The next day passed by in a blue of the official documents signing and the report reading. 𝗳𝚛𝗲𝕖𝕨𝕖𝗯𝚗𝚘𝕧𝕖𝗹.𝗰𝗼𝕞

The field work people were thoroughly managing and checking the locations for the next trial while the others were busy making sure that either Prince’s faction won’t be pulling at tricks for this last trial.

It was a final move now and after this Trial, the Crown Prince would be decided.

Ocean remained in his office for the morning part and then went to the royal palace to submit his report regarding the second Trial.

It had turned out to be quite different than what everyone had expected so, Even the people were buzzed about it whole. Some were suspicious that the Golden Serpent would have pulled some trick or they had misinterpreted the second Prince. But the latter was highly unlikely since he wouldn’t just sabotage his own chances during the first Trial on his own if he had the potential to win it. So, there were whispers about the Queen or someone from Esmertia or even Carlos himself pulling some unfair trick to try to win the second Trial.

"Are the rumours true?" Roger asked Ocean while they sat together in the parlour drinking tea.

Ocean sipped his tea, his expression guarded by his mask but the way his eyes gave Roger his answer.

"Some of them." Ocean answered verbally and Roger released an exasperated sigh.

"Who did it? Was it her or Carlos?" Roger asked.

Ocean held the cup in his fingers, his eyes fixed on Rogers fiery red ones. He contemplated for a while before he brought the cup back to his lips.

"What’s done is done, Your Majesty." Ocean spoke and Roger’s eyebrows shot up.

"What’s done is done? Is that really what you’re going to say to me, Marquis? What Carlos displayed in the arena made even me doubt that he was the same Carlos I knew, what kind of a trick did they pull?" Roger demanded.

Ocean was quiet again, sipping his tea before he spoke in an almost blunt manner.

"I apologise, Your Majesty, but it’s beyond your control now."

Roger was at a loss for words, "Wh-What do you mean?!"

Ocean placed the cup down and faced Roger with an icy look.

"Her Majesty has crossed the boundaries this time, the ones that no human should and not only Prince Carlos but the whole of Sestia will have to pay its price."

Roger felt the blood in his veins running cold as he heard Ocean’s words. He knew his wife, Katherine was capable of dangerous things but what could it be this time that had made even the usually composed and put-together Marquis to speak like this.

"What has she done?" Roger asked.

Ocean observed him before speaking, "I can’t tell you,"

Roger’s jaw clenched, "You think I won’t find out if you don’t! Just tell me!"

"It’s for your own safety that I’m not telling you, Your Majesty." Ocean said and the room started growing hotter.

Roger was livid but he spoke in a controlled voice, "Marquis Ocean, if this matter concerns the safety of my kingdom then I must know."

Ocean watched him, he seemed to be considering to take all the time in the world before he responded, his tone grim and eyes dark.

"Her Majesty has colluded with occult. She has Prince Carlos cursed."

Roger waited. He almost thought Ocean was joking with a straight face, an absurd joke, but a joke.

The two men watched each other in silence, each waiting for the other two speak before Roger rose to his feet in shock.

"You’re not jesting!" He shouted and Ocean stayed seated looking up at Roger wuthba deadpan expression.

"Of course not. Why would I jest about such serious matters Your Majesty? Prince Carlos is possessed by a demon as we speak." Ocean dropped the bomb and Roger was speechless.

Thousands of thoughts were running in his head at the same time, the history that he had read about Dragons and Demons. Their own kingdom’s foundation where his own ancestor had killed the demon’s archenemy a Dragon to establish Sestia and now they had a demon in their hands.

"A demon?" Roger asked and Ocean nodded.

"A powerful one." Ocean added.

Roger felt his knees going weak as he plopped back down in his armchair and picked up his cup of tea that had gotten all cold by now.

"If Her Majesty has already decided to use this technique then it’s dangerous for everyone around her and Prince Carlos that’s why I wasn’t willing to tell you. In case, she knows that you have learned about this, she might try to do something to you."

Roger looked at him, "You think she could kill me?"

"Haven’t you already experienced that, Your Majesty?" Ocean asked and Roger’s lips pursed.

"But she won’t kill you, she might do worse." Ocean added making Roger frown.

"What?"

