Rise of the Horde - Chapter 338: Chapter 338:

Inside his office, Duke Hanbal set aside the book that contained the report about the state of his finances and current wealth available. A letter was sent from the enemy controlled regions of the kingdom which surprised him since his informants who were stationed at the western portion of the kingdom had gone silent for a long time.

Upon learning the news about the orcs providing aid for the return of the Darkhariss family, the first thing that came into the mind of the duke was that they are absolutely doomed. He slumped down upon his chair feeling helpless with the situation. They could have expanded the territories of the kingdom slowly but their arrogant king just had to wage war with all their neighbours which denied them the chance of having an alliance with the other nations to deal with their first victim of invasion.

And now, Adhalia with the aid of her new allies tore apart a huge portion of the kingdom from the grasp of the king. Dealing with the external and internal threats, the duke’s head throbbed in pain. The neighbouring nations are preparing to respond to their declaration of war with their armies while the nobles of Ereia squabble among themselves for the slightest advantage over their peers.

The arguments between nobles of the kingdom even escalated to the point that the two sides were prepared to deal with each other with their armies but thanks to the intervention of the Royal Army, bloodshed was avoided.

All the disputes were laid out in the open but the king seemed to have turned blind to what was happening. Inside the capital of the kingdom, there were no actual fights because of the stringent patrols of the Royal Army ever since the Eye in the Shadows executed their massive operation to announce of their return which in turn created mishaps to the city.

“What a fool…” the duke muttered to himself as he leaned back on his chair but his eyes never left the letter.

“He surely is not fit to wear that crown… If only the one on the throne had the same adeptness as me in response to the current state of the kingdom.” A heavy escaped the lips of the duke but after releasing his disappointment upon the way that the current monarch of the kingdom is running the kingdom, a dangerous idea dawned upon him, ‘Who else better than he himself had the same adeptness as himself.’

After the thought came into his head, it once never left him. He wanted to get rid of that thought but the more that he tries to forget it, the more that it haunted him. After noticing that her husband wasn’t able to get some proper sleep that past few days, the Duchess finally approached her husband to ask about his well-being.

The duke being in good health is equivalent to her lavish lifestyle being secured without having to worry about anything. Although at first she hated the idea of being married to someone who is more than ten years older than her but the extravagant lifestyle and wealth that came with it erased all her dislike. She still could still remember the pain of her husband’s first thrust into her but all the pain of that thrust was worth it for the wealth and extravagance that was thrusted unto her hands.

“Are feeling unwell or is something bothering you?” was her question at him while observing his response.

“I am fine… It’s nothing.” The duke responded emotionlessly but his action of massaging his temples made it obvious that there was something bothering him.

After a mix of some seduction and persuasion from his younger wife, the duke finally told her about him having thoughts of replacing the current king. Although she no longer had the charm of youth that she once had that attracted her husband because of the passage of time but in exchange she gained knowledge and experience on how to deal with her husband as she made use of his weaknesses to gain what she wanted from him.

“Becoming the queen…” the Duchess mumbled after she successfully made her husband reach heaven with her skills by just using her hands and mouth. Satisfaction was plastered all over the face of the duke as he lay upon the embrace of their soft bed.

After hearing the possibility of her becoming the queen, the Duchess already imagined her more extravagant lifestyle in the palace and becoming the envy of all the noble ladies. She had already decided that she will persuade and convince her husband to act upon his thoughts of becoming the king with her skills.

After a few days and nights of experiencing the heavenly pleasure from his wife, the duke felt like he was floating on clouds. His wife told him that he should look forward to more intimate moments with her if he successfully becomes the monarch of the kingdom.

*****

d|

To deceive the king and his supporters that he doesn’t have any ill desire towards the crown with the size of the army that he now commands, Duke Hanbal himself led his army to go west and fight against their foe. The duke already noticed that there were eyes watching him as he moved to the frontlines but he just ignored them since he needed to make them believe that he is no threat to the current ruler and to their interest.

Obedient like a child, the duke marched with his army towards the west without taking any detours and looking like in a hurry to reinforce his most trusted commander. He knew that the eyes planted by the supporters of the current king and his enemies were everywhere and will stay with him till they are ordered to withdraw which is why he just let them be until the right time comes for him to deal with them.

During the first night after his arrival upon the camp of General Trakaros, the duke ordered for the cleansing of his army. Exhausted and unaware that they have been long marked by the duke, the informants that blended with the army were taken out one by one.

Inside the commander’s tent, Duke Hanbal whistled a tune as he swirled the cup of wine on his right hand while waiting for the good news that will soon arrive. His personal guards were posted outside his tent while six of his most powerful guards were accompanying him inside.

The almost inaudible sound of the fights that were occurring under the cover of darkness was clear upon the ears of the executioners who roamed the camp to take out the targets that were assigned to them.

More than an hour after midnight, the old general returned to report to his master. The old but still powerful warrior was covered in dried blood and his hair that was slowly turning silver wasn’t spared at it had traces of blood all over it.

“Is it done?” the duke put down the cup on the table. The amount of wine that was on the cup remained the same when the servant first filled it since the lips of the duke never touched the cup as he just swirled it around.

“It is done.” The blood drenched warrior responded with his head bowed.

“Bring in my servant! My cup is empty!” the duke shouted, he made sure that his voice was loud enough for his guards outside to be able to hear him.

After a few moments, a young servant came in with the wine. When she laid her eyes upon the blood-drenched man near the duke, the young servant was shaken but she quickly calmed herself down then headed towards the table where she spotted the cup of the duke.

With her head bowed, the servant was about to pour in some wine upon the camp when she noticed that the cup was still almost full to the brim. A hand suddenly rested upon her right shoulder which surprised her and caused her to almost drop the wine that was on her hands because of fright.

“Drink…”

The gentle voice of the duke sounded near her ear but it looked like he was whispering some sweet words to her to those who were with them. Those who were inside the tent thought that the duke had taken fancy to the young servant and was flirting with her. The problem with the spies surely had taken a toll onto the duke’s nerves and he had to control himself but now since it was already resolved, he must be looking for someone to take out his pent up frustrations.

The young servant was visibly trembling after the duke brought up the cup of wine near her lips which confused the guards and General Trakaros. She should be happy that the duke chose someone like her, a lowly servant to serve him.

“Forgive me Your Grace—Please have mercy upon your lowly servant, I was forced to do it.” The young servant suddenly kneeled as she begged for her life. She knew that drinking the contents of the cup would seal her fate which is why she gambled upon the opportunity that the duke might show her mercy if she begs.

The sudden turn of events confused and surprise the others who were inside the tent and even one of the guards posted outside peeked in inside the tent to find out what was going on but upon meeting the gaze of one of his comrades, he retreated.

Duke Hanbal suddenly grabbed the young servant by her hair to tilt her head back as one of his hands held the cup of wine upon her lips which remained firmly shut. The duke tried forcefully making her drink the wine but with her mouth tightly closed, the wine only slid by her face and cheeks before drenching her clothes.

After not having what he wanted, the duke slapped her hard on the face which almost knocked her out.

“Get her out of my sight.” The duke shouted then shot a kick towards the servant.

The poor servant was taken by the guards and her fate was already certain.