A knock on the door made Esmond slowly open his eyes. Peeking through, a woman stood with a hand on her waist and an annoyed face. "A letter has come for you." Esmond nodded and took it. Just before he could close the door, the woman put a foot in it. "One more day. I want you out after."

"That won’t be a problem," Esmond said coldly and reached behind him. Grabbing a gold coin, he dropped it in the woman’s hands and watched her face light up. "No one knows I was here, and you don’t know anything about a letter." The woman squinted, but the greed in her heart overwhelmed her.

"Can I help you, sir?" Esmond thinly smiled and closed the door. He loved people who knew their place in the world. Sitting at his desk, he carefully cut open the letter.

’The Crown Prince has been targeted. Return now. Do not delay; we have caught the criminals.’ Esmond read the list of names and squinted dangerously. A look spread across his face as his fist tightened around the paper. The fact that the Imperial family was targeted under his watch was a failure he couldn’t believe he let happen. Death wouldn’t even make up for it.

His breathing got heavier, and his usual emotionless face was filled with shame. Going over to his desk, Esmond pulled out his journal and stroked the cover. "No matter the sacrifice. No matter the sacrifice...." He repeated his family motto to himself, his eyes going colder as he did. Taking a deep breath, he went to the cupboard and opened a small briefcase. Inside, a few peerless knives lay neatly out, and grabbing a few, he knew he had to make a few stops before returning to the palace.

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Outside Dana’s manor, Esmond stood with a few Ammary soldiers. All he had to do was show his family crest, and he would be able to mobilise any policing force in the Empire. Dana’s personal guards blocked him, but recognising Esmond and seeing the Ammary Soldiers, they hesitated.

"You are not criminals. Let me through, and I promise no harm will come to you or your families." Esmond’s voice was cold, colder than ice. The men instinctively knew that if they didn’t do as they were told, not only would they suffer a fate worse than death, but their whole family would, no matter their age. Moving aside, Esmond nodded and walked past the soldiers. "Your loyalties were correct." He gave them a comment, and once the force was out of sight, the two quickly left, running home. They had no desire to be involved in whatever happened.

Esmond was watched by the numerous servants from the window as he slowly strode forward. Many reported to Dana, who was in his room clutching his hair in fear. He had waited too long. He should have left when Esmond came to visit him the first time.

"WORKERS OF THE VARAZ MANOR! LEAVE NOW! YOU ARE NOT UNDER ARREST!" A soldier called out with a booming voice, and every worker indoors heard. "COUNT DANA VARAZ! YOU ARE UNDER ARREST FOR TREASON! SURRENDER YOURSELF NOW!" Hearing the crime, everyone looked at one another. They were ready for any crime to be called out, and depending on what it was, some workers were ready to protest and stop the arrest.

But treason was different. Everyone from the lowest peasant to the richest noble knew the history that surrounded Alfred. He made no effort to hide it. Everyone had come to accept it at some point. What ruler wasn’t a killer? It was things like that, plus the good Alfred did, that let people sleep peacefully at night knowing who ruled them.

But hearing treason, they all remembered the terrible history of blood Alfred left behind. Nobles who didn’t even commit treason personally but just didn’t fit in his vision for the future of the Empire were massacred. Stories of priests vanishing in the middle of the night and being replaced with new clergy men from a new faith. People died for less than treason under Alfred’s rule, and those who did commit treason. They knew the stories never told what happened to them, and quickly, servants rushed out of the manor.

Esmond made sure to check each one personally, not allowing Dana to sneak past. Dana clicked his tongue and tried to leave from the back exit but stopped, seeing a couple of guards blocking it. Sighing, he gave up and went to his room. Rummaging in the drawers, he found a knife and held it to his wrists.

His hands shook as he pushed deeper. "Fuck!" Shouting, he dropped the knife, unable to kill himself. He knew whatever waited for him with Esmond would be worse than death, but he couldn’t do it. Sitting on his bed, his foot bounced as he tried to think.

The door slowly opened, and Esmond stood there with two guards behind him. "Count Varaz. You are under arrest for treason. Do not resist." Esmond moved forward, pulling a knife out. Looking at it, a crazy idea ran through Dana’s mind.

Esmond was old. If he could take the knife and make him a hostage, he could easily get past. The soldiers wouldn’t dare kill an Underwell without Alfred’s approval. Looking at him, he watched Esmond, and just as he was in range, he leapt from his bed at him.

