"Teacher, don't be like that. His majesty doesn't have anything to fear as long as he is under your protection~"
"...?"
The black-haired boy smiled softly and confused the blue-haired aid with his friendly words.
"Lord Banemor... what exactly do you mean when speaking about his majesty worrying over his own position...?"
"Lord Moyena!"
The kingdom's treasurer gulped down his saliva and asked intrigued but his question seemed to be offensive to the first prince, judging by the fact ow the gold-haired young man stood up from his chair and called out...
"Sit."
"...!"
Zoemi turned his gaze from Valto to Horeo and his expression turned cold causing the first prince to slump down back onto his chair with a one-word command.
"It's quite simple. Lord Moyena, you will not tell me that you do not recognize who this is..."
The black-haired young man snickered and spread his arms to the sides making Aspakeony the center of attention.
"The only reason this traitor has not been killed and turned into a corpse puppet is that our monarch is childishly trying to keep some sort of upper hand over her because he feels that his throne could be contested by her."
"Haaa... generations of past kings and queens are looking down on you and shaking their heads..."
Zoemi explained and Aspakeony shook her head and sighed at the troubled monarch.
The gray-haired girl turned her head towards the red-haired prisoner which caused the man to start trembling. Nonetheless, nothing happened and the necromancer merely grabbed the young man's left arm and moved it back so he would continue hugging her.
Duke Derizno leaned back into his chair observing the monarch from the side while lord Moyena turned towards the sweating prisoner, with a rather worrisome smile.
"We didn't go that route because human life is precious. Or is there someone in this room who claims that killing everyone to get what they need is the correct choice? If we had no other choice and our hand was forced killing sir Irghun would be somewhat excusable, but as things stand now dealing with him in such a way would create a convenient precedence that could be used in the future to rein terror over the aristocracy."
"...!"
His majesty wasn't surprised by the turn of actions in the slightest and gave a calm response that caused at least lord Moyena to straighten his back and shake his head as if he realized what a big mistake he was making.
"Th-that's right...! His majesty is as wise as he is merciful!"
Irghun breathed out in relief and bowed down as much as the knight still holding him and the shackles he was bound with allowed him to.
"Where did you take the acid magician?"
"Huh?! How do you know... Umpgh...!"
The black-haired young man asked suddenly asked, taking the red-haired prisoner by surprise and causing him to spout out something he should have kept quiet about...
"..."
"!!!"
The atmosphere in the room turned oppressive as Zoemi released a murderous aura – just one look at his face was enough for the knights to step in front of the shackled man and activate every spell that could help in this situation.
But regardless of that, the black-haired young man raised his right hand as if he wanted to show off his knuckles...
...and then he went through a short motion as if he was knocking on the door...
*THUMP* *CRACK*
The shockwave shook the entire room and the gruesome snapping sound coming from behind the knights' back responded to it...
"...!"
Lord Moyena who was the closest to the spot of interest turned ghastly pale and pulled away as fast as he could, knocking into duke Derizno's chair.
Zoemi did nothing more, he lowered his hand and protectively hugged the girl in his lap, burrowing his face between the base of her neck and collarbone.
"..."
The king's expression turned extremely grim but he didn't say a word. The prince looked shaken. And the commander of the King's Guard took a deep breath.
"Stand down."
"...!" "..."
He ordered and the two knights in front of Irghun lowered their heads, deactivated their spells, and moved to the sides.
There, the sight of the shackled prisoner was revealed.
His was still sitting upright and his right cheek bear the permanent mark of being punched with incredible force. Irghun was looking slightly to the left with his vacant eyes that had no life in them anymore.
If not for the unnaturally stretched and folded skin on his neck it would be hard to figure out what exactly killed him.
"Your majesty! Aren't you going to say something?!"
Lord Moyena fought back nausea and called out to the monarch who had just a few seconds ago spoken about the sanctity of life.
"Don't hold it against his majesty, my lord. We had an agreement that Irghun will be killed if he is involved with the disappearance of my precious friend."
"...!"
"..."
Zoemi looked up from Aspakeony's shoulder and explained in a flat voice causing the treasurer's eyes to widen before he turned towards the king who took a deep breath.
"We did not agree on killing him on the spot."
"Your majesty, please, find a way to forgive me in your merciful heart. This matter is of utmost importance to me."
The king spoke coldly to which Zoemi smirked mockingly parroting the tone of voice that Irghun praised the monarch when he thought his life would be spared.
"Zo-mi, mind your manners."
Aspakeony fidgetted in his arms and scolded him gently while poking his cheek with her index finger.
"I apologize."
The black-haired young man breathed out and bowed his head around an inch before resting his chin on the necromancer's shoulder.
"I guess this makes it my turn."
Aspakeony nuzzled against Zoemi's face and reached out her hand toward Irghun's corpse.
"Goodbye, and hello." *shaaa*
Her peculiar incantation caused a gray mist to raise from the shackled body before it swirled around and merged back into it.
The red-haired corpse puppet started moving and the first thing it did was reach up and grab his head...
p An dD ɴᴏᴠᴇ1.cO,,m *CRACK*
...and snapping it back in place.
"..."
Meanwhile, Aspakeony froze wide-eyed while the memories of her newest corpse puppet became part of her.
"Zo-mi..."
The gray-haired girl gulped down her saliva and grabbed the black-haired young man's arm with her own trembling hand.
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