Illaria was back in her abandoned chambers. She couldn’t sleep. Killing Usher was fine, but her nephew’s crying face and innocent eyes but shaking legs kept coming back to her mind. Was her nephew innocent or guilty? He was trying to escape and was still following the principles of doing anything to survive, Usher also must have followed that and hence killed her father. The whole family was rotten. But the archive in the library had specified that a lot of people from Bluecrown had also died in the war, along with their emperor. But it was necessary to kill her nephew right?
Plus, why was he following such teachings and not questioning them, but then he was a five year old. A child.
But he would grow up and want revenge.
No, he wouldn’t have grown up only, he anyways would have been dead by the week’s end.
Yes that was the correct answer, or was it. Illaria’s mind was in full chaos. Mercy was a ruler’s strength but she was no ruler. She couldn’t find an answer. Eventually she fell asleep from exhaustion.
“Kaboom!” Illaria suddenly woke up from her tired sleep to a loud noise. Something had happened in the building beside her place. She peeped out through a small opening in the window. She saw a young lady, dressed modestly but with few ornaments standing with a few handmaidens beside her. Probably a low-level concubine. She was crying as she kept on ranting about not having anything to do with the murder, as the guards turned her place upside down. Guards were even let inside the male quarters. The news of Usher and grandchild’s murder must have spread. Illaria needed to be extra alert now, so she quietly made her exit from the room.
She moved inconspicuously throughout the day. She heard Emperor Lyn was going to address the situation in an emergency post lunch meeting in the Royal Hall. She had to be there. A few hours later, Illaria was in the hall. The banners of the Festival of Aris hung limply from the ceiling, bright silk trying to hide the unease in the air. Soldiers stood along the walls; the scent of incense barely covered the metallic tang of fear.
The hall was rather crowded, as all the Festival Of Aris guests were waiting for Lyn to address the situation. A huge crowd was good for Illaria though. She stood among the courtiers, with her face hidden, and easily blending in with the sea of murmuring guests.
At the center, Emperor Lyn sat on the high throne. Willem and Marcus were seated on sides beside him. Few other ministers had been offered seats but mostly everyone was standing, eyes meeting the floor instead of their emperor. Lyn must not have been happy about this, a security breach in the once known Master of Spies Emperor was not delightful.
Lyn stood up and his voice cut through the murmurs, cold but calm as ever.
“As you all must have heard yesterday night, we lost King Usher and his five year old grandchild to the hands of a cold, brutal murderer. King Usher was not only a great ally who helped maintain peace in the Southern Kingdom post the War seven years ago, he was also an inquisitive learner and a kind man. His loss will be accounted for.”
His words sounded hollow, but his gaze swept across the hall sharp and calculating as ever. Illaria felt his eyes land on her face for the briefest second, and her stomach made a churn.
“It is so terrible that on such an auspicious occasion of the Festival of Aris such an incident has happened. The killer could be anyone and be lurking amongst us, planning for their next murder. As the emperor, my utmost priority is the safety of all my guests. Thus until further notice, I am suspending the celebrations for Day Two and Day Three of the Festival of Aris” Lyn continued.
“The festival of Aris honors a complete cycle of human and divine values, from duty to honour, strength to embracing our weaknesses, from joy of our victories to the sorrow of losing our loved ones. We cannot celebrate these values at ease while blood is being spilled inside the walls of our home.”
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A murmur spread through the crowd. Suddenly a very familiar face stepped up.
Amarin, stepped forward. “Your Majesty, a strange incident occurred on the river Ameys. As you are aware a Banshee had appeared in the river and had created havoc. No one could remove it, thus I had requested from my old acquaintance and friend Emperor Marcus assistance in killing it to provide relief to the people of Tyria. However, when we reached there, a mysterious man had already killed the Banshee. I wanted to arrest him and inquire, but Emperor Marcus gave his beaded chain to the man and claimed he was his soulmate. He prevented me from arresting the man. The man challenged Prince Marcus to a duel and ran mid-way. We couldn’t locate him ever since.”
Lyn looked sharply at Marcus and gave him an annoyed look. Marcus managed a small smile.