Esmond had carefully watched Dana and saw his eyes darting from his knife to him and the soldiers behind. He saw his body tense and knew he would try something stupid. Quickly sidestepping, Dana fell forward but quickly turned and jumped at Esmond again.

He may have been out of shape, but he trained in combat as a noble was required to. Esmond side-stepped again and slammed the but of the dagger on his head. Dana fell, falling in a daze as Esmond crouched over him. The soldier walked forward and quickly tied his hands as the cold steel of the dagger made a thin cut in his neck.

"Stupid boy," Esmond spoke with a rare venom. "Targeting the Imperial family while I exist. Nothing more stupid." Dana looked at him in fear and hate. 𝚏𝕣𝐞𝗲𝐰𝕖𝐛𝐧𝕠𝕧𝚎𝚕.𝐜𝚘𝗺

"It wasn’t me. I never did anything."

"Don’t lie." Esmond pushed the dagger deeper. It wasn’t enough to kill but made Dana squirm in pain. "It was a good attempt, just now, but meaningless. If you caught me, I would order my own death if it meant catching you." Esmond stood up and nodded to the soldiers, who quickly picked the man up.

"You will tell me what you know. How I get the information entirely depends on you." Dana went white, hearing his voice as he tried to break free. It was a meaningless attempt, and having had enough of his squirming, a soldier slapped him across the face. Their anger seemed stronger than Esmond’s own. They were loyal to the Emperor. He changed their lives. Knowing the man in their hands tried to hurt his son made them want to tear him apart themselves.

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"Your service to the Empire will not go unnoticed," Esmond said flatly to a lord whose dungeon he was borrowing. The man looked at Esmond with a forced smile and nodded.

"I must return to the my duties Count. If you require anything, just ask someone around the fort. They will be happy to get it for you." Esmond nodded and turned around. The lord looked at Dana, strapped to a chair, and shook his head in pity and disbelief. How could someone be so stupid as to commit treason?

Closing the door behind him, the dungeon was engulfed with darkness, and Esmond went over to a torch. Striking the fire, he let it slowly burn and create light. Dana looked up at him and felt terrified. The small amount of light seemed to be repulsed by Esmond as his body blended with the darkness.

Looking at Dana, Esmond walked over with the torch in his hands. His face was the only part that lit up, and Dana could see a blurred image of Esmond’s face, which looked like a demon. He tried to fight and get out of his restraints, but nothing worked.

"PLEASE! HELP ME! I DIDN’T DO ANYTHING!" Esmond looked down at him for a second before putting the torque to the side.

"No one is coming." His voice was whispering as he took a step back, disappearing into the darkness. Dana’s whole body shook in horror, and hearing the sound of metal tools hitting one another made him finally break. Dana finally broke, and the smell of urine filled the room.

Esmond walked reapered in the light with a small knife in his hand and casually walked over to Dana. "Tell me. What did you do?" Esmond put the knife under his nail and stabbed gently. Dana’s whole body shook in pain, and, biting his lip, he fought not to cry. "I know you took money. I know when you lie. I also know how to get the truth. Make my job easy." Esmond’s whispering voice felt like pure evil to Dana as the knife slowly pushed deeper under his nail.

"The....the... The Commonwealth." Dana cried out in panic, and Esmond finally stopped pushing the knife. "Ko...Konrad. He paid me. And a few others." Dana looked at Esmond with eyes pleading to live. Listing off the names, Esmond stood unmoving.

Touching his head like a dog, Esmond thinly smiled. "Thank you." He could tell Dana didn’t lie. But it didn’t mean he forgave him. His entire purpose of existing was questioned with a move against Edward. He failed, and it was something he couldn’t forgive the man for. Stabbing the knife deeper, he grabbed the nail and ripped it off.

Dana screamed and kicked out. "I TOLD YOU!" Dana tried to plead, but Esmond shook his head. Stabbing the knife under another nail.

Leaning in closer to his ear, Esmond spoke so quietly it was almost inaudible. "I don’t care." Dana froze at the voice as Esmond stabbed deeper. "I will see your friends later." Esmond pulled away and looked Dana straight in the eyes. He grabbed the second nail with his other hand and slowly peeled it off, never breaking eye contact.