Raphael

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After Thea left my room, I urgently called a Council. And it seemed like I should have said something, but it turned out differently. Dexter was the talker today and he was very eloquent and dissatisfied. The moments when he chastises me are quite rare, but today was just such a day. Dexter’s happy day. The grin did not leave his face when he pressed on critical points, forcing me not to enter into another useless argument with him.

- What was all this about, Your Majesty? – he pressed me with his frown. – This only led to an intensification of the conflict, and we agreed on a completely different outcome. You promised me, Your Majesty!

- I made a promise and took it away, big deal. - I shrugged innocently, as if it was a completely trivial matter.

- And now how to clean up all this shit? And most importantly, to whom? – my faithful friend persisted.

- Why are you bombarding my head with rhetorical questions? - I rubbed my temples, closing my eyes.

- Raph, now is not the time to let things take their course. Everything went further than it needed to. Moreover, this witch turned out to be the one you can’t fucking convict. And now she’s with her hands full of trumps and all because you’re acting recklessly again.

With every word he said, my head started to hurt more and more and I wanted to make everyone shut up in a moment and stay in silence, alone with myself. But Dex wouldn’t let up and continued to nag me for every expressive act I did there at the ball.

- Are you questioning the correctness of my actions? - I snapped.

Anger was beginning to accumulate in me. I cherished my friend and often listened to him, but this was the first time when he snapped at me so violently in front of strangers. And my ego was too hurt to let go of the situation and close my eyes to his outburst of indignation.

As if sensing a change in the atmosphere, he fell silent and knelt down, lowering his head.

- Not at all, Your Majesty. – humbly, but with a slight gnashing of teeth, he replied. – I’m sorry, I forgot where my place is.

- Exactly. Forgot. - my voice was calm, but behind them there was a chilling coldness and warnings. – If someone is not satisfied with what happened in Riliya, if someone condemns my decisions, I will be gracious to solve your problems in the shortest moment and possibly painlessly.

I got up from my seat, slamming my palms loudly on the table, which made it shake.

- From my advisers, I only expect support and approval. Otherwise, I don’t need your presence. And the main thing you need to remember is that the supreme witch is not your problem, but mine. And only mine. I said in a voice full of disgust for this monster.

- Then why was the Council called so hastily, if this is not the agenda? Richard asked.

- How’s Nils?

- His wounds are healing fast enough, but we can’t do anything with his memory, Your Majesty. - Count Garnway announced sadly, and I nodded, having received an exhaustive answer.

- Now to the question of why I called you here. – I made a short pause, watching how carefully everyone is waiting for me to continue. – In the next three days, our wedding with Giselle should be organized. I need you to monitor the perimeter security, as well as Thea’s security. That mark of hers on her arm, she gives me no peace, there’s too much magic in her. Dex, find out what this symbol is and what magic is hidden in it. If necessary, find her brother and beat everything he knows out of him.

- I get it. I’ll do it right away. But why such a rush with the wedding? I thought you were planning to do this in six months? - The Duke asked.

- Plans have changed. – I thought about it, remembering how that damned Christopher touched my Thea. – I don’t want to delay any longer, especially since Adaman is starting to cause too many problems. It is better to get rid of this load as soon as possible.

- I will block all incoming correspondence for the Adamanians. - Richard reported, which earned me an approving smile.

Nothing and no one will interfere with my plans. Time was passing faster now and it was necessary to act without delay. It is no longer possible to postpone until tomorrow the problems that have hung over our heads with menacing black clouds.

Richard left, and Dexter and I were left alone in proud silence, but with frowning glances that like lightning collided and scattered sparks.

- I don’t understand what’s going on in your head. - Dex said, taking his seat next to me again. – How did everything change so quickly? At first you dreamed only of finding this artifact, and now you are taking aggressive steps to escalate the conflict and conquer other lands. Does it have something to do with the princess?

- I’ve been living too long already. It’s getting more and more burdensome and boring. Can’t I have some fun? – I threw him an answering question.

- I know you too well not to understand that you have something in mind that you don’t want to share with me. - Dex was skeptical of my answer.

- He’s not there. - The Duke frowned at my answer. – There is no artifact in the castle. I should have realized this a long time ago. We’ve been looking for too long and there’s not a single clue, and the fact that Lillian hasn’t taken possession of him yet suggests that he’s not in the castle. You noticed her behavior too, didn’t you, Dex?

This realization, the realization of complete failure, weighed on me with a heavy unbearable burden. Although I didn’t show it outwardly, but deep down I was torn by despair. The more time passes, the less likely it is that we will be able to return the crown. As before, vultures crowded around the power of the artifact, who just want to pinch off a piece of what does not belong to them.

- And then what? What are you going to do? Search further or stop?

- I’ll never stop looking. But now my reference point has changed. To begin with, I will kill this vile trash, and then everything else. 𝒇𝒓𝙚𝒆𝔀𝓮𝓫𝒏𝓸𝙫𝓮𝓵.𝓬𝙤𝙢

- I see. Well, you know you can always count on me.

- Even though you grumble like an old grandfather every time I do something you don’t like? - I taunted him.

- Even then. - Dex grimaced unsatisfactorily. – I just want you to stop living in the past. There is too much anger and aggression in you, which you have been accumulating for centuries and now, going deeper into the rivalry between the kingdoms, you inflame your anger even more. It’s destroying you, can’t you see that?

- Is it possible to destroy what has already been destroyed? - I looked at him. – There is complete darkness in my soul and nothing can fill this gaping void.

- What about the princess? It seemed to me that she came to you at the right moment. Couldn’t she fill that void?

I grinned, replaying the bright image of baby Thea in my head. She really is like a ray of light, but my darkness is too black and can absorb this light without a trace. And I would have to let her go so as not to spoil her, but I can’t, I don’t want to do it. I’m ready to take full responsibility if I drag her into my vicious world. And I will do it. I’m not letting her go anywhere. It was her own fault that she caught my eye on that fateful day. She herself fell into this trap, into this web.

- She’s not Temi, Dexter. But she’s great at distracting me, and I should give her credit for that. - I sighed and got up from my seat. – Well, now it’s time to rest, and tomorrow morning I need to visit my future spouse first thing.

Today turned out to be a very eventful evening. I touched my tongue to the protruding fangs and felt a strong thirst, almost to the point of clouding my mind. I needed to drink blood urgently.