ROSES HAVE THORNS-Chapter 66 - Caught With Your Pants Down

"Honestly out of all your offenses this one seems to be the tamest." The king tapped his finger on his armrest. "Attempted murder of a priest. With the contentious being on the word ’attempted’. Well Rossana? What say you to this charge against you?"

"Obviously, that it’s false. I wasn’t attempting to murder anyone. The better word would be apprehend."

"If that’s so then explain the blood you were covered in."

*Sigh* "Your Majesty, have you not received a report from the prefects that pertains to this situation?"

"I have."

"Then why are we doing this song and dance? The person I was chasing is, or rather was, a member of the cult. I say ’was’ because the person you just sentenced to death was the person I was chasing. And the reason I was covered in blood was because that cultist killed the real priest right next to me. His name was Peter." 𝒇𝒓𝒆𝒆𝙬𝒆𝒃𝓷𝒐𝓿𝙚𝙡.𝒄𝓸𝒎

"Hm. What you’re saying does match up with the report I received from Chief Hudson. It also said that you captured another member of the cult. A ’male prostitute’ was it? Apparently, when they interrogated him, they learnt that he was still an initiate of the cult and that it was his job to look for ’specific’ children and report back to the higher-ups."

’I’m glad that male prostitute proved to be useful in the end.’ Kurt thought as relief washed his face.

Tobias, on the other hand, was beginning to get nervous. He knew that the cult member he dispatched in that rural area was missing but he could not find him anywhere. Not even a hint of blood was left in that destroyed house. It was as if he’d just vanished.

’So he was inside the prefect’s holding cell and being interrogated this whole time? Dammit! Also, that one prefect lied to me about Kurt being the one in a cell!’

"Tobias," the king snapped him out his thoughts, "Was that man I sentenced to death truly a member of the cult? And do not lie to me." His eyes glowed behind his hair as if probing him for any hint of falsehood.

"... Y-Your Majesty... if the actions of what Kurt is doing, which is tracking down members of the cult, are true, then I can only assume that he is..."

"Oh," Maxwell’s eyebrows raised slightly. Finally showing some hint of emotion. "So you admit that there are members of the cult hiding and disguising themselves as priests?"

"N-No Your Majesty–!"

"But you just said that he is." He leaned forward on his throne.

"I-I said I ’assume’! There is no way I could have known! We have absolutely no proof that he is a member of those zealots! All we’ve established is that this criminal is supposedly hunting them down for some reason!"

"For some reason? Rossana, care to explain what those reasons are?"

"Of course, Your Majesty. A few days ago, I’ve come to learn that the cult is using the church’s prophecy; [a child of golden hair and crystal blue eyes will be born as a direct descendent of the Goddess Bula in the year 780] as an excuse to kidnap children that has those same features.

The reason they’re kidnapping those children is because they are disgusted by the church’s insinuation that the Goddess would have a direct descendant, since they are all "children" of hers. They said that they’re planning to put on a ’show’ which is to kill more and more of those kids at the end of each month until the year is over.

I’m hunting these cultists because I want to find those children and bring them home safely."

"Hmm, I see. That’s very noble of you. But do tell, how did you come to learn of all this?"

"Through pure coincidence." Kurt said nonchalantly. "I stumbled on a shady deal between two robbers and the cultist. A fight broke out and I came out on top."

"Pure coincidence you say." Maxwell probed Kurt for any hint of a lie and found nothing. "Who and where is this cultist?"

"His name is Arlo. Another priest from the church and, well, he’s dead."

’So he is the bastard that killed Arlo! No wonder Arlo and those display tags never showed up! Because he’s dead!’

"Tobias, why do you look so nervous? Is it because yet another member of the cult has been identified to be a priest?"

"T-There’s... We have no priest called Arlo, Your Majesty! He has no evidence to back up what he’s saying. This cur is spewing defamatory nonsense in order to make the church look bad!"

"Is that true, Rossana?"

