Third Arc (Fallen Heart) - 383. Survival Sake
The man chuckled darkly. "Would I have been allowed in if I came through the front gates? You know as well as I do that Harmonia's delegation was announced, expected. A guest list was checked. I wasn't on it."
Darius didn't answer immediately, but the flicker of irritation in his eyes was enough.
The man smirked. "Exactly."
Darius took a slow breath, pushing aside the frustration curling in his chest. "Let's say I believe you. That Prince Jake is gathering information on all rulers, not just King Angelus. What's his goal?"
The man's gaze flickered, his smirk fading slightly. "Survival."
Darius frowned. "You said that before."
"And it's still true," the man replied. "When the king dies, Jake won't just inherit a throne. He'll inherit enemies. Opposition. People who don't believe in him, people who want his power for themselves. Do you think he can afford to sit back and wait for them to strike first?" He shook his head. "No. He's preparing. Learning. Finding out who his allies and threats are before he takes his crown."
Darius considered that carefully. He understood the weight of those words better than most. Everyone knew the king's health was in decline. It wasn't a secret. With every passing day, the inevitable drew closer, and when it did, Prince Jake wouldn't just be stepping into power—he'd be stepping into a battlefield.
But that didn't excuse his recklessness.
"You do realize," Darius said, his voice quieter but no less sharp, "that what he's doing is dangerous? Sending you here like this, unannounced, on the same night our official delegation arrived—it's a move that could be seen as a provocation."
The man exhaled through his nose. "Prince Jake knows that. But what choice does he have?"
Darius' frown deepened.
The man continued, his tone even. "He needs to know what kind of king Angelus really is. A name alone isn't enough. Rumors aren't enough. He needs proof. Proof that the King of Euphorion is either an ally or someone he needs to be wary of."
Darius narrowed his eyes. "And what about you? You said earlier that you didn't resist when we caught you. Why?"
The man let out a quiet breath, his smirk fading slightly. "Because I knew it was better."
Darius frowned. "Better?"
The man nodded. "You think these restraints matter?" His voice was steady, almost casual. "I'm a noble. A battle-trained one. If I wanted to, I could've made it difficult for you to take me in. But I knew resisting would be pointless."
Darius stiffened slightly. "Because of Angelus?"
The man's smirk returned. "Because of King Angelus, yes." His gaze darkened slightly. "I've seen him in action. I know what he's capable of. Unlike the fools who still think of him as a mere conqueror, I know that he's more than that."
Darius stayed silent, letting him continue.
The man leaned back as much as his restraints would allow, his voice smooth, almost conversational. "That king… He isn't just a well-trained fighter. His skills are on par with a seasoned general, and that's without considering his magic." He let out a dry chuckle. "And you know what? In Asteria, I saw something that I had never seen before. Something I doubt most people even believe exists."
Darius narrowed his eyes. "What are you talking about?"
The man smirked. "I saw him turn his sword into his double."
Darius' breath hitched slightly, but he masked it with a cool expression. "His double?"
The man nodded. "I don't know if it was a spell, a technique, or something else entirely, but it was like watching an ancient, forbidden magic in motion. And not just some mindless copy either. It acted like him. Thought like him. It was him."
Darius remained silent, his fingers curling into a fist at his side.
The man chuckled. "You know what that means, don't you? King Angelus isn't just strong—he's something else entirely. And that's why Prince Jake sent me here."
Darius frowned. "To confirm that?"
The man's smirk remained, but his tone grew more serious. "To confirm everything. Prince Jake already knew King Angelus wasn't an ordinary warrior. That much was obvious. But he needed proof. He needed to know if Euphorion is a potential ally… or an enemy. The prince wants an alliance, yet he also knows what King Angelus has done." His gaze hardened. "You know he's conquered three kingdoms by now. What makes you think Harmonia won't be next?"
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