The Web of Knightspur-Chapter 212 - 210

As the King of the Angevin Kingdom, the man had learned a lot. It was not that easy to sacrifice your brother’s life to get the throne, but he was able to harden his heart and go ahead with it.

"King, we will reach the borders soon," the secretary informed as he looked back at the King whose eyes were filled with an unknown emotion.

’Am I doing the right thing?’ The King thought as he looked off into the distance. He could see the dim light at the very end but it was not the only thing that caught his eye. ’Someone is coming here as well? Who might it be?’

Although the King had many questions, he bit his tongue and did not voice them. His son was missing. The only heir to the Angevin Kingdom throne. But what baffled him more was why would someone from the Roulux Empire do such a thing? What was the motive to go against them? ’Even after what we had done together. It does not make any sense.’

The King thought a little deeper to himself. He knew that the situation he was in was unusual in itself. The heir to the Kingdom was missing but there was no big change in the Kingdom. There were no rebels, so it was clear that no one from the Kingdom was involved. It had to be from outside... but the Empire?

’The Crown Prince helped me to get the throne in exchange for getting Princess Eleanor. He fulfilled his end of the bargain and I completed mine. So why now?’ The King thought as he tried to understand the big picture.

The King knew that his brother had received a marriage proposal from the Empire, but he was not surprised when he had refused it. After all, a man who married for love will never force his daughter into a political marriage. But what surprised him more was that the Crown Prince of the Roulux Empire did not keep quiet but had come to him. Or was he brought over?

He remembered that it was his wife, the now Queen, and his son-in-law, Duke Felix who had introduced the Crown Prince to him. The deal was risky, but his wife supported him and so he decided to rebel against his brother. Although he felt sympathetic and guilty, he was a Prince once and he was taught that in the Royal family, survival comes before blood. It was a lesson he had never forgotten, so he decided to sacrifice his blood relative to gain the throne.

’It was never a losing deal. I got the throne and the Crown Prince got Princess Eleanor. That was the reason why her title was kept. So why now? Why would someone from the Empire attack us?’

The King could not understand the motive behind the action. ’Did Princess Eleanor say something to the Crown Prince? Or did she say something to Duke Beaumont?’

The King knew that the possibility of his thoughts being a reality was high but he shook his head.

"Someone is coming our way?" The secretary said in an alarmed tone, making the soldiers stand on alert. But soon everyone relaxed when they saw the flag of their Kingdom approaching their entourage.

"Duke Felix?" The secretary said, making the King look at the man who was riding on the horse in front.

As soon as Duke Felix rode up beside the King on his horse, the King did not stop but asked, "What are you doing here?" Everyone stopped as Duke Felix got down from the horse.

The door to the carriage was opened and the secretary got down, allowing the man to enter.

Duke Felix did not say anything as he sat in front of the King. His eyes were looking down as if he was thinking about something very deeply.

"Did you find him?" The King asked as he tried to understand why the man was sitting in front of him rather than searching for his son. Has he come to deliver news on Prince Arlo?

"That..." Duke Felix said as he looked up straight into the King’s eyes. His hands moved into the pocket as a paper was taken out. Duke Felix presented the paper to the King as he said. "I did not find him. I think it is of no use. But the King should read this letter."

The King took the letter as he read it unaware that the people who came along with Duke Felix did not belong to the Kingdom. All of them stood behind the men from the King’s side waiting for their master’s sign.

"This is the letter that I forgot to send to the Empire. It has to be delivered to them before you arrive. But now that I think about it, there really is no use. Do you know why I did not send it? Because the King will never make it to the borders. The distance is something that could never be crossed."

The King’s eyes widened as he looked down at the letter in his hand. There were no words of his visit to the Empire but what surprised him the most was the last line that read, [Unfortunately, the King was killed by the rebels before he could cross the borders.]

The King looked straight at Duke Felix and his sweat could not help but roll down profusely. The tip of the sword was inches away from him. The King swallowed hard but no words could come out of his mouth. 𝐟𝕣𝕖𝐞𝐰𝕖𝚋𝐧𝗼𝚟𝐞𝕝.𝗰𝐨𝐦

Duke Felix’s lips curled up in a sneer as he moved his body a little toward the King. His voice was as soft as a whisper, "Let’s make the content of the letter true shall we, Father-in-law?"

Duke Felix shouted at the top of his voice, "NOW!!" And as soon as the words were said, all the knights who stood behind the soldiers of the Angevin Kingdom drew their swords. The soldier’s hands were held behind their back as the sword was placed across their necks. Even if the men wanted to do anything, they could not unless they were willing to lose their lives.

Soon the carriage doors opened and they could see the King restrained by a sword as well.

"The King is useless without his soldiers. Especially the one who lacks fighting experience." Duke Felix mocked as he looked down at the King. "So let’s see the soldiers die before I kill you."

"AHHHH...."

"NO..!!!"

Many screams could be heard as the King closed his eyes. A spray of warm liquid splashed on his face and he knew right away that it was the spray of lifeblood spilled. He did not even have to guess.

Soon the screams quietened down, making the King open his eyes. But what he saw was something he had never experienced before. Dead bodies were lying on the ground. Not only all the soldiers were killed with their blood spilled on the ground, but the secretary was also lying there in a pool of his own blood.

"This..." the King struggled to say. He wanted to ask what was happening. He wanted to know, why was Duke Felix doing such things? Were they not on the same side?

"The King is shocked?" A burst of deep and mocking laughter made the King’s eyes widen. He looked at the man who was his son-in-law. A man he trusted and followed. A man who portrayed that the Royal family was his top priority and that he was a loyal subject.

"Why???" The King managed to choke out, but soon his words were stuck in his throat when the sword pierced through his neck.

"Why?" Duke Felix’s tone turned dark. "You thought I asked the Empire’s help to let you sit on the throne? So funny... I asked them to kill the former King to be a step closer to my goals. To be crowned the King of the Angevin Kingdom..."

As soon as Duke Felix said those words, he could see the King’s body shaking. "Who would have thought that you could be so easily fooled. The Queen wanted the throne to get revenge for the humiliation and you wanted it to prove that you are better than your brother. Oh, no. You wanted it to prove to your wife how much you love her. So you decided to listen to her words and rebel. Love is really blind and in your case foolish."

Duke Felix moved the sword a little further as he could see the King getting breathless. "Your foolish daughter was blinded by love just like you. She tried so hard to marry me. And now I have to fulfill her wishes. I have to be her husband. A husband that has to take care of the people of this Kingdom after the tragic death of their King and their Crown Prince."

King’s eyes widened. Although he was about to lose consciousness, he understood the meaning behind those words. He wanted to ask more, but none of the words came out.

"What? You want to know what happened to your son? You should know it in your heart by now." Duke Felix’s eyes darkened. "A stubborn boy had gone to his rightful place, and now it is your time to follow suit."

Duke Felix’s sword moved through the King’s neck as it came out at a high speed. The King’s body slipped down and hit the ground before laying in an ever widening pool of blood.

"Don’t worry. You will not be alone there. I will soon let your wife join you... A love so blind should not be separated. Just wait for a few more hours... I promise to hurry for your sakes."