《Malevolent》Chapter 15 - Princesses Bench
Advertisement
Sunlight beamed into Isten’s room, waking him from his slumber before the maids did. He groaned to himself and stretched, shaking some of the lethargy away. He stared vacantly at the bed’s canopy with a hand stretched out in front of him, contemplating what had happened yesterday morning.
‘It must have been real. What else could have damaged the carpet except from one of Eiddil’s attacks? But why didn’t he cover it up like all the other things? Did he forget to do it? No… That doesn’t make much sense…’ He contemplated.
‘What of my injuries, though? There are no medicines available that would heal my cut arm, nor torn fingernails this quickly. While Malevolency might have healed me, the degree to which I was healed is rare to find within Pentref without alerting anyone, particularly my parents.’
‘So why would Eiddil have wasted so much effort to cover this up? He could have killed me when he threw me into the basin.’ Isten grew frustrated as he couldn’t comprehend their actions.
Knock! Knock!
The bedroom door was pushed open, and the maids once again went about their morning duties. They opened the bed’s curtain and Trulliad’s face appeared before Isten.
“Good morning, master Isten. We have a busy day today so be prepared for a full spectacle. You will be attending the trial of Horyd Coeden today with your family. Remember, you will need courtly manners as it is your first time in public since arriving at Pentref.” Trulliad greeted Isten with a smile.
“Okay, but why is an aristocrat being put on trial, especially the King’s advisor? I thought we were immune to most legal cases?” Isten asked.
“Normally, that would be true. However, Lucien caught Horyd Coeden conspiring to collapse the Church of Cymorth through agitation and violence. He is being tried for treason and heresy. These are very serious crimes that even nobles can be tried for.” Trulliad said gravely.
“Ah! So, he is the one my father spoke about yesterday morning; that makes sense then.” Isten replied. He got out of bed and Trulliad dressed him in formal attire. They left his bedroom and made way to the drawing room for breakfast.
No one was waiting inside this morning, and there was a strange solitary feeling about the room. Isten ate alone, though Trulliad waited nearby, answering any of Isten’s questions about the day’s events.
“What time is the trial at?” Isten asked in between bites of a breakfast sandwich.
“It is to begin at noon. Your family has already gone to prepare for it. The chief prosecutors against Horyd today will be the Blodyn family, you see. I believe it will be Eiddil and Malus who are to take the mantle for arguing the case.” Trulliad replied.
“That’s interesting,” Isten took another bite, then asked. “Since this is going to be my first time in public, and arguably in a different setting than we imagined. How should I best present myself?”
“As long as you behave as you’ve been taught, you should be fine. It shouldn’t be too different than how you would act at a theatre, with reserved dignity and honour.” Trulliad explained.
Advertisement
“That makes sense. Will you be coming with me?”
“I will accompany you to the courthouse and to your parents. Afterwards, I must withdraw as only aristocrats are able to attend this trial.” Trulliad gave a look of helplessness.
Isten set his silver cutlery down onto the table, having finished his morning breakfast. It was an assortment of preserved meats and breads today, which were positioned in a vast spread. The red meats and the creamy pastoral colours of the sandwich fillings and dressings were a marvel to the eye. They were certainly delicious as well.
Isten left the opulent drawing room with Trulliad and they made their way through the labyrinth like mansion. The carriages were parked beneath a beautifully engraved stone gate. A horse whinnied in fear as a murder of crows flew into the sky from the high rising brick walls.
Isten looked up, tracing the crows' movement in the blue sky above, then took in the gate before him. He saw two huge metal lanterns that took witness of the mansion’s courtyard. Their post was joined by four smaller lanterns, which were currently extinguished as it was morning.
Barring entry into the manor stood a wrought iron gate that had been shaped into intricate patterns of sharp points and elegant curls and arcs. Isten thought that it was impossible for anyone not to view it as magnificent. That it symbolised the majesty of aristocrats.
Before the gate, a wooden and metal carriage waited with its driver for Isten and Trulliad. A small procession of servants stood before it to ensure Isten’s first public appearance went immaculately.
Isten boarded the carriage staring outside the window towards the wider city, enjoying its glory. The rays of sunlight illumined the city. People populated the streets forming a bustling crowd that roiled beneath the prodigious buildings. They created an impressive skyline.
Trulliad sat across from him on the cushioned seats, a small smile on his face. A whip cracked in the air and the carriage set off towards Pentref’s Royal Courts of Justice.
———
Inside Pentref’s Royal Courts of Justice, Lucien descended a marble staircase. He planted a foot down, stepping onto the mosaic like floor made of a kaleidoscope of ephemeral light that shone before him. It shone in through beautifully stained-glass windows. Despite the enormity of the ribbed vaults, which were supported by monolithic pillars, Lucien’s figure dominated the hallway with his presence.
He made his way to the Princesses Bench where Horyd Coeden’s trial was to begin at noon. His brothers were the primary prosecutors today, and they had received the compiled information from Afon. It wasn’t necessary for him to be wholly present for the trial as they had a complete case to convict him.
