Sustaining The King’s Life - Chapter 232

The clock hand had strike into the numeral IX—beneath the moonlit night, another soul had yet again resurfaced. He slowly opened his sapphire-blue eyes, only to see the girl in his arms sleeping soundly, with cheeks vibrant yet again.

Did the first king succeed?

He glanced around, seeing no one was there. Did the first king succeed in defeating the warlock general? It seems like it, given Faustina was alive now.

The king stopped to stare and examine Faustina’s face. Just this short amount of time, and she was already in this state.

“As I thought… it wouldn’t be a good thing.” He murmured.

Maybe he was too careless. Jonathan Unsterblich seemed to be more interested in her than he had expected. Perhaps it would be better if she returns to Feuersturm for now.

Away from the trouble.

“Your majesty…”

Faustina slowly opened her chocolate brown eyes. He was already staring at her, so he had seen how her drowsiness disappeared as her expression grew bewildered and fl.u.s.tered.

The king had seen her like this many times before—how she was like an open book sometimes, and a mystery on the other. She had too many sides he couldn’t predict, and he doubts he could ever be.

“Faustina.” The king exclaimed. “You are no longer safe in Magierstadt.”

He had meant what he said—and it all translates to one thing:

Return to me.

“It seems like it was too early to send you off.” The king asserted. “I may have been too hasty with my decision. You’ve fallen straight to his trap this easily.”

Faustina stared at the king in sheer horror, “what happened to me…?”

The king didn’t answer her question. “You will be returning to Feuersturm.”

“Then what about the mission? My task?” Faustina exclaimed. “What about all the things—the progress I… made?”

The king stared at Faustina who was looking up at him. He then lifted her higher, making her look down at him instead.

“The forsaken is a dangerous person. He���s done this to you. You almost died.”

Faustina bit her lips.

“But isn’t that why you sent me here?”

Her unwavering, chocolate-brown eyes were staring at the king—and her question—had made him realize that he commanded her to do this; knowing the consequences.

He was a hypocrite.

“This is to be expected, right, Your Majesty? This isn’t the first time the Forsaken had done something like this. He sent a marionette in the Capital. I’ve seen a marionette in the exam. The perils of this mission are to be expected. That’s what you told me.”

The king stared at her.

“I have a task to do, right? I have to remove the seal of Eula. I—”

“You don’t have to do that anymore.”

Her scowl deepened. “Why?”

The king couldn’t give her an answer—

Because he doesn’t know himself.

He wasn’t sure what to say; it felt as if there was a lump in his throat, and that lump maybe his reluctance to admit something to himself.

Emotions.

That is something that the king made sure to bottle up, so it wouldn’t have to get in the way of his rule. He concealed his emotions and used them in a way that fits the situation. He acted as a gentle king in Faustina because she seemed to be hostile and wary of him; he acted as Octavius when he was younger to trick the high mage.

His name was hidden with his emotions.

But…

‘Noah.’

Faustina’s image flashed in his mind, calling him his name.

Noah.

It has been engraved to his mind ever since he heard her mouth his name. And he hadn’t stopped thinking more and more about her ever since. The king’s couldn’t avert his sapphire-blue eyes from Faustina’s expressive, brown ones. She was waiting for an answer, and he knew he ought to give her that. But the king didn’t know how he would start.

Because he would contradict himself.

“This is for the best.” The king said.

I want to keep you safe.

“You are no longer safe in Magierstadt.”

I will protect you.

“You will return to Feuersturm at once.”

Just stay by my side.

The king stared at Faustina whose expression transpired from confused to disbelief.

“I will not.”

He stared at her.

“Please put me down.”

He did so, as tentatively as he could. However, the moment Faustina’s feet touched the ground, her knees wobbled and she collapsed into the ground.

The king caught her into his arms easily, making her cheeks flush red in return. The king’s sapphire blue eyes were etched into her face, and she had noticed.

But she wasn’t being swept away.

Faustina…

Doesn’t want to be used anymore.

The king knelt down, and in one knee he sat Faustina tentatively. He stared up at her, waiting for her to talk.