"Look inside my blazer to my right. There’s a personal tag belonging to Arlo in there."

"Guards." Maxwell waved his hand.

...

"It’s true." Maxwell confirmed after the royal guardsman searched Kurt and brought the tag to him.

"Tobias. You lied to me. Guards."

"Y-Your Majesty–!" Two additional guards appeared and bent him to the knee while holding their spears at him.

"Why hi there. We finally meet at eye level." Kurt smirked at him.

"You blasphemous wretch!"

"Tobias." Maxwell called and asked, "So far we have identified three members of the cult. Two of which are members of the church. I sincerely hope I’m wrong, but tell me, are you a member of the cult?"

"No, Your Majesty! I would never associate myself with those blasphemous heathens! Believe me!"

"I would like to; however, you’re making it very difficult with the way you’re acting. Rossana, what do you say? Is he also a member of the cult?"

"I-I told you, I’m not–!"

"Yes. A hundred percent he is."

"Surely you have proof to make such bold statements!?" Tobias screamed at him. "No, you don’t, because you’re ly–"

"I do have proof. Heck, I’ll do you one better. I have victims of his crimes being transported to Eldoria from the docks."

"That’s right Toby~ I found your little goblin rape island and saved those women."

"W-What? What the hell are you talking about?! I don’t have a–"

"Rossana, explain."

"Yes, but, Your Majesty. This actually ties into my third offense which is that I’ve kidnapped Diana Valentine. Is it okay if I speak about it?"

"You may." Maxwell nodded.

"Well then, the first thing I would like to say is I did not kidnap her. Due to a... mishap that caused her to teleport all over Eldoria, we ended up on that foul goblin island where we found women getting... assaulted by them.

We quickly killed those goblins and saved whatever women we could. Only five out of twenty made it out alive.

When we asked them the reason they were brought there, they told us it was because when they were asked by Tobias to hand over their children to him, under the excuse that they would be trained to serve under the prophesied child, they refused.

And so the following night, the cultists would break into their homes, kidnap their children and send them to that desolate island."

"Hmm, and you say that they’re on their way from the docks? Who’s escorting them?"

"A prefect by the name of Dominik and a member of the ten representatives, Emelie Herst."

"Those are some big names you just mentioned. If I remember correctly, Dominik is a potential candidate for becoming a royal guard. Isn’t that right captain?" Maxwell looked to his right where the captain of the royal guards stood.

"That is correct, Your Majesty." he answered with a courteous nod.

"And Emelie Herst. My daughter, Kiana, cannot stop talking about her, hehe. She calls her, her rival. I’ve also been informed that she might even be stronger than what Diana Valentine was back in her academy days...

Captain, take a few guards with you and bring them here. I want those women properly taken care of for when I ask them questions later."

"Yes, Your Majesty!"

"Actually, before you go, you should know that Dominik is also bringing in more cultists that we caught from the ship we... borrowed to get back. I’m sure that with enough torture, you’d get them to spill the beans of who Tobias really is." Kurt added.

"I see. Captain, bring them here as well."

The captain of the royal guardsmen saluted the king and took two men with him as he left the castle.

"Rossana, I take it that Diana Valentine is back safe? And that this was all a misunderstanding?"

"That is correct, yes."

"Very well. I’ll confirm this once my son and daughter come back from their club activities.

Guards, take him to a cell where he will wait for further news on his punishment. If all of what he spoke of today is true, then I will redact the public enhanced lashing and reward him instead. However, my son will still decide on what to do with you."

""Yes, Your Majesty!"" They brought him up by the shoulders and began to take him away.

"And as for you, Bishop Tobias... hm?" Maxwell noticed that he started shaking.

"...he...heh he...hehehehe! Ahahahahaha!....Freeze." Tobias reached for the spear that was pointed at him and stabbed his hand through it.

’Oh shit! This magic is–!’

At that moment, all but Tobias were frozen still. Unable to move neither limb nor a muscle.