Rather, Lucien’s current objective was to appease King Brenin. He would be apoplectic that his precious advisor was to be executed without his prior knowledge. Thus, to ensure that King Brenin could be as content as possible, Lucien was hoping to placate him so that he did not act out in a fit of anger against the aristocracy.
In order to fulfil this, Lucien had prepared leverage in negotiations before they occurred. He had requested Morrigan to assassinate Cardinal Peace for precisely this reason. It had opened a new position of power in the Church of Cymorth that was rarely available to fill, particularly for a monarch.
Advertisement
‘I must thank Horyd for causing this mess. I can now kill several birds with one stone,’ Lucien thought to himself. ‘I’ve been needing a spy with more intelligence recently, it’s good timing that a corrupt Cardinal could be removed. Even better, the blame will fall on Horyd. Even the Church will lavish this opportunity to get rid of him.’
Lucien opened the door into the Princesses Bench. There was a congregation of aristocrats inside, finely dressed in colourful silk clothing surrounding a man who held a golden orb and cane.
“Greetings, Lucien Blodyn! How nice of you to finally join us.” A pretentious voice shrilled from within the gaggle of nobles. Lucien didn’t recognise the voice, but smiled.
“Good morning, your Majesty.” Lucien bowed before the King. King Brenin refused to acknowledge his presence, his back turned in a cold display. A ripple of sound and emotion passed through the crowd. He looked around and saw some men and women snickering with schadenfreude, while others looked at him with concern. They were his longstanding allies.
‘Damn, this going to be difficult. I’m going to need to separate him from the group first.’ He thought to himself.
The crowd was a cacophony of noise as they returned to their conversations. Loud shouts, jeers, and laughs echoed from the group as they attempted to court favour with their betters in the social hierarchy.
Lucien strode over to the group, using his enormous physical stature to move people away, to get to the King’s side. As he got closer, a hand was intentionally stuck out to block his path, which transformed into a wall of poly-chromatic colours.
Before him stood several nobles that blocked his path. Scathing smirks were plastered on their faces.
“Ah, the King’s advisors, or more widely known as the friends of Horyd Coeden, the traitor. Also known as those next in line to the chopping block.” Lucien brazenly lampooned the group. He then lowered his voice.
“I dragged Horyd down and he’s soon to be tried and convicted for treason. Now, if I just follow the money, as I have all his accounts, I wonder where that will lead to…” Lucien whispered a scornful threat to the men and women before him.
“Money might've beguiled Horyd, which was an unfortunate trait of his. But, that doesn't necessarily make him a traitor, now. However, it doesn’t charm all of us the same as it does for him, Lucien. Your insipid hostilities mean little to us. We are innocent after all.” A man of similar stature retorted, who Lucien recognised as Ilyn Masarn. He was the leader of House Masarn.
“Is that so? Well then, you shouldn’t mind the Intelligence Service setting up a formal inquiry into the nature of your House’s finances. Preferably with your full cooperation, of course... Which is odd, because in the past you and your friends have been very resistant to such measures.” Lucien responded. Guile marked his smile.
A hook-nosed aristocrat took a step back, creating a crack within their blockade. Lucien swiftly stepped between them and continued towards King Brenin. Ilyn Masarn and the rest watched him leave, their eyes burned with anger, though they chose not to continue the fight.
Lucien reached King Brenin and stood behind him silently. Waiting. King Brenin continued to ignore him, and clamour of the aristocrats began to quiet down into hushed murmurs.
The room’s lighting slowly became more vibrant as the sun’s intensity increased. Light streamed into the Princesses Bench through the ornate stained-glass windows and danced elegant patterns on the wooden floor.
Finally, the atmosphere became too intense, and a King’s attendant joined Lucien’s side, leaning into his ear.
“The Royal Majesty does not wish to speak to you right now. You are lacking in propriety.” The King’s attendant whispered. The aristocrats around them strained to listen into the conversation. Lucien knew some would use Malevolency.
“Please ask his Royal Highness to meet me in private. I have important news and a potential offer for him that he’d might like to hear.” Lucien responded in a hushed tone.
“I am not certain that he will respond positively towards this. You have offended him greatly this time.”
“We can discuss this properly in private. This is beneficial for his Highness, and it is an offer he will not refuse.”
“I will see what I can do,” the attendant replied. “However, be prepared for a negative outcome. Your position within him is fragile. Your optimism might have more adverse repercussions than if you were to let his anger fade over time.”
“I do not doubt that. However, this matter cannot be ignored, especially at a time such as this.” Lucien said.
The attendant walked away sternly, and Lucien gave an aggrieved look for performance’s sake. While some would have caught the conversation through conventional or supernatural means, Lucien recognised that the context of the conversation was vague. By adding some misdirection, he could manipulate some aristocrats into incorrect conclusions.
‘The dim ones amongst them should assume that I was lying about my information,’ Lucien thought to himself. ‘That should tide them over for a while.’
