Slowly but surely, the pain gnawing at Alrain's stomach subsided, replaced by a warmth spreading throughout his body. The bread and roasted meat were gone without a trace; he even licked the crumbs clean from his fingers.
Alrain took a deep breath, filling his lungs with the fresh forest air. He stood up, then bowed deeply toward the stranger. The gesture was not mere formality, but a sincere show of respect from someone who had just been saved from the brink of death.
"Thank you for the food, Sir." Alrain said with a trembling voice. "I am very grateful to you. You just saved my life."
The man only nodded slightly, his expression remaining flat but not cold. "No problem. Seeing someone starving in my territory is not a sight I enjoy."
Alrain straightened his body, his eyes now clearer as he observed his savior. The man before him had a sturdy posture, blue hair, and a pair of sharp eyes that seemed capable of piercing through his thoughts.
The clothes he wore, though seemingly simple for a noble, were made of high-quality silk with a faint family crest embroidered on the left chest.
"If I may ask..." Alrain ventured, his eyes sweeping over the unfamiliar giant trees surrounding them. "Where am I currently? To be honest, I've lost my sense of direction for days now."
The man smiled faintly, as if he had anticipated the question. "You are currently in the forest not far from Vanzhas City."
"Vanzhas City?"
Alrain's eyes widened. His heart pounded. He couldn't believe what he had just heard. The City of Vanzhas was the capital of the Duchy of Vedegra, the most prosperous and powerful region in the Kingdom of Astoria.
"S-So..." Alrain uttered with a voice trembling from awe and fear. "I am currently in Vedegra territory?"
"Yes, you are correct!" the man replied casually, yet his tone carried undeniable authority. "And I am the ruler of this territory."
Alrain's blood ran cold. His knees, which had just been strong enough to stand, went weak again.
The ruler of this territory? That means the man in front of me is a Duke, one of the highest-ranking nobles in this Kingdom!
Instantly, respect and fear mingled. Without hesitation, Alrain immediately lowered his head in a perfect bow.
"Forgive my insolence, Your Grace! I did not realize who you truly were!" Alrain exclaimed in panic.
The man looked at Alrain with one eyebrow raised, slightly amused by the drastic change in attitude.
"Why are you bowing to me?" he asked in wonder, his tone sounding testing. "Aren't you on the run? What if I am a royal spy wanting to capture you? Or what if I hand you over to the pursuit squad for a reward?"
Alrain fell silent for a moment. The question was a trap. However, he recalled the man's actions. Giving him food when he was starving, not immediately attacking him even though he trespassed. And most importantly, who the man in front of him was.
Alrain lifted his face, looking straight into the ruler's blue eyes.
"Because I am sure that you are not that kind of person!" Alrain answered without hesitation, his voice loud with conviction. "I know very well that the Vedegra family are neutral nobles who uphold principles of honor. You couldn't possibly be a lowly spy for that bastard King!"
The next second, Alrain's face paled. Cold sweat the size of corn kernels dripped down his temple.
Fool! What did I just say?!
He had just insulted King Dalvanel, the supreme ruler of Astoria Kingdom, calling him a 'bastard King' right in front of a Duke, the King's direct subordinate. In the eyes of royal law, that was an act of treason punishable by death on the spot.
The forest fell silent instantly. The wind seemed to stop blowing, as if waiting for the Vedegra ruler's reaction.
However, what happened next was truly unexpected. The man did not get angry. He didn't call for guards either. Instead, the corner of his lips lifted to form a mysterious smile that was hard to interpret.
"Bastard King, huh?" the man repeated softly, as if tasting the flavor of the words on his tongue.
He stepped closer, then crouched in front of Alrain, bringing their eyes level. His gaze traced Alrain's handsome, dirt-streaked face, as if assessing the potential hidden behind that pathetic appearance.
"It seems you are a victim of King Dalvanel's cruelty, aren't you?" the man guessed accurately. "Those eyes... the eyes of someone harboring a deep-seated grudge."
Alrain couldn't answer, his throat choked by emotion that suddenly welled up at the reminder of the tragedy.
The man continued, his voice lowering but full of a deadly offer. "How about you join me? Let's destroy this rotten kingdom together."
Gasp!
Alrain's heart felt like it stopped beating. He blinked several times, making sure his ears hadn't misheard. Destroying this kingdom? A Duke inviting a fugitive to commit a coup?
And for Alrain, it was an offer more tempting than any gold or gems. Since escaping that cursed cave, his sole purpose in life was to find strength and allies to avenge the deaths of his older sister and Orvion. Now, that offer came directly from one of the strongest people in the land.
However, bitter experience had taught Alrain not to trust easily.
The atmosphere in the forest fell silent again for a moment. Only the sound of the wind broke the stillness.
"What is your answer?" the man asked, breaking the silence that was becoming tense.
The question demanded certainty. Alrain knew this was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. But he needed a reason. He needed to know that this man had motivation as strong as his own, not just exploiting his anger.
Alrain dared to ask back, staring sharply into the man's eyes.
"What is your reason for wanting to destroy this kingdom and recruiting me, a nameless fugitive?" he asked cautiously.
The casual expression on the man's face vanished instantly. The air around them cooled drastically. His blue eyes turned as cold as polar ice, radiating a deep, long-buried hatred.
"Simple..." the man answered flatly. "Because I am certain, it was Dalvanel who ordered his spies to kill my entire family while I was still attending the academy. My father, my mother, my younger brother, my younger sister... they all died from poisoning."
Alrain was stunned. He had heard rumors about the tragedy that befell the Duke Vedegra family a few years ago, but he didn't expect the culprit to point to the palace.
"I am also certain that he was the one who caused the previous King's death!" the man continued, his voice growing heavier suppressing his rage. "The people were told that the late King died of a sudden illness. But that is a lie. Two days before his death, I met him. He was very healthy, fit, and showed not a single sign of illness."
"W-Why are you so sure?" Alrain chimed in, growing more curious.
"Because at that time I was summoned to the palace privately." the man explained again. "The late King asked for my opinion on which of the three princes was most suitable to replace his position later. And two days later... he was found dead in his room. And then, Dalvanel ascended the throne quickly, replacing his father's position."
That answer left Alrain speechless. The puzzle pieces in his head began to come together. Dalvanel's cruelty in that cave, his madness for immortality, it all made sense.
Alrain concluded that the King was indeed a cold-blooded killer from the start. Dalvanel was a monster who justified any means for power.
Their shared fate created an invisible bond between the two. The same grudge, the same enemy.
Without needing much time to think, Alrain made up his mind. He took a step back, then knelt before him. He placed his right hand on his left chest, right over his heart.
"I am willing to join you, My Lord." Alrain said with a loud voice full of sincerity. "The life you just saved, starting today, belongs to you."
The man smiled with satisfaction. He extended his hand, helping Alrain to stand.
"Good!" the man replied. His grip was strong and warm.
"My name is Arvin Vedegra!" his introduction was formal. "I hope you are truly serious about your oath in this forest. Because I will never deign to forgive a traitor. Once you betray me, I will be the one to send you to hell before Dalvanel gets a chance to touch you."
The threat didn't daunt Alrain. Instead, the firmness made him even more convinced that he had chosen the right master. Someone who possessed the strength and determination to realize his dream of revenge.
Alrain bowed his head once more, his eyes flashing with determination.
"I will never disappoint you, My Lord. I will carry this oath to my death."