"She’ll brainwash you so that you would become her puppet. Her Majesty is obsessed with the power that she doesn’t seem to be thinking twice before breaking any taboos now. And the kingdom needs you in these dire times, Your Majesty. With a sane mind."

Roger was shaken and sat silently for a while. Ocean let the revelation sink in. He knew he had to let Roger know about this as he was the most important piece in the game right now. Whatever way the game would go, he could become a move that could bring down any side and Ocean didn’t want Roger to fall into the enemy’s hands.

Ocean placed his hand inside his coat and plucked out a box before placing it down on the table.

Roger eyed the black box before he looked at Ocean.

"What is this?" Roger asked.

"Something that would protect you." Ocean said and Roger stared at the box before he hesitantly picked it up.

Roger lifted the lid and inside sat a bright aqua blue pendant. He stared at the pendant which seemed to be emanating a strange energy, he touched the smooth blue stone which was cool under his skin but unmistakably gave him a little sense that it wasn’t a normal stone.

"What is this?" Roger asked.

"You do know that the only thing that deflects demons is pure mana." Ocean asked and Roger looked at him.

"Yes,"

"This is the purest stone from my mine, I had been keeping it for a while for cases of emergencies and now that the time has come, this is going to the person who needs it."

Roger stared at Ocean for a moment before he looked at the stone.

"This is a mana stone?" He gasped and Ocean nodded.

"It has some layered spells on it for your protection, detection of danger and dark forces so that you will be safe." Ocean explained, conveniently leaving out the part that it was also a one way communication device which would let Ocean listen into Roger’s conversations.

Ocean had also lied about the stone being the purest since all the stones in the Dragon’s lair had the same level of purity and it solely depended on the spells casted. As for this stone then, Ocean had personally blessed it so that whenever any demon, a possessed or anything carrying the dark essence came around Roger, it would warn both Roger and Ocean.

Roger picked up the pendant gently and the silver chain attached to it dangled freely in the air for a moment. Roger wore the pendant right away and the stone hit his chest, it glowed with the soft blue radiance before turning into a clear stone.

Roger was fascinated.

"The Mage’s Tower’s innovations are groundbreaking."

Ocean was pleased to hear it and he added.

"Please be sure to never remove it, Your Majesty. Whatever happens. Also, do not drink any suspicious liquids sent by Her Majesty or anything that this stone reacts to."

Roger hummed staring at the pendant and Ocean observed him for a while before he bid his farewell.

When he returned back to Ryujin, Ocean went straight to Carlos’s room. Enora was inside.

"What’s going on?" Ocean asked.

Enora bowed before she answered, "His Highness has a high fever since last night, Doc came to see him but the medicines are not working."

Ocean glanced at Carlos writhing and groaning in his bed with his face flushed and sweat coating his skin like a second layer.

Ocean walked over to him and placed his cool hand over Carlos’s forehead feeling the temperature which would end up melting his brain if not treated right away.

Ocean sighed begore he casted the Supreme Healing spell. Carlos’s eyes flew open switching rapidly between black and red as he gnashed his teeth hard enough. His back arched and fists clutched the fabric of the sheets in a vice grip as he growled and tried to get away from Ocean’s touch.

Ocean poured more of his mana into Carlos’s body feeling the temperature slowly go down.

The black eyes glared at Ocean while he returned an impassive look.

Carlos’s body slowly slumped back in bed and Ocean watched as the black hue faded.

"You bastard..." The demon’s voice reached him, low.

"I’ll kill you... you will... die at my hands... aga..."

"Yes, sure." Ocean mumbled without listening to what the demon said and watched as Carlos’s eyes turned back to red and then closed.

"Keep an eye on him." Ocean spoke in a low voice to Enora before leaving the room.

He returned to his room and removed his coat before plopped down in the center of his room, sitting cross legged and closed his eyes.

He hadn’t meditated for a while since his mana had been flowing in harmony as natural but with a demon in house his Dragon’s Presence and his Dragon blood had been resisting his control.

His presence calmed down and he sat there quietly, zoning out the sounds from around the household until all he could hear was his own heart beats. A strong, rhythmic thumping sound the seemed to reverberate in his head and the sound of the breaths that flowed through his esophagus and lungs.

The Dragon’s mana slowly relaxed as if the beast was coaxed back into its cage and Ocean opened his eyes to see the unread notifications popping before him.

On any other day, he would have ignored it but presently, he needed answers. Answers that the divine might answer.