Free Web NovelChapter 270: 270: Results.
Lilith was the first to enter followed by Atheline. He understood the weird tension hidden under all the panicking.
Councillor Renault sat exactly where they had left him or almost exactly. His body remained seated upon the stone bench.
His hands still restrained and Aether channels remained sealed. Nothing appeared disturbed, damaged, or wrong except his neck.
Atheline grimaced slightly.
His neck was twisted and completely broken, only his skin was barely holding on. Councillor Renault had died instantly with no signs of struggle.
It was professional, clean, and efficient. Lilith crouched beside the body, studying it.
Several moments passed. Eventually, she stood.
"What do we know?"
The prison commander immediately answered.
"Nothing."
Lilith looked at him and the commander visibly swallowed. Then clarified.
"Very little, Your Majesty."
That was a wiser answer. The commander continued.
"The cell remained sealed, the barriers remained active and the guards reported nothing unusual."
Atheline frowned. The commander gestured toward several manipulators.
"We reviewed every security ward. There was no damage, interference, or signs of forced entry."
Atheline folded his arms. That was impossible. Someone had to have entered to kill the prisoner and then left.
The commander continued.
"The image stone recorded activity."
Lilith looked toward him. The commander immediately produced a crystal.
"We’ve reviewed it twelve times."
Atheline raised an eyebrow.
"Twelve?"
The commander looked miserable.
"You’ll understand."
The crystal activated moments later. An illusion emerged above it and the recording began. Councillor Renault sat inside his cell, clearly waiting for something. Several minutes passed but nothing happened, and then darkness.
It wasn’t complete darkness but something stranger. A figure appeared, covered entirely by dark robes with no identifying characteristics.
The moment the figure entered the cell, the recording quality immediately distorted and the image became unstable. The outlines blurred.
Councillor Renault stood at that point, the restraint not working. Atheline narrowed his eyes.
The figure stood before the councillor. Several moments passed of the councillor seemingly speaking but no sound emerged
Then suddenly, the recording flickered and the image distorted. The screen went black, for exactly three seconds.
When the image returned, the councillor was dead and back in his previous position.
The figure was gone and the cell remained sealed. The recording ended just like that. Silence filled the prison chamber.
Atheline stared at the image far longer than necessary then looked at the commander.
"That’s it?"
The commander nodded miserably.
"That’s it."
Lilith remained silent. Atheline sighed loudly. Whoever had done this knew exactly what they were doing. The figure had revealed nothing.
Lilith spoke quietly.
"Thats professional."
The commander nodded.
"Extremely."
Atheline looked toward the body again. Councillor Renault had survived almost everything thrown at him only to die inside the most secure prison in the kingdom.
That sent a very dangerous message. Lilith clearly understood, so did everyone else. The enemy was still operating and pretty confident about it too. They clearly didn’t fear Lilith or were confident they would never be caught.
She turned away from the body.
"Increase security."
The commander bowed immediately.
"Yes, Your Majesty."
Lilith continued walking and Atheline followed. Several investigators hurried after them.
Questions began immediately; possibilities, theories, and suspects.
She listened to none of them since speculation solved nothing. Evidence would, and there was none.
By the time they emerged from the prison, news had already begun spreading among officials and noble houses.
The reaction was immediate. A mixture of shock, fear, and concern. Councillor Renault’s death changed everything.
A captured traitor was manageable but one murdered inside a secure prison was not. That implied infiltration.
It just showed how many resources, planning, and power the enemy had. The kingdom suddenly felt much less secure than it had yesterday.
Lilith convened an emergency meeting before noon. Military officers, intelligence officers, several trusted nobles attended, and all the councillors.
The discussion lasted hours. About security measures, counterintelligence, investigations, and theories. Nothing definitive emerged.
Only one conclusion was met, someone dangerous was operating inside the kingdom, even in the Court.
Lilith eventually dismissed the meeting, they had reached the limit of useful discussion.
The investigation would continue for days, possibly weeks, or perhaps longer.
Atheline understood that which was exactly why he still intended to visit the library. Lilith stood beside him as the officials departed.
"You still plan on going."
He nodded.
"Yes. We can’t let this one thing, put us behind."
Lilith wasn’t surprised, nor was she opposed to it. Councillor Renault’s death only made the Harbinger discussion more important.
The fanatic had mentioned it repeatedly. Perhaps understanding the myth would reveal something useful.
Lilith looked toward the snowy court beyond the palace windows. freeωebnovēl.c૦m
"Take guards."
Atheline smiled. Even the palace felt suspicious now.
"I was going to."
Lilith looked suspicious. Atheline coughed into his fist.
"I was considering it."
She continued staring clearly not believing him. Atheline sighed.
"Fine. I wasn’t."
She nodded.
"The palace has gotten a lot more tense," she said," move around with guards, just in case."
Atheline smiled and nodded.
"I know," he quietly said and took her hands into his," none of us is going to fail. Don’t stress yourself too much."
Atheline knew she was probably beating herself for not putting in too much effort into finding them when it first disbanded.
But he knew she had been doing it since the very beginning, not everything would have gone her way regardless. It’s just that it has started to escalate faster than they had both expected.
"I’ll find something," he quietly said," I’m sure of it."
"I know, let’s go," she said and took the lead," we still have to finish those reports."
Atheline nodded and followed. They would both probably sleep late tonight. Several hours later he finally departed for the library.
Walking down the familiar hallway with guards following behind him wasn’t really how he imagined he would be going to the library but life has its way of surprising anyone.
Atheline stepped inside. Warm air greeted him, and so did the familiar smell of old books.
He smiled slightly. He liked the library since it felt like a completely different world. The guards remained near the entrance.
Atheline proceeded deeper inside, past the towering bookshelf and deeper, following a distinct sound. Eventually, he reached a familiar corner.
As expected, Sir Klaith sat on his reading desk at the far corner of the library away from the other scholars. The librarian sat exactly where he always sat.
He looked up and his eyes immediately found him, then a thin smile appeared.
"Your Majesty."
Atheline laughed.
"It feels weird hearing you calling me that way when you’ve been calling me differently."
The librarian shrugged.
"You went up in Rank, your majesty."
Atheline chuckled and took a seat opposite him. Sir Klaith studied him carefully then sighed.
"Something happened."
Atheline shook his head.
"Just the usual. "
By now, everyone should know about the arrest. Klaith nodded and leaned back on his chair.
"What are you looking for?"
Atheline hesitated then finally said the words.
"The Harbinger of Death."
For the first time, Sir Klaith’s expression changed, only a fraction, but Atheline managed to catch it, before his face went back to normal.
He continued.
"I came across that word when Prince Igrad tried to kill me."
Atheline explained, lying directly. Not many people knew about the result of the investigation.
Sir Klaith didn’t respond immediately. Atheline patiently waited.
"I’ve only read a few myths about it," he calmly said," unfortunately, I cannot help you with this your majesty."
Atheline stared at the man for a moment before smiling and nodding.
"If you may, would you please show me the way to the myths you said?"
"Yes, your majesty."
"Good," Atheline’s gaze never left him," if you find anything, I would appreciate it if it got to me or her majesty first."
Klaith nodded.
