章 136: Collapse

The royal palace of Erelith had been steeped in unrest for quite some time.

Not only had it been struck by the shocking and untimely murder of Duke Kalder, but the kingdom was further rattled by the abduction of his young fiancée, Princess Lorelai Erelith, who had been taken by none other than the savage beasts led by King Rhaegar.

This unprecedented series of events sent tremors throughout the kingdom, unsettling everyone from the aristocracy to the common folk. 

The growing unease spread like wildfire, fueled by whispers that passed through markets, taverns, and bustling streets. The common people, cut off from any official news, relied on fragments of hearsay, which inevitably morphed into rumors layered with wild assumptions and fanciful speculations.

"The beasts must have killed the duke!" This became the refrain echoing through the streets.

To the masses, it seemed the only plausible explanation.