บท 3: THE NORTHERN DUKE
Two days after the meeting with the aristocratic nobles. Duke Hugh arrived at the Royal Palace.
The moment they stepped in the Capital, the eyes of the commoners have been giving them the looks.
As soon as the Black Stallion Knights entered the capital with their commander in the lead, the cheerful streets of the capital became quiet as dead.
"I really don't like this place." Mike said. A man with slit eyes, tan skin and murky red hair.
The "warm" welcome from the people was more akin to the scorching prying eyes that they received.
To be precise the "warm" welcome was just the anxious stares of the people and some were hatred with unprofound reasons.
In their all black outfit with a distinguished silver emblem carved with a stallion and two swords at the back can be seen shining over their shoulder. The people became more aware that the famous knights of the North, known for their ability to fight victoriously in their stallion, who are also said to be notorious for their bloody and cruel battle, really arrived today.
"They say that they slaughter their enemy even though it's already dead."
"It said that they cut the ears of the leader of the enemy then make them eat it before they cut the tongue."
"They really look cruel as they said."
"Why did the King even invite them to the Palace?"
Mike, one of the knights of the Duke with slit eyes and a scary face, glanced at the men who just commented something unnecessary about them.
"Eep!"
The people who just saw the look of Mike, gulped and let out a grimace voice.
"They really are scary!"
"All of them looked like they didn't have mercy!"
"Don't look them in the eye! You'll die!"
Mike glanced again and this time, his face was painted in annoyance that made his face look more like a demon.
"Eeek!"
After Mike made them shut up, he looked towards the Duke.
Duke Hugh, with his broad shoulders and big frame always made the knights of black stallion realize how reliable that back was during the war with the neighboring country.
Mike, recalling the battle with the Lucman soldiers remembered how the Duke and his black hair swaying atop of the corpses that he slayed left them agape.
He sure was cruel that time as he slayed every one in his range.
But, right now, Duke Hugh looks like a normal commander of the Black Stallion Knights. A handsome man with black hair and eyes that is apparent for the people with royal blood.
Though Duke Hugh was a bastard son of the former King, he was still the closest person and next in line to the throne.
King Matthias is at his golden age right now, and so, the Queen will not stand by, after all, her children are all daughters and the two are married to the other prince of the neighboring Kingdom and the youngest is still not in age.
That is why, the Queen, would do anything for her to be in the position longer and make her youngest princess her puppet.
Mike could only shake his head at the complicated affairs of the palace.
"Look at him, the Duke looked like a reaper."
"They said he was a beast on the battlefield in Lucman."
Mike was about to glare at them again but the Duke interrupted him.
"Mike…"
Duke Hugh sighed as he heard about how the rumors are too exaggerated about them.
"Stop that, Mike." Duke Hugh solemnly warned his knight.
He could only tell his knight, Mike, to ignore the blabber of the people who really don't know what kind of battle they experience.
Besides, there's really no such thing as mercy when faced with war.
Arriving at the Palace, one of his knights hesitantly asked Duke Hugh.
"Do we really need to attend this, your Grace?"
The vice leader of the black stallion, Austin asked.
His scowl, apparent to his face, tells how much he hates the Royal Family and the Capital. Well, actually Austin just hates the Queen, in that matter.
"Don't talk like that here, Austin. His Majesty summoned us so we should follow his orders."
"But… haaa!"
Austin could only sighed in dismay because their commander always ignored the things that Queen Matilda always made him do just to make sure that he would stay in his land. And not to become an obstacle to her power in the Capital as the Duke is the next in line for the throne.
Well, it's complicated.
Vice Leader Austin's green eyes watched the beautiful scenery of the Royal Palace. He scratched his green hair as he looked at Duke Hugh who just blankly watched the servants of the Palace welcome them.
"Welcome, Your Grace. His Majesty, the King, has been waiting for your arrival in the throne room."
The man with a gold ponytail hair said as he came closer with the guest. Chancellor Norhas welcomed Duke Hugh as he was appointed by the King to personally escort them.
"Let's go."
Duke Hugh said to his men. As they climbed the stairs of the entrance of the Palace.
The knights looked at each other and could only follow the lead of their commander, the Duke.
"Let's just follow his Grace."
They felt frustrated as soon as they arrived at the Royal Palace. And the lack of awareness of the Duke to his surroundings didn't help them in the least.
Seriously, no one really wants to visit the Capitol. However, what could his subordinates do?
Their commander, the Duke, always followed his brother, His Majesty, the King's order.
The vice leader of the black stallion, Austin, has seen the atrocities and schemes of the Queen for the Duke to end up in the North where the land is always covered in snow and the war always broke out because of the bandits and the other country who wants to expand their territory.
***
After the Duke and King Matthias IV talked in the throne room, Duke Hugh arrived at his chamber.
"If there's anything that your Grace needs, just call this servant. Then, please have a nice day!"
The attendant said and quickly left the room. The rumors surrounding the Northern Duke already made his knees tremble in fright.
Duke Hugh immediately lay his body on the long sofa as he decided to shut his eyes for a bit and rest before the dinner with the Queen and the King approached.
***
"He arrived?"
Queen Matilda, who's busy snipping the long stem of the flowers for her flower arrangement, asked her lady-in-waiting Carla.
"Yes, Your Majesty. The Duke arrived earlier and also had an audience with His Majesty, the King."
The flower that the Queen was holding became a mess after she crumpled it between her palms as she heard the news of the arrival of the King's younger brother, Duke Hugh.
Her red hair that was put in a bun and was made to look like a flower, made it look like the red rose that was planted around the green house located in the Rose Palace of the Queen.
"I see… I should prepare some tea and catch up with the Duke."
"I'll inform the Duke and schedule a meeting in the afternoon."
"Yes… do that."
Carla, the lady-in-waiting, bowed her head and left the greenhouse to meet the Duke in his chamber at the main Palace.
"I should give a present to my lovely brother-in-law…" Queen Matilda said as her golden cat eyes stare at the petals that scattered on the floor and a grin pasted on her red lips.
***
In the outskirts of the town Oakland, the news of the Duke of the North just arrived later than the other towns nearby. They heard the victorious battle of the King's younger brother, Duke Hugh.
"Oh my… really?"
"What a warrior. They said that the King's brother was always on the battlefield and that his knights decided to use black uniforms to make the blood less visible when they killed the enemy."
Leticia who decided to go to the marketplace of Oakland town heard the old women talk and decided to chime in.
"What are you talking about, ladies?"
"Oh Leticia!"
She smiled at the cheerful welcome of the ladies in the old market.
"You didn't hear…?"
As they filled Leticia with information and rumors that they knew about the Duke of the North, the face of the only marriageable woman in their village, Leticia, didn't change at all.
"Is that so…?"
"What you're not scared of him, Leticia dear?"
Mrs. Berly asked, the owner of the vegetable shop.
"Hmm…? Why would I be afraid of the Duke?"
"Because… he's scary and easily kills people."
The owner of the flower shop, Mrs. Nina said.
"Well, Mrs. Nina, it's not like the Duke will come to the South or this outskirts town of Otis. This is too far and the opposite direction of his Duchy, the North."
"Well, you're right. There's nothing really to be afraid of!"
"Ho-hohoho~"
And the ladies laugh and become at ease after Leticia just pointed out the fact that the Duke doesn't have any reasons to come down to the South.
They decided to change the topic as the Duke's scary rumors sink in their minds.
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MyCatPaws
MyCatPaws Hi guys! this will be my entree for the Spirity Awards 2021. Please, do add my work to your library if you find this interesting :) and if you can, please, also vote for this new novel :)) Thanks a bunch ^.^
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