He slunk away into the background of the courthouse while the conversations resumed throughout the crowd. Most weren’t interested in Lucien being ignored by the King. Instead, they were excited about the trial ahead.
Sharp eyes watched Lucien with intensity as he vacated the room, though they did not pursue. Inside the stone hallway, Lucien strode confidently. A halo of light followed behind him lighting his steps. The royal attendant found him again shortly after and walked by his side.
“His Royal Highness will meet you in half an hour in private at the King room. You and his Majesty will be the only ones in attendance, per your request.” The attendant informed Lucien.
Lucien nodded with a smile. “Thank you…”
“Horace.” Horace, the attendant answered.
“Thank you, Horace.” Lucien said.
Advertisement
- In Serial24 Chapters
Ceron Devourer Of Souls: Book One
Rewrite will soon be reposted. The greatest necromancer the world had known, commanding armies of undead not only feared but revered by his power and intellect that caused other lords to falter. Yet in a single night vanished.Story of Ceron and his harrowing journey after becoming sealed, meeting a torn world teeming with danger and mystifying landsIn quest to reclaim what was lost, understanding the folly of what became will Ceron have enough to survive? Stricken in a newfound body everything and all he was had been swept away. “It wasn't long his eradication hadn't satisfied, the world stood scorched, enveloped in darkness, shadows fell obscuring the lands, those who resided within them. Quaking, the earth bellowed shuttering as if agony had engulfed it, spiraling into chaos dread filled eyes peered to the skies a blood moon reigned above its beaming rays drenched those in despair. Seething rage, men of many creeds had come tearing the continent, frantic searching, scouring devouring any who stood in their path. Greed laid on their hearts determined to find his source, power. Manipulated by ideals of those they worshiped, the world was consumed, a savage war splitting the world innocence disposed of. Forever to dwell in mass pits, filled with death, thee soon to be dead rotting. The betrayer, whom stole a fragment of this power forsaking those he owned allegiance for his own gain, the power he had obtained, basking in its potency wrought swirling vortexes opening worlds of differing dimensions creating even more turmoil. This source he had obtained, one of the six lords they called him Ceron Devourer Of Souls. Over the passage of time, the wheel turned slowly the world forgot, the sands of time shrouded his existence. All forgot who he was, the greatest necromancer the world had ever known something that was common knowledge to be feared, tales scaring children at night became legend and eventually myth. However, this would all change…” ---
8 147 - In Serial19 Chapters
Tironia
Reincarnated on the world of Tironia, I find myself naked and alone. Apart from the fact that I've been linked with a less than helpful companion, through my own doing no less. All I want is a kick-ass name and some super-sweet magic. "Is that too much to ask for?" Apparently so. All I got, was a schizophrenic sidekick and a set of bad jokes. "Is it time to start shitting my pants yet?" Note: If you enjoy my first novel, please leave a rating or a comment. Constructive criticism is also appreciated. As of now Tironia is complete. I need to edit the chapters however as there are many, many mistakes. Once that's complete, I will begin work on Erins next adventure: Dungeon Igo. Current Chapter Rewritten: 1
8 96 - In Serial13 Chapters
Majestic Fiend
There are many creatures and monsters inhabiting this magical world. Nanza-cats, gremlins, dwarves and so on, they come in a wide variety. Some are big and strong while some are quick and agile. Some possess intellect to match or surpass human level and some live for hundreds of years Yet, at the peak of creation throned the humans, disdainfully looking down on the rest of the world. During a night chase, the animal Ssyba is poisoned, assaulted from the cover of darkness and left dying in the streets. But as consciousness streams from the head wound, she is met with a destiny that she can't deny. With meticulous methods and great ambition, Ssyba will stop at nothing to achieve her own ends and overcome the many enemies along the true path to heaven.
8 187 - In Serial54 Chapters
The Reincarnation of the Transcendental
An entity of great power and little common sense is swallowed by a sudden rift that appeared in his astral palace and reincarnated in the body of a baby. His parents became his jailers and torturers, while his physical body became a prison. He will do anything to be free. Note: -The protagonist is reincarnated in the body of a baby in a superhero world that has magic, sci-fi, gods, demons, angels and much more. -This is a story that I first write in Spanish and then translate, so there may be mistakes that I overlook. If you let me know, I will correct them. -It is a story that has misunderstandings. And a protagonist with little common sense.
8 72 - In Serial71 Chapters
Blood Lust | Jung Jaehyun |
A story you wish you should've not read...
8 256 - In Serial21 Chapters
A Way of Life
Kyril was once a man who once sought for the complete understanding of the Universe. But sadly, before he could even grasp any sort of understanding, death had arrived at his doorstep to drag him back to the netherworld. However, in a turn of events, the Heavens seemed to play with him.Have I died? No. Between myself and my goal, not even death can stop me from achieving my goal!This is Kyril. He is a man who is reborn and steps into the world of Martial Arts. A world of Practitioners. A world of Gods.Join him in his adventures, and watch him succeed in his goal!
8 146