Chapter 131 (2/2)

「Lavia D. Morgstad possessed an exceptional gift for magic. His Majesty seemed to have wanted her power. They say she's as powerful as the Royal Court's Wizards, but who knows? Anyway, the special forces were searching for the Count's daughter.」

「So that's where he sent the special forces. Why didn't His Majesty tell us about until now?」

「They managed to find the girl, but they couldn't bring her back. According to the man's report, there's an incredibly strong boy with her. He further said that the boy is a master of concealing his presence and might come to take the king's life.」

「His Majesty was enraged and hit the man a number of times. That explains this mess.」

A boy who's a master of concealing their presence… One person came to Lawrence's mind.

「What is the boy's name?」

「We don't know. But he called himself Silver Face.」

The boy back then was wearing a mask too. There's no doubt about it. It's the boy who almost killed me.

「What's wrong, Lawrence?」

「Well…」

Only members of the Order and Princess Kudyastoria know about that fight. There's no need to cause further chaos by telling them.

「It's nothing. So His Majesty is troubled?」

「Yes… I don't think he needs to be that scared. I could use my contacts to arrange for a powerful healer…」

「Sir Lawrence, Minister…」the Grand Chamberlain cut in.「His Majesty wants Sir Lawrence to be in charge of castle security. You will prioritize that, yes?」

That was his plan all along. He longed for this rematch, and now he might get the chance.

「Of course. I'll do my be—」

A maid barged into the room.

「G-Grand Chamberlain!」

「What happened? Did His Majesty want something?」

Judging from the chamberlain's reaction, Lawrence immediately knew she was a maid a.s.signed to the king's room.

「Th-Th-The King… w-w-was killed! H-H-He's dead!」

What?

For a moment, everyone just stood there blankly.

「Let's go.」

Lawrence rushed out of the room. The knights standing by the corridor jumped to their feet from the maid's unusual behavior.

「Captain!」

「What's wrong?!」

「Follow me.」

Lawrence seemed to have an infinite supply of stamina, acting as if the long-distance travel today was nothing. He dashed in strides twice as long as that of the ordinary man. As he got closer to the king's room, he could hear screams. More people appeared, panicking.

「Your Majesty!」

The usual guards watching the bedroom were not around. He found out why as soon as he opened the door. The soldiers guarding the room were inside, collapsed on the floor with a cut on their necks.

In the room were a maid slumped on the floor and a doctor drenched in cold sweat. I think that's the ing's attending physician that the Grand Chamberlain himself brought.

Lawrence barged into the room. The king lay in the middle of the bed, his eyes closed. With his nightclothes on, it looked like he was simply sleeping, but the dagger in his chest suggested otherwise. Blood stained his white clothes a deep red.

「He's pa.s.sed away…」the doctor muttered.

Lawrence surveyed the room and pushed open a window.

「They escaped.」

「C-Captain! What's going on here?!」

East entered the room, out of breath. The other knights were shocked stiff from the king's death.

「Did you see the dagger in his chest? The kind used by a.s.sa.s.sins—its blade painted black so it can't be seen in the dark.」

「So you're saying it's the boy who did it?」East immediately reached that conclusion.

「I don't know. They probably jumped down this window and couldn't have gotten that far yet.」

「Right. Wait, Captain?!」

East stood stunned. And rightfully so, for Lawrence clambered up the window. Trees grew in the garden below, but they were on the third floor.

「I'm going after him. You and the others check inside the castle just in case. Use whoever you can. Go! This is a race against time!」

「Yes, Sir!」

Lawrence jumped down and went after the a.s.sa.s.sin.

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