TPHRU 60

Chapter 60…

The Hammer Falls.

──The story goes back to the day when Alexis and Christoph gathered at Yoann’s castle and resolved to expose the crimes of Yvette and her companions.

That day, they held a thorough strategy meeting to secure evidence of Yvette’s misdeeds and bring her to justice, finalizing the plan’s details.
First, under the pretext of reporting her safety to the king, Felicia would enter the castle, allowing Celine—who was visiting the castle for her queenly education—to witness her presence.

“I will not leave Felicia’s side for even a moment,” Yoann declared.
To remain close, he transformed himself into the guise of a servant and resolved to stay by her side at all times.

“If her life is threatened, I will immediately seize the assassin, prevent them from taking their own life, and compel them to confess everything through magic.”
The group was once again astonished to learn that Yoann could even transform. Was there any kind of magic this man couldn’t use?
He also instructed his familiars to keep watch around Felicia and to investigate Yvette and Celine’s surroundings as well.

“Wouldn’t that place too great a burden upon you, Lord Yoann?”
Using large amounts of magic came with significant physical strain.
Felicia voiced her concern, but Yoann shook his head and gently took her hand.

“I told you, didn’t I? I trained my magical power to protect you. Besides, thanks to your sweets and embroidery, I hardly feel any fatigue lately, even when I use magic. I’m fine.”
The eyes visible beneath his mask softened tenderly, and his meltingly sweet voice made Felicia flush red. She finally managed to reply, her words trembling slightly.

“Thank you very much. Then, I shall do everything in my power to fulfill my role. But please, Lord Yoann, do not overexert yourself.”

Alexis, who had been silently listening to their exchange, then took Felicia’s other hand and enclosed both of hers within his own.
Yoann’s eyes seemed to flash sharply from within the sockets of his goat-skull mask as he watched.

“Felicia, I’ll do whatever I can too,” Alexis said.
His radiant, dazzling smile was worthy of a prince adored by every woman in the kingdom—a perfect, fairy-tale smile.
Any woman other than Felicia would have swooned under his charm. But to Felicia, who had known him since childhood, Alexis’s smile was simply that of a kind and familiar friend.
With her usual grace, she bowed her head to him.

“Lord Alex, thank you. I’m terribly sorry for having worried you for so long.”
For an instant, Alexis’s expression clouded with disappointment, but he quickly replaced it with another brilliant smile.

“I told you, I did it because I wanted to. So no more apologies, alright? —Then, I’ll try to dig a little deeper and see if I can get anything out of Celine. I’ve learned a thing or two about loosening her tongue.”

As he spoke of Celine, a cold, mocking smile crossed Alexis’s face—one that no one had ever seen before.