was not right as he wanted to get up and walk away. He wanted to push it all out. He struggled hard as he tried to push his body up. He wanted to leave this feeling behind but soon he felt lightweight. And before he could understand what was happening, he was pushed into eternal darkness.
Grand Duke Christopher could see the slight movements of Crown Prince Richard’s body but before he could react, the man became motionless. Clearly, Prince Richard was now dead.
Grand Duke Christopher did not waste any more time as he rose from his seat and walked towards the door. As soon as he opened it, he saw the worried expression of the chief healer, but the Duke did not care. He handed the bottle over as he said in a small but firm voice, "I’ll prepare for the funeral. You should know what to do with the people who tried to harm the Royal family. I do not need to tell you this again."
The Chief Healer swallowed hard as he nodded his head in agreement. He knew what those words meant. Someone else was about to die.
—--
{Present}
Princess Eleanor stood in front of the crowd. She had many emotions brewing within her heart as tears rolled down her cheeks. "I do not know what to say to you all. Is today a good day or a day filled with regrets?" 𝘧𝓇ℯℯ𝑤ℯ𝘣𝓃ℴ𝓋𝑒𝑙.𝑐𝘰𝑚
Princess Eleanor’s voice shook with emotions but she still managed to say the next few words. "But the High Priest gave me strength. They say everything happens due to God’s will. And maybe this too, is God’s will."
Princess Eleanor took a deep breath as she continued. "I don’t think that I should be the one naming the next Emperor when we have just lost one. But all the Priests suggested that it is the day for a new Emperor to be crowned and we will be the ones establishing a prosperous and advanced Empire."
Princess Eleanor looked to the side only to see Priest Erasmus standing beside her as he looked at all the citizens. There were many nobles in the crowd as well and the High Priest knew that his words held the power to suppress their objections.
"I do not say that the death of the Royal Family is the will of God, what will happen after this is. Princess Eleanor has chosen the man who will be the one bringing the Roulux Empire to the top. The Empire will be safe under his rule and his reign will be just, bringing happiness to everyone. He is someone who has looked at people’s problems very closely."
Priest Erasmus smiled as he looked at Princess Eleanor as he moved his hand, indicating for her to say the words that are in her mind. "Princess....."
Princess Eleanor took a step ahead as she rubbed her eyes that were tearing up. She knew that what she wanted to portray was not a crying Princess but a person who is stronger. "When I lost my parents in an unfortunate event, I saw my Uncle take the throne. It was not even a day and he had taken charge of things. I was depressed and sad at that time, not understanding what was happening."
"Now that I am here and the same situation has happened, I think I understand it better. The Empire cannot be without the Emperor. I am no longer a girl who will stand here and cry. I am someone who has been bestowed the crown as the chosen one, so I will also make sure that the Empire will always be filled with happiness." Princess Eleanor smiled but her eyes still showed sadness, making the people emotional. Their eyes stayed on Princess Eleanor who was portrayed to be stronger even in such sad times. "The man who had taken someone he did not know into his house just to be treated can be someone who will be able to understand the pain of the people. The man who will go to great lengths to keep this land safe should be the true ruler of the Empire. A man who is called the devil of the battlefield. Prince Christopher will be the Emperor of the Roulux Empire."
