He resisted with all his might, kicked and floundered, but a powerful blow to the gut calmed his arrogance a little.

He couldn’t understand how it had come to this. What did he do to deserve such an attitude? Raphael spoke correctly, convincing him that the king was using him.

Now he was 100% sure of it, but he was paying too high a price for this realization.

He was taken to a prison cell and kicked inside, forcing him to fall on the icy stone floor. Groaning faintly from the dull pain, he got up, noticing that the guards entered into the room, followed by the king.

He measured the man in front of him with a cold haughty look, as if he was looking at the garbage in front of him, after which he chuckled, curling his lips in a semblance of a smile.

- Who do you think you are, that you dare to show up like this when you weren’t invited? Are you making an idiot of me? Dare you claim the right to my daughter’s hand? - The king’s voice was laced with mockery. - You’re like dirt that keeps popping up in front of my shoes and it’s impossible to get rid of. You know, if it wasn’t for your smart enough brains, would I have kept you with me for so long? Of course not.

The King burst out laughing, as if he found something funny in this.

- I do not know how you got the invitation, but I will personally deal with the one who gave it to you. - The king hissed.

- I’m only sorry that I didn’t realize at the time what a vile person you are. This is my omission, not being able to understand people. - Rick replied calmly when he noticed the guards returning with their swords out. It was more than a clear signal that he should die today, for insulting the king.

The sound of steel swords and armor resonated loudly in the empty prison cell as the guards approached. The man behind the bars closed his eyes, taking a deep breath. There was no point in screaming or begging for mercy, it was just pointless in this situation.

The only thought that flashed through his mind right now was what would have happened if he hadn’t accepted this damned envelope with an invitation from Raphael?

- Who else are you? – shouted the king, who was taken by surprise by an unexpected guest in the prison room.

Peering through the semi-darkness of the room, the king frowned in puzzlement, recognizing the man who had disturbed the lynching.

–King Raphael?

- Oh, I’m sorry, I must have got the wrong door. - Raphael laughed and immediately left, slamming the door loudly in the face of the dumbfounded King of Riliya.

The guards also could not understand what was happening and were waiting for the go-ahead to continue to carry out their order, but the next moment the door opened again with a bang, cracking loudly against the wall.

- Oh, no, I was not mistaken. - his eyes flashed with a malicious gleam. 𝓯𝙧𝙚𝒆𝙬𝙚𝒃𝙣𝙤𝒗𝓮𝓵.𝙘𝙤𝙢

He walked briskly inside, coming closer to the cage behind which Rick was being held. His eyes caught some abrasions and bruises on the man’s body, but he held up well.

- This is not the place where you need to be! – the king said affirmatively, giving the guards a signal with his hand to block the exit. – What do you mean, you didn’t make a mistake coming here?

- I thought I heard that you would deal with the one who gave him the invitation, is that right? - The corners of Raphael’s lips turned up merrily. - So what are you going to do?

- Did you do it? – the king’s nostrils began to inflate with irritation from the surging understanding, and his voice dropped several octaves. – You have always been a dark horse for me, but you know, even you are not allowed to humiliate me and my family in front of everyone like that. I’ll grind you to powder if you refuse to sit in your seat.

Raphael burst out laughing, putting his hand between the bars and leaning on it for support.

- Mmm, what a tempting offer to tickle your nerves. - Rafael asked innocently, raising his eyebrows. – Am I to blame for what happened? You’re digging a hole under yourself, and I’m just the one who will help you comfortably lie down in this very pit.

The last words were said ironically, but there was an undisguised threat in them and the king, taken aback, immediately ordered the guards to seize Raphael.

At the moment it did not matter that he was the king of another country, because if the corpse was not found, then there would be no claims against him. But the king did not take into account the fact that Raphael was stronger than his guards, who fell dead in an instant, without even having time to get their weapons aimed at him.

The king, with a belated reaction, staggered back, overcome with genuine horror, while Raphael, as if nothing had happened, shook the dripping blood from his hands.

- I suppose you’re surprised. Well, it’s worth saying that I really used Rick, forcing him to come here. But it was only for my amusement and to show him that he is deeply mistaken in you. There was no doubt that you would not give him your daughter. But how well the situation is developing now... You’re here, I’m here, and no more witnesses. Rick doesn’t count.

The king instantly pulled out a magic wand and swung it in the air, creating a powerful stream of energy that was ready to burst in a second, until Raphael pulled the wand out of his hands and broke it in half.

- You magicians are so strong, of course, but not in close combat. You don’t have enough speed. - He shrugged, brushing the last of the wood dust from his hands.

- What do you want?

- What do I want? Mmm, let me think. What about your death? - his lips split into a malicious smile. – You dared to attack my people, thinking that I wouldn’t know anything, and that was your main mistake. It’s time to say goodbye.

His scarlet eyes flashed brighter and in the next moment he tore his still beating heart out of the king’s chest, after which he slowly turned to Rick, a prisoner in a prison cell, who was pale as a ghost. He never expected that this evening would end like this.

And now different scenarios were walking in his head about what consequences awaited him.

Raphael snapped his fingers and the lock magically crumbled into dust, allowing the heavy creaking door to swing open.

- I’m not going to apologize. Raphael said dryly.

- For throwing me to the wolves, or for killing the King of Riliya? - Rick asked, although he understood exactly what he was talking about.

- This decrepit old man is too steeped in his greed, and he paid for it. Rulers of Riliya has always been distinguished by this quality. They are always short of everything and therefore they are at war with others, wanting more territories and more wealth. But he made a mistake when he attacked my people.

He couldn’t help but wonder how much Riliya and Adaman were similar in their ambitions. The rulers change, but the essence remains the same. They should unite and it would be good, but the Riliyans are too proud people to give equal rights to anyone else. Moreover, Adaman, inhabited by ordinary people, could be an exclusively dependent state.

- And what are we going to do now?

- Let’s go celebrate, of course. - he chuckled. – I’ve seen interesting snacks made of thinly sliced meat, I think I’ll like it.

- It’s amazing how you can think about food in a situation like this. We have a corpse lying here, as it were.

- Relax. – Raphael patted him on the shoulder and in the next second the body of the Riliya king was engulfed in flames that did not leave even ashes behind.

In the ballroom, no one could have imagined that the great Riliya had lost her king overnight. It was noisy and fun here and all thoughts were only about the upcoming engagement.

- If it makes you feel any better, he’s already chosen a husband for her." – Rafael casually said and immediately attracted Rick’s attention. - What?

- Your eyes aren’t red anymore. – he declared dumbfounded.

- Oh, you mean that? – Raphael continued to throw one piece of meat after another into his mouth, until there were only single pieces of bread left on the tray without filling on top. – You didn’t want to attract attention.

- But I didn’t know that you can influence the color of your own eyes.

- I usually don’t do this, today is an exception, so that you feel more relaxed. I prefer to accept myself as I am. This is the ability to love yourself. - He closed his eyes, smacking his lips.

- How much more do I have to learn about you... - he asked himself a rhetorical question.

- Believe me, a lifetime is not enough. So how about accepting my offer? - Raphael fixed his gaze on the lost youth.

- Why would I do that?

- The king who took care of you is no longer alive, do you think they will leave you alone? I assume that they will lock you in a dungeon and use you further, but against your will. I can give you a power that they will take into account.

What Raphael had a special talent for was clouding the human mind. Of course, he pursued his personal goals first of all, wanting to make Rick stronger and win over to his side, but he was mistaken only in the fact that Derrick eventually did not want to leave Riliya, which became his home.