'Didn't Martha say he wouldn't be back for two weeks?'
Yet, he had returned.
And it wasn't for nothing, it was to meet Henry, specifically...
The moment the duke arrived at the mansion, Henry was summoned.
'Could it be about this?'
Henry glanced at the letter in his hand and stood up to leave.
And indeed, it was about that.
When the duke learned that his son had been selected for the academy, he immediately halted his work and returned, determined to speak with Henry. However, it was not to praise him, nor to encourage him.
It was to stop him.
"Henry, you are not going to the academy."
The duke's voice was firm, leaving no room for argument.
Henry stared at him in disbelief.
Fury surged through his chest. That man was about to destroy his only chance to escape this hell. Even though Henry had spoken against him before, he knew the truth...if the duke opposed it, there was nothing he could do.
Because he was his father.
And Henry had to swallow that bitter truth he often forgot.
He was still only eight years old here.
"Why?" Henry demanded. "Isn't this a good opportunity for me?"
But the duke didn't answer.
He ignored Henry's words completely.
"I am your father," the duke said coldly. "And I am telling you that you are not going to the capital. That's final. I'll tell you the reason when the time is right."
Seeing that resistance was useless, Henry clenched his fists and nodded in the end.
"…Okay."
He turned around and walked back to his room, his mind boiling with anger.
Is he afraid I'll become better than him if I go there?
Henry sneered inwardly, his steps quick and rough as he stormed down the corridor. He truly wanted to attend the academy, to learn something, anything, that could help him survive.
But instead, it felt like his fate was to wait quietly until someone kill him again or continue being the evil Henry.
Also, even though he knew this world contained magic, he knew nothing beyond that.
Does the mean guy posses magic too?
Or not?
And, why is he opposed to him going to the academy?
Yeah, the real one didn't go to the academy either but he was home schooled though.
Later, maybe since when he was 10 or something...
Lost in thought, Henry didn't notice the eyes following him.
He didn't see the person behind him.
He didn't realize he was being stalked.
"Henry!"
When he heard the duke calling his name, Henry was startled.
Not because he was surprised but because the voice carried worry. It was odd.
Henry turned around and froze as his eyes locked onto the stranger now standing close to him, a knife glowing in his hand as it flickered under the light.
And before long, Henry felt a sharp sense of danger. He wasn't senseless enough to miss the killing intent pouring out of the other party.
But his damn legs froze.
And, he trembled.
Fear gripped him tightly.
He felt familiar with this feeling.
Death.
He know it's coming.
'Ah...This time I am not dreaming. It's real. Ricarda made me feel the same...But this is real. I am going to die.'
When he realized the knife was about to pierce him, Henry shut his eyes tightly. Because, that's the only thing he felt would help. He didn't want to watch a knife slide into his chest, again...
But...he then felt this is way too long.
No pain yet.
And...everything is so silent...
So, he hesitantly opened his tear-filled eyes.
And froze.
His eyes widened in shock.
In front of him...
Golden hair danced in the wind.
Through that fluttering hair, he saw Ricarda's back. She was wearing a beautiful red gown. But then, suddenly, her knees buckled, and she collapsed to the ground.
Only then did Henry notice the man's eyes still locked onto him, along with the raised knife which now had stained with blood.
Heney gulped as realisation hit.
His gaze rushed to the girl on the ground.
Her golden hair spread across the floor like a painting.
Her blue eyes, filled with tears, now stared straight at him.
She smiled weakly, her lips trembling as she murmured something in a hoarse voice.
But before he could hear her words-
A shadow loomed.
The man with the knife...
But then, he suddenly twisted in agony, cursing loudly.
A rope had pierced through his body.
It tightened, restricting his movements, crawling from his legs all the way up to his head. Wrapped completely, the man screamed.
Except, a little later, Henry realised it wasn't a rope.
The pitch black rope...
It was a snake.
A massive black snake.
It coiled tightly around the man, crushing him as he struggled desperately. The snake lifted its head and stared directly into the man's eyes, mesmerizing him.
Slowly, the man's mouth opened.
The snake slithered inside.
His screams echoed in pain.
The entire snake disappeared into his mouth.
Then,
The man exploded.
Blood splattered everywhere, drenching the surroundings.
Henry felt sick. He didn't know what exactly made him feel that because all he see is red.
Everywhere.
Blood.
He had never witnessed something so grotesque in his entire twenty years of life.
When it ended, the snake lay on the ground, soaked in blood.
Everything had happened in mere seconds.
The danger was gone.
Yet Henry couldn't calm down.
The horrifying scene replayed in his mind, until his eyes landed on Ricarda which forced him to come back to his senses, move, just get out of this shock.
He rushed to her side and knelt.
Her face was pale.
Her blue eyes were losing focus as her eye lids fluttered.
Yet she smiled softly, her gaze fixed on Henry's tear-filled eyes.
"Ricarda! W-what happened? Are you okay?! Ricarda!"
Then he saw it, now clearly.
The red stain spreading across her chest.
She had been stabbed.
Blood slowly pooled onto the ground, but it hardly mattered, as the floor was already soaked in blood.
"H-en-nry… I t-hink I know h-ow it fe-e-ls… to pr-ot-ect -som-eo-ne."
Her voice was weak and hoarse.
A tear slipped down her cheek as she slowly closed her eyes.
"No, wait! Don't! Ricarda! Please, someone!"
Henry noticed the duke and another unfamiliar man standing nearby, watching silently.
Why were they standing still?
Why weren't they trying to help her?!
Henry screamed to them but no words came out. He was just...in way too much shock still.
'My god! Why did she protect me? Why did she have to sacrifice herself. Please...'
He didn't want anyone to die.
Especially not for his sake.
And...not this innocent person...
"Henry… let go of her. She's already dead."
The duke's voice called to him, but indifferent as if he wasn't worried at all.
Henry was confused and so mad.
'How can you be so cold?'
'Wasn't she your favorite? Didn't you love her so much?'
Henry's mind was in chaos.
Covered in blood, Ricarda's head resting on his lap, he already knew it had ended when she closed her eyes.
She didn't breathe anymore.
He felt it.
But...why isn't her father upset?
Not even a little bit?!
Henry was about to take out his frustration on the duke but then he suddenly clutched his chest and collapsed as horrible pain pierced his chest.
"Agh… ha… ha…"
He gasped for air.
"Henry! What's happening? Why is his body so cold?!"
The duke who Henry didn't notice and was already holding him, sounded panicked when he turned to the other man.
Henry heard it right.
The mean guy's voice trembled.
And, Henry felt the duke pulling him into his arms, calling his name, so worriedly.
For a brief moment, Henry wondered, 'Did I misunderstand him?'
Because right now, the duke looked like a real father.
Felt like one...
"Maybe the curse has reached him."
The other man spoke in a teasing tone, sounding amused.
Henry heard him clearly too.
'…C-curse?...Ah.'