“Your majesty, I can handle this.” Faustina said. “I’ll be alright.”

The king stared at Faustina.

She was so different from before.

“I know you’re worried about how I would be able to accomplish the task when I’m this weak,” Faustina exclaimed. “But I’m trying my best. I—”

“That’s not it.” The king cut her off mid-sentence. “You almost DIED, Faustina.”

Faustina couldn’t utter a word.

“Of course… I would be able to sustain your life when I die.” Faustina stared. “But Your Majesty, I… I’m trying my best. I want to accomplish this mission. I want to find the truth about myself. About Eula. About everything else…”

Faustina thinned her lips.

“I just want answers, Your Majesty.”

The king stared at her.

“There is someone from Magierstadt that knows about Nightmare and your purpose on coming here.” Faustina’s eyes widened, clearly taken aback. “They know that my body has nine souls. It is also highly likely that they know your purpose of coming here, as well as your real identity.”

“Wh-what about the professors? Do they know that I’m a Heilen?”

The king shook his head. “I doubt that Magierstadt professors know. But there is someone here that knew. He is also the one that poisoned you. I’m not entirely sure how, but that only means that you’re not safe in here.”

Faustina clenched her fist, unable to say a word.

The king sighed, and then he stood up, carrying Faustina with one arm. He then lifted her chin.

“I’m sorry if I phrased it wrong, earlier.” The king asserted. “I do not doubt your abilities to accomplish your mission, or to undo the seal of your master in your magic. I believe you can accomplish them, Faustina.”

“But…” the king then caressed her cheek, and tucked a loose strand of hair behind her ears.

“…the situation right now is uncalled-for, so we need to restrategize.” The king asserted.

“B-but won’t that make the teachers suspicious?”

“You are Faustina Feuerlon as of the moment. The daughter of the dukedom. If they would summon you for important matters and request a week break from school, the Magierstadt will surely allow it.”

Faustina stared at the king.

He then gave her his usual, gentle smile.

“So, will you return to Feuersturm with me?” The king asked.

Faustina then averted her gaze as she heard the loud thumping of her heart.

“…Yes, Your Majesty.” She answered.

**

Sheila was biting her nails as she walked with Anakin, Ezekiel, Orwell, and Lilianne. She was having this unsettling feeling since earlier. The black wisp was still following Lilianne, and it wasn’t just any black wisp upon closer inspection.

A wisp carrying Warlock energy.

Sheila was trying her best to conceal her presence, while also searching for a way to capture the wisp.

This could count as a huge step into finding the Forsaken.

It was unfortunate that only clairvoyants are able to see entities like this. However, Orwell—who has been exposed to different kinds of magic—looked like he was feeling something was off.

“Uncle,” Sheila, who was pretending to be a niece of Orwell, tugged his shirt.

“Yes?”

“Can I talk to you for a second?”

Orwell then smiled at the two siblings and Ezekiel Unsterblich before he and Sheila excused themselves out.

“Are you feeling it as well, Priestess?” Orwell asked.

“Yes. Not only feeling it. I saw it.”

“Saw it?”

“Yes.” Sheila answered. “There is a black wisp following the Disfiegro Lady.”

“What?”

“Don’t look back.” Sheila said. “The wisp will notice we detected its presence. It’ll force Lilianne to avoid us.”

“…And when that happens, we wouldn’t be able to catch it.”

Sheila nodded.

“Then what should we do?” Orwell asked.

Sheila sighed.

“We need to trap Lilianne Disfiegro.”

“How?”

“Who is the person who’s capable of persuading her, and knows of our real agenda?” Sheila said.

And then Orwell’s eyes lightened.

“Yes,” Sheila retorted before Orwell could even answer. “She will surely listen to her betrothed.”

—

To be continued.

Chain’s corner:

Alllrigghhttt, so we’ve kinda reached Sustaining the King’s Life’s threshold, so I just wanna announce that the story’s estimated time of completion will be around 2021! Also, there’s a treat for the readers down the comments, so be sure to check!