Marcus switched to his gleeful child mode as he replied, “Oh come on brother, he is my soulmate, how could I let Amarin arrest him? That is so embarrassing for me. Tell me on this continent how many people are strong enough to take down a Banshee? I mean I know you and elder brother Willem are but I can’t marry my own brothers now can I? And trust me, that guy pretends to be tough on the outside but he’s such a big softie inside.”
Illaria let out a small chuckle internally. Marcus acting like a teenage child in love was too funny. What a ridiculous answer, she thought. And this guy was an emperor.
Lyn continued with an exasperated tone, “Amarin, Investigate this matter more. Apart from that, I want every corridor searched, every servant questioned. Whoever did this is still within the palace walls. I am going to catch the responsible individual. On Day 4, Trial of Flame, the flames will burn their poisoned heart.”
Illaria’s palms had become sweaty. Her heart wasn’t poisoned. Her heart was just. It was in fact setting things right. But Lyn would be on top of things now. She had to succeed with Doomed Soul this time around.
As she turned to leave before the hall emptied, she felt an intense stare on her, she turned and there he was, eyeing her but not with a smile this time, — Marcus’s.
He was looking straight at her from his seat beside Lyn. His gaze didn’t waver even for a moment. Illaria’s heart beat fast. Had he recognized her? But if he had, why was he not turning her in? As she turned to leave, she felt Marcus also move. She moved across corridors and he was tailing her closely. Eventually as everyone retired to their chambers, the busy halls turned quieter and distant from her but Marcus’s movements became louder, clearer and closer. She had to talk to him. She entered an abandoned chamber and Marcus closely followed.
“You,” he said quietly, his smile gone, coldness in his eyes. “Tell me you didn’t kill your own nephew. Not the child.”
Illaria froze, not turning. She couldn’t tell what was closing in on her faster — Marcus or the weight of her own guilt. “You shouldn’t be here,” she said quietly, her voice edged with unease.
Marcus’s tone hardened. “No. Illaria, a five-year-old? Really?” So he knew it was her, probably all along since their meeting on the River Ameys. How, she didn't know.
She spun, eyes flashing. “You think he was innocent? He was literally trying to play dumb and escape, he would have gotten me arrested Marcus. My uncle killed my dad. Their family, they slaughtered mine!”
Marcus didn’t step closer, but his voice was low and sharp. “Usher, Yes, but not the kid. And even if Usher did, your solution is to slaughter his family? That’s not justice, Illaria. That's an infection which is going to consume you whole. Can you not see, you’re becoming what you hate.”
Her throat tightened. “He would’ve grown up to be the same. You don’t understand—”
“I do,” Marcus interrupted. “I do understand. I’ve seen what vengeance does. It eats through people. Following this path, you will burn in agony of your own self asking you to stop and if you don’t stop, nothing will be left except the ashes of … nothingness. Vengeance will not offer you peace, just nothingness. ”
His eyes softened, only slightly. “What happened to you seven years ago— it’s still there, isn’t it? That magic, that rage. But killing these people here won’t bring Ryan or Edric back, Illaria.”
She turned her back to him. She didn’t want to meet his gaze right now. Her hands trembled. For a moment, her voice broke but she steadied it as she replied . “They deserve it. And so do you. You also deserve to die. You killed so many of our soldiers when you knew very well that my family had nothing to do with that war.”
“Maybe they do,” Marcus said. “And maybe I too deserve to die. But you, you don’t deserve this. Innocent blood on your hands will just kill you more Illaria”
That made her step back. Her anger surged again, burning away the hesitation. “Don’t try to save me, Marcus. I am already dead. And you’re part of this too. I will kill you. I swear on my life and honour that I will kill you and everyone who hurt my family and my citizens.”
Illaria was done discussing. She saw a small window and jumped out of it and ran, her cloak hugging her snugly. This time, Marcus didn’t chase her. He just stood there in that room, looking at the window she had vanished from. His voice, when he finally spoke to himself, was quiet.
“I need to stop you. I won’t see you slip away this time. I won’t let you lose yourself. I will protect you this time whatever the cost.”
Outside, the bells rang to mark the end of the night. The night wind flowed tensely with silent bitterness blending into it. Somewhere in the shadows of the inner court, Illaria sat alone, her mind fractured between guilt and rage, whispering to herself —
“If this is sin, then I will sin. Let the Trial of Flames try me. I will burn in my desire for revenge and watch you all engulfed in flames of justice.”