May Every Wound Be Fatal - vanish into fiction

After King Bailion recognized Prince Cassian as his heir, grand feasts were held every night in the great banquet hall for Cassian.

Many guests were invited. They sat around long tables overflowing with rich meats, honeyed fruits, fresh bread, and red wine. Oil lamps hanging from the high ceiling cast a golden glow across their faces.

Among the melodies of the musicians’ string instruments, the occasional clinking of golden goblets could be heard. As the wine flowed, the voices of the guests gradually grew louder.

That day, the feast began as ordinarily as any other.

“To Wills!”

On one side, Count Briere, Cassian’s maternal grandfather , his sons, and their longtime retainers were gathered, sharing stories and laughter.

Most of the invited guests were nobles of high rank or their close relatives.

Among them was Elizer’s foster father, Thomas Percy , because his wife, Helena Percy, was one of Count Briere’s many granddaughters.

Elizer was the only exception. By right, he should not have been able to attend such a feast. Yet he was invited and seated at the highest table, the one reserved for the Wills royal family. Beside him sat not Cassian, his master, but Leonard .

When Thomas noticed Elizer, he appeared slightly surprised, even though he understood whatever arrangement Cassian and Leonard had made.

Elizer wanted to go down immediately and greet Thomas, but he had no chance.

The guests, clinking their goblets and talking among themselves, kept glancing at Elizer as if trying not to notice.

Whether noblemen gathered for Cassian or men loyal to the duke, most looked at him with obvious disapproval.

Elizer felt uneasy.

Perhaps because of this, a persistent throbbing had been growing in his head. He suspected it might be due to the incense burning constantly in one corner of the banquet hall for King Bailion.

He glanced around the hall, where the golden light flickered. Through the faces flushed with wine, a faint haze seemed to flow.

The only people maintaining a proper posture were the knights guarding King Bailion and the sentries at the doors. They were the only ones permitted to bear arms in the king’s residence, and the guests, as if agreeing to a temporary truce, relaxed and mingled freely.

Cassian, who had been quietly sipping his wine, suddenly glanced around as if sensing something unusual.

“By the way, Duke. The young Duke is not here.”

Leonard’s son, Diegor, had been missing for several days. In fact, it seemed he was not in Elmaril at all.

“If it is my son Diegor, he is taking care of matters that I must attend to. Soon, I will pass many responsibilities to him. You too, Your Highness, will soon be as busy as he is.”

“I see.”

Cassian gave a slight nod in response to the playfully casual remark.

Come to think of it, Diegor was not always by the duke’s side. He had many duties as the young duke.

Cassian relaxed once again and took a sip of wine. There was no poison in the food or drink. This was the king’s residence. Nothing concerning would happen here.

Like the guests, Cassian felt reassured several times. Even though Leonard had already killed one king and four princes, royal arrogance allowed him to feel safe.

That was Cassian’s mistake.

“Your Highness.”

Leonard, as always, exceeded expectations. He always struck when his opponent was unprepared.

This was one of those moments.

“Why do you look so serious?”

“I have prepared a gift for Your Highness.”

Cassian did not immediately notice. The king sat beside him, intoxicated yet present. The guests continued enjoying the feast, and the musicians played on.

“I hope it pleases you.”

Leonard raised one hand high, and the doors opened. A young, handsome servant entered the hall, carrying a massive silver tray.

The guests, chatting and laughing, glanced at the tray. Some even muttered complaints about a foul smell.

Elizer felt an intense headache that was nearly unbearable.

The string music seemed to pierce his eardrums, and his head throbbed as if it would split. He blinked repeatedly to regain focus.

Through the doors, he saw a sentry guarding the banquet hall step aside and exit.